Quad Rails for an ar-15

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YoungGunz

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Well A-3 to be exact I own a bushmaster a-3 shorty carbine and I need some advice on rails.


When I was working I priced out rails from $30 to $300, I got laid off so I backed off on customizing my rifle for awhile.

I now want to start back up by first throwing on a nice quad rail but the thing is I'm now a student and I cant afford to put a top quality rail on my gun.

My question is are the cheaper rails just plain garbage? When I spoke on the phone with a guy from wolverine supplies (when I was still working), every single quad rail he mentioned was over $200

I don't want to buy something in my budget if its just gonna look and function like total crap.

Any advise is appreciated :)

edit: also I don't want a plastic or polymer rail type deal, a metal rail is my focus.
 
I have the UTG rails on my Bushmaster. They've held up well and are fairly inexpensive. I know they're for airsoft but I'm not using them for anything but paper hunting. No complaints from me.
 
I replaced the forend of my Norinco cq 556 with a quad rail for about $69 and it is of good quality. The quad rail I got is not a floating rail. The floating quad rail are more expensive but are suppose to be better for accuracy.


JonnyBender
 
50calshooter said:
do we really need half the s**t we buy? com'on buddy thats a weak ass post...
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You missed my point. I'd be the last guy to give anyone grief over what toys they buy.

The poster is a student and as such doesn't have a large budget, or so I would assume anyways. Quad rails are meant for hanging stuff like PAQ-4s, M-203s, lights and all that other stuff from. So why would a student with a small budget spend his money on something that merely "looks cool" and does nothing at all to make the gun shoot better?

All I'm saying is there are better things to spend your money on, particularly when you've got little to spend. Buy more ammo and practice.
 
You could take a look at the Troy Industries MRF-DI 7". Its a drop in system, so it requires no chopping or major disassembling. Retails for around 175-190$. Good quality by a reputable manufacturer.

I have one and I like it. Its well made, finish is even everywhere and it doesn't move.

The only drawback I see with it is that it isn't free float. If you want FF you should look at Daniel Defense. They make a drop in rail. A bit more pricey IIRC.

Like some have mentioned if things are tight you might want to reconsider buying a rail system. Buying extra ammo could be a wiser choice.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. When I was searching for one originally I was told repeatably as well to get a free float but never really why. I think one dealer simply told me it was easier to install. Im still only a year into firearms so I only have a handle on the guns themselves, their parts are still a learning curve haha so this helps alot.

Also to the above poster, its kinda a funny story but I already bought a vert grip, and a bottech laser flashlight combo type deal to mount. Pretty much I bought the other stuff at the same time as a "omega rail" at least I think that was what it was called but wolverine never sent it (backorder), so now Im stuck with the accessories but no way to mount em haha.

Anyways Ill definetly be looking at some of the suggestions here but from what I gather Ill still be looking in the 150$ + range.
 
50calshooter said:
do we really need half the s**t we buy? com'on buddy thats a weak ass post...
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Exactly. If what you purchase and/or hang off your rifle doesn't serve your purpose what's the sense in having it? The only answer is to look cool. As was posted above, the OP is a student and probably on a tight budget. Regardless, spending money on useless crap is poor form and a waste of money.

TDC
 
I don't think free floating is necessary for AR-15's unless you want to do one up as a DM (designated marksman) rifle. the Ar-15 was designed for a high rate of fire 300m or closer to target. Free floating rails probably wouldn't be easier to install as the front sight needs to be modified. make sure you measure the distance between the front to back of the handgrips there are 2 different sizes I know of.
 
Ftaview said:
get these, not a lot of money, and they work well

https://shopquestar.com/shopping65/shopexd.asp?id=1069&bc=no

MAK-GMG-QR1
MAKO's Global Military Gear 2-piece Quad Rail (CAR length)
Product Code:MAK-GMG-QR1
Stock 15
$79.99
Was $99.99
Saving: $20.00

have a look here

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=418780

they are on my Norinco, you can see a before and after



Sorry just reread your OP, it's an A3 you have, not sure if those will fit....
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Crap,pure crap
 
9Guns said:
I don't think free floating is necessary for AR-15's unless you want to do one up as a DM (designated marksman) rifle. the Ar-15 was designed for a high rate of fire 300m or closer to target. Free floating rails probably wouldn't be easier to install as the front sight needs to be modified. make sure you measure the distance between the front to back of the handgrips there are 2 different sizes I know of.
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Wrong. There are several free float rails that can be attached my simply cutting the delta ring off. There is also the DD Omega rail which requires zero modification to your rifle and it is free float, its also the lightest rail available.

