Hand guards for firearms and related methods are provided. In one example, a hand guard (100) for a firearm includes an elongated tubular housing (106) having a lumen extending between opposite ends thereof. A hand guard mounting assembly is coupled concentrically to a rear end portion of the housing. The mounting assembly includes a pair of opposing transverse surfaces (34,36) respectively disposed on opposite sides of a transverse flange located on a front end of a barrel nut (40) extending forwardly from a receiver of the firearm. At least one of the transverse surfaces is longitudinally moveable toward the other transverse surface. A mechanism (114) adjustably urges the at least one transverse surface longitudinally toward the other transverse surface so as to clamp the flange firmly between the two transverse surfaces and such that the barrel of the firearm is disposed concentrically within the lumen of the housing.