Is Keymod going away? I don't see much selling that way any longer.
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Is Keymod going away? I don't see much selling that way any longer.
The key-mod system may not be as prevalent as it once was, as it is not the new kid on the block. However I do not believe it will go the way of the dinosuar. It's existence will be similar to the quad rail handguard, still being made and used.
I still use Keymod....the BCM PKMR handguards to be specific, but I figure I'm already a relic for still having fixed FSBs on all my ARs anyway.
I believe the comparitive tests by, Crane I think, showed M-Lok is just plain better. But I like the PKMRs and Keymod still works fine for attaching stuff like lights and VFGs, which is about all I hang off the front of my guns anyway.
That being said if BCM decided to come out with an M-Lok version of the PKMRs I would probably eventually switch to those.
I have some keymod stuff. I wont be selling it off, but im not buying more.
Hate me for saying it, but I like and appreciate keymod over mlok. The ease of installing accessories is a win for me and I've not had any issues with mounts coming loose being knocked off. I understand that mlok is naturally stronger however it is a pain to index and get set right and it never seems to remount without going throught the whole set up process again.
I agree and most keymod handguards are general lower in cost than the mlok.
I hate mlok. Once key mod is gone I’m going back to quad rails.
I haven't had any problems with my MLOK stuff yet. If you're afraid it isn't indexed right, it's really not hard to get a flashlight and verify the nut position to make sure it's rotated a full 90º and locked in.
KeyMod, while useful for some, feels like a cheese grater without covers and looks like hardware shelving. Those may be personal views, but they're real for me nevertheless.
MLOK and Pic rails FTW.
That's because most people don't want keymod anymore, and retailers are doing their best to move inventory.
I don't think Keymod is "dead", and it works just fine for most people. I just don't see anything "new" coming out in big quantities like we saw a few years ago.
When I was assembling the last rifle I asked during a class for opinions on keymod vs mlok.
The consensus was it is like vhs and beta, and mlok is vhs.
Another guy said when looking at the rails do you want to see cocks or slots, I thought that was a good description.
M-LOK might be more popular than KeyMod, but KeyMod will be around for a long time.
If my KeyMod handguard impacts something hard enough to dislodge my light or bipod, I've
likely got much bigger problems than a missing accessory.
I don't change accessories often, but installing M-LOK components is a real PITA....every time.
I have both systems and I prefer Keymod. The only problem I've ever seen is when the accessory is improperly installed. That said, I haven't had any MLOK failures either. Full disclosure, on all of my systems (Keymod & MLOK) I have my bipods installed under 1913 rail sections rather than direct mount. Why? Because I don't trust single point of contact with either system. IMO when the load is distributed across a larger area (e.g. two or three connection points) I feel better about my s#it not popping off under load. And I heavily load my bipods...
I only run Keymod - mainly because I haven't bought a new rail system in the past two + years or so, but I've never had any failures running this rail system. I also follow the method mentioned above on the rifle I run with a bipod, it works and I've no complaints.
If i decided to buy or assemble a new rifle in the future, I'll look for Keymod rails simple because that's what I've been using and that's the system all my spare accessories use.
I think it will still hang around even though Mlok has gained speed. But really once you set a gun do you really change a whole lot? Seems like once I build one it stays in that configuration for the most part. By the time I need something different it just makes sense to make a new one.
How are y’all having so much difficulty mounting MLok accessories? I find it just as easy as KeyMod, and just as quick, if the VibraTite is pre-applied.
Yeah, scratching my head here as well.
Keymod is basically dead. If you have a rifle already setup with Keymod there's no reason to swap to MLOK, but going forward it's going to become more scarce. I noticed Aero is practically giving away their Keymod handguards right now.
When you take the M-LOK mount out of the package and attempt to install it, the backing plate is in the correct position the first time? Maybe you have some special ability to perfectly adjust the backing plate position, or trick to always get it to engage against the rail, but I don't.
After the plate doesn't engage the rail the first time, I remove the mount, get a 2nd tool to hold the plate while I adjust the bolt, then try again. Nope, the backing plate still won't engage the rail, so I remove the mount, pick up the tools, and adjust the bolt again, and sometimes yet again. Yep, not at all as simple as putting a KeyMod mount in place and tightening a bolt.
