These characteristics made MOE slots and accessories less ideal to use with free-float hand guards, which did not allow back side access to the mounting surface. Additionally, depending on the accessory item, the spacing increments were not always small or uniform enough for desired placement. The MOE system was never officially released as an open standard, and the requirement to have access to the back side of the mounting surface limited its application. Initially introduced as a Magpul-specific system, several other companies have built MOE slot compatible accessories in the years since its release. In the years since the MOE slot system has been released, several million MOE slot compatible accessories have been produced. In 2009 the MOE hand guards for the common AR15/M16 firearms were released, bringing the same slot system, along with rails, flash light mounts, grips and other accessories to the mainstream. The system also allowed direct mounting of accessories, such as fore-grips and flashlights, with no rail interface needed. These slots became one of the first “negative space” attachment systems that allowed the user to put mounting rails only where they were needed, as opposed to covering the entire surface with mounting rails, which are then covered with panels. In late 2007 Magpul Industries Corp developed the Masada Concept Rifle that featured a polymer hand guard with three elongated vent holes that acted as a negative mounting surface for accessory rails. Here are some bullet points to be aware of when using the rails.Ī NATO rail is backwards compatible with the MIL-STD-1913 railĪ Mil-STD-1913 rail MAY be within the NATO specifications, but no guaranteeĪny MIL-STD-1913 accessory will work on either rail systemĪ NATO accessory will work on either rail, BUT to get the full advantages of the NATO upgrades a NATO rail should be used. But identification between a MIL-STD-1913 and a NATO rail would be impossible by the naked eye. Identification of a Picatinny/NATO rail is easy enough by the unique shape and size of the rail. The results being a more consistent and repeatable mounting for accessories like scope mounts. The main changes for the NATO rail are the conversion to metric dimensioning, a tightening of certain tolerances, and a change to the preferred mounting contact surfaces for the attachments. NATO Rail - A metric upgraded version of the Picatinny rail, the STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail, was designed in conjunction with weapon manufacturers like Aimpoint, Beretta, Colt, FN Herstal and Heckler & Koch, and was approved by the NATO Army Armaments Group (NAAG) in 2009. The new rail design was adopted as a standard in 1995 with the designation Mil-STD-1913. The Howitzer rail design was scaled down and co-opted for production and inspection procedures. The Picatinny Arsenal factory recognized the similarity of the new design to the existing rail design on a 105 mm Howitzer. Taking measurements from a variety of Weaver rail products, an average set of dimensions was recorded for the new rail design. The design was an adaptation of the Weaver style rails that were on the market at the time. Named after the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, which was tasked in 1992 to develop a standardized mounting system for the U.S. Below is a list of the most popular options and how to identify them.įar from a comprehensive list, hopefully it will help those unfamiliar with the multitude of options educate themselves on what is available. Now that we have the basics out of the way, we dive into the some of most popular AR-15 handguard types. Weight Reduction: Some handguards are made from lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber or aluminum, which can help to reduce the overall weight of the rifle.Īesthetics: Handguards also serve as a cosmetic feature on rifles, and can be customized or upgraded to match the overall style or appearance of the rifle. Protection: The handguard protects the shooter's hand from the heat generated by the barrel during sustained firing.Ĭomfort: The handguard provides a comfortable and secure grip on the rifle, allowing the shooter to maintain a steady and stable firing position.Īccessory Mounting: Many handguards have attachment points for accessories such as lights, lasers, bipods, and sling mounts, which can enhance the rifle's capabilities and versatility. With the numerous options for attaching accessories to your firearm, it is often difficult to decipher which is the best or which type of AR rail you have on your firearm.įirst, let’s quickly cover what exactly a rifle handguard is and what it’s used for.Īn AR Handguard is a protective cover that is mounted on the front portion of a rifle's barrel and serves several functioning purposes to include:
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