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Posted: 1/9/2023 10:46:18 AM EDT
ZEV 14 5/8" Wedge Lock Handguard The US patent for the wedge lock mechanism employed in the ZEV Wedge Lock Handguard states that it was invented by Michael Miller and James Reid. The patent was originally granted to Mega Arms and has more recently been transferred to ZEV Technologies.  The wedge lock mechanism that secures the ZEV M-LOK handguard to the ZEV barrel nut is a simple, yet elegant approach to fastening a handguard to an upper receiver. Speaking of the barrel nut, the ZEV barrel nut is a hefty 3.6 ounces of finely machined stainless steel. The ZEV handguard comes with a custom barrel nut wrench.  The ZEV wedge lock assembly sits in a bottom lip of the ZEV handguard. The slim design of the wedge lock assembly allows for a sleek, streamlined handguard profile when compared to some of the more bulbous designs on the market.     The wedge lock assembly consists of a top wedge and a bottom wedge with a Torx bolt sandwiched in between them.       The top of the top wedge has a concave shape that perfectly matches the curvature of the barrel nut. The top wedge and the bottom wedge are mated at an angle such that when the Torx bolt is tightened, the top wedge is pulled rearward and upward wedging itself between the barrel nut and the bottom wedge and handguard forming an extremely solid lock-up. The top wedge prior to being tightened . . . . . . and after being tightened . . .  The ZEV Wedge Lock handguard used for this build is the 14 5/8” version and it’s manufactured from 6061 aluminum. The handguard, barrel nut and mounting hardware have a combined weight of 15.5 ounces. The ZEV handguard has an indexing/anti-rotation pin at the 12 o’clock position. The hole in the ZEV handguard has an interference fit with the anti-rotation pin and mates precisely with the anti-rotation hole in an SOLGW upper receiver. The ZEV handguard also employs two anti-movement set screws at approximately the 04:00 and 07:00 positions.    The installed ZEV Wedge Lock handguard had zero degrees of rotation referenced to the picatinny rail of the upper receiver.  When selecting a gas-block to use with an M-LOK hand-guard, you’ll want to pay particular attention to the inside diameter of the hand-guard and the outside dimensions of the gas block. You don’t want to make the amateur mistake of installing a MK12 gas block under an M-LOK hand-guard that doesn’t have appropriate clearance for that gas-block. I used a V Seven Weapons Systems 17-4 PH stainless steel, set-screw, low-profile gas-block with an IonBond finish with the ZEV wedge lock handguard.   ... |
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I've wanted one of the original Mega Wedgelock's for a while but never could find one in the length I wanted. Don't know what the hell Zev has done to the line but when Mega had it, they had the nicest anodizing I've seen. The Zev stuff looks like it was spray painted (and poorly at that). Zev also cheapened the material. When Mega made them, the forearm was made of 7075 and the barrel nut was titanium but the Zev version 6061 with steel barrel nut. Its a great design, I just wish Mega didn't sell out to Zev 
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Quoted: I've wanted one of the original Mega Wedgelock's for a while but never could find one in the length I wanted. Don't know what the hell Zev has done to the line but when Mega had it, they had the nicest anodizing I've seen. The Zev stuff looks like it was spray painted (and poorly at that). Zev also cheapened the material. When Mega made them, the forearm was made of 7075 and the barrel nut was titanium but the Zev version 6061 with steel barrel nut. Its a great design, I just wish Mega didn't sell out to Zev Makes it easy to spot a Zev-Mega vs OG Mega part. Mega Arms made top quality stuff for a competitive price, it's too bad the Mega brand has been cheapened (not in price.) |
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Quoted: Almost every place selling the handguards still advertise a titanium barrel nut.. am I missing something? Quoted: Almost every place selling the handguards still advertise a titanium barrel nut.. am I missing something? Stainless steel barrel nut reduces weight and aids in heat dissipation |
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Quoted: Does anyone make a jig to drill an index pin hole in a legacy upper yet? Seems like it would be an easy tool to make. |
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Quoted: What you are missing is that retailers often have incorrect or outdated descriptions of the products they sell. Go to the source (Directly from Zev): I am curious, when they say SS reduces weight, compared to what, concrete? lol This is mildly upsetting. Though I was impressed with the quality before this thread, I’m hardly any less impressed. Although it’s not titanium I still feel like it’s a step up from most of what’s out there considering the overall quality. My only gripe is the lack of handguard options, I wouldn’t mind a little more aluminum for something more robust. A wedge lock quad rail would be really cool. |
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Quoted: This is mildly upsetting. Though I was impressed with the quality before this thread, I’m hardly any less impressed. Although it’s not titanium I still feel like it’s a step up from most of what’s out there considering the overall quality. My only gripe is the lack of handguard options, I wouldn’t mind a little more aluminum for something more robust. A wedge lock quad rail would be really cool. It's not a quad rail, but if you want more beef on it, the Hodge P-lock and S-lock rails would be what you want. (I think the SOLGW M89 rail is based on the S-lock too and is also similarly beefy.) |
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Quoted: It's not a quad rail, but if you want more beef on it, the Hodge P-lock and S-lock rails would be what you want. (I think the SOLGW M89 rail is based on the S-lock too and is also similarly beefy.)  M76 VS M89 |
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I love me some beef but neither of those handguards seem much beefier. Even the one with less extrusion. Although I may just need to see it in real life. I’m totally on board with a longer barrel nut. I’ll always be a sucker for quads and tubes. But this handguard mates perfectly with my upper, its hard to pass up. But this rail will certainly suffice for me and current purpose. For the fella who think the ano sucks, I don’t quite follow when you said it’s like a bad spray paint job. It does seem a little on the thick side yes. But it’s nothing more than that. In my opinion. Just a tad thick if this is a case of, “it used to be better”, it really doesn’t seem to trump the fact that the fit and feel of the product that’s still being produced is fairly refined and good. Granted that’s just my opinion Thanks for the video posted. |
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