I have been doing builds for 10 years. As the rail technology has evolved - so have my builds. Currently I like the thinner free floats like DD, Midwest and even the UTG Pro (although the barrel nut is a bit much). Most are on carbine or mid-length 16" barrels with a 10-11" rail length.
Now looking at Noveske and trying to decide if the cost is worth it.
Switching my DD Lite 12" and my MK18 RIS II out for Geissele SMR and BCM keymod (whenever it finally comes out).
Noveske NSR 13.5" on my gun. The NSR is worth every penny.
Ill pickup the BCM keymod rail when it comes out to throw in my box o parts for a different build.
I have the fortis rev rails on mine. Its extremely lightweight yet very strong.
Currently running a Rainier/Samson Evolution in 12" flavor. I really like the Fortis offering, and have considered going that route next. My number one goal of late has been weight savings.
I also really like what I’ve seen of the new BCM offering.
I’ve been running a DD M4A1 RIS II on my Noveske 14.5". I also had a Seekins SAR which was very nice. Thinking about replacing my MOE and giving the Centurion C4 Mid Cutout a try on my other 14.5" Noveske.
I used to have the LaRue rail and found it quite heavy. I now own the Noveske NSR. Much better since I’m not hanging all that crap on it.
Kac urx 3.1 and Geissele’s offerings.
Moved since this does not fit the purpose of the Custom Build area.
Looking at MW IND.freefloat rails Just wondering other than being a lot easier to install would a 2 piece FF be as rugged as a one piece? How is the 2piece anchored?
Will only be using to mt. light sling att.VFG and sometimes a bipod.
Most recent build has a 13" Geissele MK4 with a 14.5" midlength barrel. Probably gonna try the BCM KMR.
Wilson TRIM rails are my fav right now.
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My favorite so far is the MI ss gen2 rails. Lightweight, simple, and everything I need out of a rail and a reasonable price… I think my next one will be their new keymod though, and that may become my favorite.
What I mean is, have you looked at your AR and decided that you will do nothing else to it, ever? Or is it normal to think about or actually change your AR with different parts on a somewhat regular basis? I get the feeling many never feel finished, it’s probably the reason why the accessories market is so lucrative and ever expanding. New parts come out almost on a weekly basis it seems.
I thought I was done but now I’m looking at my Troy Bravo rail that I had bought way before I got my 16" BCM. It’s around 3 years old I think and would be considered by many now to be overly heavy and dated. I know many dislike the Troy Alpha rail (probably a little dated also) but I’ll be damned, I just like it. It’s slim, lightweight, attaches easy enough, you can put the rails anywhere you need, and has been very solid though I’m not purposely abusive to any of my gear (I leave that to guys on youtube or reviewers that get the stuff for free). Before keymod this was a big deal. I’m still not totally sold on keymod either. I’d have to use pic rails for the keymod to attach my VFG and my RLM, kind of defeating the purpose. I’d have to buy all new stuff that attaches without the pic rails adding to the cost. With the Alpha I only need what comes in the box.
I started second guessing the Bravo when by buddy went from shooting my 20" PSA with a 15" Alpha to my 16" BCM with the 11" Bravo. He commented that the 16" felt heavier than my 20". The Strange thing is I just weighed both not too long ago. I think the 20" weighed 6.8 lbs and my 16" weighed 6.7 lbs, both have gov profile barrels and were weighed empty. This was also before I installed the Magpul RLM and Streamlight. The 16" should weight significantly less, but doesn’t. The Bravo looks like my buddy’s rail on his Ruger SR-556 which feels heavier than both of mine. I know many just hate the whole round rail idea, I was one of them until I tried out a friends. I’m open to suggestions but I’ve started looking for a decent price on an 11" Troy Alpha rail. I don’t really have any firsthand experience with anything else. Are other options available that are as slim, lightweight, and around the same price? As always, thanks for the input guys!
The problem with picking out such things like rails is the market is completely flooded. The cherry on top of the ‘problem’ is that we are flooded with quality. Knight’s, Geissele, Fortis, Noveske, Centurion, M.I., Daniel Defense, BCM soon, Samson/Rainier, etc all make fine handguards. It’s just deciding what length you want, what attachment method, and how you want your gear mounted at the 3,6, & 9 position.
I honestly think for the price and if you are just getting into ARs the Samson is hard to beat. Well made, low priced and uses the stock barrel nut. For a standard 1913 rail the Centurion C4 line is fantastic and also uses the stock barrel nut but more expensive.
All these new rails coming out that have a proprietary barrel nut are great. They give the rail a slimmer profile and mount more securely (i.e. NSR, CMR, Geissele) but bump up the price considerably and it would be nice to see some commonality b/t manufacturers concerning the barrel nut but it would be nice if I could find .22 LR as well. Not happening any time soon.
-Jax
+1 Its just simple and works
I have been a fan of the URX3.1 for a while for 14.5"/16" guns with a covered/low-pro gas block.
For guns with an exposed FSB, I like the Centurion and another that isn’t on market yet.
The URX4/keymod continues to grow on me. As more accessories become available and as experience base grows I anticipate it becoming more user-friendly and advantageous.
The Noveske is interestingly thin and light, if that’s your cup-o-tea.
The Geissele is the best addition to the 416.
Ive always been happy with my PRI tubes.
UTG? Really?
I’m a big fan of KAC stuff, especially the URX 3.1
I know this opinion will be in the minority, and I don’t know if I would say it’s my absolute favorite, but I still very much appreciate the features of the original Daniel Defense Omega rails. I think I’ve been running a 9" model on a BCM BFH mid-length for maybe five years and the set screws which I witness-marked when I first installed it have never loosened any at all. I know it’s personal preference, and it’s probably due to how familiar I am to them, but unlike many I love the oval-ish profile, I even exaggerate it by running magpul xtm covers on the bottom and low profile ladder rail covers on the sides, but I’m well aware I’m the oddball. No modifications to host weapon, qd sling points, free floats the barrel, thin profile, much more secure than you would assume, I just really like the Omega. I wish DD would make a mid-length FSP Omega much like Centurion’s but I guess it wouldn’t be feasible to do so while retaining the narrowness of the rail due to the endcap.