Free float rails aren't overly necessary from the "accuracy" standpoint. However, a free float rail also provides protection for the gas tube. With a FF rail you get the obvious mounting area, improved cooling, improved(rather unaltered due to accessories or other incidental contact)accuracy and gas tube protection. If the funds are there a FF rail is never a bad idea.

TDC

ETA: There are several sizes of handguard. The standard carbine is 7" a midlength is 9" and a rifle is 12". There are other lengths but these are the standard offerings.
 
My personal advice would be to buy ammo instead and go and shoot if money is tight.

However, for the paper tigers out there, you do get what you pay for... this is ofcourse a double edged sword.

An example of this would be: you want to buy a truck (rail) to tow your 1500 pound duck boat and trailer combo (your non-duty, paper punching, recreational rifle). So he asks his buddies what truck he should get. Some suggest a Ford Ranger, as it will easily meet all his criteria. Others suggest an F 150, a little more expensive but, a better truck. Others still, suggest an F 250 Super Duty as, it is a stronger built truck than the other 2 mentioned, this goes round and round until someome simply suggests that he save some more money, while actually test driving a few of these trucks....

Long story to say that, yep, you get what you pay for and for most here, they got absoluetly hosed on a piece of kit that doesn't work any better than the more affordably priced stuff out there.

ETA: When money is no longer an issue, buy the good stuff 'cause it really is good stuff and as a range toy, your great great great grand kids will enjoy it too.

No offense to those who can afford to buy the name brand good stuff, but some cannot and don't need too.

I know there will be some on here who have had bad experiences with Chinese stuff but, far more who have had positive. The Norc M4 for example.... YMMV


I have used ( and still do ) a UTG rail on my AR. Granted WW3 hasn't broken out yet, but for all the paper targets I've killed and the few times that it has been banged, dropped or stepped on, it still works perfectly fine for what it is.... it holds on my VFG.

So, remember, with 5 or 10 round mags, heat isn't an issue (unlesss you have 1000's upon 1000's of rounds and an endless supply of mags). As for the rest, some good suggestions here already. I also recommend DD. Hope this helps.
 
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To the original OP,

Stay away from the cheap s**t. If you take pride in your rifle, save up a little more and buy quality. I recommend a Troy FF, nice quality and mid range price for a FF. Installation was a snap and done in 15 minutes.

I could never understand why fellas around here buy the cheap $40 rails. Whats the point? I mean, why bother just leave the original hand guards on or buy a MOE forend. To me, it's the equivalent of the guy with fake hood scoops on his truck because he can't afford to buy a real functional air intake, so he settle for just the "look"....

Take pride in your kit for gods sake, if you can't afford it now, wait till you can. A $40 rail just doesn't give you the peace of mind a quality rail does...

My few cents
 
50calshooter said:
I could never understand why fellas around here buy the cheap $40 rails. Whats the point? I mean, why bother just leave the original hand guards on or buy a MOE forend. To me, it's the equivalent of the guy with fake hood scoops on his truck because he can't afford to buy a real functional air intake, so he settle for just the "look"....


My few cents
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Thats kind of always been the way I was for years, go big or go home was my kind of lifestyle. If I bought something it was always the best quality best name brand out there. I could never understand why people would settle for imitations.

but now that Im in school things are a liiiiiiiiittle different to say the least. Im still trying to get used to this "average" level gear stuff.

All in all these responses are awsome guys. I think what I may do is just sell some more .223 ammo since I have a ton and as I mentioned in a previous topic I have nowhere good to shoot in Edmonton so its just sitting.
 
YoungGunz said:
Thats kind of always been the way I was for years, go big or go home was my kind of lifestyle. If I bought something it was always the best quality best name brand out there. I could never understand why people would settle for imitations.

but now that Im in school things are a liiiiiiiiittle different to say the least. Im still trying to get used to this "average" level gear stuff.

All in all these responses are awsome guys. I think what I may do is just sell some more .223 ammo since I have a ton and as I mentioned in a previous topic I have nowhere good to shoot in Edmonton so its just sitting.
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Stay tunned i'll post some pics of my troy rail to show you what im talking about...
 
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