Daniel Defense Omega Rail 7.0

[ny32182]

Thumbs up or down?

I have never handled one. How is the stability? Surely not as good as something like a Larue, but on the upside you can install/remove it easily? What are its direct competitors, and how does it stack up against those?

I have a couple of KAC RIS systems; I wouldn't really consider them direct competitors since they lock in at the front and are not "free floated". I am thinking of FF rails that can be installed with no modification to the upper as "direct competitors".

If the rails that do require modification for installation (i.e. removal of the FSB, delta ring, and/or barrel nut) are tremendously better, I would be interested in hearing about that too. Thanks.

 

[12131]

Thumbs up to the Omega 7.0.
And, currently offered at $179 (at Bravo Company USA), you can't go wrong. Very solid.
I do have a minor concern---> The 4 Allen head screws that finally secure the rail in place are quite small, and maneuvering (tightening) them using the provided Allen wrench potentially could give you the slip (hence damaging the wrench itself), if you're not careful.

 

[ny32182]

Well that is why I ask, the Omega rail was on my "list to investigate" for my current build anyway. I wasn't going go buy until sometime next year, but then got the email from BCM with the current price of ~$80 off; if it turns out to be the rail I want, I don't want to pass on that price.

 

[bikejunky]

I have an Omega 9 on my middy and love it. The allen bolts are a little small but I used loctite and my t-handle allen wrenches to tighten them and they haven't moved in 500 rounds. Time will tell but it seems to be true of the normal DD quality.

Jeff

 

[Lex]

I just installed a set a few weeks ago. They lock-up nice and tight!!!

 

[Coronach]

The price is currently VERY right.

The rail system is great. I have one on my M4gery carbine, and it is very solid and very easy to install. It is probably not as solid as the standard DD rails or the Larue rail, owing to the attachment method, but I would have no worries about using it on a "serious" gun. It is very solid and well made. I suspect that the strength difference is more theoretical than practical.

Mike

 

[taliv]

uhh, yeah. it's great stuff. i've got one on a BCM upper.

that said, i definitely prefer their Lite rail. the only reason imho to get an omega is so you don't have to uninstall and reinstall the front sight block when you put it on. i.e. the upside of the omega is that it's easy to install and very solid.

 

[ny32182]

Thanks for the input guys. I will probably order one up.

I think I like the ability to possibly swap it around to different guns, and the only true hard mounting point I need is for the optic, which will go on the upper anyway.

 

[Coronach]

It should be perfect for you, then.

If you're building a rifle up from a stripped upper, the Lite makes more sense, but if you don't want to pull the bbl on a prebuilt upper, the Omega is fine.

Mike

 

[ny32182]

I am going to be curious about how it can mount in a free floated fashion without threading into he upper, and how it stacks up against my RIS's... personally I think those are pretty far overpriced for what they are, but I needed them for proper clone builds I was doing. Realistically they are tight enough for my purposes though.

 

[ny32182]

It came in today...

I see the answer to the first question: It uses set screws to brace against the barrel nut. Hopefully the stability will be good.

It seems very light for what it is; that is good.

The last thing I'm wondering about right now is what the small holes in the face of each rail are for. Lightening cuts?

 

[Coronach]

QD sling swivel mounts.

 

[ny32182]

So believe it or not I finally have the upper and the rail in front of me and will install it very soon.

I've read through the directions; anything I should know outside of that? They don't say much about how much torque to put on the screws; they just say not to overtighten the set screws.

The four bigger screws holding the rails together look like they have helicoil sections in them, so I'm guessing they should be pretty durable.

Should anything be locktited? Manual doesn't say one way or the other. Thanks,

 

[RP88]

I paid $280 for mine back in the summer :banghead:

guess I should have waited a bit...

But it was the 9.0 for my middy and it has been great for 200 rounds. No budging, rotating, or anything. Alignment to the receiver rail is perfect.

 

[Coronach]

I THINK the screws have threadlocker on them. Can't recall for sure.

Mike

 

[ny32182]

I installed it (didn't use locktite on anything)... So far I'm pretty impressed; I am surprised at the stability (just torquing it in my hand; not beating the crap out of it or anything). It went on nice and easy and looks very well built, and is super light. I likey.

Assuming that impression doesn't change with some shooting, I guess it is just a matter of time before a 9.0 finds its way to my midlength. I may try to wait for it to go on sale though... 275 bones... they are mighty proud of it. I see that the "12.0 FSP" is currently on sale; so maybe they rotate them through.