View Full Version : 2020 Hodge Defense S-LOK Handguard
Leonidas24
09-01-20, 21:45
Speculation about these have been floating around since earlier this year and it looks like they're about to start hitting the market.
This photo was posted to Instagram by Tara Roman (mrs.sara.kote on IG) of Roman Arms LLC. I checked with her prior to posting this photo, and from what I can tell Hodge is aware this photo is out there. Not sure if there's more to be seen elsewhere or if there's any additional information about them other than early speculation that the S-LOK was to be kind of a combination of Wedge Lock and Pinch Lock. If I can dig up any more info I'll be sure to post it, but until then here's a photo.
https://i.ibb.co/VqJrs4X/117141622-315445629604085-5500131828631056630-n.jpg (https://ibb.co/0Gm8xbP)
edit: I'm fighting my photo host to get the img code just right.
edit 2: The img code is good but it takes a minute to load for me. Hopefully it's working ok for everyone else.
ColtSeavers
09-01-20, 21:59
Speculation about these have been floating around since earlier this year and it looks like they're about to start hitting the market.
This photo was posted to Instagram by Tara Roman (mrs.sara.kote on IG) of Roman Arms LLC. I checked with her prior to posting this photo, and from what I can tell Hodge is aware this photo is out there. Not sure if there's more to be seen elsewhere or if there's any additional information about them other than early speculation that the S-LOK was to be kind of a combination of Wedge Lock and Pinch Lock. If I can dig up any more info I'll be sure to post it, but until then here's a photo.
https://i.ibb.co/VqJrs4X/117141622-315445629604085-5500131828631056630-n.jpg (https://ibb.co/0Gm8xbP)
edit: I'm fighting my photo host to get the img code just right
I don't see anything new or exciting, however, I also do not kneel before Hodge, so, could someone explain how this is new and exciting?
ETA:
To be clear, I like what I see, but I can already get that elsewhere right now from what I am looking at.
So is this stuff going to be actually available or just more instagram cult vaporware? The language you’re using seems to lend credence to this.
The stuff seems nice, honestly, it’s just to bad you can’t actually buy it.
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justin_247
09-01-20, 23:01
Yawn. This was posted almost a month ago along with three other pictures. Not sure the appeal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDd8ySiJdCM/
vicious_cb
09-01-20, 23:10
You arent going to see it for sale anytime soon since there was a 7075 shortage even before covid. Thats why you've only seen pinch loks since they were designed and built for 6061.
Leonidas24
09-01-20, 23:56
Yawn. This was posted almost a month ago along with three other pictures. Not sure the appeal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDd8ySiJdCM/
It took a while for the owner of the photo to get back with me, otherwise it would have been posted sooner.
So is this stuff going to be actually available or just more instagram cult vaporware? The language you’re using seems to lend credence to this.
The stuff seems nice, honestly, it’s just to bad you can’t actually buy it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tons of us have them. They’re actually not that hard to get if you really want one.
Here’s some more S Lock porn:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200902/eec5bab876d6715b1264a27be556b2ff.jpg
Tons of us have them. They’re actually not that hard to get if you really want one.
Here’s some more S Lock porn:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200902/eec5bab876d6715b1264a27be556b2ff.jpg
How does one buy one?
MountainRaven
09-02-20, 09:11
How does one buy one?
Well they aren't commercially available, yet, so... become best buds with Jim Hodge? Otherwise wait in line like the rest of us.
ETA: The S-Lock has been speculated about since, probably, at least this time last year. IIRC, Hodge publicly announced them around November of last year and the first images (3D renders) of the rail appeared on their social media accounts as part of their posts celebrating New Years.
Well they aren't commercially available, yet, so... become best buds with Jim Hodge? Otherwise wait in line like the rest of us.
ETA: The S-Lock has been speculated about since, probably, at least this time last year. IIRC, Hodge publicly announced them around November of last year and the first images (3D renders) of the rail appeared on their social media accounts as part of their posts celebrating New Years.
This is the answer I expected. It makes raise my eyebrow when people say it isn't hard to get.
Ohhhh, it says HODGE on the side so it much be the $hit.
Nice...
