I really like the looks of the Troy 13" TRX Extreme and am considering buying one. I know that I'll need to shave down the gas block to accomplish this. I've assembled AR's before and have all the tools, so I'm confident in doing the operation. I just wanted opinions on the rail and to see if anyone else has used it as well as what shaving the gas block entails. Thanks!

Here's the rig it would go on (the crappy rings are being replaced with an Armalite 1 piece mount this week):

Even with a micro gas block on a regular .750" barrel there is not alot of room to work with.  I have a customer who has access to a machine shop manage to whittle down a GB on a RRA .458 to fit inside one so I know it is possible.  I wish I had gotten pics of his.  I am not too sure if there is going to be room enough around his gas block to add rails.  I wish I had a larger selection of gas blocks to I could get a better ideal of what fits well and what does not.  

The TRX Extreme itself is a neat rail.  Guns with them seem to point well and are nice and flat overall.  It makes for a nice 'yote slaying upper in .223 and is popular with the 3gun crowd.  They are pretty easy to install.  The additional rails are where i get the most hangups.  The included screws are slightly too short in some instances and it can cause frustration.  It is not as bomb proof as other rail systems.

Samson just introduced a similar rail, and there is the Midwest Industries SS rail.  I have not used the Samson, the MI SS rail is alright, but I am not a fan of the use of locking collar type handguards.  

I don't think the Armalite mount will give you enough room for a rear BUIS with that scope.  

What do you use this gun for?  In it's present state it seems a bit confused as to its purpose.

That made me laugh. You hit it on the head. Ultimately this is a range toy which might make it out to the woods to kill either an elk or hopefully go on a road trip to kill hogs. You could say that it is in transition.

I had an EOTech on it and it died on me so I just upgraded to the Accupoint. I want some magnification so I can get clear shots at game and decent holes on paper. I'm thinking of doing away with the BUIS altogether as this isn't a battle rifle.

Then I changed out the MOE stock I had to the UBR today.  

I am thinking that the Troy would give a nice, smooth look to the front and the only thing that will go on it is a Magpul AFG. I like the long tube with a small amount of barrel sticking out effect aesthetically.

So what other smooth looking tubes would be able to do that which would work?

I've mentioned the Samson and MI rails.  Just about everyone makes a tube, some fancier than others.  All would require shaving the FSB if you plan on having an extended tube, just not as drastically as the TRX.

A Rail system I like that sort of bridges the gap between the TRX and a Tube ,both aesthetically and otherwise is the Spike's BAR rail.  It is also stiffer and does not cost much more.  The larger interior diameter would make fitting your GB a little easier.  I really like how it indexes off the receiver one both the right and left side rather than with just hope and loctite.  The TRX indexes off the receiver as well but I have seen it where it is slightly off if the index tab is rotated to fully tough the upper.  With the huge array of manufacturers out there making uppers I guess that is to be expected, I just wish that the tab was left slightly long and then one could file/sand it to fit proper.

I like the feel of the BAR as it is entirely scalloped and so despite it being fully railed it does not hang up on everything or feel like a cheese grater.  It still feels like it points well and some prefer the larger diameter feel of it over the TRX.  The regular AFG does not fit on it but the AFG2 works well.  I also like the 5 swivel pockets.  

The shop mule is a 10'5" with a 9" TRX and AFG.  Because of the FA nature of my Mule the AFG is a necessity along with the shorter rails on the side with ladder covers.   Your hand is pretty close to the barrel and you begin to feel the heat pretty well without the AFG.  

I have not used them , but I do like the looks of the PRI handguards.  Not cheap though.  

The BAR is sexy but pricey. It reminds me a bit of the YHM diamond look. I might do one of those and they're $100 less than Spike's.

The BAR isn't much more than the TRX and is MUCH nicer than the YHM in both finish and design.  The YHM is a hard to pass up value.  Since you are not building a social or zombie gun and might end up hunting with it a plain smooth tube might be your best bet.  Armalite has some offerings here that can have rails added.

I only have experience building with some various free float tubes, the Spike's, TRX, YHM and MI SS offerings.   Hopefully someone might have input on other systems.  

The MI SS15 looks really good, too. I think I might go that route. I don't need quad rails at all as I'm not going to run a light or other stuff off it. That's the reason I like the MOE handguards in the 1st place. I can't see buying a for-end just to have to buy covers for all the open rail space.

The heart of my problem is that I hate the big, blocky Beowulf gas block and I think the long FF tube would look cool with just that fat, nasty barrel peaking out just a bit Good reason to blow $150+ huh?

http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=4958&cat=1767



You should be able to fit that gas block under any rail out there.

Just checked my barrel dia. at the block, .909. The bitch is that the AA barrels and gb's are a proprietary size and AA doesn't sell low pro blocks seperately. So If I want a smaller block I have to grid it down

Here is a Beowulf low profile gas block for sale on Gunbroker.  Just buy this one and save the agony of cutting one down.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=204842708

$85 shipped!!! Thanks, but damn that's waaaay too spendy. I'm having a hard enough time trying to justify spendy about $200 on a tube. That is a crazy price for a gas block. I have seen on the Beowulf forum that there is some variation in sizes and to avoid hassles it is easier to use the original, albeit, altered block.

Screw it. I'm doing the next best thing and going with the MI SS15. Thanks for the help guys!

This is why I don't want to change out the gas block. I'd rather modify it and have it function than to spend $ on a replacement which may or may not function.

Glad I could help you!

Funny part is I am waiting on my Beowulf to arrive in the next few days......I am looking forward to seeing what that MI rail looks like on yours...I might be buying another 15 incher if it looks slick enough!

Thanks to tackleberry I found a rail that fit. Not the Troy, but I like it

Looking good, let's go to the range.

Killer!  I'm glad it found a good home...now please tell me it has actually seen some trigger time!

It's heading to the range next week. I am just waiting on some KNS pins before I install my Spike's trigger and then I'm there