I have UTG rails on my Stag Model 4, I really haven't gotten a chance to compare any OTHER rails to them, but they seem to be plenty durable and worth it, especially since they cost less then half the price of most other rails. Heck, I even actually got them off of AIM.
I've got one on my AR, and I think mine came from AIM as well. May have been CDNN.
I wont go so far as to call it garbage, but it aint what I'd call a high quality product either. Mine works well enough for holding a sling loop, light, and VFG. It'll go on my .22 or 9mm plinker when I get something better. Although its on my HD carbine, I'd get
something else for duty use if I were on the job.
I work in sheetmetal fabrication, and have history in machining, so I know a thing or two about metals. Comparing UTG to real rail manufactures out there (Larue, Troy, DD, SF, MI, etc), they're all priced accordingly IMO.
Its like deciding on having Macco or another body shop paint your car. If you're driving a car a car that has been in a wreck or two and has mismatched panels, and you just want it scuffed and sprayed so its not an eyesore, Macco is good enough. But, if you want the car to look
good, the chips and dents smoothed out, panels properly gapped, and dont want overspray on your trim, lights, etc, take it to a
real bodyshop.
I have thought of the quad rails from UTG, but I imagine they're much heavier than something from YHM, DD, etc.
Nope. The included rail covers with the UTG weigh more than the rail itself. The aluminum is also much softer than other manufactures. It doesn't feel any tougher than the 3003 aluminum sheetmetal we get at work.