Midwest Industries Inc. is proud to release the NEW GEN 2 SS HANDGUARDS
PETE
MI
Quick thoughts:
-the quoted weights are great.
-including a bipod stud and a QD cup in one of the included rail sections is a BIG plus compared to other brands where you need to spend a lot extra for those.
-is the barrel nut the same as a GI barrel nut or proprietary?
-I find it funny that MI is going to a clamping style attachment like a Troy TRX (original) just as Troy is switching away from that design. Any comments on that?
I don’t hold Troy as a standard, do you?
Not as a standard, but it is interesting to see one company adopt a relatively unusual way of doing something just as what I think the first company to use that method goes away from it. It appears that Troy changed their attachment design due to perceived or possibly real issues with the strength of that attachment. MI may have done something different that has no issues, but I am curious to learn more.
It looks like a proprietary barrel nut. The teeth of the nut appear to go up against the upper with the long smooth section pointing towards the muzzle. The teeth may be exposed, slightly, as the four locking tabs on the forend engage the teeth to prevent it from rotating. At least that is what it looks like from the photos.
It looks interesting. I have another build and will consider this rail.
They were not the first to use the slit/screw clamping method. Google the Olympic Arms Firsh handguard. The difference is that the Firsh threaded on the barrel nut and then used one screw/later two screws to clamp to the barrel nut instead of using a jam nut to keep it alive.
I am not certain the Olympic Arms Firsh was the first, but I installed one about 20 years ago and it is still being used. (it is a heavy rail and outdated in my opinion, but not because of the screw clamp) Also this method has been used in other applications with great success. It all depends on the amount of bearing surface it clamps against.
The Firsh was a boat anchor with rails on it. I’ve never used a troy. Does it lock into the barrel nut, or is it completely friction fit?
So are there inserts to the SS, or do the rails screw directly into the tube? Are there going to be other rail lengths available for the system, or can existing MI rail segments be used?
The Troy TRX design has a barrel nut that is similar to a GI but slightly smaller. The handguard has longitudinal grooves. You slip the grooves over the spikes on the nut and then rotate very slightly (maybe 10 degrees) to align the handguard with receiver, which causes the nut spikes to sit within a circumferential groove that keeps the handguard from moving forward or backward. Then you tighten a slit-clamp for a friction fit to keep it in place. It works fine and many people have abused TRX / TRX Extreme handguards with no issues, but a few report issues and many have questioned its strength.
I think az doug is right about the barrel nut and how this would work. I am wondering if the only thing keeping it from sliding forward is friction from the clamp, or if there is some mechanical stop as well.
After I tried and broke my Troy, I went to the Centurion Arms rails. In my opinion, the two clamping screws need to have replaceable STEEL nuts instead of the embedded helicoils. The tab could have a hexagonal cut out to hold the steel nuts semi"captive". What I seriously think is lacking on a lot of items are torque specs. I mean, if you make the dang thing and the nut it clamps to, shouldn’t you know how tight it should be within a safe range vs. finger tight or small gap, etc. etc.
Troy wasn’t the first company.
Apart from the Olympic Arms “Firsh” that was mentioned by az doug in post #6, were there others using this design before Troy?
Correct, it is a proprietary barrel nut.
PETE
MI
Torque specs are provided. Threads for the rail screws are roll form tapped not cut so they are stronger. The large holes have helicoils.Our nut design is very different from the other guys. The inside of ours is bored and does not have a scalloped type nut . They go on nice and straight.
thanks
TROY
That is a very good idea to provide torque specs on those parts. I should have been clear that I was referring to the Troy rails.
Thanks
I have a Gen I rifle free float and I’m waiting to receive my Gen II Carbine free float. Good products.
btt 
are the new 12"of rails shipping yet?
Midwest Industries Gen 2 FF Carbine Length Rail on Colt 6920
Just realized the thread is dealing with a different style rail…
a good looking setup nun the less! 
PETE
MI
:happy: