[runcible68]

Hi all

I have a Colt Match Target II HBAR carbine. Yeah, it’s more of a target gun than a “tactical rifle” but I still want to trick it out. Got a EoTech and a Ace Skeleton Stock. Now I’m looking for a good quad rail to replace the crappy plastic hand-guard. (I hate how it rattles.)

I think I’d prefer a “free float” rail. Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer? I’ve seen rails online that run from cheap to expensive but I’m sure you get what you pay for. And lastly, does a good rail require a gunsmith it install?

Many thanks in advance.

[kabob983]

I assume it's a 20" rifle so you'll need a 12" rail. Also, most FF rails will require some gunsmithing to install. The exception being the Daniel Defense Omega. Non-FF rails typically just bolt on.

Free Floaters:
Daniel Defense (M4, Lite, Omega, OmegaX, RIS II)
LaRue LT15-*

Non-Free Floater I'd still recommend:
KAC M5 RAS (you can buy these used cheap)

If you want to drop down a little in price/quality I'd look at Midwest Industries offerings.

[lilglockboy]

Two months ago i bought the daniel defense omega rail. It is a two piece free float rail, that needed no modifications. Light weight and high quality. The one thing i liked the most is how slim the system is. Check it out, its the only quad rail i own so i cant speak about others.

[ArmoryDoc]

Troy MRF-DI

Modular Rail Forearm - Drop In

[Chuck TX]

Free float no mods or tools needed: Daniel Defense Omega. Easy to install, very solid, and one of the lightest.

Free float w/ proprietary barrel nut: LaRue or the other Daniel Defense quad rails.

[Fwdftw]

Larue all the way!

[duncan]

AR-15s multiple.

Spend the $120-130 on a 4" vise, an action block, a multi-tool wrench and some brass punches.

You can work on all of your pistols and rifles then.

You can buy a nice Yankee Hill forearm for $100 give or take. The DD and other stuff is great for duty rifles but for civilians - save your money!

I love the lightweight version!

[crazymoose]

One piece (needing gunsmithing): I like Superior Weapons Systems and LaRue.

Two Piece (drop in): I like Vltor's CASV rails, and everyone seems to love the DD Omega (though I'm not nuts about them). Unfortunately, VLTOR doesn't make a rifle-length CASV. If they did I'd probably buy three.

I also agree that the Yankee Hill lightweights are pretty good rails, especially given that they're just over half the cost of some others.

[bikerdog]

Originally Posted by Chuck TX

Free float no mods or tools needed: Daniel Defense Omega. Easy to install, very solid, and one of the lightest.
.

Ill second the DD Omega and right right now Bravo company has them on sale for $170 for that price they cant be beat.

[Feanor]

If money is not a concern, go with the DD omega rail two-piece FF, however you really dont require a FF rail on your AR, Troy manufactures a DI battle rail that bolts together and to the barrel nut resulting in no discernable movement, in fact the only movement you will likely notice will be that of the upper. Truthfully, there is a very good selection of superbly manufactured rails from multiple makers. Personally, I would go with the DD Omega rail, you will enjoy much better accuracy out past 300 meters and place less stress on your barrel, however dont be fooled, you can do quite well with the DI battle rail from Troy at almost half the price of the Omega.

[snoczp]

Vtac battlerail - http://www.vikingtactics.com/handguard.html

[ftw13]

just save a ton of money and get a midewest rail that screws into the plastic handguards....costs around twenty bucks.

[pleaforwar]

Daniel Defense is my personal favorite.

Larue, KAC, Troy, VTAC, and a couple others are also excellent choices.

[NEOH212]

Originally Posted by duncan

Spend the $120-130 on a 4" vise, an action block, a multi-tool wrench and some brass punches.]

It is definitely money well spent and anyone that does will thank themselves later. Not to mention they won't know how they ever go along without these nifty tools. Simple yet so useful