BoomingHedgie Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 What are the main advantages/disadvantages between the following types of rails? Picatinny KeyMod M-Lok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterG Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 You can attach picatinny rails to the second two, so am assuming you mean a rail with picatinny permanently attached. The below is my assessment, others may disagree or have additions. Cheers G 1. Picatinny Pros - Loads of rail space out of the box - loads of attachments to fit all budgets - cheap if gun comes with this as standard. Cons - Less flexible - heavier - less comfortable to hold the handguard as it is covered in rails 2 Keymod Pros - More flexible vs Picatinny - lighter - most common current airsoft option - cheaper than M-lok - lots of lower cost attachments - attachments can attach directly to keymod meaning you don't need to add a rail making it lighter - more comfortable to hold the handguard if it isn't covered in rails - cheap if gun comes with this as standard. Cons - no longer the standard for real steel US military, which will filter down into airsoft - less sturdy than M-lok based on miltary assessment tests - Less rail space out of the box - real steel and airsoft spec may differ so need to be careful when buyiing handguards, might need shimming 3 M-lok Pros - More flexible vs Picatinny - lighter - newer technology and is now the recommended solution for real steel - more comfortable to hold the handguard if it isn't covered in rails Cons - currently more expensive than Keymod - not seen any guns with this as stardard, so will be an additional cost -I don't know every gun out there, so there may be some 😉 - less lower cost attachments - Less rail space out of the box - attachments can attach directly to M-lok meaning you don't need to add a rail making it lighter - real steel and airsoft spec may differ so need to be careful when buyiing handguards, might need shimming (assumpption on my part, based on Key Mod) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BibbsOnTour Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 17 minutes ago, MisterG said: M-lok Pros - more comfortable to hold the handguard if it isn't covered in rails Cons - not seen any guns with this as stardard, so will be an additional cost -I don't know every gun out there, so there may be some 😉 - less lower cost attachments - Less rail space out of the box - real steel and airsoft spec may differ so need to be careful when buyiing handguards, might need shimming (assumpption on my part, based on Key Mod) Can give my opinion on the M-Lok side of G's comments that I've quoted as my Avalon Saber has M-Lok... Pros: It is very comfortable to hold, holding it with my AFG in a "C-clamp" is very easy as it's much smoother than picatinny and without any attachments it's quite a slender rail system too so it's easy to get your hand the best part of the way round it even if you've got smaller hands which in theory should make for better stability in most cases. Cons: The Avalon Sabers do Can't give a very educated opinion on this as I've only bought/seen a very select few M-Lok attachments so far but from what I've seen there's not been a huge difference in price and buying the rail conversion kits on top of your picatinny attachments isn't gonna break the bank anyways so either way you're only gonna be spending a little bit extra! Technically yes, unless you're prepared with M-Lok attachments/conversions kits As I said, I've bought a few M-Lok attachments so far one of which was the Magpul M-Lok AFG and that went straight on with no problem as you would expect/hope for from Magpul. I've also bought a cheap M-Lok sling QD mount from Amazon and that went on fine too so for the moment I've not had a problem with mounting anything. However, as the Avalon is a bit more on the higher end as AEGs go I would expect it to be more to spec with real steel. Problems might arise more with cheaper AEGs with M-Lok systems perhaps, just an observation though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoomingHedgie Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 31 minutes ago, BibbsOnTour said: Can give my opinion on the M-Lok side of G's comments that I've quoted as my Avalon Saber has M-Lok... Pros: It is very comfortable to hold, holding it with my AFG in a "C-clamp" is very easy as it's much smoother than picatinny and without any attachments it's quite a slender rail system too so it's easy to get your hand the best part of the way round it even if you've got smaller hands which in theory should make for better stability in most cases. Cons: The Avalon Sabers do Can't give a very educated opinion on this as I've only bought/seen a very select few M-Lok attachments so far but from what I've seen there's not been a huge difference in price and buying the rail conversion kits on top of your picatinny attachments isn't gonna break the bank anyways so either way you're only gonna be spending a