View Full Version : Received my Midwest Industries Keymod Panel covers today.
Eurodriver
05-05-14, 15:30
Waited patiently for the FDE color to come in stock and ordered two 5-km covers and one 3-km cover the same day they began shipping. It was $28 shipped via USPS.
They are sold individually and each package comes with a hex wrench.
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140505_160900_506_zpse57950e5.jpg
I should have ordered a 4 slot cover instead of 3. I thought the three would provide enough coverage for my hand, but just a bit hangs off. The five km is too big, and it won't fit. When the BCM KM (or any company) vert grip begins shipping to the peasantry I'll probably swap the 3km and place it in front of the VG and get a 4km for the slot in between the QD and flashlight (due to the nature of the panels and "recoil lugs", you can't really cut them.)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140505_161714_789_zps73e39145.jpg
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140505_161724_708_zps3d8167b1.jpg
To those worried about weight and keeping the low profile of the KMR rail, do not be disappointed. All three of these probably weigh 1oz combined and the rail actually feels better (due to it being more rounded) with almost zero increase in diameter.
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140505_161747_051_zpsc61796ad.jpg
That's great to see. I just ordered the MI Keymod handstop kit.
I'm impressed with how low profile MI kept the panels.
Quiet Riot
05-05-14, 15:47
Looks sharp!
Midwest Industries
05-05-14, 17:06
Glad you guys like them,
PETE
MI
Great pic at the bottom showing the slimness of them. I couldn't view them at work earlier due to my employer blocking some image hosting. I don't know how I'm supposed to post at work if I can't see the shit.
Great pic at the bottom showing the slimness of them. I couldn't view them at work earlier due to my employer blocking some image hosting. I don't know how I'm supposed to post at work if I can't see the shit.
This reminds me of the other thread about playing with your phone while on the clock...
Key mod covers look nice and thin, good pic.
Rayrevolver
05-05-14, 19:58
I bought both the normal 3 piece kit and the 3 piece hand stop kit ($18 each plus $5 to ship). The above pics tell the story and the combination feels great. I am very happy with how slim it all is, even with panels on 3 sides.
Like Euro, once the BCM VG comes out I will end up running some sort of combo with these.
The more I see these the better they look. Anyone have a pic showing the contour on a Geissele rail?
Hey Pete, I've already ordered a set, but just for giggles, can you post a pic of the backside of a panel?
Glad you guys like them,
PETE
MI
Midwest Industries
05-06-14, 12:16
Hey Pete, I've already ordered a set, but just for giggles, can you post a pic of the backside of a panel?
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/Midwest_Ind/MI-KeyModPanel/P4182267_zps16fae8dc.jpg
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/Midwest_Ind/MI-KeyModPanel/P4182266_zps45109168.jpg
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/Midwest_Ind/MI-KeyModPanel/P4182262_zpseca5f424.jpg
Thank You
Andy
MI
Alright Midwest Industries (https://www.m4carbine.net/member.php?15-Midwest-Industries), I just placed an order. These things look pretty good in the pics, I'm gonna give 'em a shot.
Thanks!
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/Midwest_Ind/MI-KeyModPanel/P4182267_zps16fae8dc.jpg
Thank You
Andy
MI
Do you plan on making something like this for M-Lok?
Personally, I like how you guys did your panels for the ssg2, I outfitted my whole 15"rail with just 3 packs.
Midwest Industries
05-06-14, 16:20
Do you plan on making something like this for M-Lok?
Personally, I like how you guys did your panels for the ssg2, I outfitted my whole 15"rail with just 3 packs.
We are looking at a M-LOK panel design.
Thank you,
PETE
MI
Wow, these look really great. Thanks for the pics and the review. Ordering a couple of sets now.
13" KMR, KAC hand stop, Noveske QD w/ panel trimmed to fit. Two full sets and three additional 5x panels.
I wish there was some sort of anti rotation on the nut for attachment as trying to get everything lined up is quite tedious.
25714
https://www.m4carbine.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25714&d=1399498858
I'll be investing in these next paycheck!
Midwest Industries
05-07-14, 17:13
13" KMR, KAC hand stop, Noveske QD w/ panel trimmed to fit. Two full sets and three additional 5x panels.
I wish there was some sort of anti rotation on the nut for attachment as trying to get everything lined up is quite tedious.
25714
https://www.m4carbine.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25714&d=1399498858
Nice set up. If you look at the bottom of the nuts you will see they are a normal keymod nut. They have the flats that lock into the slot that keep them from rotating . They are just made very thin so we can keep the profile very low . :)
Troy
MI
Eurodriver
05-07-14, 20:23
I think I know what TMS is talking about, the nuts are able to spin around if they are unscrewed enough (like every other keymod product) but these seem especially prone to difficulty because they're so thin.
Adds a few more minutes to the install but IMHO its a non issue.