I agree. MLOK has been just as easy from my experience.
Apply loctite, adjust the screw all the way down then back off just enough so the nut can be turned 90 degrees for tightening. If it's slightly loose trying to install, look inside the rail to verify the nut is 90 degrees to the mlok slot. Pull downward on the accessory to put pressure on the nut so it doesnt turn as you tighten the screw. Pretty simple.
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It reads like there is a lot of user error going on in this thread.
Personally I’ve found Mlok to be far easier to work with.
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I'll be the dissenter, you couldn't give me keymod anything. My experience with it had been less than stellar. Mlok on the other hand has been nothing but positive and easier to use.
Kac discontinued keymod, you know what that means
I tried Keymod I really didn't like it at all. No matter how much I tightened the accessories and rails, they came loose, and not even with any live fire!
I'll stick with M-Lok or Picatinny.
I like to keep stuff simple...I am sticking with picatinny rail...
It ain't rocket surgery...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVbNcTmA5LQ
I have both and haven’t had any mounting issues with either. I like Key-mod over Mlok for lighter weight and slimmer profile. I like Mlok over Key-mod for rigidity and toughness. I really prefer the CMR over both of them, though. I don’t see Key-mod as being dead to me, but there isn’t much demand and that’s what drives production.
All I have are Picatinny and Keymod, I have no intentions on going to mlok anytime soon. What do I know, I still like the .40 and metal da/sa pistols. I guess I like oddball stuff.
Keymod is still preferred in foreign countries (think Europe and South America) to MLOK. I have both, but still prefer quad rail.
This. Mounting an MLok accessories have never been a problem for me.
That said, I like quad rails better than any other hand guard, specifically LaRue and Centurion Arms and I’ve had a few Troy rails that have been GTG. They are just extremely solid and unlike other quad rails (BCM comes to mind, based on a another friends comments on his BCM rail the weekend before last when we were shooting.) With my LaRue or Centurions there is no flex. Also, I’m still not 100% sold on the MLok being stronger than picatinny. That just doesn’t make sense to me, but no doubt those guys at Crane are smarter than I am. I do have a couple of MLok rails where I chose to go with a more lightweight rail and the cost savings wasn’t a bad deal either. ($10/inch). Keymod never appealed to me, functionally or aesthetically.
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I have both and have experienced the common complaints while mounting both. Mounting to MLOK may be more tedious if the nuts don’t bite right away, but I’ve never been under the false impression that something was mounted properly with it. I’ve had KeyMod accessories come off at least twice due to improper mounting, despite my belief that I’d done it correctly. So MLOK is harder to **** up. It’s also stronger and looks far better. I’ll take the potential of extra time when installing for all of that. The only reason I still have keymod is because my wife’s gun is the original KMR and that thing is light. I’ll probably replace it with an MCMR once she has a shorty upper so I only have two mounting systems instead of three.
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I've been looking at building a rifle with a BCM QRF, but have held off due in part to the lack of reviews that specific rail seems to have. Could you by chance share what issues your friend was experiencing? If the rail has issues with rigidity compared to similar rails I'd like to know.
(I believe there is already a thread on the QRF without much first hand information, if you'd prefer to answer in that thread or via PM, I understand).
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I JUST got my FIRST keymod rail a year & a half ago... and it's ALREADY going extinct?!?! :rolleyes:
Meh... I just got my first M-lok this summer - and already have it on three AR's and a Bren 805. I'll get used to these, and 10 years later, the new hotness then will supplant it, no doubt.
Key mod was cool when it was introduced. Ugly, but it worked.
MLok came along and is better. It looks great, and it holds great. It benefited by learning from keymod.
I find mlok easier to use. You just need to initially set the depth of the nut when new.
I have two key mod rail from a sample of over 20. I’ll never buy another for any reason. Same said for accessories. I’m also not trying to sell them, they work fine and look fine as long as all the key mod holes are covered.
Key mod is done, it’s just going to be a slow drawn out death as the companies that launched it try as they might to hold onto the investment they made.
The market doesnt care what your personal preference is or how "difficult" it is to mount one thing over the other. It would be foolish to start investing into keymod now.