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Posted: 5/18/2008 1:22:05 PM EDT
| Well I know this must be a very common query, but I've been browsing for hours over several days and just can't seem to find what I'm looking for on here... I'm trying to figure out what type/brand of rail system (Picitanny?) to put on an RRA 16". I went to the gun show yesterday and all I saw there was what seemed to be some cheap-o brands. I'm interested in a quad rail. I also want to mount a VFG and Bipod, I know most VFG's will mount to the rail but what about the bipod? Do they generally mount to the rail or directly to barrel? Sorry again, I know this is beat to death but I checked all the different subforums and couldn't find anything specific to rail comparisons. This is my first AR so this is all new to me. I would very much appreciate any help/advice offered! |
without repeating all of the contents of ARFCOM, here are the cliff notes on railed handguards... by now you have figured out that the standard plastic handguards on your AR are easily removable. while some manufacturers have produced railed attachment hardware for the standard handguards, the underlying foundation is rather flimsy and thus this solution does not lend itself well to VFG and optics mounting applications. enter the railed forearm (aka handguard). there are two types of railed forearms -- non-free float, and free float. free float is defined by the fact that the forearm does not touch the barrel out towards the muzzle. in other words, the barrel is "floating" inside the forearm, and the forearm itself is supported only by it's cantilevered attachment to the upper receiver. why free float? well, there are good reasons -- pressure applied by the use of a sling, VFG, or bipod when shooting will not affect the barrel and barrel harmonics and hence accuracy is maintained. hence, a free float forearm is generally used on precision AR's, or when the indulgent and financially well-off ARFCOM'er wants the exact configuration seen on AR-pattern rifles in use by US forces (e.g. the SPR, or RECCE). two companies that make excellent free-float forearms are Larue Tactical (LT) and Daniel Defense (DD). nevertheless, non-free float railed forearms also are sold -- they are generally less expensive, and easier to install. the latter comes about because installation of a non-free float forearm does not typically require removal of the AR's front sight. there are several popular manufacturers of non-free float forearms as well. interestingly, Daniel Defense has recently introduced a free float railed forearm called the Omega Rail -- the salient feature of this forearm is that as a two piece unit it does not require removal of the front sight from the AR. now then, all railed forearms use standardized rail dimensions (link) -- so all accessories etc are compatible across all rails. so, what to buy? my advice -- for a RRA carbine such as you have, get the Daniel Defense Omega Rail. installation is snap, it will mount anything you can throw at it, and it is a high quality unit. the Omega rail will accept a VFG, a bipod mount (e.g. a railed mount from ARMS or LT), a bajillion different types of flashlight mounts, etc etc etc. some pics are attached just so you see some examples of what i noted above. ar-jedi Larue 7" forearm on LMT carbine, BOBRO "shorty" VFG mounted directly to forearm  Larue 9" forearm on custom build (Afgan barrel, Larue Stealth upper receiver, etc)  Larue 9" forearm in RECCE clone, Harris BRMS bipod mounted to forearm using ARMS #32 bipod mount      close up of Larue "anti-rotation" locking system  Larue 9" rail, shown unmounted <--- extra points if any of you Larue historians can tell what is wrong with this picture!!!   Larue rail shown mounted, note free float    |
| Uh... Wow. Hey can I just buy your gun from you? That thing looks nice! Think you might have sold me on LaRue. Was looking at them earlier and decided I couldn't afford it so I just might have to wait till payday, heh... Thank you so much for your help! Very informative. |
you are welcome. half of the folks on ARFCOM never bother to say thanks. btw... keep the DD Omega in mind -- it's a really nice setup and you don't need to do any sort of gunsmithing whatsoever. i tell you this because your RRA *may* have a permanently attached brake or flash hider, and to get a Larue (or similar DD, other the Omega) rail on you will need someone who knows what they are doing to remove the brake (this is destructive to the brake), pull the front sight off, mount the Larue, put the front sight back on, and finally pin and weld a *new* brake on. this will run you the cost of the forearm, plus a new brake, plus the 'smiths time. it adds up. hence my suggestion about the DD Omega. we might be having a different conversation if you were trying to build a precision rifle around a fine barrel (Lilja, Noveske, Wilson, etc), but it doesn't sound like that is the direction you are going. to get a bipod and VFG (and perhaps a light) onto your RRA, the DD Omega is probably the most expedient and least expensive way to get there. (there = high quality/reliability as well; you could put all that stuff on with duct tape for $2 and change, or use an el-cheapo craptastic forearm -- but the DD Omega will look and work a hell of a lot better...). i'm certainly not trying to steer you away from Larue, God knows i've sent him a lot of coin and his shit flat out works. but (this is the first time on ARFCOM this is being said) you should understand the implications (and costs) of choosing a one piece forearm like the Larue. ar-jedi |
Did you read the thread titled "FAQ: The Big Thread On FF & Railed Forends" that is tacked to the top of this forum? |
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My two cents..... Before you go and drop $200-300 on a rail, and the $80ish on a grip, ask yourself "what are my needs." Have you used a forward grip before? Do you need the rail to mount a huge Surefire light? Is an expensive rail something you need or is it something you want? If the rifle is an SPR, a rail is needed for a bipod, freefloat for accuracy, etc... For a SHTF gun, defense, CQB type use......then it depends. Sorry for going off topic, but I see alot of people on this board decking out their weapons with add ons without asking themselves this question: "What do I gain, and what do I lose?" I am as guilty as anyone. I just returned from an advanced SWAT school at CSAT. I used my personal 6920 for the class, decked out with an Omega rail, Bobro and heavy weaponlight. Using the rifle in CQB, I found that I "gained" nothing, and I "lost" mobility due to weight and ergonomics. Again, this is just me. I wasn't any faster on target with a forward grip than with regular handguards. An expensive lesson to learn. When I got home, the regular hand guards went back on. My rifle now has reg hand guards, with a small section of rail for a X300, a 512, and BUIS. Thats just me. My issued 6721 SWAT gun has irons and a M500A. I always thought it was a "simple" setup. Turns out, it was perfect. Again, this is MY OPINION ONLY. I think you should put that $400-500 bucks towards ammo or a training class. The lessons you will learn could save you from yourself  If you want it, its your money. Just giving another point of view. |
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Para_Bellum -- Ahh, the voice of reason. ::plugging ears and la-la-la-ing:: I have no rebuttal to your post and you make some good points. Let me attempt to justify my frivolous nature: OK, I want a light on it. I want a bipod on it that I can detach/re-attach easily enough. The VFG... I'm having trouble justifying it now that you put me on the spot... But I still want it, I don't know why. I'm now reconsidering it. Have a mount for an EOtech, came with Dominator Irons and mount for EOtech, but I'm torn between that and Aimpoint, of course -- Want a magnifier for whatever I end up with; so I'd need a little more room on top. ANYway, I did end up getting a DD Omega 7". And, damnit, if I don't put anything on it, you can't say it doesn't look cooler. So, I don't know, maybe I'm going a little overboard, but for the time being it's a source of entertainment. If I find myself in a Hollywood worthy situation of some sort I'd probably have to strip some things down and make it more utilitarian. But thanks for the consideration Para! |
No problem brother. Don't let me talk you out of anything. The appeal of these rifles is the ability to modify them to your liking. Make the rifle yours! Welcome to the sickness. You will have several rifles before you know it anyway. Hell, I have one complete lower and two stripped lowers to finish before the end of the year, just in case. God damn BRD!! |
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