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Posted: 10/1/2016 4:16:01 PM EDT
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Hello!
I have entered my first foray into non-polymer or non-monolithic rail systems. In the past I have always used either LMT MRPs or stock delta rings and polymer handguards. The rail I have chosen is the Troy delta, mid length. I suppose I have been spoiled by MRPs as the delta rail seems to have a lot of "flex." Is this normal for troy tubular rails and free floar rails in general? For example, does a troy alpha rail or a BCM KMR exhibit flex? By flex, I mean I can place the barrel and the end of the rail between thumb and forefinger and when I pinch I with moderate pressure can see the end of the rail move closer to the barrel. When I observe the rail at the base where it is attached it does not APPEAR as if there is any movement at that location. If this is normal I have no issues; I bought this tube to take advantage of a pinned FSB and I only have an x300 on the rail. I'm not one for IR or visible lasers, thus I have no concerns about a rail that flexes... provided the flex is normal/within spec/accepted as part of the design. The midlength rail is exceptionally long, riding all the way up to the base of the flash hider. If this is par for the course with very long lightweight free floats, how do folks justify a front iron sights mounted to the rail? Just accept that they are for dire emergencies only? I am going to have to uninstall it; the amount of flex negates it as a free float. When using a sling, the tube flexes and contacts the handguard encap. I am going to remove the delta rail, remove the FSB/gas block, remove the end cap, reinstall FSB, add a different flash hider then reinstall the delta rail. This should enable the rail's free float properties. I would love to hear others' experiences in this area (and if this flex is normal on troy and/or delta tubes) as well as any input from troy. I should note, to be clear, that I do love this product. This isn't intended as a gripe fest and so far I'm very impressed with the rail for what it is. I'm just learning new things along the way and hope to learn more from the collected wisdom here. Thanks! P.S. Typed on an iPhone so please excuse any spelling errors. |
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Quoted: The rail I have chosen is the Troy delta, mid length. I suppose I have been spoiled by MRPs as the delta rail seems to have a lot of "flex." Is this normal for troy tubular rails and free floar rails in general? For example, does a troy alpha rail or a BCM KMR exhibit flex? By flex, I mean I can place the barrel and the end of the rail between thumb and forefinger and when I pinch I with moderate pressure can see the end of the rail move closer to the barrel. When I observe the rail at the base where it is attached it does not APPEAR as if there is any movement at that location. This is perfectly normal for free-floated tubes, so long as when you remove the pressure you are applying, everything springs back to its prior position, i.e. the difference between flexing the rail and moving it around. This is a desirable trait because if you apply pressure to the rail (loaded bipod, braced against wall, etc), the rail will take the flex and the barrel will remain true with the receiver, so optics mounted to the upper will still be at zero. However, as you noted, if using iron sights and the front sight it on the rail, it could effect your zero if you tried using them while applying significant force to the rail causing it to flex. But, since the rail should spring-back to its proper place once the load on it is removed, it's only a temporary and rare issue. Consequently, comparing to non-floated rails/fore ends with barrel-mounted front sights, the same issue would be present there, because if you apply pressure to them, you can flex the rail a bit, AND also possibly flex the barrel, which would effect both iron sight zero AND receiver mounted optics zero, because you flexed the actual barrel. So between the two, the free-float is preferred, especially with optics mounted on the receiver and precision focused setups. |
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Quoted:
This is perfectly normal for free-floated tubes, so long as when you remove the pressure you are applying, everything springs back to its prior position, i.e. the difference between flexing the rail and moving it around. This is a desirable trait because if you apply pressure to the rail (loaded bipod, braced against wall, etc), the rail will take the flex and the barrel will remain true with the receiver, so optics mounted to the upper will still be at zero. However, as you noted, if using iron sights and the front sight it on the rail, it could effect your zero if you tried using them while applying significant force to the rail causing it to flex. But, since the rail should spring-back to its proper place once the load on it is removed, it's only a temporary and rare issue. Consequently, comparing to non-floated rails/fore ends with barrel-mounted front sights, the same issue would be present there, because if you apply pressure to them, you can flex the rail a bit, AND also possibly flex the barrel, which would effect both iron sight zero AND receiver mounted optics zero, because you flexed the actual barrel. So between the two, the free-float is preferred, especially with optics mounted on the receiver and precision focused setups. Quoted:
Quoted:
The rail I have chosen is the Troy delta, mid length. I suppose I have been spoiled by MRPs as the delta rail seems to have a lot of "flex." Is this normal for troy tubular rails and free floar rails in general? For example, does a troy alpha rail or a BCM KMR exhibit flex? By flex, I mean I can place the barrel and the end of the rail between thumb and forefinger and when I pinch I with moderate pressure can see the end of the rail move closer to the barrel. When I observe the rail at the base where it is attached it does not APPEAR as if there is any movement at that location. This is perfectly normal for free-floated tubes, so long as when you remove the pressure you are applying, everything springs back to its prior position, i.e. the difference between flexing the rail and moving it around. This is a desirable trait because if you apply pressure to the rail (loaded bipod, braced against wall, etc), the rail will take the flex and the barrel will remain true with the receiver, so optics mounted to the upper will still be at zero. However, as you noted, if using iron sights and the front sight it on the rail, it could effect your zero if you tried using them while applying significant force to the rail causing it to flex. But, since the rail should spring-back to its proper place once the load on it is removed, it's only a temporary and rare issue. Consequently, comparing to non-floated rails/fore ends with barrel-mounted front sights, the same issue would be present there, because if you apply pressure to them, you can flex the rail a bit, AND also possibly flex the barrel, which would effect both iron sight zero AND receiver mounted optics zero, because you flexed the actual barrel. So between the two, the free-float is preferred, especially with optics mounted on the receiver and precision focused setups. Thanks so much for your reply. I am releived to hear that. Yes the rail does spring right back to place after being flexed. So if that's all good then all I need to do is remove my handguard end cap and I should be golden. |
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Quoted:
The barrel is moving, not the rail. Same thing will happen with your MRP. Lighter profile and longer barrels demonstrate this more. Watch the barrels in this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xr_RG_lcNkVERY interesting. I'm in a loud-ass brunch place with the wife so I couldn't watch it with sound, however it was interetsing to see the barrel moving under slow motion. Plus, the barrel is a spikes optimum profile so it while it's thicker under the handguard than a government profile it is thinner forward of the gas block. So I suppose it is slightly easier to flex the barrel like I have been doing. Daniel Defense is killing me by not offering a tubular version of that rail ( mid length of course). I will have about six uppers I would put them on in a heartbeat. I am overquad rails. |
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