why so many rifles with efr/clip on rails...

Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage

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Dec 23, 2008
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#1
i wondered why the embedded front rail on so many rifles? i am going out on a limb here but i know there aren't a tenth of those with an efr on the rifle that actually have a clip on night vision device. is there some other use i'm overlooking or is it just a fashion statement type thing? i surmise it adds value if one wants to sell it down the road.
 
#2
I have several of them for the obvious reason. My NVD's.
I think some others have hopes of getting a set up. I doubt many go to the expense of buying one for style. They are a nuisance if you don't need it IMO.
 
#15
I unabashedly did it for basically no other reason than to be OAF while I Ninja my way around the mall. I was having a look-alike M40A5ish built, but by no means a true clone. Once you're into a full custom build, the price of the rail was just one more thing. I also wanted one bolt gun with the eventual capability of adding a clip-on should I ever decide to get one.
But basically, I did it for looks, pure and simple. I paid for that rail for the same reason I've bought so many other toys: because I wanted to; because I could; because it makes me happy to have it. I passed the point of practicality with my guns long ago.
 
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#16
bogeybrown said:
I unabashedly did it for basically no other reason than to be OAF while I Ninja my way around the mall. I was having a look-alike M40A5ish built, but by no means a true clone. Once you're into a full custom build, the price of the rail was just one more thing. I also wanted one bolt gun with the eventual capability of adding a clip-on should I ever decide to get one.
But basically, I did it for looks, pure and simple. I paid for that rail for the same reason I've bought so many other toys: because I wanted to; because I could; because it makes me happy to have it. I passed the point of practicality with my guns long ago.
Click to expand...

fair enough! because i can bitch...lol
 
#21
bogeybrown said:
Exactly. I'm not sure how heavy the clip-on rail would have to be for me to notice it on top of the rifled truck axles I tend to have as barrels.
Click to expand...

Bogey makes a good point. The badger efr is actually aluminum alloy if I'm not mistaken so not much weight added. But slap on that 2-3 pound nvd, and carry for a while and suddenly proof research barrels start to have some appeal.
 
#24
I don't have one, but I think they look great! I also mow my grass so my lawn looks good. Damn it! I must be subject to vanity. To realize this during Lent is even more troubling.
 
#25
I have a KRG Whiskey 3 chassis with the extended spigot mount. Their NV mount screws onto the top of it so there are empty holes on the top side of the spigot. I've thought about buying one just to give it a more complete look but I haven't pulled the trigger because it's pretty pricey for something strictly cosmetic.
 
#26
Use every one I have had installed. Then ended up using mainly 2 rifles to coyote hunt and the others are a waste. OAF though...no doubt. I have settled on my night rifles though so won't installing any more.
 
#27
I did it because a clip on is on my list of goodies to purchase, and more importantly... I had a discount certificate to use when purchasing the stock so I got 50% off the upgrade. I figured...why not?

And now I'm at least as operator as the other operators who operate at the matches I attend when I'm able!
 
#28
niteshooter said:
Bogey makes a good point. The badger efr is actually aluminum alloy if I'm not mistaken so not much weight added. But slap on that 2-3 pound nvd, and carry for a while and suddenly proof research barrels start to have some appeal.
Click to expand...

I have to respectfully disagree here only with the proof comment. Adding a NVD to the front of a rifle with a proof barrel is damn near the same thing. A couple pounds as in two at the max won't matter that much. For the guys who hump their kit miles or even they guys that deploy from a Tahoe to a hide five minutes walk from the car (if the money is coming from the operators pocket) proof, to me, doesn't really have that much appeal.

Now if it's the agency or federal Govt money by all means proof it up!







Sierracharlie338....
 
#29
I'm having one put on my build as we speak, just in case I decide to add NV. Also because I fucking wanted it because they look bad ass on the rifle... You only live once man.
 
#34
As parts and manufacturer stickers add horsepower to vehicles......rails add tightness to groups, some extra BC through neutralizing the barrel harmonics, and a few other things I forgot, Ill pay better attention to the guy next to me at the range next time when he explains it again to me
 
#35
LR Junky said:
Because there's a whole lot of wanna bes and douche bags out there that want to be a seal team 6 lookalike
Click to expand...

