Geissele vs. Noveske

[wild_wild_wes]

I want to do a build using either the Geissele Mk5 or the Noveske NSR. Which has the better handguard-to-receiver attachment system?

By better, I mean structurally: stronger & more secure.

[Koshinn]

I want to do a build using either the Geissele Mk5 or the Noveske NSR. Which has the better handguard-to-receiver attachment system?

By better, I mean structurally: stronger & more secure.

I don't know with cold hard facts, but regarding the handguard-to-receiver attachment, I think it's hard to be stronger than 6 bolts directly into the barrel nut in the NSR.

However, the NSR doesn't have anti-rotation if that matters to you unless you get a Noveske upper or Rainier ultramatch upper.

[mattexass]

While this is true I had my upper machined for a pin fairly fast and cheaply. Not saying it is the end all but it is another option.

I don't know with cold hard facts, but regarding the handguard-to-receiver attachment, I think it's hard to be stronger than 6 bolts directly into the barrel nut in the NSR.

However, the NSR doesn't have anti-rotation if that matters to you unless you get a Noveske upper or Rainier ultramatch upper.

[jonconsiglio]

I think that's going to be pretty close. I'm not sure which bRrel nut is longer, but I'd guess that to play a part in strength. I think both are going to be very durable. I'm not sure exactly how the NSR attaches, but I'd think the cross bolt of the Geissele would be hard to best as it will likely be very resistant to any sheering type of force/torque.

I was very impressed with the feel of both. The Geissele looks big in pics, but in person it felt great in hand. The Noveske panels feel really good as well.

[wild_wild_wes]

Were the anti-rotation tabs removed on the Mk5?

[simonsez]

I am putting together my 13.5 nsr on my bcm upper right now. In mock-up the nsr feels great! It feels rock solid. I don't think you could go wrong with either. Geissele makes top notch stuff.

[Koshinn]

I can pretty much guarantee that any of the Geissele rails are themselves more durable than the NSR though, just due to sheer amounts of material and construction. The NSR is very thin aluminum. It's not flimsy, but it's not a bullet proof design... it was intended for 3gun after all.

[TF82]

Were the anti-rotation tabs removed on the Mk5?

The rail has small "wings" on either side which overlap the upper receiver. On the "wings" there are two nylon tipped set screws which tighten to either side of the upper receiver. Once I tightened down my MK2 onto the barrel nut, it didn't seem like it was going anywhere even before I tightened the anti-rotation screws though.

Edit to add: I won't post while on forced doubles anymore, since the above made no sense, but the pictures of their keymod rails I found online seem to show the current small wing/set screw set up I described.

[vicious_cb]

Consider that the Geissele rail first started out as a request made for a HK416 handguard from very special unit with some pretty tough demands I would probably say the Geissele rail is pretty bombproof.

[CharlieMike]

They're both very similar IMHO. They both use a similar barrel nut. The Noveske rail is held in place by six (IIRC) bolts that screw directly into the nut. The Geissele rail uses two cross bolts that clamp the rail onto the barrel nut -- very similar to how the standard 416 rail mounts.

In either case, neither rail will fall off if you install them properly. My gut tells me the Geissele interface is more robust but the difference is a matter of what degree of never failing you want.