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Technical Help & Questions : Technical Help & Questions

Rail Covers?

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Room 055

Posted: Mar 28th 2010, 06:47 PM

Do you guys find rail covers to be beneficial? The reason I ask is because when I went to a quad rail from the standard M4 covers, I did so for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost was to facilitate the mounting of accessories. Second, it seemed to allow for better cooling of the barrel during rapid fire. And third, I could get a nice tactile grip on the front of the weapon with weak hand if not using the vertical grip. That being said, I usually practice with gloved hands, and that naked rail isn't skin friendly. So, for reasons 1 and 2, would rail covers make sense, or does it inhibit placement of accessories and basically eliminate the added ventilation?

If I'm full of shite, then tell me and suggest some covers.

Thanks in advance!

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Tac56

Posted: Mar 28th 2010, 07:54 PM

I use rail covers on both my work rifle and my personal guns. Mostly because of the naked rail hanging up on gear, webbing, etc. combined with the skin abrasion aspect you mentioned. The covers I use are cut to fit the areas I need addressed and do not effect the placement of accessories on my guns. As for the heat retention issue, I do not notice a big difference at all between the naked rail, the covers or the factory handguards, but that might be dependant on the specific rail system you are using, as some have much more open space to allow ventilation than others.

Just my doc centavos....

-Tac

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doctonka

Posted: Mar 28th 2010, 08:17 PM

I use the magpul xtm rail covers and really like them. you can cover as much of the rail as you need. I leave most of the top rail cuncovered to help dissipate the heat but they work well.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpul-XTM-Rail-Covers-Black-p/mag410 black xtm.htm

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Room 055

Posted: Mar 28th 2010, 09:20 PM

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I'm going to give them a try.

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InstructorPyro

Posted: Mar 28th 2010, 10:37 PM

If you had gone with the Modular Handguard, you wouldn't need rail covers. You would just need to put a rail where you need one. Just kidding. Well, not really.

I really like the MagPul rail covers because you can actually change them up and give yourself a camo pattern or a solid color.

You might consider one of the cons of rail covers, they fatten up the grip too. I used a quad rail and I just couldn't get it to feel right with the covers. That's when I switched to the JP.

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InstructorPyro

Posted: Mar 28th 2010, 10:38 PM

One more note, when I come out there this summer, I'll bring my AR and you can try it out.

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gunrunner32

Posted: Mar 28th 2010, 11:03 PM

Room, The best ones that I've tried and the ones that I've stuck with on my personal AR and my work M4 is the Daniel Defense Ladder Rail Covers. They cover up the rail only and allow for great ventilation. They can also be cut to fit so you can make them any length you want to to cover all the unused portions or the rail around your accessories. http://www.danieldefense.com/?page=shop/detail&amp;amp;amp;product_id=35

I put them on my Dad's AR, they are brown only because that was the only color the shop up the road had at the time. They don't bulk anything up and they save gloves and skin.

One tip with them though is you will need to lock it in on one side and stretch it over to the other to lock it in. They are great, good luck in your search.

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BravoUD

Posted: Mar 29th 2010, 02:41 AM

Damn IP that looks Freaking sweet, same goes to you Gunrunner, I'm liking that camo pattern.

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Recoil

Posted: Mar 29th 2010, 05:50 AM

Roomie,

I think rail covers have their place. Some allow more breathing than others, that's for sure. All allow better grip and as mentioned, can be cut to facilitate different Kohler/Delta attachments. Had to throw that in :-) for ya.

Gunrunner,

How the hell did you get the Daniel Defense Ladder Covers on? I bought my DD Omega rail over a year ago and I tried to put those covers on with absolutely no luck. Short of using needle nose pliers, I couldn't stretch them over the rail. I didn't want to scar up the rail, so I left them off. They were a pita and I remember creating a post here bitching about how tight they were. They've been sitting in a box ever since.

Someone mentioned taking a heat gun to them, just to get them warm and stretchy. Please advise. Thanks in advance.

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gunrunner32

Posted: Mar 29th 2010, 08:16 AM

Recoil,

Well I've ran into a few rail covers that have been stiff like that. All I did was grab them by the inside and stretch them backwards for a little while and then I tried just latching them on one side and just pushing like hell to get them toroll over the other side. My advise is to start at the very end, once you get the firs few to snap in the rest will just follow, a little muscle does a long way. They are stiff but you don't have to worry about them falling off, I definantly wouldn't use a hear gun of anything because it might distort them and now give them the strength they need to stay on. If all else fails mail me your upper, I'll put them on .

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Room 055

Posted: Mar 29th 2010, 10:34 AM

I feel a 'flex off' coming on. Strike a pose gentlemen. Without a doubt, I'd say RC got the guns to put rails on a gun. He's Arnold's cousin.

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ETHRON-1

Posted: Mar 30th 2010, 02:43 AM

Hey Room, I have, for the most part, the same ones as GR, my top goes all the way down, the two sides are cut to length for mounting toward the front, and the bottom is set up the same as his,,,cut to fit between accessories...Now given your personality

These might be MORE to YOUR liking.....

IndexClips, 72 Piece Set (LT708)

and no I don't have them, I kinda like my ladder ones....but I am thinking on it....

