What's the point of a full top rail?

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What's the point of a full top rail when you only really need the two ends? I'd like to see more rifles that shave some weight by having a removable middle part of the top rail, or have a keymod top rail system. I personally have never put anything "in the middle" and have never seen any 'civilian' use it either.

Even Tacticooled rifles like this have a big yawning space in the middle:
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Maybe you'll need it if you have a infrared pointer...
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.. but ya don't have one, so...
 
Depends on what you like and what accessories you want to run, I have a DD MK18 that I built up with a PEQ-15 IR laser. So for that specific build I do have one, and am using the rail section.....Also civilian use
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On the other hand I just ordered one of these for my current build project.....It has the top section milled out in the middle, but I do not plan on running anything other then an optic on that one
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Lots of rail companies are starting to make rails in this style with the rail milled out in the middle
 
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Doesn't take much to fill a top rail really...

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You've got a very small window of space between the end of the optic and the start of the LAM. If I thought I wanted BUIS on this setup that'd be a tough order.
 
I actually have one on my lightweight build. In my opinion it's a lot easy to grab with it being much thinner without the top rail. SLR rifleworks has been doing that style for some time now.

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RogyBear said:
I actually have one on my lightweight build. In my opinion it's a lot easy to grab with it being much thinner without the top rail. SLR rifleworks has been doing that style for some time now.

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There are a number of slim line for ends that are absent of the top rail. However the gas tube requires clearance which is achieved by the short top rail or the larger over all diameter of the for end.
 
I suppose the decision to have a full rail is based on the mentality of "you never know when you'll need it". Right now, people use front and rear back up irons, main optics, and sometimes a laser pod, but who is to say for certain what kind of devices will be created in the future? That's the point of keeping a platform like picatinny rails the same for long periods of time, it provides stability to the industry because it's always safe to assume something like a full rail will be there.
 
JuicyFruit said:
I suppose the decision to have a full rail is based on the mentality of "you never know when you'll need it". Right now, people use front and rear back up irons, main optics, and sometimes a laser pod, but who is to say for certain what kind of devices will be created in the future? That's the point of keeping a platform like picatinny rails the same for long periods of time, it provides stability to the industry because it's always safe to assume something like a full rail will be there.
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It's so nineties/naughties thinking. Keymod that top rail (at least the middle part) - that's the way that makes sense in today's modular world.
 
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