Handguard attachment assembly for a firarm

A handguard assembly for a firearm having an upper receiver and a barrel with a barrel nut, the handguard assembly comprising:

• a handguard having an elongate tubular structure with a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a proximal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion defines a first opening through the first side of the handguard;
• a first flange insert having a flange portion with an inside face and a boss portion protruding from the inside face, the first flange insert defining a fastener opening therethrough and configured to be installed in the handguard with the boss portion received in the first opening and the first inside face engaging an outside surface of the handguard;
• a connector configured to be disposed within the proximal end portion between the handguard and the barrel nut, the connector defining a first fastener opening and the connector having a bottom surface configured to contact the barrel nut when the handguard is installed on the firearm;
• and
• a first fastener configured to extend through the fastener opening in the first flange insert and engage the first fastener opening in the connector when the handguard is installed on the firearm;
• wherein advancing the first fastener into the first fastener opening draws the first side of the handguard towards the connector and draws the proximal end portion towards the barrel nut when the handguard is installed on the firearm.

A firearm upper receiver assembly comprising:

• an upper receiver with a barrel secured to the upper receiver with a barrel nut;
• a handguard having an elongate tubular structure with an upper portion, a lower portion, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a proximal end portion, the handguard extending over the barrel with the proximal end portion overlapping the barrel nut, wherein the proximal end portion defines a first opening through the first side of the upper portion of the handguard;
• a first flange insert defining a fastener opening therethrough and having a flange portion with an inside face and a boss portion protruding from the inside face, wherein the first flange insert is installed in the handguard with the boss portion received in the first opening and the inside face engaging an outside surface of the first side of the upper portion of the handguard;
• a connector disposed within the proximal end portion between the handguard and the barrel nut, the connector defining a first fastener opening and having a bottom surface engaging an outside surface of the barrel nut;
• and
• a first fastener extending through the fastener opening in the first flange insert and into the first fastener opening in the connector, thereby securing the first flange insert to the connector.