My First AR, Rail Advice?
Hi Everyone, I'm new to the forums, and new to the wonderful community of AR owners. Today, after weeks of deliberation, I settled on my local shops DPMS Oracle. I really wanted to get a S&W MP15 but the dealer couldn't get his hands on one. Since I plan on swapping out a lot of parts anyway, I figure the DPMS wouldn't be too bad of a place to start.
Now for the questions. First thing I want to do is get rid of the stock handrail and replace it with something more attachment friendly. What I am not sure of is which brands are good, what kind of system I want, and what will actually fit. I have heard that free floating is probably about the best to get, on the other hand I have heard some people hate free floating.
Can someone provide some insight? Brand, size, type, or direct links to products are greatly appeciated!
Daniel Defense is a good place to start looking if you don't mind spending the money, Just remember, it all comes down to how you intend to use the rifle and what you think you will really need to do it.
I can't see any reason why you would hate free float there are nothing but advantages there. I can understand not liking the bulky quad rails and for those people look at troy trx extreme and mi ss series great free float systems with only the top rail on there permanently then you have modular attachable rail sections to place your accessories wherever you want. These are my favorite so far and i wish i ponied up the extra couple bucks over my yhm for one now. Lighter weight and more comfortable than a quadrail with all of the same flexibility.
All of the ar's I have built have free floated hand guards. If I bought an ar that didn't I would change it out, but that is just me. A free float hand guard supposedly helps with accuracy, but I am not going to get into the specifics because I am sure I will say something inaccurately.
I would suggest a free float hand guard but it's not a must. Good brands I would recommend for quad rails are Daniel Defense, Larue Tactical, and Knight's. You are going to pay for them though. A great place to buy them is
Rainier Arms. Larue Tactical obivously sells Larue Handguards. If I wasn't going the free float route and wanted a drop in rail I would personally hit the EE and buy a KAC rail. There have been some really good deals on there for KAC drop ins lately.
All of the ar's I have built have free floated hand guards. If I bought an ar that didn't I would change it out, but that is just me. A free float hand guard supposedly helps with accuracy, but I am not going to get into the specifics because I am sure I will say something inaccurately.
I would suggest a free float hand guard but it's not a must. Good brands I would recommend for quad rails are Daniel Defense, Larue Tactical, and Knight's. You are going to pay for them though. A great place to buy them is
Rainier Arms. Larue Tactical obivously sells Larue Handguards. If I wasn't going the free float route and wanted a drop in rail I would personally hit the EE and buy a KAC rail. There have been some really good deals on there for KAC drop ins lately.
Welcome!
If you're really on a budget, I would recommend a KAC RAS or Surefire M73. Neither are free float rails, but they're cheap, drop in, and readily available.
I have three DD Omegas, at the time I bought them, they were the only drop in free floating rails on the market. I like them a lot, but if I were in the market again, I would take a hard look at the Centurion Arms rails or the new Troy Alpha rails.
If you're willing to do some gunsmithing on your oracle, you can remove your gas block and then the sky is the limit so far as options go.. but that's another can of worms.
You might also look at moe handguards wouldn't have to pull the fsb and can put the rail sections on that too.
I converted all of my friends to Magpul MOE handguard people. Lightweight polymer, you choose where the rail sections go, and there's no unneeded weight. Best rail ever.
Originally Posted By Ben762:
Welcome!
If you're really on a budget, I would recommend a KAC RAS or Surefire M73. Neither are free float rails, but they're cheap, drop in, and readily available.
I have three DD Omegas, at the time I bought them, they were the only drop in free floating rails on the market. I like them a lot, but if I were in the market again, I would take a hard look at the Centurion Arms rails or the new Troy Alpha rails.
If you're willing to do some gunsmithing on your oracle, you can remove your gas block and then the sky is the limit so far as options go.. but that's another can of worms.
When you say it would open up the sky, you just mean I can get something that longer than the typical carbine, correct?
I just bought rail from Midwest Industries for my Father in-law. They are light and fit tight and install very easily at a very good price!
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=64Originally Posted By Ben762:
Welcome!
If you're really on a budget, I would recommend a KAC RAS or Surefire M73. Neither are free float rails, but they're cheap, drop in, and readily available.
I have three DD Omegas, at the time I bought them, they were the only drop in free floating rails on the market. I like them a lot, but if I were in the market again, I would take a hard look at the Centurion Arms rails or the new Troy Alpha rails.
If you're willing to do some gunsmithing on your oracle, you can remove your gas block and then the sky is the limit so far as options go.. but that's another can of worms.
I was looking at KACs website earlier today. Their basic carbine drop-in RAS is friggin' $351! Is that what you call "cheap?" Ouch!
If you want a 2pc drop in, Midwest Industries gen2 or DD EZ Car. For a free float, Troy Alpha, Samson Evolution, Centurion Arms or DD Lite/OmegaX
I'd take the extra money and go up a notch on the AR itself. I've sold a lot of DPMS ARs through my friend's shop, and I'm not impressed personally. I'd like for a Windham if you're on a budget. You can always get the rail later. Just my two cents.
Originally Posted By Thermionix:
I was looking at KACs website earlier today. Their basic carbine drop-in RAS is friggin' $351! Is that what you call "cheap?" Ouch!
Get it elsewhere (but be careful) or just buy RAS seconds, also available there for 150. I have two of them. One has the left side rail numberings a little to the right of center. And the other has the R's on the left side and the L's on the right. No big deal. I don't have rail covers on them anymore, I dont' mind grabbin' rail. If it's good enough for deployed troops, it's good enough for me.
Centurion C4 rails are my favorite
Originally Posted By Meangunz:
Originally Posted By Ben762:
Welcome!
If you're really on a budget, I would recommend a KAC RAS or Surefire M73. Neither are free float rails, but they're cheap, drop in, and readily available.
I have three DD Omegas, at the time I bought them, they were the only drop in free floating rails on the market. I like them a lot, but if I were in the market again, I would take a hard look at the Centurion Arms rails or the new Troy Alpha rails.
If you're willing to do some gunsmithing on your oracle, you can remove your gas block and then the sky is the limit so far as options go.. but that's another can of worms.
When you say it would open up the sky, you just mean I can get something that longer than the typical carbine, correct?
Yes.
As for calling the KAC RAS affordable, I should have said they're pretty cheap if you buy them as seconds or used. They're everywhere, it seems.
Topic Moved
I ended up going with a Larue Tactical 11". Also ordered the low profile gas block from them, and a barrel wrench from Brownell. Hopefully it all gets here before the weekend!
thanks everyone!
I see you are all sorted (good choice), however for anyone in the market for a decent, budget rail and not concerned with branding, I'd recommend one of these:
No name rail
- I have used 3 of them now on budget builds for friends and they are excellent; nice tight lockup, perfect alignment with receiver rail every time. The mechanism is an absolute ringer for the Midwest T-10/T-12 rails (but $50+ cheaper)....if I were a betting man, I'd say that this no name rail comes direct from the factory who MI contracts their work out to.
