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Thread: Trend away from quad rails to less-railed hand guards?

  1. #21
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    For me price is the big issue. Once I saw IWC's light and sling mounts for the MOE handguards, I pretty much decided the MOE can do everything a short rail can.

    I need a white light and a forward sling mount. That's it. ~$35 for MOE handguards instead of $200+ for a rail system just makes good sense.

  2. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Magsz View Post
    I dont think anyone prior to me posted about this but i also believe that rails became as popular as they were/are simply because ALOT of shooters wanted the benefit of a free float system.

    The only way to do that without going for a national match style rifle was to slap a rail onto the gun.

    The current movement away from railed handguards has alot to do with a few things.

    1. The realization that we dont need 12 inches of rail on a fighting gun that will get nothing more than a red dot a white light and a forward sling mount.
    2. There is a massive obsession with lighter rifles these days and the more metal you remove from the gun the lighter it generally ends up.
    3. As more and more people grip further forward on the forearm and do everything in their power to gain more control over the muzzle of their weapon they tend to gravitate towards slimmer rails so that the hand can grip better.
    Items 1, 2 & 3 all apply to my selection choice. So far, I find that all I need is a rear iron, an RDS in front of that, a front iron, and a low TLR-1 in front of that. All mounted on the top rail. The Troy TRX or VTAC achieves this very well and at moderate price.



    The 11" version (and especially the 13" version) gives a lot of forward support hand surface to grip and brings the light and front sight right up just behind the muzzle. Works great for me. If I decide I need to move the light to 10 or 2, it's not difficult to add a short rail piece. While a quad rail makes lots of changes quicker and easier to do, I don't expect to be doing much, if any, changing around... and for the few times that I might make a change, that can be done in a couple of minutes. Simple, uncluttered, and light weight is good for me.

    Important to note, I'm a civilian/home owner with clearly different needs than true "operators" might have.
    Last edited by DHart; 11-17-10 at 17:40.

  3. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by TriumphRat675 View Post
    For me price is the big issue. Once I saw IWC's light and sling mounts for the MOE handguards, I pretty much decided the MOE can do everything a short rail can.

    I need a white light and a forward sling mount. That's it. ~$35 for MOE handguards instead of $200+ for a rail system just makes good sense.
    There's a LOT to be said for the MOE handguards, in addition to great pricing... no doubt Magpul will be selling quite a few of them for those who don't want/need a FF setup.
    Last edited by DHart; 11-17-10 at 17:43.

  4. #24
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    Also, I'd say a lot has to do from design for function.

    Initially the railed stuff was designed for fighting guns. Guns that would need a flashlight, an IR illuminator, NV gear, lasers, etc.

    Civvies appropriated these because these new freefloat quad rails did give them options for vertical grips, lights, etc.

    I'm not sure where we'd be if VTAC and Troy had put their handguard out 3 years earlier...

  5. #25
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    DHART

    I like your set up. Do you run a sling?



    I just traded the SOPMOD for a CTR. There is no sling in the photo but it wears a BFG padded 2 point sling.
    "Real men have always needed to know what time it is so they are at the airfield on time, pumping rounds into savages at the right time, etc. Being able to see such in the dark while light weights were comfy in bed without using a light required luminous material." -Originally Posted by ramairthree

  6. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by usmcvet View Post
    DHART

    I like your set up. Do you run a sling?

    I just traded the SOPMOD for a CTR. There is no sling in the photo but it wears a BFG padded 2 point sling.
    I like your set up too! Like minds... yada yada...

    I have not decided on the sling type and mount yet, but have been considering putting a small QD mount on the lower, left side, rear of the VTAC... the type that doesn't need a separate rail segment... I forgot the brand name of it. I don't think I would want it attached to the top rail.

    I've been switching back and forth between the SOPMOD and the CTR... I like them both and haven't gotten a clear sense just yet of which I prefer. Both are great stocks.

    BTW... thank you for your service. Your sig line has special meaning to me; our son gave his life in Afghanistan a year ago, so freedom does have a special flavor to us, too.
    Last edited by DHart; 11-17-10 at 18:06.

  7. #27
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    I have a 12in rail on my average citizen gun for a few reasons.

    1. It has room for a light
    2. I feel as though I have more control and shot more comfortably with the AFG all the way out.
    3. My DD rail on the rifle actually feels lighter than the YHM 7in rail that it came with.
    4. The DD rail gave me a cost effective method of setting the rifle up in a manner in which I feel comfortable and allows me to keep the front sight intact.
    Democracy is two wolves and a sheep discussing lunch, Liberty is a well armed sheep contesting the vote.

  8. #28
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    Nice idea but it's a stretch.

    I have a large percentage of unused rail on my weapon. It's got a DD RIS II Mk18. I'd say 85% of the rail space is left unused. I have a troy flip up on the front of the top, a SF Scout on the front of the left and a QD TD stubby near the front of the bottom. Oh and also a SF XM07 tape switch on top too.

    They are used as much as can be. I'm using 3 of the 4 rails are being used and one is being used double duty.

    Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball...

  9. #29
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    DHART

    I like your set up. Do you run a sling?



    I just traded the SOPMOD for a CTR. There is no sling in the photo but it wears a BFG padded 2 point sling.
    "Real men have always needed to know what time it is so they are at the airfield on time, pumping rounds into savages at the right time, etc. Being able to see such in the dark while light weights were comfy in bed without using a light required luminous material." -Originally Posted by ramairthree

  10. #30
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    duplicate post in error
    Last edited by DHart; 11-17-10 at 20:30.

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