Who's rail is Hodge slapping his name on these days.
What was wrong with the wedge lock and P lock. Those were supposed to be the hottness like 6 weeks ago.
After all the feedback, they still have only one mlok slot at 1 and 11?
Defaultmp3
09-02-20, 11:42
Nice...
Who's rail is Hodge slapping his name on these days.
What was wrong with the wedge lock and P lock. Those were supposed to be the hottness like 6 weeks ago.WedgeLock is too skinny for some folks. P(inch)-LOK is too fat for others. S-LOK splits the difference, is allegedly has a barrel nut interface that is also a hybrid of the Wedge and Pinch interface, and is thus stronger than both in that regard.
I'm not sure why he persists in not having more M-LOK slots at the 1030 and 0130. At least throw in two or three, rather than just one.
Five_Point_Five_Six
09-02-20, 12:02
How does one buy one?
Well they aren't commercially available, yet, so... become best buds with Jim Hodge? Otherwise wait in line like the rest of us.
ETA: The S-Lock has been speculated about since, probably, at least this time last year. IIRC, Hodge publicly announced them around November of last year and the first images (3D renders) of the rail appeared on their social media accounts as part of their posts celebrating New Years.
How to get Hodge products:
•Literally be Jim Hodge
•Become a P&S mod or staff member
•Wait for someone with buyers remorse to post it for sale on TacSwap for 8X the original price
WedgeLock is too skinny for some folks. P(inch)-LOK is too fat for others. S-LOK splits the difference, is allegedly has a barrel nut interface that is also a hybrid of the Wedge and Pinch interface, and is thus stronger than both in that regard.
I'm not sure why he persists in not having more M-LOK slots at the 1030 and 0130. At least throw in two or three, rather than just one.
Considering he doesn't actually make anything, I am not sure that he has any say in the matter, especially considering the low volume of rails that he orders. Not sure ordering 30 or so rails from mega or who ever is making the rail, warrants a new cad program.
Defaultmp3
09-02-20, 12:31
Considering he doesn't actually make anything, I am not sure that he has any say in the matter, especially considering the low volume of rails that he orders. Not sure ordering 30 or so rails from mega or who ever is making the rail, warrants a new cad program.Except that the ones that Mega/Zev made for themselves almost all have 2 slots rather than 1, and TriArc has full M-LOK on every flat on their WedgeLock. And given that S-LOK came years after the WedgeLock, I feel like it would have been easy to slap on the extra slots before going to production.
morpheus562
09-02-20, 12:32
Hodge is difficult to find, but not as impossible as the internet makes it seem. I was able to pick up an upper receiver, wedlock 11.5" rail and gas block last year when they came in stock and my buddy picked up their bcg a couple weeks ago. If you want a complete rifle, just give Dury's or Aldebridge (both out of San Antonio) a call. Aldebridge had a mod 1.5 listed on their site for almost a year and it sold sometime this year. I don't think Dury's shows them on their website, but they are pleasant to talk to and did have a couple in stock when I spoke with them last year.
Considering he doesn't actually make anything, I am not sure that he has any say in the matter, especially considering the low volume of rails that he orders. Not sure ordering 30 or so rails from mega or who ever is making the rail, warrants a new cad program.
Sounds like someone is butthurt. The fact that Jim does more consulting and development and is a one-man shop that runs a cash based business, just like Spiritus Systems, means that he doesn't try to over extend himself financially when he does production runs. Outside of KAC, LMT, and a few others, everyone in the firearms industry uses subcontractors rather than make everything themselves these days. Do you actually think companies like BCM produces everything they make in house? There are also multiple dealers who have rails, BCG's, and other miscellaneous parts regularly. Complete rifles are only found at two or three local dealers and complete uppers are a rarity, due to the dealers who carry the main components. The S-Lock is an amalgamation of the other two rails. The PinchLock was born out of an Army requirement for an extremely rigid and lightweight handguard and is Jim's design, as is the S-Lock. The Wedgelock was a joint project with Mega. Every time someone brings up Hodge, all the haters and butthurt guys roll in and blow the thread up with their BS. Y'all are probably the same people running around on social media saying that Kyle Rittenhouse should not have been in Kenosha last week or that the McClaskey's were idiots to confront the protestors in front of their house and that they need more training. It is no wonder that industry professionals and trainers don't come here anymore.
