Have "Rails", run their course in handguns

I'm not as convinced as Rexter, but no.

Guns go through trends. I remember back in the late 80s/early 90s, when in the movies, all these guns had extended barrels or compensators. Guys at gun shows selling junky, two-piece screw-on compensators for ten bucks. Haven't seen one lately. Now these things still exist, but they aren't nearly as prevalent.

I do think that a chunk of the market share for people who buy guns with rails are people who will buy them, and in their whole lifetime, never put anything on them. They will look at them in ten years and wonder why the heck they got that thing. Guns with rails won't fit in conventional holsters, and aren't particularly well-suited for carry when you can get grip-integrated or guide-rod contained lasers without using the rail. You can have a light in your pocket or next to your spare mags, and use it separately from the gun, and use it WITH the gun when you NEED to. People have been doing it for decades. This will always be easier than jamming a Glock with a light hanging under it into your waistband. You can add rails to existing guns, and darn near all accessories that you can put on a rail, you can get one that latches to the trigger guard, or clamp an aftermarket rail to a regular gun.

I think that in ten years, there will be models of most guns AVAILABLE with a rail, but most guns for sale in the average store won't have them.

My CZ75B doesn't have a rail, but my S&W revolver does. And I have a light bolted to it next to me at night.

Now how to use it in a tactical situation, I'm not sure yet. I need to look into it more. But this board just makes it more confusing, because opinions are like butt's, everybody and there mother has one.

I hope so.

blaisenguns said:

My main self defense weapon is a Full size Kimber Custom II TLE-RL. I keep a flashlight on it, but It is for home defense, I am not going to Iraq with it, and most bad guys, as far as I know, are unarmed when they break into your home. If ther is significant stats to show that most burglars are armed to the teeth, please show me.

Click to expand...

The point was this:

In a dark room, if the BG is armed....where is your light in relation to YOUR COM?

Exactly....dead center....all he has to do is shoot at the light, and even if you get him, the wounds you recieve very well may get you too.

That's where my body armor comment came from....military/police have this luxury called body armor, which reduce the threat of pistol fire to COM enough that they can afford to have the light spot right there.

I'm a fan of the high and to the side (FBI) flashlight technique.

NEVER assume that a burglar isn't armed. That can be a very dangerous mistake if you're wrong. Play it safe.

Rails?! Bah! This old school shooter don't need no stinkin' rails.

think about it.. if you are not supposed to point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy or you are not clear about your target and what is behind it, why would you have a light attached to the muzzle end of a gun?? rail light encourages non-compliance to safety rules...very dangerous...

It has been over a year since I last bought a pistol with a rail. I will never, ever buy another. I have no need for and don't own any lights, lasers or other accessory rail gear. In my opinion rails totally screw up the aesthetics of otherwise fine looking guns.

In light of the fact that some people, LEOs for example, have a genuine need for railed guns and many others (based on prior posts in the thread) detest them I believe the gun manufacturers should offer both rail and no-rail versions of their wares so we have a choice.

To me, the option is simply not using them. I find them ugly as sin, but that won't stop me from buying a railed handgun.

For long arms, they definatly have their uses....but isn't this in the pistol forum?