Midwest Industries
05-08-14, 05:45
I have actually found when loosening and tightening if you pull the whole panel away from the hand guard it keeps the flats engaged and you wont have the nut spin. Give it a try.:)
TROY
MI
I have actually found when loosening and tightening if you pull the whole panel away from the hand guard it keeps the flats engaged and you wont have the nut spin. Give it a try.:)
TROY
MI
There are little tricks I have found, and this is one of them.
The part I found the most tedious was orientating the nut before trying to install the panel before tightening. The trick I found here is when you orientate the the nuts hold the alleys in place on the other side by pushing down with your fingers, this stops the nuts rom spinning as you turn the panel over to put it on the rail.
I understand the nut spins freely in order to keep the rail as lo-pro as possible and that extra material needed to hold it in place would space out the panel. While not exactly what I was expecting I am happy with my purchase and recommend this product to others.
My only other suggestion is idk how much it cost to include an allen wrench in each individual package, but I'd rather not pay for it, I can see including it in the three pack. But most people already have the basic allen needed, if they don't they really should. from what I bought I ended up with 5 allen wrenches, seems expensive and excessive. Even if I paid 50cents for each one it adds up.
Midwest Industries
05-08-14, 10:33
There are little tricks I have found, and this is one of them.
The part I found the most tedious was orientating the nut before trying to install the panel before tightening. The trick I found here is when you orientate the the nuts hold the alleys in place on the other side by pushing down with your fingers, this stops the nuts rom spinning as you turn the panel over to put it on the rail.
I understand the nut spins freely in order to keep the rail as lo-pro as possible and that extra material needed to hold it in place would space out the panel. While not exactly what I was expecting I am happy with my purchase and recommend this product to others.
My only other suggestion is idk how much it cost to include an allen wrench in each individual package, but I'd rather not pay for it, I can see including it in the three pack. But most people already have the basic allen needed, if they don't they really should. from what I bought I ended up with 5 allen wrenches, seems expensive and excessive. Even if I paid 50cents for each one it adds up.
We appreciate the feedback. They get easier to install after you do it a time or two. :)
Thank you,
PETE
MI
I got some of these panels in yesterday and I've gotta say I'm pretty impressed. I ordered one panel set and one handstop set, they look good but I'd like to address some issues.
The tip provided earlier about pulling outward on the panel while installing is spot on. Make sure the toes of the nuts are pointed in the right direction. If one of your button head bolts looks like it's a bit off, the nut isn't in the key slot correctly, back it out and try again.
Most notably, I asked the Midwest the other day if the handstop panel would work in the reversed position, and I was told no. This is not the case!!! Fortunately for all of us, the panels will work either way, giving you incremental positioning options with the panels, and push or pull options with the handstop. Just remember to orient the nuts properly.
All in all, I'm very pleased with these panels.
Original convo w/ Midwest.
Midwest, will the handstop panel work in the reversed position?
Sorry no,The hand stop like most all key mod accessories is directional. Could could just run a hand stop with a 3 slot panel in front of it for the same effect ?
thanks
TROY
MIDWEST
Evidence to the contrary(a good thing).
Here we have the handstop in the orientation I like. If I hadn't already picked up the KAC, I'd use this.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/stuff/2014-05-12173602_zps1537a24f.jpg
And a couple shots of how I configured them.
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/2014-05-12174802_zps2c1ef74b.jpg
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/kdcgrohl/firearms/2014-05-12174816_zps9911039a.jpg
Most notably, I asked the Midwest the other day if the handstop panel would work in the reversed position, and I was told no. This is not the case!!! Fortunately for all of us, the panels will work either way, giving you incremental positioning options with the panels, and push or pull options with the handstop. Just remember to orient the nuts properly.
Is it possible that they'll mount, but you don't get a locking lug to hold the piece in place?
Is it possible that they'll mount, but you don't get a locking lug to hold the piece in place?
Nope. The lug drops into the round holes just as they do when installed the other way, just the next one over. Works fine, and much like all the IWC, KAC & Noveske keymod stuff I've installed, works both ways. I assume our MI rep was just misinformed, or misunderstood my question.
Probably a union member! :sarcastic:
Forgot about those guys. :eek:
SpankMonkey
05-13-14, 14:23
Got mine in today. They fit a PWS rail nicely. Should have ordered more panels. I got 2 five slot and 1 four slot. Overall very happy.
Eurodriver
05-13-14, 15:46
I got curious and decided to see how much diameter to the rail these panels added.
With the panels on a BCM KMR rail it is 1.88". Without the panels on the flats of the KMR rail it is 1.62", however the edges of the KMR rail are 1.76"
So a maximum increase of 0.16", basically negligible.