Hodge is difficult to find, but not as impossible as the internet makes it seem. I was able to pick up an upper receiver, wedlock 11.5" rail and gas block last year when they came in stock and my buddy picked up their bcg a couple weeks ago. If you want a complete rifle, just give Dury's or Aldebridge (both out of San Antonio) a call. Aldebridge had a mod 1.5 listed on their site for almost a year and it sold sometime this year. I don't think Dury's shows them on their website, but they are pleasant to talk to and did have a couple in stock when I spoke with them last year.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia2.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2FNyjObFYNmwEM%2Fgiphy.gif&f=1&nofb=1
WedgeLock is too skinny for some folks. P(inch)-LOK is too fat for others. S-LOK splits the difference, is allegedly has a barrel nut interface that is also a hybrid of the Wedge and Pinch interface, and is thus stronger than both in that regard.
I'm not sure why he persists in not having more M-LOK slots at the 1030 and 0130. At least throw in two or three, rather than just one.
ETA nvm couldn’t get the video imbed to work
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DevilDoc602
09-02-20, 20:54
The level of misinformation and dislike here is exhausting. The S Lock rail and forged C405 “Mod 2” sets are currently in production and will be available to the general public as a whole shortly, no secret hand shake required, just log on and buy. Just like with everything before no fancy marketing or catchy sales pitch adds in magazines, y’all already know what online dealers to follow.
The level of misinformation and dislike here is exhausting. The S Lock rail and forged C405 “Mod 2” sets are currently in production and will be available to the general public as a whole shortly, no secret hand shake required, just log on and buy. Just like with everything before no fancy marketing or catchy sales pitch adds in magazines, y’all already know what online dealers to follow.
Pretty much this.
The level of misinformation and dislike here is exhausting. The S Lock rail and forged C405 “Mod 2” sets are currently in production and will be available to the general public as a whole shortly, no secret hand shake required, just log on and buy. Just like with everything before no fancy marketing or catchy sales pitch adds in magazines, y’all already know what online dealers to follow.
A casual perusing of their social media PR work and it’s really easy to mistake them for the equivalent of a CrossFit box cult clamoring on about secret WODs for those in the know.
It’s all good though because KAC exists
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A casual perusing of their social media PR work and it’s really easy to mistake them for the equivalent of a CrossFit box cult clamoring on about secret WODs for those in the know.
It’s all good though because KAC exists
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
All good, more for those of us who actually get what Jim is trying to do. And for what it’s worth, the advertising/marketing was done by a very well known industry professional as more of a joke than anything. But hey, some people, obviously, just don’t get it.
Sounds like someone is butthurt. The fact that Jim does more consulting and development and is a one-man shop that runs a cash based business, just like Spiritus Systems, means that he doesn't try to over extend himself financially when he does production runs. Outside of KAC, LMT, and a few others, everyone in the firearms industry uses subcontractors rather than make everything themselves these days. Do you actually think companies like BCM produces everything they make in house? There are also multiple dealers who have rails, BCG's, and other miscellaneous parts regularly. Complete rifles are only found at two or three local dealers and complete uppers are a rarity, due to the dealers who carry the main components. The S-Lock is an amalgamation of the other two rails. The PinchLock was born out of an Army requirement for an extremely rigid and lightweight handguard and is Jim's design, as is the S-Lock. The Wedgelock was a joint project with Mega. Every time someone brings up Hodge, all the haters and butthurt guys roll in and blow the thread up with their BS. Y'all are probably the same people running around on social media saying that Kyle Rittenhouse should not have been in Kenosha last week or that the McClaskey's were idiots to confront the protestors in front of their house and that they need more training. It is no wonder that industry professionals and trainers don't come here anymore.
Butthurt, Lol.
We've done the whole snake oil salesmen before with Larue, Simply replace Texas spec with Hodge spec. At least in Marks defense, which I can't believe that I am actually doing, Mark actually made something. I don't have any issues with BCM or SOGLW because they are not pretending to be something they are not.
