I've got the stock handguards on my Saiga AK and am  thinking about purchasing an ultimak gas tube so I can mount a red dot optic. I'd like to swap out the handguards with something else when I make the upgrade. I'm not planning to hang anything off the handguards so something simple, with no rails, is fine.  Does anybody have any recommendation for a non-wood lower handguard for my Saiga. Please feel free to comment about what you like about the handguard. Handguards you recommend that I avoid are also helpful.

theres the plum color plastic stock set. upper hand gaurd needs an ak74 gas tube
slightly modified on lower lip, also needs custom lower hg retainer from dinzag or you
could modify your own.

Anything you don't like about the stock one, or any features you'd like to see?

If you want to give it the "classic" black AK look, the K-var one is hard to beat.
http://store.carolinashooterssupply.com/servlet/-strse-742/KVAR-SAIGA-fdsh-AK47-HANDGUARD-BLACK/Detail
The swells on the bottom give you a gripping surface, as does the horizontal raised lines on it.

The truth though is that if you plan to lay down some heavy fire with your AK, keep the stock long lower hand guard on there. It manages heat better than the cooler looking K-var one.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rusmilitary.com/images/saiga410_handguard.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/50471-new-hogue-furniture-available-soon/&h=350&w=563&sz=18&tbnid=1P3qaup6k8NGLM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=121&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSAIGA%2BHANDGUARD%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=SAIGA+HANDGUARD&usg=__q0HT2wiYES_Swq_3WyzJOVBwYPU=&sa=X&ei=74RBUO2_J8GtiQLY0IDwCA&ved=0CCgQ9QEwAg&dur=62

I chose to go the cool looking route on my converted Saiga but I put a bump fire stock on it.
After a few magazines, the Ultimak is incredibly hot which forces you to modify your grip in order to avoid the heat.
The K-Var hand guard has less real estate and therefore is more difficult to keep a solid grip on.

Having said that though, for recreational shooters like us, I don't think it really matters.
Get what you like and don't look back.
It's what I do all the time.

Anything you don't like about the stock one, or any features you'd like to see?

I just think the stock one looks too plain jane.

If you want to give it the "classic" black AK look, the K-var one is hard to beat.
http://store.carolinashooterssupply.com/servlet/-strse-742/KVAR-SAIGA-fdsh-AK47-HANDGUARD-BLACK/Detail
The swells on the bottom give you a gripping surface, as does the horizontal raised lines on it.

The truth though is that if you plan to lay down some heavy fire with your AK, keep the stock long lower hand guard on there. It manages heat better than the cooler looking K-var one.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rusmilitary.com/images/saiga410_handguard.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/topic/50471-new-hogue-furniture-available-soon/&h=350&w=563&sz=18&tbnid=1P3qaup6k8NGLM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=121&prev=/search%3Fq%3DSAIGA%2BHANDGUARD%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=SAIGA+HANDGUARD&usg=__q0HT2wiYES_Swq_3WyzJOVBwYPU=&sa=X&ei=74RBUO2_J8GtiQLY0IDwCA&ved=0CCgQ9QEwAg&dur=62

I chose to go the cool looking route on my converted Saiga but I put a bump fire stock on it.
After a few magazines, the Ultimak is incredibly hot which forces you to modify your grip in order to avoid the heat.
The K-Var hand guard has less real estate and therefore is more difficult to keep a solid grip on.

Having said that though, for recreational shooters like us, I don't think it really matters.
Get what you like and don't look back.
It's what I do all the time.

Speaking of ultimaks getting too hot, I wonder how red dot optics hold up to heat.

I'm leaning toward the kvar style because of the cool factor and because I don't ever think I would run the gun hot enough to affect my choice of style.  I just have to convince myself that the plastic handguards are actually worth the  $60 + shipping .

apexgunparts has the polymer set  bulgarian74 for 45$

Speaking of ultimaks getting too hot, I wonder how red dot optics hold up to heat.

I've run the bushnell TRS-25, the Primary Arms Micro & the Aimpoint T-1 on ultimate rails under heavy fire (full auto till the gun is literally scorching hot) and never had a problem.

If you're very concerned, there's the Texas Weapon Systems dog leg scope mount.
http://texasweaponsystems.com/id1.html