I'm thinking of purchasing one of these but I'm not sure which one to choose.

Is there really a dimes worth of differene between the two?

Thanks,

0351

the m.i. freefloat is what i would get

I would recommend the RAS, if you can find one.  It is identical to the MI, but it has the added benefit of tensioning against the handguard cap as well as locking to the barrel nut.

I can't speak for the MI #17, but the MI #20 is much more solid feeling than the KAC RAS.  Both pieces of the MI#20 clamp around the barrel nut via four screws and steel pins align with the barrel nut's teeth to prevent rotation.

I've owned the RAS and mine had a loose bottom halve.  The top half of the RAS locks into place nicely via a clamp on the barrel nut, but the lower half is simply held into place with the delta ring and front cap just like a standard handguard.  Because of this, it wobbles a bit with a verticle grip.

I saw on Operationparts.com that KAC sells an upgraded lower half called the "SAS" lower which solves the wobble problem by adding a second clamp to the lower half.  I read the British requested this lower because their guys didn't like the wobble.  I'm not sure you can get an RAS with the SAS lower however.  I'd hate to think you'd need to buy the RAS and spend more money on the SAS lower.

Quoted: I can't speak for the MI #17, but the MI #20 is much more solid feeling than the KAC RAS.  Both pieces of the MI#20 clamp around the barrel nut via four screws and steel pins align with the barrel nut's teeth to prevent rotation. I've owned the RAS and mine had a loose bottom halve.  The top half of the RAS locks into place nicely via a clamp on the barrel nut, but the lower half is simply held into place with the delta ring and front cap just like a standard handguard.  Because of this, it wobbles a bit with a verticle grip. I saw on Operationparts.com that KAC sells an upgraded lower half called the "SAS" lower which solves the wobble problem by adding a second clamp to the lower half.  I read the British requested this lower because their guys didn't like the wobble.  I'm not sure you can get an RAS with the SAS lower however.  I'd hate to think you'd need to buy the RAS and spend more money on the SAS lower.

I do like the rails that attach like the MI #20, Troy MRF, and Samson MRFS, but I assumed the poster was looking at systems that don't require modifications of the host weapon.

Quoted: I've owned the RAS and mine had a loose bottom halve.  The top half of the RAS locks into place nicely via a clamp on the barrel nut, but the lower half is simply held into place with the delta ring and front cap just like a standard handguard.  Because of this, it wobbles a bit with a verticle grip.

same experience here.

Thanks to all for your input.  I'm going to go with MI.  


0351