AR free float rail

[HOLY DIVER]

is the only thing i need 2 complete my upper(i have standard hangaurds on it now) i'm kinda stuck on witch 2 buy. i'm going 2 buy a high end rail.TROY,LARUE,Daniel Deffense. but i i realy can't make my mind up i know i want a standard middy rail. just wanted 2 ask the forum memebers if they had any complaints about the brands i'm thinking about.

 

[ugaarguy]

Never used a LaRue. I like both my Troy MRF-CX, and my DD Omega-X 12 FSP. Both are very well built, but the DD is nicer: It's thinner, lighter, and has better rotation limit on the QD studs. The Troy is semi-drop in though, which is why I chose it for the rifle it's on. Troy makes a DARN good product, but the DD Omega-X rails are just superb.

 

[jim243]

Only complaint is price.

Jim

 

[gotigers]

This chart has a lot of nice info on AR rails. https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwswheghNQsFnUZMkZNF2DQ&output=html

I have DD and Midwest Industries. Both have been rock solid. The Midwest Industries SS-12 that i have is the lightest 12" made. There are some new ones out that are nice: Spikes SAR and Troy Extreme both are getting good reviews.

 

[Robert]

LaRue makes amazing stuff. Sure it ain't cheap, but it ain't cheap. I am looking hard at a Troy float tube, I would love a LaRue but it is way out of my budget. YOu can't go wrong with any of them but if I had the money I'd get the LaRue in a heartbeat. LaRue is a top notch company and Mark is a heck of a guy, at least on the phone.

 

[Tirod]

What will be mounted on it?

Basically, it's a matter of justifying $250 for a mount. I don't see scope, light, or VFG mounts designed to attach to the weapon cost that much - in fact, all three could easily cost less than $100.

So, what's getting mounted that needs a $250 answer to attach it?

 

[kwelz]

I would stick with the DD or Troy. I am not a big fan of Larue rails (or a number of their mounts for that matter). Stick with the rails that have a better mounting and Anti rotation system.

 

[HOLY DIVER]

the rail will go on my BCM middy i intend 2 mount a foward vertical grip and a light. maybee a laser later ??? maybee not sure yet. i don't want 2 cheap out on the rail i've spent a good bit on this upper

 

[M&PVolk]

Magpul MOE would allow you to mount the items for under $50. It isn't free float, but I have seen alot of great reviews. The nicest quad rails I have seen come from Daniel's Defense.

 

[ugaarguy]

Basically, it's a matter of justifying $250 for a mount. I don't see scope, light, or VFG mounts designed to attach to the weapon cost that much - in fact, all three could easily cost less than $100.

Do these mounts free float the barrel? Do these mounts also have high quality integral QD studs? Will these mounts allow a QD stud or other sling attachment point to be attached anywhere along the length of the forearm. Are the VFG mounts that attach to standard handguards as rigid as railed forend (FF or with tension screws)? Do these light mounts allow the light to be positioned anywhere along the length of the forearm?

 

[RP88]

I have a DD Omega-X on my midlength and it is superb. As others have said, it is rock solid, light, and has a very slim profile. It drops right in with no replacement of any parts.

I had it on a CMMG upper for awhile. I then sold that for fundage for a BCM one.

Installing, un-installing, and re-installing were somewhat time-consuming due to the meticulous nature of the locking screws that go into the castle nut and rings, but still very simple, easy, and requires no muscling (other than the D-ring, of course).

They are pricey but well worth it. The monolithic profile is also a nice touch that really came in handy once I finally got around to picking up an optic. It lined up straight and right against the receiver rails with no forcing or grinding.

 

[LiquidTension]

I've got a DD Omega and a YHM lightweight freefloat that both work fine. I prefer the DD, but at twice the cost that's to be expected. I also just got a Troy TRX that seems like it will be my favorite, but I haven't built that rifle yet so I can't say for sure. I like the TRX because it is light and smooth and has the ability to put rail sections wherever you actually need them instead of having four full rails. At ~$150 it seems like a winner.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Troy and DD both make a quality product, but DD's quadrails are far lighter if you want a full quadrail. The Troy TRX quadrails are solid but heavy.

Look seriously at the Troy TRX-Extreme, VTAC Extreme (same but for cosmetics), and Daniel Defense MFR setup, all of which are light free-float tubes that have top rails and can mount rail sections anywhere you want. They save a LOT of weight vs. full quadrails.

I have a DD Omega-X rail and a TRX-Extreme. I haven't seen or used the Larue rails.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Oh, BTW, the Troy "TRX" is a quadrail and the "TRX Extreme" is the tube style with attachable rail sections.

Do these mounts free float the barrel? Do these mounts also have high quality integral QD studs? Will these mounts allow a QD stud or other sling attachment point to be attached anywhere along the length of the forearm. Are the VFG mounts that attach to standard handguards as rigid as railed forend (FF or with tension screws)? Do these light mounts allow the light to be positioned anywhere along the length of the forearm?

For $16 you can put a QD swivel anywhere you want with one of these:
http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/qd-micro-mount/

As for as solid attachment of a VFG, my personal experience is that the most solid by far is the monolithic upper (LMT MRP is the one I have). Way ahead of anything else, for hopefully obvious reasons. The #2 spot is with a drop-in quadrail on an upper setup for plastic handguards - because they clamp onto the barrel nut and inside the retainer at the front, these are extremely solid in my experience. A close third is top quality FF quadrails like the DD Omega-X. Lesser rails are more likely to wobble, and frankly putting a 15-20oz quadrail that tightens against a barrel nut at one end and has no support at the other end, and then cranking on it with a VFG, is a less than ideal setup.

What I hate about quadrails - they weigh a lot, and to handle them you usually need a bunch of rail covers which adds another 4-8oz of weight and $20-60+ in cost. I really don't think many non-military users need quadrails - there are simpler, lighter, and usually cheaper ways of doing all the things that a civilian is likely to do. Like with the TRX-Extreme, or in many cases with some wisely chosen mounts on a MOE handguard.

 

[Justin]

I'm a big fan of the JP VTAC float tubes, I've got them installed on two of my rifles. They're designed to be modular, so you can install pieces of rail where you need them, rather than having a quad rail that adds extra weight.

I've also been intrigued by the minimalist float tubes from Troy Industries. They've got some exceptionally cool designs.