quad rail covers

[smoothdraw]

For those who have floating barrels in their AR and have quad rails, Do you put rail covers? Is it a necessary accessory? Does the barrel breathe better if we do not cover our quad rails?

 

[CoRoMo]

I use rail covers, and I've also mounted a VFG.
It is not a necessary accessory.
I don't imagine that it really inhibits much of the barrel's ability to cool.

 

[ochadd]

I've always thought the rail covers looked sharp.

 

[Shung]

I put them to protect the rails, for the look of them, and of course, not to harm my precious fingers on the sharp edges !

I use mainly KAC and Magpul ladders rail covers !

ex

 

[smoothdraw]

I have KAC panels covering my SWS rails i have VFG also but i usually holding it in the rails. Its making it fat specially when i wear gloves. My rails are not sharp (maybe). I will try to shoot a lot of ammos next week without rail covers and see if it will not burn my hands. I want to strip my weapons with uneccessary accessories to make it lighter.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

You can get a better grip without them. They add weight. They don't serve any real purpose that I can see, other than aesthetics.

Having said that, they DO add to the aesthetics, so for that reason I have some on a rifle, and also just as a place to store them since I bought them back before I realized I didn't really need or want them.

If I were to get any more (which I wouldn't), it'd just be the cheapie minimalist ladder ones, not the nice thick ones.

I guess if you don't want to muss up your Jergen's-smoothed hands - for the nancy-boy shooters out there!

 

[Shadow Man]

I use rail covers, simply because the Picatinny rails bite when barrel striking/butt stroking someone or something. The cuts weren't such an issue, it was more the infection that was almost guaranteed to form in any open wound. That would put you out of the game pretty quick. Filing the edges can help, until your PEQ-2/15, M68, ACOG, VFG, whatever starts slipping or loosing its zero because it can't hold onto the rail as easily. Just my $0.02, YMMV.

 

[praharin]

They don't serve any real purpose that I can see, other than aesthetics.

They protect the rails, which has already been stated. Not an issue if you don't use the rails, but then, what's the point of having them at all? A damaged rail can make it impossible for certain accessories to function properly, if not totally.

 

[smoothdraw]

Is it really easy to damage the quad rails?

 

[Shadow Man]

Is it really easy to damage the quad rails?

How hard do you use your rifle?

 

[smoothdraw]

How hard do you use your rifle?

I'm a civi, currently HD and range drills. Later advanced training in school and participate actively in 3-gun and multi-gun tournaments. What do you think?

 

[Maverick223]

No big deal unless they are real sharp (and most are not), I prefer the ladder covers because they are lighter, afford a better grip IMO, protect just fine, and don't look like a Lego set (like the big, clunky, heavy ones).

 

[Shadow Man]

Smoothdraw, with the ladder rail covers like Maverick mentioned, you should be just fine. You have to be seriously banging your weapon around to damage the rails. Good shooting.

 

[smoothdraw]

How about VFG are you using them on your go to carbines?

 

[Maverick223]

How about VFG are you using them on your go to carbines?

I am not fond of them personally, but I do have one made by YHM on my M17 due to the overheating forearm issue (partially mitigated by cooling slots).

 

[halfded]

I prefer the low profile ladder style covers over the full covers. Less bulk and less weight. I tried the full covers, but they made the rail seem so thick and hard to get a hold of.

BTW, if you search ebay, there's a guy selling the ladder style covers for $12 or $13/4. Enough to cover all 4 sides of a carbine length handguard. Only downside is they only come in black. I have a set and they work well so far; see how they stand up to some heat this weekend though!

 

[Shadow Man]

How about VFG are you using them on your go to carbines?

No. I grip the magwell.