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Posted: 4/27/2014 4:07:23 PM EDT
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Hey folks, I'm wondering what variables to take into consideration while selecting a rail system for an SPR, and if this community has any experiences relating to precision affected by a rail system and or it's mounting system. First off, I want to clarify that I am referring specifically to free floated rail systems and or modular hand guards. One of the main things I am trying to be mindful of is the stability of the rail itself in the event that optics may be partially or completely mounted forward of the receiver's rail. I am also curious as to whether a style of barrel nut used by standard and proprietary designs lends in any way to the precision of the rifle itself. Finally does the management of heat play a major role? I want to over-think the issue and learn about the weapon system, not just "well this setup shoots better than I ever will so it's good enough for me". Finally, I would like to know which rail system/systems most appropriately address any issues that affect precision so that I and others can make knowledgeable decisions about which systems to use precision rifles and SPR's built on the AR15 platform.
If this has already been covered here I apologize, I've been on the computer researching 18" and 20" SPR barrels which is a confusing topic of it's own complicated by their scarcity. |
| I understand your point, and I agree for the most part. For the sake of the Devil's advocate though, what about using iron sights with the rear on the receiver and the front sight mounted to the rail system? Or the situations where one scope ring is on the receiver while one is on the rail system? Whether we will or should mount an optic partially or completely to a rail system does not change, in my mind, that a rail system should be solid enough to do so. I hope to gather together information pertaining to the quality and characteristics of well built rail systems and their use in precision rifle marksmanship in this thread without necessarily discussing proper shooting techniques, optics, ammunition etc. I do appreciate your input! |
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not sure i agree with your assumptions, but the easiest might be to look at VLTOR polylithic uppers, the VIS and the new/upcoming one. mega makes a monolithic upper/rail, and seekins makes some rail/upper combos that are effectively polylithic.
all that is obviated by the scope mounts you can find today that are pitched forward. 
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I think the underlying premise is flawed. I like free float rails and in particular smooth modular rails where side or bottom mini rail sections can be installed only if needed. Of the breed, the proprietary barrel nut and four screw system on my Daniel Defense MFR 12.0 may be the best in terms of strength and rigidity.
But, I will never bridge an optic between the upper receiver and a rail or place it exclusively on the rail for this reason: No matter the quality of the rail, unless you truly have a monolithic top rail, there will always be the inherent decrease in strength at the attachment point. Proptietary nuts and fasteners can help, but just remember basic physics. The far end of the rail, of necessity, is hanging in the air. It will act like a lever over its distance back to the attachment point, which will be like a fulcrum. Force applied on the far end by impact will be magnified against the nut and fasteners. The longer the rail, the greater the effect. Shifting the rail only a few thousandths of an inch will be imperceptible, but will shift POI downrange my many inches. You will spend lots of money on scopes with highly repeatable tracking and super solid mounts only to be completely dependent on the rail fasteners for maintaining zero. It ain't worth the risk. I love my MFR 12.0 and love the accuracy of a free floated barrel, but I will never place my reliance for zero on the attachment of a rail unless the entire rail is truly monolithic with the upper. |
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I appologize for not making myself clearer, the main point of my inquiry is not to find a rail that I can mount my scope on. My main question is if any proprietary rail systems enhance the accuracy of the weapon. I am particularly interested in the proprietary barrel nuts and mounting systems, the heat management/mitigation properties of various rail systems and to what extent if any the variations have on the weapon's precision. Does that make sense? My previous point was that I feel that the stability of a rail system lends to the accuracy of that weapon, but that is not the main issue. I have never mounted a scope partially on a rail system and I never intend to.
Again thank you all for your responses! |
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