Hodge should start making Toyota 4 Runners, All he would have to do is slap a set of BFG's on them and have them Change up the font or something, and say I made this.... Hodge Spec>Toyota Spec...
Does he assemble a good rifle/upper yes. Does he make anything, no.
Oh and Just Like Adm Halsey, Kyle acted foolishly, lol
vicious_cb
09-03-20, 01:22
Butthurt, Lol.
You do sound really butthurt. No one talks this much trash unless you have a personal issue with the company, tell us where did the Hodge touch you?
Butthurt, Lol.
We've done the whole snake oil salesmen before with Larue, Simply replace Texas spec with Hodge spec. At least in Marks defense, which I can't believe that I am actually doing, Mark actually made something. I don't have any issues with BCM or SOGLW because they are not pretending to be something they are not.
Hodge should start making Toyota 4 Runners, All he would have to do is slap a set of BFG's on them and have them Change up the font or something, and say I made this.... Hodge Spec>Toyota Spec...
Does he assemble a good rifle/upper yes. Does he make anything, no.
Oh and Just Like Adm Halsey, Kyle acted foolishly, lol
You must be an incredibly rich man judging from all the designs, ideas, and products you yourself have contributed to the firearms community. Your legacy will not be forgotten.
Butthurt, Lol.
We've done the whole snake oil salesmen before with Larue, Simply replace Texas spec with Hodge spec. At least in Marks defense, which I can't believe that I am actually doing, Mark actually made something. I don't have any issues with BCM or SOGLW because they are not pretending to be something they are not.
Hodge should start making Toyota 4 Runners, All he would have to do is slap a set of BFG's on them and have them Change up the font or something, and say I made this.... Hodge Spec>Toyota Spec...
Does he assemble a good rifle/upper yes. Does he make anything, no.
Oh and Just Like Adm Halsey, Kyle acted foolishly, lol
Ah yes, the whole does he make anything bit, again. Your hypocrisy and ignorance is once again exposed for all to see. BCM doesn't make a whole lot of their own stuff and SOLGW makes nothing and both are those builders/assemblers that you so loath. Jim isn't pretending to be something that he is not and has been quite forthright about what he does for a real job and how he runs his business, yet here you are, god's gift to the AR world calling out people who design and develop products for the benefit of gun owners, law enforcement and the military. You sir, are the epitome of butthurt and continue to be called out on it. Freaking clown shoes...
Guys..
It's just gun parts
Why let your blood pressure skyrocket over a piece of aluminum.
Hodge, KAC, BCM, LMT, etc..
At the end of the day, no one cares.
Seriously..
No. One. Cares.
If it does the thing you need it to do inside the price point you are willing to pay, then buy it. If any of that doesn't work for you, then don't.
It's really not that difficult.
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Five_Point_Five_Six
09-03-20, 14:17
A casual perusing of their social media PR work and it’s really easy to mistake them for the equivalent of a CrossFit box cult clamoring on about secret WODs for those in the know.
It’s all good though because KAC exists
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"If you know, you know."
Guys..
It's just gun parts
Why let your blood pressure skyrocket over a piece of aluminum.
Hodge, KAC, BCM, LMT, etc..
At the end of the day, no one cares.
Seriously..
No. One. Cares.
If it does the thing you need it to do inside the price point you are willing to pay, then buy it. If any of that doesn't work for you, then don't.
It's really not that difficult.
Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk
I don't disagree, however there are some people in this thread that think disparaging someone is ok and want to act all high and mighty about it. Jim is an honest man that does things the right way, yet there are those who feel slighted by him for some reason or another and feel the need to jab at him and his business every time he or his products are mentioned and want to turn this into ARFcom. This should not be tolerated, yet it is, and because of that, a large number of industry professionals and SME's have left, so the knowledge gap here is growing each and every day.
MountainRaven
09-03-20, 15:39
I don’t believe that Jim Hodge or Hodge Defense have ever represented themselves as anything except what they are.
My run-to-the-end-of-the-driveway carbine is built around a Hodge barrel and a Hodge stripped upper. When the S-lock becomes available, inshallah, I will replace the Triarc TriLock it wears with a Hodge S-lock.
