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Posted: 1/5/2014 9:45:14 PM EDT
AR15 handguard/rails have come a long way over the years. From standard handguards, drop in quad rails, free float quad rails, monolithic rail systems, standard and free float modular tubes, and now keymod systems. Whats next? Where does it go from here? Is it coming down to who's system looks the best and/or is the lightest? With SHOT show just around the corner I'm very interested to see (actually read, since I'm a nobody and can't go  ) what's going to be the hot ticket item rail wise in 2014. Where do YOU think things are headed?
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B5 Keymod Polymer? Quoted:
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I tend to believe the "History will repeat itself. What's old will become new again." thing. Someone will probably come out with some badass looking polymer handguards similar to the MOE. B5 Keymod Polymer? Oh. Yeah, pretty much. |
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I tend to believe the "History will repeat itself. What's old will become new again." thing. Someone will probably come out with some badass looking polymer handguards similar to the MOE. B5 Keymod Polymer? Damn, I missed that one. Just saw some pics, not sure how I feel about it. |
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I wanna see aluminum skeletonized rails with carbon fiber. Continuous top rail and large bolt on sections that can be railed or smooth carbon. That's just wishingful thinking. It's a .308 but... http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/05/14/the-100000-titanium-ar/ The price would obviously drop from that, but it would still be a helluva lot more than aluminum. Probably four time the price at a minimum. SWAG based on ti knives with a cost of 4 times the same blade in a high end steel. Actually, up that from four times the price of aluminum to 8 times. I have a very good idea what a basic lower in aluminum costs, at least what Aero charges wholesale (it's probably gone up since I left my old store, but not too much since November).... Hell, I have a good idea of the wholesale cost of many companies lowers and refuse to pay what they are asking for them. Aluminum is cheap. So cheap I can't understand spending so much on some of the name brand lowers... hell for some of the ones that aren't even known for being super high quality. I mean, I'll pay more for something cool, like I think I might really want a honey badger lower. But I'm not spending $350 for a lower for someone's name, and I'm sure as hell not spending $500 for one in titanium. Any benefit would be about as useful as the magnesium alloy lowers being made and sold for twice the price of aluminum. Sure it's a couple ounces lighter... so meaningless. |
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I wanna see aluminum skeletonized rails with carbon fiber. Continuous top rail and large bolt on sections that can be railed or smooth carbon. That's just wishingful thinking. http://www.apcustomusa.com/tactical.php 
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A full length quad rail like a DD RIS 2 at the same weight as the new BCM keymod would be excellent, and would sell imo. The problem I see and have had with detachable rail sections or even direct mounts is the screws strip or break when moved around too much. I do want a Keymod and when I get one I will set it and leave it.
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Personally the next thing is "Three Gun"
Three gun this, Three gun that, Three gun here, over there, your neighbor has three gun, you have a three gun.... Lots of "Three gun" 13" and 15" rails standard is what I see. From my little outpost here anyhow, that is what I see coming as the next frenzy. Might be short lived, who knows. |
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Personally the next thing is "Three Gun" Three gun this, Three gun that, Three gun here, over there, your neighbor has three gun, you have a three gun.... Lots of "Three gun" 13" and 15" rails standard is what I see. From my little outpost here anyhow, that is what I see coming as the next frenzy. Might be short lived, who knows. Like when everyone was doing FDE
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But it it cost effective? Quoted:
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Because it's twice as strong! And just barely heavier But it it cost effective? Titanium is extremely expensive and very tough to work with. I bought approx 6" x 15" x 1/8" thick sheet of titanium several years ago and it was about $240.00. I can't imagine buying a block of titanium to machine into a handguard. It has to cost thousands just for the metal. From what I understand, it is VERY tough to weld, cut, mill, etc. |
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Personally the next thing is "Three Gun" Three gun this, Three gun that, Three gun here, over there, your neighbor has three gun, you have a three gun.... Lots of "Three gun" 13" and 15" rails standard is what I see. From my little outpost here anyhow, that is what I see coming as the next frenzy. Might be short lived, who knows. It's already happened. |
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It's already happened. Quoted:
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Personally the next thing is "Three Gun" Three gun this, Three gun that, Three gun here, over there, your neighbor has three gun, you have a three gun.... Lots of "Three gun" 13" and 15" rails standard is what I see. From my little outpost here anyhow, that is what I see coming as the next frenzy. Might be short lived, who knows. It's already happened. Much like the word "tactical." Tactical this -- tactical that -- tactical tactical tactical. |
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It would be interesting if someone came up with a quick attach/detach rail system. Larue has something to this nature I do believe but I've been wrong before.............I don't think anything else can be done to rails other than to optimize mounting and accessory options and I like the 15" Rails but also favor Non FF KAC rails on my M4's......... |
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