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gundoc_iowa

Posted: Mar 30th 2010, 04:35 AM

Yeah I have the ladder style covers on mine as well. Those Larue tactical ones look kinda cool though, do they come in different colors though? I gotta have the OD green, you know to 'assesorize' with the other OD parts on the gun, I mean color coordination is important right? Does that make me 'metro-shootual' or something? I mean I am a 21st century guy you know....

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Room 055

Posted: Mar 30th 2010, 10:48 AM

Thanks for the responses guys.

Ethron,

Based on my personality, I ordered the LaRue clips and put a Magpul CTR stock on the order as well.

Thanks for the heads up. I had never seen those before and it makes a lot of sense if the configuration of the carbine changes (haven't permanently cut something).

Thanks guys,

You all sold me.

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dtkww

Posted: Mar 30th 2010, 01:28 PM

I have a set of three on my M&P15T. They keep the free float much cooler during shootings. I can hold it without being burned.

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Room 055

Posted: Mar 30th 2010, 02:51 PM

DTKWW,

Right on. I'm going to be shooting about 500 rounds on the 9th in short course. I will have gloves on, but it made me think about heat dissipation and heat to the hand. Most will be awkward position shooting and the vertical grip will probably only be used for about 1/4 of the shooting.

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c_jackson

Posted: Apr 3rd 2010, 04:16 AM

You talkin' 'bout Recoil havin' the pythons? Methinks not. That old man couldn't stretch out anything but a girdle if he exhaled. Yer askin' advice from a guy wearin' flip-flops on his picnic table in the backyard. Last time he sent me an e-mail, dust puffed out when I opened it! He's old school allright, wayyyy old school, I think it was back in the days when they used canvas for sails. Shoot, I think it was back in the days when canvas was new-fangled!

Har har, I'm just diggin' on ya, bro, I couldn't help it! Pyro and I are the only ones, outside JC, that can give ya a hard time and get away with it, so the rest of you...I wouldn't recommend it. Just funnin' with you, BFAM.

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InstructorPyro

Posted: Apr 3rd 2010, 09:45 AM

I think Room is on that list to CJ. By the way, those weren't flip flops, those were shower shoes.

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c_jackson

Posted: Apr 3rd 2010, 11:53 PM

Naw brother, those weren't military-issue. Those things were civvie flip-flops. I suspect the spray tube above his waist-seam was as well. Poor fella, gettin' old must be rough! ;)

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c_jackson

Posted: Apr 4th 2010, 12:00 AM

Getting carried away and off subject, though. Back to work, ahem, Room. Rail covers aren't a thing, they're just there to prevent the shooter from getting his butt, arms and teammates from being torn to shit while they're infield. It's an ergonomic thing, quad-rails have a lot of sharp edges. Rail covers are there to keep the sharp points from hurting the user. The vents are on the inside parts of the rails anyway and adding covers doesn't affect the function of them. Good question, though, I get that one a lot from the locals down here.

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hk45shooter

Posted: Apr 5th 2010, 10:36 PM

I personally like the ladder rail covers. A buddy of mine just put a FF tube on his AR & put covers on it & they make the HG too big for my liking. Fortunately it is his gun.

Sure Fire ladder rail covers on a YHM Diamond series FF tube.

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REM700LTR

Posted: Apr 6th 2010, 06:56 PM

Room,

After destroying several different brands of rail covers trying to fit them around accessories I finally started using the Magpul XTM rail covers. They are my standard covers now. You can put them anywhere on the rail and they are a snap to take on and off without damaging them like the soft rubber covers. Since they are short, it is easy to customize your rail. I use them at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock and I use ladder covers to cover the top rail and let the heat out. Another nice thing about the XTM covers is the fact that they have two slots in each piece for zip ties. It is very easy to secure laser or light cords in any position on the rail.

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Recoil

Posted: Apr 6th 2010, 09:34 PM

I want to thank all you guys for this thread. This thread caused me to revisit my Daniel Defense rail covers (or at least the covers they sent with the rail I bought a year ago) dig them out of the closet and install them. I sat down, viced the AR, carefully looked at the pattern/how the rails were madeand perhaps discovered the easiest way in history to install the covers. Instead of musclephucking them on, I took my time, paid close attention to how I got them started and was done in about 3 minutes with all 4 rails.

Again, thanks for the thread...it got me off my lazy keester and got me motivated. Now I have some kick ass ladder rails on my DD rail.

...now if I could just find that cupholder...

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Room 055

Posted: Apr 6th 2010, 10:28 PM

RC,

I've got your cup holder. I needed to put my rifle in feng shui.

Where are the pics of your DD with covers? Come on man. Post up.

I hear my Magpul CTR and LaRue rail clips are waiting for me at home.

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Recoil

Posted: Apr 6th 2010, 11:13 PM

For the pnut gallery...

Colt LE model 6920 5.56x45mm 1/7 twist

Daniel Defense free floating quad rail, DD ladder rail covers (put on today!)

ACOG TA31RCO-M4CP

A.R.M.S. BUIS

Larue Tactical Universal Grip

Magpul PMAG

Mamba 3 point sling

CAA cheek rest

Grip stippled by me

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