M-LOK Handguard for 12.5" Barrel

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - M-LOK Handguard for 12.5" Barrel

Posted: 8/17/2017 5:30:41 PM EDT

Just ordered a BA 12.5" barrel and looking for an M-LOK handguard that will cover most of the barrel but leave me enough room to run an ASR/Saker K.

Do handguards usually run long or short? I'm looking at the Guntec 12" model and the SLR Solo 11.7" model. I'm not a big fan of the ALG rails but it's purely for cosmetic reasons, not quality related at all.

If you're running something similar I'd love to see some pix.

Posted: 8/17/2017 5:33:06 PM EDT

[#1]

Here's a great video on how SLR measures their handguards and how specific length rails fit with certain barrel lengths. It really helped me when I was choosing an SLR handguard for a specific application.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYfxg5LzGc8

Posted: 8/17/2017 9:29:02 PM EDT

[#2]

Your handguard needs to be about .8in shorter than the advertised barrel length (pistol calibers do not apply to this) if you don't want any of the threads on the barrel covered. A 12.5in barrel would need a 11.5-11.7in rail to cover all the barrel minus the threads.

Posted: 8/17/2017 10:20:06 PM EDT

[#3]

I went with a Troy M-Loc and liked the length.

Posted: 8/17/2017 10:51:56 PM EDT

[#4]

SLR makes a a rail just under 12". I run their ion lite 10.73" on my BA 11.5" Barrel and the suppressor would be about 1/16" of a inch from the end of the rail.

Posted: 8/17/2017 11:12:49 PM EDT

[#5]

Different manufacturers classify their rails differently then what it actually measures. For example, Midwest Industries 10" rail actually measures 10.5", their 9" measures 9.25". They will usually list it in the specs of the rail.

Posted: 8/17/2017 11:25:00 PM EDT

[#6]

The last 12.5" upper I had I used a Wilson 6.8 stainless barrel and a VTAC 11" handguard. I had a YHM FH 30cal mount on it and the clearance was right around 1/2" to the barrel's shoulder from the end of the rail.

No pictures unfortunately. That was many years ago.

Posted: 8/18/2017 1:59:10 AM EDT

[#7]

Thanks. I ended up going with a KDG MREX 11.5" rail. It was on clearance at DSG.

Posted: 8/18/2017 2:17:15 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Your handguard needs to be about .8in shorter than the advertised barrel length (pistol calibers do not apply to this) if you don't want any of the threads on the barrel covered. A 12.5in barrel would need a 11.5-11.7in rail to cover all the barrel minus the threads.

View Quote

Suppressor mount and how far back your can actually indexes on the mount factors in as well.

I've got a 12" ALG EMR on my 12.5" barreled upper with a SiCo Saker mounted on the end of it. Both the MAAD and Dead Air Keymount systems index their cans far enough forward on the mount that it'll clear a rail that slightly overhangs the thread shoulder.

Posted: 8/18/2017 8:27:12 AM EDT

[#9]

Topic Moved

Posted: 8/18/2017 10:00:42 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:

Suppressor mount and how far back your can actually indexes on the mount factors in as well.

I've got a 12" ALG EMR on my 12.5" barreled upper with a SiCo Saker mounted on the end of it. Both the MAAD and Dead Air Keymount systems index their cans far enough forward on the mount that it'll clear a rail that slightly overhangs the thread shoulder.

View Quote

Not sure if you were trying to correct me or ad additional info. I never said you could not still mount some suppressors because of how they mount. I was only referring to rail location in relation to barrel threads.

Posted: 8/20/2017 12:05:47 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks. I ended up going with a KDG MREX 11.5" rail. It was on clearance at DSG.

View Quote

I had that rail. The biggest flaw with it is the barrel nut wrench. The material of it is extremely soft. Along with shimming and having to time the nut, it will warp the wrench.

I ended up having to get another wrench. Hopefully they went to a stronger material. I was highly disappointed with this. I got rid of it and went with a Lantac rail.

Also the KDG rail is really 11.625. It was first advertised as 11in. Come to find out it was and still is 11.625

Posted: 8/21/2017 1:38:55 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
I had that rail. The biggest flaw with it is the barrel nut wrench. The material of it is extremely soft. Along with shimming and having to time the nut, it will warp the wrench.

I ended up having to get another wrench. Hopefully they went to a stronger material. I was highly disappointed with this. I got rid of it and went with a Lantac rail.

Also the KDG rail is really 11.625. It was first advertised as 11in. Come to find out it was and still is 11.625

View Quote

I tend to just leave it alone once mounted, as long as the wrench lasts for one mounting session its fine. Do you happen to know if it's a proprietary wrench by any chance? 11.625" should fit will with a 12.5" barrel and ASR mount but I know for sure soon enough.

Posted: 8/21/2017 2:36:22 AM EDT

[#13]

This is a 12.5" barrel with the 11.7" SLR rail if it helps.

Posted: 8/21/2017 5:51:49 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:

I tend to just leave it alone once mounted, as long as the wrench lasts for one mounting session its fine. Do you happen to know if it's a proprietary wrench by any chance? 11.625" should fit will with a 12.5" barrel and ASR mount but I know for sure soon enough.

View Quote

It's a proprietary wrench. It hooks around where the gas tube slides in. When i had my issue with the wrench I offered suggestions to improve the material or make it a closed wrench.
The directions weren't really clear on what shims to use. So with playing with different combos, talking the nut on/off, it really wore out the wrench. I needed two wrenches for the first install. I ended up getting a new upper and the wrenches were so warped I couldn't get the nut off without hammering it.

You should have .200 +/- of clearance from the threads

Posted: 8/22/2017 6:43:55 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's a proprietary wrench. It hooks around where the gas tube slides in. When i had my issue with the wrench I offered suggestions to improve the material or make it a closed wrench.
The directions weren't really clear on what shims to use. So with playing with different combos, talking the nut on/off, it really wore out the wrench. I needed two wrenches for the first install. I ended up getting a new upper and the wrenches were so warped I couldn't get the nut off without hammering it.

You should have .200 +/- of clearance from the threads

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View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

I tend to just leave it alone once mounted, as long as the wrench lasts for one mounting session its fine. Do you happen to know if it's a proprietary wrench by any chance? 11.625" should fit will with a 12.5" barrel and ASR mount but I know for sure soon enough.

It's a proprietary wrench. It hooks around where the gas tube slides in. When i had my issue with the wrench I offered suggestions to improve the material or make it a closed wrench.
The directions weren't really clear on what shims to use. So with playing with different combos, talking the nut on/off, it really wore out the wrench. I needed two wrenches for the first install. I ended up getting a new upper and the wrenches were so warped I couldn't get the nut off without hammering it.

You should have .200 +/- of clearance from the threads

How did the wrench work out??