Pffft.

I'm part of Seal Team 12. We were given 12 because we were twice as good as team 6.

Whenever I go to Afghanistan, they clear out Little Paradise for me and let me live there on base alone because my hands are registered as weapons and they don't want me to accidentally kill a General or something.

I literally killed 2 people typing this.
 
#40
bogeybrown said:
XLR is your friend
Click to expand...

I have a Carbon but hate the rail system, some MLOK or Keymod would be nice. Hell, if the carbon handguard had MLOK slots I'd buy another one.

Only tube options I know of are Cadex with proprietary rails (no thx, learned my lesson) and AIAX with non standard Keymod for about 1300
 
#41
LawnMM said:
I have a Carbon but hate the rail system, some MLOK or Keymod would be nice. Hell, if the carbon handguard had MLOK slots I'd buy another one.

Only tube options I know of are Cadex with proprietary rails (no thx, learned my lesson) and AIAX with non standard Keymod for about 1300
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but I've personally never needed to do something on an XLR that couldn't be done w a bolt on rail section. However, with my prior dealings with them, if you suggested a keymod chassis to them dierectly I wouldn't be amazed if they didn't develop it.
 
#43
bogeybrown said:
Fair enough, but I've personally never needed to do something on an XLR that couldn't be done w a bolt on rail section. However, with my prior dealings with them, if you suggested a keymod chassis to them dierectly I wouldn't be amazed if they didn't develop it.
Click to expand...

I believe the new Envy chassis will have some MLOK slots but I've not seen any plans to update the Carbon handguard thus far. I did email them about it since I really like that chassis but abhor the way rail sections are added. It's easy up front for a bipod but try holding those bar nuts deeper in the tube while you're tightening the rails. Yeesh!
 
#44
Like a few others have mentioned, I had it installed by McMillan when I ordered my stock because I had the hopes of purchasing a NVD for the rifle in the future. My thought process was to have it installed by them upon ordering to avoid any warranty issues or claims down the road. Six months later and still no NVD...
 
#46
Killswitch Engage said:
i wondered why the embedded front rail on so many rifles? i am going out on a limb here but i know there aren't a tenth of those with an efr on the rifle that actually have a clip on night vision device. is there some other use i'm overlooking or is it just a fashion statement type thing? i surmise it adds value if one wants to sell it down the road.
Click to expand...

This is dumb. I mean 99% of the people here just shoot targets. Is there any reason to spend as 4k on scopes and 4k on rifles just to shoot steel with your buddies. Last time I checked guns were designed to kill things. Id reckon that 99% havent even shot at a living thing.

Who gives a shit what anyone else does?
 
#47
kengel2 said:
This is dumb. I mean 99% of the people here just shoot targets. Is there any reason to spend as 4k on scopes and 4k on rifles just to shoot steel with your buddies. Last time I checked guns were designed to kill things. Id reckon that 99% havent even shot at a living thing.

Who gives a shit what anyone else does?
Click to expand...

Perfect


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#49
kengel2 said:
This is dumb. I mean 99% of the people here just shoot targets. Is there any reason to spend as 4k on scopes and 4k on rifles just to shoot steel with your buddies. Last time I checked guns were designed to kill things. Id reckon that 99% havent even shot at a living thing.

Who gives a shit what anyone else does?
Click to expand...

thanks for your input. i dont give a shit what anyone does and dont condemn them for anything they choose to do with their money or gear, it was a simple discussion of curiosity....kind of what forums are for.
 
#50
I bet I'd put a NV rail on my rifle just for the looks if it didn't weigh/cost much. In all honesty we do this for fun. Unless you are a legit mil/leo sniper, you're on here and shooting for fun/sport, so I don't mind if anyone wants to put stuff on their gun if it enhances the fun for em'.

An NV rail is like putting a spoiler on your sports car. Technically there is a benefit, but usually it's really just there for looks. Nothin' wrong with that. Here in Murica, you can buy a gold plated side-folding AK74 with a carbon fiber night vision rail, put an ACOG on it, put a Fastfire III on top of the ACOG and add a titanium tripod adapter to your bamboo wood hand gaurd, and you don't have to explain or justify shit to no one. Now that's what I call freedom! I think that's a beautiful thing :p
 
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