I have nothing but Picatinny and was thinking about trying new mounting systems. Curious what your opinions are and what you are using.

I have mostly mlok handguards with picatinny rail sections on top.  I dont even use mlok accessories.  I end up buying picatinny rail sections to attach accessories??  My shtf rifle has a P&S RAS on it so I guess for me picatinny is the way to go no matter what.

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LOL!

All of the above.

I have more MLok than the others. But the gun I shoot the most is Keymod, but that’s just because MLok wasn’t available yet when I was putting that gun together. I like both over picatinny. If I had to buy a new rail or upper, it would be MLok since I have more accessories for them.

Nothing wrong with picatinny, but unneeded weight.

inb4 mass election fraud

DNFTT

I only use mlok.

inb4 mass election fraud

My only two rifles I have are keymod.

MASS ELECTION FRAUD OCCURRED!!!

Quad picatinny on all my ar15s. For rigidity.

Qrf and 2 piece drop in from MI. Wouldve got a kac but they didnt have midlength a few years ago when i was looking. Idk if they have now. Kinda dig the old school quad rail and a2 fsb.

I use to have a dd lite rail and its robust as fuck but weighs heavier than it needs to. Technology came a long way and bcm makes it "hollow" on the inside to reduce weight. The lockup system on gen 2, 2 piece is solid as well unlike the gen 1 or what every company had to offer 10 years ago.

I have nothing but Picatinny and was thinking about trying new mounting systems. Curious what your opinions are and what you are using.

What accessories are you looking to mount?

I think there are solutions for all types, just that most keymod or Mlok have the mount lines on the “diagonals” between the typical 3.6,9. My Geissele Mlok has vents instead of MLok slots on the diagonals. Not a big deal as there are connectors that use the 3 and 9, but the diagonals do allow more flexibility.

Another aspect is market of parts. I think there’s more Mlok now, but I have no prob finding stuff for my keymod rail. It doesn’t seem to be going the VHS vs BetaMax way where one is phased out.

just a light and a grip

just a light and a grip

Check out Arisaka for light mounts.  They have some pretty good stuff.  I have a Haley Thorntail for picatinny mount for a Surefire G2X (or whatever is their pretty common handheld light), but I think they have mounts for MLok and Keymod now too. 

If you want/need a grip for pic, I have some Tangodown shorties if you want. 

Mlok Geiselle. If I had to do it over again, I would  go lighter and cheaper (got on black friday for 30% off)

Mlok Geiselle. If I had to do it over again, I would  go lighter and cheaper (got on black friday for 30% off)

I have the MK14 13.5".  It's pretty solid and heavier than my BCM MLok of similar length.  Their barrel nut connection/design is pretty solid, but does make it heavier. 

I’ll be running mlok for the time being.  I like the weight savings over picatinny.  I have no actual preference with mlok vs keymod and started using mlok only because it is more widely used with more accessories available for it.  I still have a rifle with a keymod handguard.

I only use mlok.

Thanks.

Never using MLOK again.....

One of the reasons I like the Viking Tactics' VTAC Alpha handguard is it has a picatinny rail along the top and a round shape with lots of vent holes to help cool the barrel.  The "texture" created by the "ridges" along the handguard helps keep a solid grip to reduce the chance of a drop.  It's a little smaller in diameter than some other similar brands, which I like.

The holes can be used to attach picatinny (or other type) rail pieces.  That saves quite a lot of weight while offering the versatility of attaching whatever wherever you want similar to MLOK & KEYMOD.

Also, it's held on with 3 screws and a bracket that doesn't involve a proprietary barrel nut.   

#1 feature is the handguard free floats the barrel.  I like that better than the A2 handguard style that attaches to an A2 sight & gas block.  A low profile gas block permits the use of a flip-up front sight, so I don't have to have it sticking up when using an optic.  I'm sure there are situations people will imagine where you might want to co-witness the optic and iron sights.  If I need to do that, I can flip the sights up. Not a show-stopper.  Options > limited functionality.

Often, IMO, the choice of rail system is made by choosing a particular handguard you like and accepting whichever system it comes with.  KEYMOD always seemed ugly to me with the keyhole shaped holes.  Personal preference, but I just don't like the look. 

MLOK, on the other hand, looks much more like the VTAC Alpha I prefer, but the requirement to buy special attachment pieces to use on different accessories was a turn-off.  Many accessories only work with picatinny, so you have to buy a picatinny rail piece that will attach to the MLOK handguard.  Seems like a waste to avoid picatinny only to buy picatinny-MLOK parts.  That's my uninitiated opinion.  If I used MLOK, maybe I'd have a better opinion. 

When researching the available rail systems last time I shopped for handguards (when MLOK was relatively new), it seemed like picatinny is, and will remain, the standard for a long time.



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