ColtSeavers
09-03-20, 16:35
My questions were actually sincere. I have no idea what makes this new rail and S-lock exciting. I do not follow Hodge and therefore am out of the loop.
morpheus562
09-03-20, 16:40
My questions were actually sincere. I have no idea what makes this new rail and S-lock exciting. I do not follow Hodge and therefore am out of the loop.
I like the Hodge wedge lock rail; however, it has incredibly little clearance to where I cannot mount anything underneath the gas block without it touching the gas block. The pinch lock went the other direction and is a beast with lots of clearance. S lok seems like the goldilocks approach where it is larger than the wedge lock to mount accessories, but not as big as the pinch lok.
It is a hybrid between the Wedgelock and Pinchlock rails. It uses the same barrel nut as the other two rails and the mounting system from the Pinchlok, but is not as thick as the Pinchlock or narrow as the Wedgelock.
ColtSeavers
09-03-20, 17:21
Thank you both.
I don't disagree, however there are some people in this thread that think disparaging someone is ok and want to act all high and mighty about it. Jim is an honest man that does things the right way, yet there are those who feel slighted by him for some reason or another and feel the need to jab at him and his business every time he or his products are mentioned and want to turn this into ARFcom. This should not be tolerated, yet it is, and because of that, a large number of industry professionals and SME's have left, so the knowledge gap here is growing each and every day.
I didn't disparage anyone. I just think the marketing is lame.
I didn't disparage anyone. I just think the marketing is lame.
I wasn't talking about you, but m4hk33 sure as hell did and continues to do so on here or anywhere else he is a member when Hodge comes up. That right there is proof positive that the guy has an axe to grind with Jim and is quite telling of his character, or lack thereof.
Jim's marketing was done by a very well known industry guy, who has since retired, as a joke and it went over a lot of people's heads.
SWATcop556
09-03-20, 19:39
Let's keep this on the topic of the rail being discussed or, like many other threads that head down this road, this too will be locked.
If you don't like Hodge for whatever reason, don't buy it or bitch about it. There are many options out there.
Personal attacks don't fly. Jim Hodge is a good man. I don't own any of his products but I am patiently searching as are others. Stay on path.
Leonidas24
09-04-20, 12:06
I don’t believe that Jim Hodge or Hodge Defense have ever represented themselves as anything except what they are.
My run-to-the-end-of-the-driveway carbine is built around a Hodge barrel and a Hodge stripped upper. When the S-lock becomes available, inshallah, I will replace the Triarc TriLock it wears with a Hodge S-lock.
I'll be replacing a 10.75" URX4 with the 11.5" S-Lock when it's available. The KAC handguard is solid but just a bit short to comfortably grip with my orangutan arms.
To those commenting about the availability of the current Hodge rails; when Mega was still Mega you could generally find their version of the Wedge lock readily available at a lot of different dealers in the 7075-T6 variety. It was after Zev took over and quietly changed the material to 6061-T6 without reducing the price that people really started going after the Hodge rails hard. At least that's how I remember it.
Defaultmp3
09-04-20, 12:34
I'll be replacing a 10.75" URX4 with the 11.5" S-Lock when it's available. The KAC handguard is solid but just a bit short to comfortably grip with my orangutan arms.
To those commenting about the availability of the current Hodge rails; when Mega was still Mega you could generally find their version of the Wedge lock readily available at a lot of different dealers in the 7075-T6 variety. It was after Zev took over and quietly changed the material to 6061-T6 without reducing the price that people really started going after the Hodge rails hard. At least that's how I remember it.Aren't the current Hodge WedgeLocks also 6061? Or are they still 7075, but with a steel barrel nut?
I'll be replacing a 10.75" URX4 with the 11.5" S-Lock when it's available. The KAC handguard is solid but just a bit short to comfortably grip with my orangutan arms.
Please post a review when you do. I’m nuts for URX4’s, but am looking at 11.5” rails.
Please post a review when you do. I’m nuts for URX4’s, but am looking at 11.5” rails.
