lightweight, slim handrail suggestions

[jfornelli]

I'm looking to get a handrail for my 16" build. It will be used for hunting and I don't feel the need for too many picatinny rails.
My primary concerns are that it be lightweight and slim.

Two examples that I like, but have the flat top running the length, are these two:
http://parallaxtactical.com/products/par...rail-ffssr
http://www.store-diamondhead-usa.com/VRS...p/2231.htm

One problem is finding the weights of the different rails...

I currently have the Parallax Tactical FFSSR on my 5.56 build and I really like it, but am looking for other alternatives. Perhaps a slim carbon model?

[customcutter]

I bought the Diamondhead for my Grendel build. Like you said didn't want the tactical rails. I was going to get a Jarrett until I saw this one. I bought from Primary Arms, but he is currently out of stock. Great customer service. It feels great in the hand, but I don't have it on a rifle yet, waiting on my 18" barrel.

For a carbon fiber look in the Industry Partners in this forum. Hers's a link. Probably the lightest if weight is your main issue

http://www.65grendel.com/forum/forumdisp...w-Tactical

Edit: Another reason I bought the Diamondhead was I liked the way their barrel nut is engineered. No lining up notches for the gas tube to fool with.

[hill.brandonj]

Hey hey. That's a slick looking deal there. Anyone have that diamond head mounted up in anything? Would love to see how it looks.

[jfornelli]

cc, it was your post that made me start looking at the Diamondhead rail. Are you able to attach rails at the front if you decide you want to use a bipod?

It looks like the rockhollowtactical.com site is inaccessible.

In the post you made, cc, I think Tedward provided a pic of the 10.25" rail on his 16" build but the link isn't working right now.

[montana]

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/inde...ory_ID=450

These are one of my favorite, just don't tighten the two clamp screws too tight or you can break the tabs off that go on to the barrel nut. Put green loc-tite on the out side of the barrel nut before you install the hand guard. Very slim and light, perfect for hunting.

[jfornelli]

That is a good looking one, montana. And, at 9.3 oz for the 12", not too heavy. I'll add that to my list of considered rails. Thanks.

[customcutter]

IIRC, Tedward was the one that I saw that made me consider the Diamondhead.:-)

I also saw another thread where someone wanted to attach rails to the side and bottom. The rails from Diamondhead are a little pricey, but they used another brand and they worked fine. There are screw holes down both sides and bottom, from front to back.

[BjornF16]

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/inde...ory_ID=450

These are one of my favorite, just don't tighten the two clamp screws too tight or you can break the tabs off that go on to the barrel nut. Put green loc-tite on the out side of the barrel nut before you install the hand guard. Very slim and light, perfect for hunting.

I have this hand guard on my lightweight build:

Bedded the gas block and barrel this evening, then finished assembly. She weighs a mere 5.45 lbs without any optic or magazine.

[jfornelli]

What is the length of your rail and your barrel, BjornF16?
I'm thinking my build will end up with a similar color scheme.

[LRRPF52]

The Midwest Industries Gen II SS comes with 3 rails already, and a bipod stud. One of the rails has a QD socket in it for your sling swivel. They are one of the lightest aluminum handguards on the market, if not the lightest.




If I had known about this one below, I would have ordered it with my last Brownell's order:

[jfornelli]

LRRPF52, if you had known about the Midwest Industries Gen II SS, you would have gotten it? Not sure if the pic was supposed to be after that comment or before it, as it ended up.

I see Brownells has it in black and flat dark earth, and Midway has it in those colors as well as OD green. Ultimately, I'm thinking of OD green for some parts and black for others for a sorta poor mans camo....something to disrupt the silhouette at least.

[LRRPF52]

LRRPF52, if you had known about the Midwest Industries Gen II SS, you would have gotten it? Not sure if the pic was supposed to be after that comment or before it, as it ended up.

I see Brownells has it in black and flat dark earth, and Midway has it in those colors as well as OD green. Ultimately, I'm thinking of OD green for some parts and black for others for a sorta poor mans camo....something to disrupt the silhouette at least.

I would have ordered the MI SSK Key Mod, because it has integral QD sockets for your sling swivels. I Cerakote all my personal guns, usually with FDE as you can see, then do a professional color fill with paint, not chalk. It's a lot of work, but I like the touch.

[customcutter]

Here's a Diamondhead mounted on a nice stick. Did a search for Diamondhead.

http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthrea...iamondhead

Just weighed the 13.5" Diamondhead 19.85oz's. on the wife's cheap kitchen scales. So 10 oz's more if that's one of the main criteria. That includes the barrel nut and screws.

[jfornelli]

Okay, I see the Key Mod pic now. Looks like they removed even more material to make it lighter.
I'm not too familiar with the Key Mod rails. Would that work on my Mega billet upper? How about my JD Machine forged upper?
I like the idea of it looking like one long extended upper receiver.

From the pics I've seen of your cerakoting work, you do a good job and I would feel very comfortable having you do some work for me.

[Drifter]

My current favorite of the slim modular handguards is the Centurion CMR:



Link: https://www.centurionarms.net/index.php?...Itemid=189

More images on this link:

http://www.google.com/search?q=centurion...92&bih=666

[PA_Allen]

Another vote for the MI Gen II. I would buy another in a heartbeat.





Best,
PA

[BjornF16]

What is the length of your rail and your barrel, BjornF16?
I'm thinking my build will end up with a similar color scheme.

14.5" barrel with 10" h/g

[BjornF16]

I would have ordered the MI SSK Key Mod, because it has integral QD sockets for your sling swivels.

+1...if that had been offered when I bought my Gen 2, I would have gone with SSK Key Mod in 10.5"

[customcutter]

Another one that doesn't have the gas tube slots to align. The Diamondhead can be tightened with a normal box end wrench or large adjustable wrench. I think the Diamondhead most folks are using a crowsfoot in a torque wrench. The Centurion looks like it requires a special spanner. How did you torque it to "specs".

[jfornelli]

That Centurion looks nice but it's $300. A bit higher than I'm looking to spend and definitely not one my wife would hear about.