Was There a ‘Format War’ Between KMR and MLOK?

**GH41** · 11-16-17, 19:57

Originally Posted by C-grunt

I think the NSW test pretty much killed keymod. It will be a round for a long time still but Mlok definitely won. Also SOCOM has already solicited one rifle with Mlok in the CSASS.

MagPul didn't win anything. All test are subjective. Magpul is a heavy hitter with the financial ability to get any result they want from the test.

**kwelz** · 11-16-17, 20:22

Originally Posted by GH41

MagPul didn't win anything. All test are subjective. Magpul is a heavy hitter with the financial ability to get any result they want from the test.

I prefer Keymod but I have to disagree with this statement. In the testing M-lok proved to be stronger and have some nice benefits.

Will this matter in day to day use? That is up for debate. But M-lok was shown to be superior in a number of ways.

**Kain** · 11-16-17, 20:35

I don't think "war" is the right term between Keymod and Mlok. I also wouldn't use BCM's choice to go Mlok as a point. BCM is a business, and while they backed keymod, they are still a business and they like money. They going to make what people will buy, which is why you can buy a BCM upper and go Eeny, meeny, miny, moe and decide if you want Mlok, Keymod, or Pic.

As far as keymod going away with Mlok's popularity growing I don't see that either. There are a lot of one off or even proprietary rail interfaces that have been out for like 10 years, or more, that are still getting made. Hell, I used to have a SIRS rail from ARMS. Anyone remember those bitches? I do! A ****ing Larue rail was the tits compared to them even if the Larue rail wasn't modular. Other options may not have aftermarket support, but aftermarket support doesn't mean something is good, just that it is popular, and any patents that might be on it have expired and anyone with a CNC or molding set up and make the shit. Don't mean it is to any sort of spec.

All that said, unless you are outfitting an entire unit or army I would just buy what you like. Because it probably ain't going to matter. And if you are really worried about being able to interface random gear Pic is still king. And, let us be honest here, the chances of you jacking kit off of corpses is probably about the same as me getting to **** Kate Beckinsale.

**ggammell** · 11-16-17, 20:37

Originally Posted by Kain

I don't think "war" is the right term between Keymod and Mlok. I also wouldn't use BCM's choice to go Mlok as a point. BCM is a business, and while they backed keymod, they are still a business and they like money. They going to make what people will buy, which is why you can buy a BCM upper and go Eeny, meeny, miny, moe and decide if you want Mlok, Keymod, or Pic.

As far as keymod going away with Mlok's popularity growing I don't see that either. There are a lot of one off or even proprietary rail interfaces that have been out for like 10 years, or more, that are still getting made. Hell, I used to have a SIRS rail from ARMS. Anyone remember those bitches? I do! A ****ing Larue rail was the tits compared to them even if the Larue rail wasn't modular. Other options may not have aftermarket support, but aftermarket support doesn't mean something is good, just that it is popular, and any patents that might be on it have expired and anyone with a CNC or molding set up and make the shit. Don't mean it is to any sort of spec.

All that said, unless you are outfitting an entire unit or army I would just buy what you like. Because it probably ain't going to matter. And if you are really worried about being able to interface random gear Pic is still king. And, let us be honest here, the chances of you jacking kit off of corpses is probably about the same as me getting to **** Kate Beckinsale.

And that should settle it.

**gunnerblue** · 11-16-17, 20:48

If I could have the perfect rail it would be smooth, lightweight and have 4 short builtin sections of picatinny at the muzzle end and QD sockets on both sides on the receiver end. Made by BCM with their attachment system.

This pretty much is the Geissele MK 13. Similar attachment method as BCM only better, IMO (bigger/longernut= more ridged).

**bowman57_2** · 11-16-17, 20:58

SOF units are using both systems so I think its safe to say they are both good to go.

**michaelc** · 11-16-17, 23:13

Personally, I prefer Keymod just because I think it's slightly easier to use. But I think MLOK is taking the advantage in the "war" between the two systems. Who knows though... They'll both do just fine holding the weapon light on your rifle!

**kremtok** · 11-17-17, 11:23

There is some good discussion going on here, guys. Thanks for that.

Since I jumped onboard with KeyMod early on, one of my concerns is that it won’t be supported any longer at some point in the near future. I certainly don’t want to go out and replace all of my KeyMod stuff with MLOK now because there’s nothing wrong with my KeyMod stuff, but the consensus seems to be that I have nothing to be concerned about with regard to spare parts and repairs.

It’s also interesting to me that both attachment methods were released at around the same time and were ‘open source.’ If that means what I think that means - both were available to third party developers without a licensing fee - then this was about as fair a ‘format war’ as could be expected.