Hi guys, I wanted to take the time to share a new rail option for the AR15/M4 that I've had the opportunity to test out over the last couple months. First off for full disclosure purposes, I'm in no way affiliated with Geissele Automatics, nor am I receiving any compensation for the opinions I express about their products.
<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Origins:</span></span> It's important to start off with why/who/what these rails were originally designed for, which was to meet a contract requested by an element of the DoD for a HK416 replacement rail. This is important to note because the SMR's construction, design, and quite frankly bomb proof nature strongly reflect the original end user's requirements for these rails.
<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">What makes this rail different from others out there?</span></span>
** Rock solid lock up: 2.25" length of bearing surface on the bbl nut that the rail centers on and grips. A stock barrel nut has a much shorter gripping surface to support the cantilever loads of a 15" rail. Ultimately the much more robust barrel nut leads to greater yields in terms of rigidity, heat dissipation, and increased accuracy.
** Ease of installation: no indexing of the barrel nut is needed, ability to get a true torque when tightening the barrel nut.
** Modularity: broad flexibility where accessory rails can be mounted
** Ease of mounting accy rails: two screws and your done, no loose nuts to fool around with by trying to get them lined up properly. Also the Shear lugs on the accy rails take any side loading, not bolts
** Mission flexibility: switch rails with different set ups or lengths in just a minute or so. The SMR handguard can be removed in seconds with the removal of two bolts then returned/indexed right back to where it was very quickly
** Anti rotation: In terms of anti rotation, the SMR's design truly shines. It's bombproof!
** Ergonomics: It feels excellent in your hands, and unlike pretty much any traditional railed handguard.
** No expensive or hard to find special barrel nut tool, GA already includes the barrel nut wrench needed for the job.
** Backed by Geissele Automatic's very highly regarded customer service/warranty.
<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Options:</span> </span>
Variants: Currently the SMR is being offered in the MK1 variant, however within the next cpl. weeks, a MK2 variant of the SMR should be available which uses the same barrel nut system as the MK1, but the rail is flat sided and it uses slide nuts instead of rail inserts to hold the accessory rails on. This is just a more cost friendly option for those who either can't afford, or don't need the extra qualities in the MK1 variant.
Colors: Currently only black and sand ano
Lengths: Currently only 13", and 15" models (other lengths are scheduled to hit the market in the future)
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">Rail Specs:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Weight: </span>
13" = 18.4oz
15" = 20.2oz
Above totals include the weight of the handguard, Geissele bbl nut and cross bolts, but are subtracting the weight of the stock bbl nut. Accy rails are.82 and .46 oz
<span style="font-weight: bold">Naked rail measurements....</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">W:</span> 1.7565"
<span style="font-weight: bold">H:</span> 2.2640"
<span style="font-weight: bold">Non-naked (acc. railed) rail measurements....</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">W:</span> 2.3005"
<span style="font-weight: bold">H:</span> 2.5270"
<span style="font-weight: bold">ID:</span> 1.3125"
