Ergo polymer rails: A quick look

[RojasTKD]

I was thinking not too long ago, "I wonder why no one make a polymer add on rail yet". A month or so ago I was looking and found the Falcon Industries was offering Just that. So a few weeks back I ordered six of them, only to be notified they where back ordered. Well, I got inpatient, so last week I ordered 6 additional rails directly from Ergo Grip to see how well the work on my MOE handguards.

I haven't seen anyone else post regarding these, so thought I'd post my thoughts.

The Ergo polymer rails come in 4, 8 and 14 slot variety. Here they are:
http://www.ergogrips.net/item-detail.cfm?ID=4356-2&storeid=1&image=ergoprail.gif&CFID=36786078&CFTOKEN=60360883

I got the four slot unites as they would mount what I wanted and not take up any extra space. I basically want three on my MOE handguards. One on the bottom for a Stubby VFG and two on the right side (one for attaching a weapons light and one for attaching a QD sling mount). I plan to get a better light down the road, but for now my old M3 will have to do.

First I installed the bottom one. To do so I had to do some grinding as otherwise the tab holding a heat shield would not allow one of the two "flat nuts" to reach the screw for tightening.

See Pic:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/RojasTKD/DSCF4472.jpg

installed:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/RojasTKD/DSCF4474.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/RojasTKD/DSCF4475.jpg

The side mounting was fairly easy, except you had to tightly hold the "flat nut" to keep it from spinning while tightening the hex head screws.

Works well:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/RojasTKD/DSCF4476.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/RojasTKD/DSCF4476.jpg
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/RojasTKD/DSCF4478.jpg

Here is is with all three rails mounted and installed on the rifle:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb141/RojasTKD/DSCF4481.jpg

My Insight M3 is a bit loose and you can hear it wobble a bit. Not too bad but worth mentioning. I have a cheap 30 lumen NCStar weapons light that attaches a little more firmly. The TD QD grip is solid as a rock and very sturdy.

These rail mount solidly onto my MOE handguards and my MOE handguards fit pretty well on my rifle, so I find it a more than acceptable mounting solution. If you handguards are wobbly you might not be as happy.

Now, I don't have my QD sling mount to install on the third rail. I think it should be strong enough to be used in that manner, but not 100% certain. Time will tell.

I like to keep things short and straight to the point, so here is a quick Pro & Con list:

Pro:
1. Less expensive than their aluminum counterparts.
2. Lighter weight than their aluminum counterparts.
3. Easy to install.
4. Ceap & easy way to install Lights and a VFG on MOE or standard handguards.
5. Seem tough and durable.

Cons:
1. Lights may have some play once installed.
2. Not as sturdy and wobble free as a free float rail (but MUCH less expensive too).
3. Real durability is an unknown.

So far I think these should work out well, and keep my other AR from weighing the 10 lbs my 6920 with quad rail and other goodies does. I'm wanting my future build to be lighter and simpler.

Later I'll get to installing the other three rails on my Middy with traditional handguards.

[doubletap]

Nice review, I had wondered about these for my MOE handguards as well. I appreciate the pictures. These look like what I might be looking for. Thanks

[DRich]

I ordered these rails from Magpul along with my MOE handguards. They work well for their purpose.

[CaptainDooley]

I've got a piece of this mounted at 12 o'clock on my MOEs, with a G2 in a VTAC mount. It puts the light at about 1 o'clock and seems to be pretty solid. I haven't run this rifle hard yet, so time will tell how durable it is, but it seems to be a pretty solid setup.

[SeriousStudent]

I built a dedicated .22 AR for practice. I used basically the same setup as you, without the VFG. The Ergo rail is going on this weekend, it arrived today from Brownell's.

The 14-slot rail fits the MOE handguard perfectly. I use the rear part of the rail for a Daniel Defense QD sling mount, and hang the whole thing off a Vickers Tactical sling from BFG.

It's pure fun to shoot. Grown men chuckle when they shoot it, and get big goofy grins. I bet I have sold three Tactical Solutions .22 uppers this way. :D

I need to take a photo and post it, it looks sweet. :)

[dutch308]

I use the Falcon Ergo rails on my MOE Forearm and they work great. I have a light, QD sling and VFG all on short rails and they seem very sturdy. I even shortened the rail that I mounted the sling with so as not to take up alot of real estate. Dremol tool works well for this.

[RojasTKD]

I think I want one more free float rail (or two), but after that I'm sticking with regular or MOE (Need mid-length MOEs) and these polymer rails to keep things as light weight as possible.

I love my Colt, but man it feel so heavy compared to my other rifles. It's not just the rail of course, it the other "goodies" too. still "ounces leads to pounds", and every bit I can save is only a good thing.