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140513_163515_344_zps275f16f8.jpg
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140513_163804_820_zps3d1c9587.jpg
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140513_163816_903_zps8a6c58bd.jpg
Midwest Industries
05-13-14, 17:21
Nope. The lug drops into the round holes just as they do when installed the other way, just the next one over. Works fine, and much like all the IWC, KAC & Noveske keymod stuff I've installed, works both ways. I assume our MI rep was just misinformed, or misunderstood my question.
I designed the panels and own the company.I understood the question. They were not designed to work with reversing them in mind. I had them go on in a directional way so you could run them end to end starting from the front and fill the whole side of a rail. In a case of a single panel this would not matter .Thats nice they work for the purpose you wanted them to . :)
thanks
TROY
MIDWEST
Eurodriver
05-13-14, 18:18
I designed the panels and own the company.I understood the question.
TROY
MIDWEST
http://byt.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Mic-Drop.gif
The initial impression was that they physically wouldn't work backwards. They will, but there would be a gap between a backward panel/handstop and the next panel if one was placed backwards. Am I understanding that correctly?
Midwest Industries
05-13-14, 18:37
I took the question as reversible in any way . As totally symmetrical . They are not. That's why I say they are directional . Now as far as installing a whole row backwards you got me I really do not know. It may be possible but I would want to check to see how the nut is engaging the slot. I would rather give a safe answer than one than a misleading or false one. To try every combination that a part can be used simply doesn't always happen. These worked so well as designed we were good to go .
Troy
MI
Rayrevolver
05-13-14, 19:01
The below picture is from TOS, does it show the middle panel on backwards?
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/Midwest_Ind/MI-KeyModPanel/P4072315_zpse419d8dc.jpg
And to be clear, in your pic below, the correct orientation is muzzle is at the top of the picture? I just want to make sure I am installing them the way they were designed.
http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z349/Midwest_Ind/MI-KeyModPanel/P4182267_zps16fae8dc.jpg
Midwest Industries
05-13-14, 19:28
The bosses go toward the muzzle end of the rifle. If you can get them on in another way that works for your application that's great. :).
Thanks
Troy
MI
Played around with them today. A whole row can be installed backwards.
What I'll call the locking lug, being the round plastic part of the attachment system molded into the panel, lock into the neighboring key mod key hole from where the nut is locked into. The nut must be turned 180 degrees to attach them this way.
I have found this to be beneficial in closing the gap to other key mod accessories like my KAC hand stop. I will be interested to see how it works with my Bravo KM VG thats coming.
Midwest Industries
05-13-14, 20:04
We will try it with the BCM keymod vpg. Tomorrow.
Troy
MI
Midwest Industries
05-14-14, 06:22
I tried the panels with the new BCM keymod VPG. There is a gap on either side of the grip no matter how you orientate the panels. If you were to trim the panels you could get a perfect fit with no gap.
TROY
MI
I designed the panels and own the company.I understood the question. They were not designed to work with reversing them in mind. I had them go on in a directional way so you could run them end to end starting from the front and fill the whole side of a rail. In a case of a single panel this would not matter .Thats nice they work for the purpose you wanted them to . :)
thanks
TROY
MIDWEST
Thanks for the reply MIDWEST, but I didn't intend to piss in anyone's corn flakes. Fact is they work either direction(*at least for partial rail coverage*) and that is a good thing. I also think you'll find most here on M4C won't cover every inch of rail with covers.
At any rate they're a good, versatile product that I'm satisfied with. Also, it's nice to see the big guys out on the forums.
Midwest Industries
05-14-14, 10:06
No worries I just wanted to give you a honest answer . I think this worked out well as we all gained some information from this discussion :). I try to stay involved on the different boards as much as I can tolerate. I feel it helps us stay in touch with our customers and the market.
thank you
TROY
MI
got my first 3 panels and of course had to order 3 more. really like the texture . glad for this thread was able to glean the little nugget of holding the nut prepositioned for easier install
Eurodriver
05-15-14, 07:54
I see the gap Troy was talking about earlier between the BCM KM VG and the rail panels. I don't even feel it when shouldering the rifle, but if I did I would just cut the panel to get a closer fit (and then join ARFCOM)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w521/6234987u02/IMG_20140515_084806_288_zpsf3076442.jpg
I see several people have these on KMRs. Is the hardware from the panels contacting the gas block at all? I only did some minor test fitting to see about placement and didn't tighten them down. It looked like the hardware from a panel placed at 6 o'clock could potentially contact the gas block, but don't know as I haven't installed them yet. Thanks.
Midwest Industries
05-15-14, 11:24
The BCM grip is awesome . I also dont care about the gap. I just wanted everyone to be fully informed.
thanks
TROY
MI
Wanted to add a quick tip after receiving three of these covers for my KMR rail. I have long hands that can be considered thin fingered and narrow. I bought the 4 slot covers and they border on being too narrow to prevent my hand from contacting the rail. If you have long or meaty hands go with the 5 slot covers if you don't want your hand to come in contact with the metal of the rail.
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