SLR makes a 11.7" 7075 Rail. https://slrrifleworks.com/ion-11-7-hdx-mlok-handguard-f/
These rails are sleepers IMO. I've got a few of them now and just ordered their 7075 7.5" rail for a 300 BLK. Quite the rigid rail if you're OK with how they lock up- which I am.
SLR makes a 11.7" 7075 Rail. https://slrrifleworks.com/ion-11-7-hdx-mlok-handguard-f/
These rails are sleepers IMO. I've got a few of them now and just ordered their 7075 7.5" rail for a 300 BLK. Quite the rigid rail if you're OK with how they lock up- which I am.
As an FYI I also have one on a 300 blk build. SLR is not in the same league as a URX4 or a Hodge rail. Anodizing, antirotation, lockup, machining are all inferior.
SLR makes a 11.7" 7075 Rail. https://slrrifleworks.com/ion-11-7-hdx-mlok-handguard-f/
These rails are sleepers IMO. I've got a few of them now and just ordered their 7075 7.5" rail for a 300 BLK. Quite the rigid rail if you're OK with how they lock up- which I am.
I didn’t know about that one. I have one of their other 11.7” handguards, and it works well, so far. I haven’t done anything interesting with it, though.
Edit: the anti rotation method of their handguards is not what I would expect with their otherwise good quality.
As an FYI I also have one on a 300 blk build. SLR is not in the same league as a URX4 or a Hodge rail. Anodizing, antirotation, lockup, machining are all inferior.
The only thing I'd agree with on that is the anodizing. I've got URX4, MK16's, MCMR's and CMT as reference.
Any source on issues with the rotation and lockup? Haven't personally seen it and I've been around a lot of SLR rails. I like the wedge pieces on the barrel nut, very similar to CMT.
I didn’t know about that one. I have one of their other 11.7” handguards, and it works well, so far. I haven’t done anything interesting with it, though.
Edit: the anti rotation method of their handguards is not what I would expect with their otherwise good quality.
Yeah. The piece on the Gas Tube isn't how I would design it. But IMO with the wedge pieces on the barrel nut it wont matter.
The URX is the barrel nut, I suppose if you hit it hard enough to overcome the TQ it's going to rotate.
I've got a thing for trying different handguards. Have JP's new Mlok rail on backorder. And I'm sure I'll be trying Hodges new rail at somepoint.
Aren't the current Hodge WedgeLocks also 6061? Or are they still 7075, but with a steel barrel nut?
The Wedgelock is and always will be 7075 with a titanium barrel nut and the Pinchlock is 6061 with a steel barrel nut. Wedgelock's have been MIA because the 7075 extrusions had been gobbled up by the airline industry. There are rumors of a Wedgelock release this fall.
I am also a big fan of the URX4. KAC did a great job with it. SOLGW and FCD both offer 11.5" rails. The Son's rails are a Wedgelock variant and the FCD rails are from CMT and Centurion Arms.
Defaultmp3
09-04-20, 23:30
Anecdotally, my friend is able to consistently get a couple MOA POI shift with his LPR when he loads the bipod, so I'm not totally sold on the URX4 if deflection is a major concern.
The p-lock and wedge lock are nice designs. Hopefully the s-lock is similarly executed.
pointblank4445
09-08-20, 00:09
Anecdotally, my friend is able to consistently get a couple MOA POI shift with his LPR when he loads the bipod, so I'm not totally sold on the URX4 if deflection is a major concern.
I've always been skeptical about that myself.
Also anecdotally, I had a PROOF barrel in a Hodge upper and P-lock; I could drive POI down 5...maybe 6" straight down loading the bipod @100y. Went back to a Mod 1 config. with a 16" DD CHF barrel and everything else the same. Minimal POI shift between bipod to supported to tripod no matter how I drive it with the DD back in it. I'm aware small-frame gas guns don't like being man-handled when driven, but that's just nuts.
Razorblade
09-14-20, 16:18
S-lok? Looks like M-lok to me
S-lok is just the name of the rail. There was also a P-lok, and Wedge lock model.
S-lok? Looks like M-lok to me
Hahaha. These terms refer to attachment of handguard to barrel nut, not attaching accessories to rail.
MountainRaven
09-14-20, 22:57
The differences are more apparent when you spell the names correctly.
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