Old 10-19-2005, 19:21   #1
dr. mabuse
Guerrilla Chief
 
dr. mabuse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: DFW area
Posts: 861
4 rail fore-end eval for M-4

Need feedback on a 2 piece metal fore-end with rails.

I was wondering how stable it was with a vertical grip attached during rough handling compared to a free floating set-up. Any brand reccomendations?

Thanx
dr. mabuse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2005, 20:13   #2
NousDefionsDoc
Quiet Professional
 
NousDefionsDoc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
Posts: 1,653
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr. mabuse
Need feedback on a 2 piece metal fore-end with rails.

I was wondering how stable it was with a vertical grip attached during rough handling compared to a free floating set-up. Any brand reccomendations?

Thanx
I'm not sure I follow, but if it helps - I am running a Surefire rail set now and it is the bee's knees. I HIGHLY reccommend it. I will be posting a report in about a week when the tempo slows a little.
__________________
Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.

Still want to quit?
NousDefionsDoc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2005, 20:43   #3
dr. mabuse
Guerrilla Chief
 
dr. mabuse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: DFW area
Posts: 861
Quote:
Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
I'm not sure I follow, but if it helps - I am running a Surefire rail set now and it is the bee's knees. I HIGHLY reccommend it. I will be posting a report in about a week when the tempo slows a little.

I've seen metal 2 piece units that slip on like a plastic forend and was wondering if they fit tightly like a free flaoting one piece that is attached by the barrel nut.

Will bee looking for the Surefire review.

Thanks
dr. mabuse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2005, 03:59   #4
37F5V
Guerrilla
 
37F5V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Raeford/Colorado
Posts: 134
I have the YHM two piece on mine. Relativley inexpensive and seats fairly tight for a slip on. Keep in mind that I use it for shooting at the local range and mount my eotech to the receiver, not the forearm.

JT
__________________
Smoke and mirrors.....
37F5V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2005, 09:03   #5
Peregrino
Quiet Professional
 
Peregrino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Occupied Pineland
Posts: 4,701
I've been using a SureFire rail with an M-900 light on my carbine for eight months now. Would not trade it for any similar system. I will be getting several more. Personally, I've never seen the advantages of a free-float fore-end on a carbine. I save that for long-range (>300m) special purpose rifles. The SureFire is something anybody can install without additional tools/expertise and it is literally "rock solid" unlike some of the more expensive competing systems. If you prefer a larger profile to the handguard check out the aftermarket grip panels sold by Tango Down/Buffer Tech/Mag Pull (As I understand it they're all in a cooperative manufacturing agreement to ensure uniformity of color/quality/economy of scale/etc. Besides, they all seem to be good people too.) FWIW - Peregrino
Peregrino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2005, 14:28   #6
dr. mabuse
Guerrilla Chief
 
dr. mabuse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: DFW area
Posts: 861
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peregrino
I've been using a SureFire rail with an M-900 light on my carbine for eight months now. Would not trade it for any similar system. I will be getting several more. Personally, I've never seen the advantages of a free-float fore-end on a carbine. I save that for long-range (>300m) special purpose rifles. The SureFire is something anybody can install without additional tools/expertise and it is literally "rock solid" unlike some of the more expensive competing systems. If you prefer a larger profile to the handguard check out the aftermarket grip panels sold by Tango Down/Buffer Tech/Mag Pull (As I understand it they're all in a cooperative manufacturing agreement to ensure uniformity of color/quality/economy of scale/etc. Besides, they all seem to be good people too.) FWIW - Peregrino
Thanks for the info. The Surefire does look stout enough to rigidly hold a vertical grip.
dr. mabuse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2005, 19:16   #7
GackMan
Guerrilla
 
GackMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 152
the three non-free floated drop in rail systems that seem to fit your needs are Surefire, KAC RAS , and YH.

I own a SF and a KAC M4 RAS. They both have tightening mechanisms. They don't just snap in like the plastic hand guards so don't worry about that. Both are solid once they are mounted correctly.

Personally, I like the KAC better. Easier to install. There is a decent KAC primer over here: http://quarterbore.com/kac/kacrisras.html


I haven't had a chance to get a close look at the Yankee Hill one yet. I think it is a little less money and they have a good reputation so I wouldn't take that to mean you're going to the bottom of the barrel necessarily.

I tried to get a buddy to buy one of the YH rails so I could see all three next to each other but was a no-go at that station.


Good luck!
__________________
---
.45 GAP: the .41 magnum of the new millennium!

Last edited by GackMan; 10-20-2005 at 19:19.
GackMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2005, 12:03   #8
The Reaper
Quiet Professional
 
The Reaper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,779
I have not found the KAC to lock up anything like the SureFire.

How are you securing it?

TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910

De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
The Reaper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2005, 14:50   #9
GackMan
Guerrilla
 
GackMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 152
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
I have not found the KAC to lock up anything like the SureFire.

How are you securing it?

TR

I'm using the "teeter totter" looking tooth thing on the top rear portion of the rail that has the hex-screw. Just above where the gas tube goes into the upper receiver. The tooth hooks into the inside of the barrel nut. This is a RAS I. I'm not sure how different a RAS II mounts.

over all, you're right the SF is more secure since you have the 2 screws pushing the bottom half into the barrel nut. Versus the RAS where the bottom 1/4 of the KAC can come on and off w/ the slip-ring. However, the top 3 rails are all one unit and mounted securely. I use the rails as a flashlight and vertical grip platform. If I were mounting optics I don't think I would use any of the 2 piece options and would use a one piece FF one.

The first time I installed my surefire, the bottom half wasn't seated all the way. I tightened it up, mounted my front grip and the first time I put any real pressure on the rail, it popped back and into place and started rattling... had to re-tighten the screws. No big deal. lesson learned & personal preference established.

edit: Went and found the KAC manual - the RAS I and RAS II are the same, just a longer "Top Rear Cross Screw" on the RAS II because of that hump connecting the flay top and the rail.
__________________
---
.45 GAP: the .41 magnum of the new millennium!

Last edited by GackMan; 10-21-2005 at 15:02.
GackMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2005, 22:45   #10
STR8SHTR
Auxiliary
 
STR8SHTR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: People's Republic of Pineland
Posts: 94
Thumbs up

Quote:
I am running a Surefire rail set now and it is the bee's knees.I HIGHLY reccommend it.
+1 on what NDD said. I have had one on my Colt 6920 for about 8 months now.

Last edited by STR8SHTR; 10-21-2005 at 22:51.
STR8SHTR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2005, 14:02   #11
FROST18E
Quiet Professional
 
FROST18E's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Gilbert Arizona
Posts: 18
can't go wrong with a Troy Industries MFR-C. Does require taking off the delta ring, but I just cut it off with a dremel. If you want to replace it, it's less than ten bones.
__________________
Ask questions with 5.56, and answer them with 7.62.
FROST18E is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 18:55.



Copyright 2004-2022 by Professional Soldiers ®
Site Designed, Maintained, & Hosted by Hilliker Technologies