get the RAS or DD’s new drop in.
Thank you! Your search-fu is more powerful than mine, plus the hospital blocks most weapon sites when I try and research.
I’ve been slowly coming to the same conclusion, that the Ergo may be the one to try. If I find I really like the concept (not a sure thing at this point) I can always bump the Ergo down to the .22 and get a Omega for the 5.56.
Thanks again!
Fuggit - it’s only money, so I ordered an Ergo Z Rail two piece from my usual pusher. You can tell it’s narrow by looking at how the Delta ring and front HG cap are almost flush with the side rails (this is zero7one’s pic over at WE, so I’ll just link it): http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/zero7one/2009_05_16_0072.jpg
I’ll give it a try with both rail covers and ladders, plus the new RVG I picked up for the 9mm and my TLR-1. If I decide I don’t like having a quad on this carbine I won’t take much of a loss selling it; if I decide I like it I’ll bump the Ergo down to my .22LR AR and order an Omega for the 5.56.
Let us know what you think of the Ergo. 
Have you looked at MI?
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=64
At 2.45" wide, zero interest.
Will do! It’ll be a limited comparison against my existing MOE HG and an A2 corncob. It wouldn’t really be comparable to a free float rail.
OK, the Ergo arrived today. First thoughts:
[ul]
[li]It mounted up extremely easily, to the point that I was worried it would be loose. Not an issue, it’s solid after you install the four screws.
[/li]
[li]The size is close to perfect for me. The width over the flats is 1.89" (48mm); the height is 2.44" (62mm). I’m certain I wouldn’t have been happy with a wider rail like the DD EZ or the MI.
[/li]
[li]As I feared, a carbine rail really isn’t long enough for effective 3:00 mounting of a TLR-1. I’m thinking about picking up a cantilever mount like the DD and mounting it either as far forward as possible on the side or to the top rail hanging out at about 1:30.
[/li]
[li]Fit and finish is very good.
[/li]
[li]I’ve been playing around with my motley collection of rail covers - XTs, XTMs and ladders - and think I like the XTMs the best. The rail is narrow enough that the front end side XTMs need to have their backside slightly clipped to avoid interfering with the handguard cap - no big deal, not even visible. The backside of XTs just clear the handguard cap.
[/li][/ul]
I’ll try and get some pics up in the next few days. So far so good.
One thing that really surprised me - the new Magpul RVG isn’t one XTM segment long. I thought that would have been a no-brainer.
I pulled it this morning so I could Loctite the mounting screws and get a weight - 10.6 oz with screws. Lighter than I expected.
Sounds like it’s exactly what you were looking for, so far. Is it pretty rock solid?
Be sure to post a pic when you’re done.
I’m just waiting for a full set of rail covers to be delivered - it’s a bit of a mutt at the moment.
I’m very impressed with how solid it locks up. I have a VFG on it right now and I can’t get the rail to budge.
Maybe I missed it, but any particular reason you’re not going FF? Is it strictly a cost issue?
Also, FWIW, I find carbine-length rail systems to be a total waste whether FF or not. They are too short for me when using them for what they are intended (as attachment points for other equipment) beyond maybe a vertical foregrip and even then I want to place it far enough forward that I wind up grabbing the FSB.
YMMV
Yep, this was pretty much a cost control - I wasn’t sure if I’d like carbine-length rails, but I wanted to experiment with better VFG, sling point and light mounting than I was getting with my MOE handguard without spending Omega kind of money.
I’ll run this Ergo for a few months to test the concept and then either go back to the MOE or upgrade to a DD Omega. If I decide to go with the Omega, the Ergo will probably get kicked down to the .22LR or sold off.
My AR I use primarily for training purposes since we use M-4s, but don’t get much time on the range with them. We use the KAC RAS carbine-length rail systems and haven’t transitioned to longer ones in the service, so I train with the closest I can get to what I’m issued. In fact, I haven’t even kept my RAS on my carbine at home and instead shoot with the stock handguards.
Given a choice, I’d much prefer a midlength system, but the military doesn’t seem much interested in going to that kind of system anytime soon. If they do, it’ll be the result of a caliber change to 6.5 or 6.8 where they’d end up re-barreling the existing receivers, however I don’t see this as very likely in the immediate future, especially since they seem interested in procuring a whole new weapons system instead of merely upgrading the M-4 beyond a few components (heavier barrels, for example).
On another note, in case anybody cares, DD Omega X FSP 12.0s are on sale at BCM right now for $179.
I would have went with the DD Omega-X 12.0 FSP, since I like to get my hand farther out on the rail and they have a smoking deal on these, Just $179.00 at Bravocompanyusa.com. http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Daniel-Defense-OMEGA-12-0-FSP-Rail-p/dd%2010005.htm
Nice rail, but not an option for this 14.5" build:
Utilizing a proprietary barrel nut…
And by using a carbine rail on your 14.5", you can use your bayonette.
Seriously though, I have a 12" rail on one gun and this on my beater. I find that even on the 12" I tend to only use the same area as the carbine rail. I guess it’s the way I’m built, but both work equally well for me. And hey, I can use my old bayonette if the need ever comes up.
Proof of concept. Make sense.
I do the same thing a lot. I have primary guns that are set up in ways that I know for a fact work for me and my purposes, and then I have test-bed guns that I mess around with and try new things. Sometimes the test-bed gun gets so good it changes roles and becomes the primary! That’s actually how I wound up back at no-VFG MOE forend for my primary and am chomping at the bit for the mid-length MOE to be released for it’s 16" sister
What can I say - I’ve been burned enough times by my assumptions that I always want to test new concepts before I jump.
I are an analyst.
Still thinking about the front sling point - I’m leaning to a Gear Sector HK hook plate at the left rearmost position. So far:
Notice the oval shape, similar to a DD Omega:
