Pic vs Keymod: should i switch?

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jg007

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ive got a basically new m4a1 dd rail on a 14.5" build that i am thinking about switching to a keymod (kmr 13) for weight and feel - what are the pros/cons, anyone have any thoughts?
 
Pic is heavy and larger in overall size. Keymod or Mlok offer slimmer and lighter options. IMO and backed by data the Mlok is a the superior choice, but either is a vast improvement over pic.

TW25B
 
Not unless you really value the weight savings highly.

I'm not much for predicting the future but I think Keymod will be dead in a couple of years. Too many issues with rails getting damaged etc. I think it's getting orphaned.

I'd wait, and see if Mlok takes off. Watch to see if guys like Surefire start building direct-attach lights for, for example.

Unless you only put stuff on the 12 o'clock rail, in which case, sure, no reason not to.
 
misanthropist said:
Not unless you really value the weight savings highly.

I'm not much for predicting the future but I think Keymod will be dead in a couple of years. Too many issues with rails getting damaged etc. I think it's getting orphaned.

I'd wait, and see if Mlok takes off. Watch to see if guys like Surefire start building direct-attach lights for, for example.

Unless you only put stuff on the 12 o'clock rail, in which case, sure, no reason not to.
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only use the 12 with a handstop on the 6

think there still value in the RISII rail - enough for it to be a wash on the switch ($ wise)?
 
jg007 said:
only use the 12 with a handstop on the 6

think there still value in the RISII rail - enough for it to be a wash on the switch ($ wise)?
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If you want it, go for it, but I wouldn't bother.

Of course one of my favourite carbines is a BCM Recce with a 12" MI quad rail, so I just don't care about new hotness.

I do prefer my IUR as rails go though. But I'd never worry about swapping.
 
I currently own 3 rifles, one is DD MK18 with quad rail, the other I put a Spikes Bar2 on it that is also a quad rail. Now I just got a PSA upper pica-tiny top rail but with Keymod on the sides and bottom. I really like the feel of the keymod rail, even without rail covers like I need for the quad rail its still more comfortable in the hand.

The problem is its harder to find accessories that use Keymod, I had a hard time finding a vertical foregrip I liked, I finally found one and ordered it. And when it got here it would not fit my rail, the grove that the rail is supposed to sit between was too narrow. I had to machine off 0.0100 for it to fit.

So I think they are really nice feel in the hand and really light, but if you want accessories its harder to find them in keymod. And or you need mounts that go from Keymod to picatiny rail to mount your accessories anyways...

Another thing is I find they dont have the same range of adjustment in terms of where you can mount your keymod accessories, for my foregrip it seems it can only be mounted a little father forward or back of where Id really like it. On a quad rail it seems to have a finer range of placement as each groove is closer together compared to keymod they are father apart
 
JohnnyP636 said:
I currently own 3 rifles, one is DD MK18 with quad rail, the other I put a Spikes Bar2 on it that is also a quad rail. Now I just got a PSA upper pica-tiny top rail but with Keymod on the sides and bottom. I really like the feel of the keymod rail, even without rail covers like I need for the quad rail its still more comfortable in the hand.

The problem is its harder to find accessories that use Keymod, I had a hard time finding a vertical foregrip I liked, I finally found one and ordered it. And when it got here it would not fit my rail, the grove that the rail is supposed to sit between was too narrow. I had to machine off 0.0100 for it to fit.

So I think they are really nice feel in the hand and really light, but if you want accessories its harder to find them in keymod. And or you need mounts that go from Keymod to picatiny rail to mount your accessories anyways...

Another thing is I find they dont have the same range of adjustment in terms of where you can mount your keymod accessories, for my foregrip it seems it can only be mounted a little father forward or back of where Id really like it. On a quad rail it seems to have a finer range of placement as each groove is closer together compared to keymod they are father apart
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thx johnny. as i mentioned the weight and feel were pretty surprising when handled.
i do like the market support of the pic and the fact they are pretty bomb proof / tested (not saying the keymod isnt though!)
 
jg007 said:
thx johnny. as i mentioned the weight and feel were pretty surprising when handled.
i do like the market support of the pic and the fact they are pretty bomb proof / tested (not saying the keymod isnt though!)
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My next rail I want something like this, picatiny top, keymod or Mloc on the sides and bottom, but with extra short sections picatiny at the front all around
img_3438.jpg


Gives you a little of everything, with a smooth and thin area where you support hand will most likely be, and I like the picatiny at the front so you dont need special mounts for you flash light, laser, or handstop etc
 
I'm all for m-lok and hope the keymod craze dies off .. I think many industry players went keymod because it looked cool and was in fashion. Ell seen more m-lok soon and Magpul already has many of their accessories out.
 
beltfed said:
I think they are both destined for obselence.
Picatinny on the other hand is going nowhere.
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Not so fast - Picatinny is dying. And good riddance - it was a bad rip-off of Weaver to begin with. STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail (NAR) superseded Picatinny in 2009 for military weapons. They only need to be backward compatible for a few more years and 1913 accessories/mounts will start to die off. Any new bids for weapons or accessories will require NAR to be compliant. That means they need to have an interface more like weaver and sit solidly on the top of the rail, but with wider slots about the same with as pic on the same centres. Also much tighter tolerances required since pic was proven to not be repeatable or retain zero under rough handling.

H&K, B&T, Colt Canada etc are already compliant and have started delivering.
 
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