Posted: 5/14/2016 2:50:00 PM EDT
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I'm looking to either build or buy an A4 upper to use for HP/XTC. Not looking to create the "ultimate upper", but buy quality parts. If I go buy route, unless someone has other ideas, I'm going with a RRA NM A4 (bead blasted barrel, A2 FH, Bayonet lug, NM carry handle 1/4 x 1/4 x.040). I've been looking for used factory uppers, but the pickings are slim. I have a stripped RRA lower that I am planning to build out.
If I build I was thinking of using a KAC FF RAS vs. traditional hand guards over a FF tube. But I wanted experienced shooters thoughts on using a quad rail vs. hand guards. |
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I have a Geissele NM quad rail. I like it and the fact that the rail really grabs the shooting glove and does not move. With regular A2 handguards the glove can slip a little. It's not really needed but it makes barrel changes a snap, no need to index a barrel nut like the old style A2 free float handguards.
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Quad rails are more $ than a DCM FFT: RRA Tubes are $99
Quad rails are harder on shooting glove even with rail covers. Easier to add weight to DCM FF Tube than a Quad Rail. Been shooting a quadrail gun to try out the optics thing but when I rebuild a dedicated rifle for OP SR it will have a DCM tube. |
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So far, one in favor and one against.
I have not been able to try the new quad rail styles. Guess I will have to get to the club match and sling up in position with one each and see how it goes. I can follow both points. Although I think the guys tell me they have come up with ways to mount ballast in the new stock setups too. |
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Installing the old style "service rifle" float tube with standard A2 hand guards and getting it perfect is a pain in the ass. Any free float tube using key-mod, rails etc. is easy as hell. Pick one that fits your hand comfortably and run with it.
Removable carry handles limit the amount of elevation you can get, some brands more than others. My brother's will come completely unscrewed at the 600 yard line rendering it useless. The solid style A2 upper works best at 600 yards. If you're only going to shoot 100/200/300 reduced course matches any upper will do. With the new rules allowing scopes up to 4.5x iron sights are going to be obsolete IMO. This is where your flat top will shine. |
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Quoted:
If I build I was thinking of using a KAC FF RAS vs. traditional hand guards over a FF tube. But I wanted experienced shooters thoughts on using a quad rail vs. hand guards. I think I'd prefer the Giessele railed forearm, but before those were hatched, I built an upper using the KAC RAS over a free float tube and it works just fine, so I personally have no actual reason to change it. Once you get them on there, you won't find much difference. You will have to remove some clips and whatnot to get it to fit over the float tube, but it's just a matter of drilling out a few rivets. |
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Quoted:
I think I'd prefer the Giessele railed forearm, but before those were hatched, I built an upper using the KAC RAS over a free float tube and it works just fine, so I personally have no actual reason to change it. Once you get them on there, you won't find much difference. You will have to remove some clips and whatnot to get it to fit over the float tube, but it's just a matter of drilling out a few rivets. Quoted:
Quoted:
If I build I was thinking of using a KAC FF RAS vs. traditional hand guards over a FF tube. But I wanted experienced shooters thoughts on using a quad rail vs. hand guards. I think I'd prefer the Giessele railed forearm, but before those were hatched, I built an upper using the KAC RAS over a free float tube and it works just fine, so I personally have no actual reason to change it. Once you get them on there, you won't find much difference. You will have to remove some clips and whatnot to get it to fit over the float tube, but it's just a matter of drilling out a few rivets. Since the KAC FF RAS rail is free floated by design, why would you install it over the FF tube? Would you not remove the FF tube first, and just install the RAS in place of it? Hence my need for a front sling attachment. |
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DCM tubes aren't that hard to install.
I looked at all the $$$$ aftermarket sling mounts and didn't find any that I liked. I had a spare M14 front sling swivel in my parts collection ( $14 at Fulton Armory ) and bolted it on with some 10/32 hardware. Perfect width for pic rail and the holes lined up perfect with slots. Loop in correctish position and not hanging way down like a bulky clamp on would be. 
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Quoted:
Since the KAC FF RAS rail is free floated by design, why would you install it over the FF tube? Would you not remove the FF tube first, and just install the RAS in place of it? Hence my need for a front sling attachment. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
If I build I was thinking of using a KAC FF RAS vs. traditional hand guards over a FF tube. But I wanted experienced shooters thoughts on using a quad rail vs. hand guards. I think I'd prefer the Giessele railed forearm, but before those were hatched, I built an upper using the KAC RAS over a free float tube and it works just fine, so I personally have no actual reason to change it. Once you get them on there, you won't find much difference. You will have to remove some clips and whatnot to get it to fit over the float tube, but it's just a matter of drilling out a few rivets. Since the KAC FF RAS rail is free floated by design, why would you install it over the FF tube? Would you not remove the FF tube first, and just install the RAS in place of it? Hence my need for a front sling attachment. The M5 is not a tube but a two piece system designed to replace existing A2 handguards. That's what he is talking about. |
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The M5 is not a tube but a two piece system designed to replace existing A2 handguards. That's what he is talking about. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
If I build I was thinking of using a KAC FF RAS vs. traditional hand guards over a FF tube. But I wanted experienced shooters thoughts on using a quad rail vs. hand guards. I think I'd prefer the Giessele railed forearm, but before those were hatched, I built an upper using the KAC RAS over a free float tube and it works just fine, so I personally have no actual reason to change it. Once you get them on there, you won't find much difference. You will have to remove some clips and whatnot to get it to fit over the float tube, but it's just a matter of drilling out a few rivets. Ahhh, got it. We are mixing KAC RAS types then. I'm talking about the free float model vs. M5, which is not. As budget and availability allows, I'm slowly moving all of my AR's to FF rails, esp KAC RAS when I can find them. Since the KAC FF RAS rail is free floated by design, why would you install it over the FF tube? Would you not remove the FF tube first, and just install the RAS in place of it? Hence my need for a front sling attachment. The M5 is not a tube but a two piece system designed to replace existing A2 handguards. That's what he is talking about. |
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They are getting hard to find too. I need one more... there was supposed to be another production run, I lost track of it though....  The full size FF RAS? Operationparts & Boltcarrier had some in stock recently and last I checked (week or so ago) they still did. |
| I installed the new barrel and FF RAS this weekend, thread here. Ordering the MI MCTAR-06 front sling adapter to finish it off and get out and shoot it. |