I am considering a Troy TRX Extreme for my coyote AR. I need to be able to mount a normal swivel stud on the bottom front of the handgun so that it can accept my favorite bipod (Stoney Point Rapid Pivot) for coyote hunting. For those of you who have this rail, is there enough “meat” to drill a hole that will accept a swivel stud?
I’ve got a Troy Extreme, and I think it would be tight. There’s maybe an inch of solid material at the very end of the rail at 6 o’clock, so I don’t know if that will give you enough contact with the bipod mount. I’m also not sure how you’d fasten it on the other side-- it’s a pretty slim tube and there’s not a lot of clearance between it and the barrel.
If you’re not totally set on the Troy version, the VTAC Extreme (same rail, slots instead of holes) has an sling swivel available as an accessory. I’m using that on my precision upper with a Harris bipod. It works great, and no drilling or jerry-rigging needed. You can see pics here.
Look up the ar performance qd swivel attachment.
The AR performance QD swivel attachement is for push-button QD swivels, not a sling stud that you would attach a bipod to.
I believe the OP is looking for something more like http://jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPHGS?
Gotchya.
Thanks guys. All I need to be able to do is drill a simple hole to mount a normal swivel stud. There are so many holes in the TRX Extreme I was wondering if there was enough aluminum to drill the hole through to mount the stud.
The stud uses a machine screw and backing nut to attach. Like the one on the right here:
http://www.uncle-mikes.com/products/boltaction_machinescrews.html
It’s going to depend on the length of rail you intend to use, and whether it’s the Troy or VTAC version.
Basically, the holes/slots at the 6 o’clock position where you want to mount the sling stud match the holes/slots at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions.
On all of the VTAC tubes you should have at least 1" of free space to drill your hole.
On the Troy tubes it looks like it will depend on the specific length. Pictures at troyind.com seem to indicate that the 9" and 13" will have plenty of space, but the 11" will not.
Here’s a 9" Troy that has enough space at 9 o’clock: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/gw4k/DSC_0026800x600.jpg
An 11" Troy where you can just barely tell that the 9 o’clock set of holes goes almost all the way to the front edge of the tube, so you’d be pushing it if you wanted to mount the stud on this length: http://i28.tinypic.com/rwv4ec.jpg
Lastly, a 13" Troy with enough space at 9 o’clock: http://www.nivek.us/ar15/ar_barrel.jpg
I’m not sure I was clear with my other post, but the JP stud adapter Slippers linked earlier (this one: http://jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPHGS ) works with the VTAC version of the Troy Extreme. There’s no need to drill any holes.
With either version (I’ve got both), I’d again caution against the drilling option. The tube wall itself is fairly thin, so the threads are just not going to get much purchase. The nut you’d use on the other side would have to be pretty thin, as there just isn’t much clearance between the tube and the barrel.
I used the same JP stud adapter on my VTAC Extreme for a sling and it works fine. They’re cheap too.
Skippers, thanks for the detailed info, exactly what I was looking for. I will be using the 13" so I should be fine. Going with the VTAC version is an option but I would prefer to use the Troy Extreme version instead. But that is a slick little adapter for the VTAC version. Thanks again guys.
I ordered the VTAC mostly for the ease of mounting the sling stud(s). (I also like the looks of the slots a little better, but “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, as they say.) Naturally the 13" VTAC is currently out of stock.
FWIW, VTAC has some of the Troy receiver wrenches available, but they are not on their web site. Cost is ~$10. This was the part that first had me leaning toward the Troy.
How exactly is the stud adapter fitted and held onto the rail?
See the above post by oalocke. Pics and a link.
I ended up with an Atlas bi-pod, which attaches to a rail accessory.