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Posted: 11/27/2006 3:17:06 PM EDT
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I am considering a Quad Rail for my Car length AR15. I want one that will mount inplace of my M4 handguard. I am looking for a slim quadrail, so I can mout a vertical grip as high as possible. I would apreciate any suggestions you all have. What quad rail does the US military use, and who sells it? Also any comments on the Surefire rail would be nice. Thanks |
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The YHM handguard is kind of heavy. The Surefire handguard's top rails are slightly lower than the rails on the receiver. Daniel Defense's M4 handguards are oval, they are taller than they are wide (but the tops rails do line up with the receiver), the slimmest all the way around is probably Daniel Defense's RIS II, but they're expensive and will require that you remove the FSB and muzzle device. The KAC M4 RAS is easy to install, the RAS II is free floating and doesn't require the removal of the FSB and muzzle device, I'd go that route. DD M4 7.0  DD RIS II 
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| I really like the Surefire, it is among the slimmest if not the slimmest I have used. It is solid and well made (at least the ones I have are). The slimness of the Surefire is something I prefer, but there are just as many if not more who do not like it because of the top rail height with respect to the upper. To each his own. |
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Thanks for the help guys. Got a couple more questions. On the Surefire Rail what do the set screws bind to? The barrel? All the Surefire rail equiped ARs I have seen use a different end cap(I dont know if thats the correct term- the thingy next to the front sight that holds the handguards on.) than mine, mine goes completely arround, will it still work with the Surefire System. Do any rail systems attach exactly like the origional handguards or do they all require some device to solidify their attatchment to the weapon? What keeps the KAC from mounting correctly with a heavy barrel? |
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I'm not familiar with the SureFire but the KAC M4/M5 RAS rails will only fit on barrels with a 0.835"-0.855" diameter just behind the front sight post. This tight profile allows the top portion of the RAS to be able to retain zero. The RAS clamps to the handguard cap via a clip on the top half while the rear is attached by a clamping mechanism that fits over the AR gas tube and fits into a recess in the AR’s barrel nut. This rear clamp is then tightened via a hex-head screw producing a very tight fit that prevents most movement. The bottom rail has no such support and has a slight amount of play as it's held only by the handguard cap, so it won't support precise aiming equipment. But yeah, Knight's RAS essentially replaces the handguards and you won't need any specialized tools to mount it. |
| I used to have an KAC M5 rail on my 20" upper and I loved it. Wish I wouldn't have had to get rid of it...but needed the cash. It locks up very tight and I loved the clamp on the receiver end that attaches to the barrel nut. Plus all you have to do is snap them in place. I also have a DD 7.0 on my 14.5" carbine and it rocks...to say the least. It's the lightest one piece free float on the market and has absolutely no play. It does come at a premium but shop the EE as I see all sorts of rails on there all the time. That's how I got my two rails. And to show you it doesn't hurt to buy good used equipment I bought the DD 7.0 w/ three Tango Down rail covers on the EE for $200....add it up if you bought it new and w/ the covers it'd be $275 for the 7.0 and $36 for the covers. Now the KAC M5 rail....I got this used w/ three 11 ladder KAC covers and a KAC VFG....paid $140 + an LPK. Add it up new it would have been....$373 (which includes the three panels) + approx. $35 or so for a KAC VFG. Seriously man the deals are out there. I know I drifted a bit off but I'd shop the EE for awhile and be patient. BTW the KAC M5 is a rail the military issues on most of it's M16/A2's or A4's |
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