little bit extra! Technically yes, unless you're prepared with M-Lok attachments/conversions kits As I said, I've bought a few M-Lok attachments so far one of which was the Magpul M-Lok AFG and that went straight on with no problem as you would expect/hope for from Magpul. I've also bought a cheap M-Lok sling QD mount from Amazon and that went on fine too so for the moment I've not had a problem with mounting anything. However, as the Avalon is a bit more on the higher end as AEGs go I would expect it to be more to spec with real steel. Problems might arise more with cheaper AEGs with M-Lok systems perhaps, just an observation though! Where is a good place to buy M-Lok attachments? I'm struggling to find anything other than a stubby vertical grip. EDIT - Also how easy is it to attach M-Lok attachments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert James Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 I've found picatinny attachments cheapest of the 3. But agree with comfort.. Scorpion comes with m lock around aides and bottom, picatinny up top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert James Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Same. So I've been getting the Mlok picatinny rails and then getting the picatinny attachments. Try Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BibbsOnTour Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 49 minutes ago, BoomingHedgie said: Where is a good place to buy M-Lok attachments? I'm struggling to find anything other than a stubby vertical grip. EDIT - Also how easy is it to attach M-Lok attachments? I got my AFG from wolf armouries and the QD sling mount from Amazon. As far as sights go I never really had to look as my top rail is picatinny and the gun came with a 2 inch M-Lok to picatinny adapter so might taclight is mounted on that. I reckon the majority of the time you'll just have to get adapters where you see fit but you shouldn't need too many otherwise with all those attachments you'll be very front heavy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoomingHedgie Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 Just now, BibbsOnTour said: I got my AFG from wolf armouries and the QD sling mount from Amazon. As far as sights go I never really had to look as my top rail is picatinny and the gun came with a 2 inch M-Lok to picatinny adapter so might taclight is mounted on that. I reckon the majority of the time you'll just have to get adapters where you see fit but you shouldn't need too many otherwise with all those attachments you'll be very front heavy! I'll be using a standard red dot sight on the top rail which is picatinny but I'm struggling to find a angled foregrip or a vertical foregrip for a M-Lok rail At some point I'll probably get an adapter to put a torch on the side of the rail but other than that, that will be it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BibbsOnTour Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 20 minutes ago, BoomingHedgie said: I'll be using a standard red dot sight on the top rail which is picatinny but I'm struggling to find a angled foregrip or a vertical foregrip for a M-Lok rail At some point I'll probably get an adapter to put a torch on the side of the rail but other than that, that will be it! My AFG: https://wolfarmouries.co.uk/magpul-m-lok-afg-angled-fore-grip-black.html I'm sure there's different colours on their too if black doesn't float your goat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert James Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 https://www.amazon.co.uk/MAGPUL-M-LOKTM-Vertical-M-LOK-System/dp/B00PDKO6WK https://www.amazon.co.uk/MAGPUL-M-LOKTM-Vertical-M-LOK-System/dp/B00PDKO6R0/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_200_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YN0FC09V8XJSZDBY796B https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-EU-Tactical-Handstop-Vertical/dp/B07DZZBQTX/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1533740349&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=M-Lok&psc=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/UniqueFire-handstop-Aluminum-Picatinny-Handguard/dp/B0778L11Z6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1533740349&sr=8-5&keywords=M-Lok https://www.amazon.co.uk/KINSUNG-Polymer-Section-Handguard-Sizes/dp/B076VKTLBF/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1533740349&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=M-Lok&psc=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E21A Posted August 8, 2018 Share Posted August 8, 2018 Of the 3 I’d say currently the keymod is the one to have, followed by m-lok (these 2 may swap places in the future as more people start producing m-lok attachments), then picatinny which is pretty outdated now. You can buy picatinny segments that attach to m-lok or keymod and opens up all the attachments your could ever want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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