School me on Arca

[stello1001]

Hello everyone,

Been wanting to add arca rails to the bottom of all my rifles. First off, let me start with why I want to do this and what my style of shooting is.
Feel free to skip through it down to the good stuff if you don't need to read the whole novel lol...

I don't shoot competitively. I do a lot of hunting but I also recreationally bang steel when I have the chance. Most of my hunting happens from within a box blind where I have to rest my rifle stock/chassis on the window frame which is a 2x4.

Recently, I shot a pig from within a blind and noticed the two sling studs were so annoying and in the way. I suppose I could remove all my sling studs on all my rifles and I would have flat bottoms.

I know i know, throw a bag on the frame and that would solve my problem. However, using a bag would raise the rifle a bit more on an already very high/tall window. This would force me to angle the muzzle down a bit and leaving the butt stock way above my shoulder. I already brought a taller chair and still the chair is not tall enough so this season I'm stuck in this scenario.


**Okay, on to the good stuff.**

I've noticed Area419 has some good choices, it seems KRG has some arca as well, and MDT does too. The MDT stuff looks to be thicker and I would preferably want a slimmer arca rail. Are these things all going to work the same way? On my stocks, would I have to drill on them for installation? I suppose on my chassis rifle I could just use the m-lok slots to attach the arca.

Any recommendations on which brands have worked for you guys and what you think would work best? Maybe I'm over thinking this and I should just pick one and run with it.

** ETA **

The only thing I attach to my rifles as they are is A bipod. The biggest attraction for me right now is that I'll have a flat bottom and the fact that I can have a barricade stop. The barricade stop will be such a great tool for me.

 

[Downtown]

I'm a little confused. What do you intend to connect to the arca rail?

 

[stello1001]

I'm a little confused. What do you intend to connect to the arca rail?

I should have posted that. I can attach my bipod when I'm shooting recreationally. That's really all I attach to my rifles as they are.

I suppose if I do get arcas for all my rifles, I could also benefit from it by being able to attach barricade stops. A barricade stop will be really useful for me.

 

[MC56]

In my limited experience I really like my Area419 rails. Quality is great and they have teeth that prevent the attached item from sliding on the rail when used with the Area 419 clamp. May not be necessary, but it can't hurt and it will still work with Arca clamps from other manufacturers, it just wont engage the teeth.

 

[stello1001]

Those with an arca on a McMillan or Manners type stock, did you have to get the stock inletted or done some thing to it? I'm talking about how does one get the arca rail on the stock?

 

[Rob01]

Those with an arca on a McMillan or Manners type stock, did you have to get the stock inletted or done some thing to it? I'm talking about how does one get the arca rail on the stock?

I just added them to a couple Manners stocks and it was simple. One had two sling studs and the barricade stop so no other attachment points were needed but the other I added two more attachment points. Area 419 has a video on their site how to do it and it’s very simple. Other than that you just have to trim the long front action screws they send. Simple again with a Dremel.

 

[stello1001]

I just added them to a couple Manners stocks and it was simple. One had two sling studs and the barricade stop so no other attachment points were needed but the other I added two more attachment points. Area 419 has a video on their site how to do it and it’s very simple. Other than that you just have to trim the long front action screws they send. Simple again with a Dremel.

I've been on their website and seen their arcas but I guess I never looked close enough to see the video. Going over there now.

 

[Rob01]

Here’s a link. It’s installing the T nut video at bottom.

Instructions

www.area419.com

 

[stello1001]

Here’s a link. It’s installing the T nut video at bottom.

Instructions

www.area419.com

Thanks for sharing, it looks stupid easy haha...

 

[acudaowner]

I started adding that area 419 14'' arca rail w barricade stop to everything ( i put that shit on everything )

 

[Diver160651]

The lightest most elegant solution is the Henderson rail.Comes with mounting hardware.The heavier, 419 is more solid though.

Most people have moved away from the barricade stops and just just a bag such as a form of Game Changer

 

[3GN_Lurker]

I also really like the Area419 Arca rail due to the teeth/pin engagement. When I lock the clamp down my bag or bipod isn't going anywhere.

 

[uffduh]

If you’re looking for a quick solution for the blind instead of the rifle (with guests in mind who might be having the same problem), I cut strips of mouse pads and glued them to the window sills.

 

[stello1001]

If you’re looking for a quick solution for the blind instead of the rifle (with guests in mind who might be having the same problem), I cut strips of mouse pads and glued them to the window sills.

That's actually a great idea. We always put a small strip of carpet. That's mostly so if the rifle is accidentally banged on the 2x4, it's not so loud. However, I had already thought of doing just that. I have some pieces of foam that are probably 1/4 to maybe 3/8 thick and I'm guessing they will work very well.

 

[Daleteam6]

I have a catalyst arms fast track arca rail on my 5.56 build and I'm about to add odin works arca rails to my 6.5 build. I was iffy on it at first caus I just mlcok everything, but for quick detach and movability arca is king

 

[pell1203]

LOL! You could always lower the window sill or raise the floor!

 

[stello1001]

LOL! You could always lower the window sill or raise the floor!

Raising the floor might be the easier option out of the two. But damn it, you're not helping. Sometimes, we just need an excuse to buy more gun parts haha, even if it's a stupid excuse!

 

[Diver160651]

Raising the floor might be the easier option out of the two. But damn it, you're not helping. Sometimes, we just need an excuse to buy more gun parts haha, even if it's a stupid excuse!

Well get a RRS and sit back further in the blind out of the cold. That way you can get your rail and spend lots of money. Should satisfy all your needs.

 

[stello1001]

Well get a RRS and sit back further in the blind out of the cold. That way you can get your rail and spend lots of money. Should satisfy all your needs.

Can't say i haven't thought about that...

 

[Rob01]

Or get a Two Vets Sports tripod for half the price and do the same thing and have money in your pocket

 

[ToddM]

I know the gamers love ARCA, and I get it, it's super adjustable for all the various scenarios and fast, but personally for hunting I wouldn't be a fan unless it has the scallop locks like 419 does etc.. Every shoot I go to at least one if not multiple people have their ARCA stuff either slide off a rail or slip under recoil. It has to be one of the worst, most expensive friction fit designs in existence. It was designed for setting up cameras in static positions with no concern for time or recoil. Honestly the industry needs to move to an ARCA rail that has scallops or notches in it for more security like the 419 ArcaLock.

Especially since you are hunting in a static position from a blind, and you already have setups you like for bipods, I'd modify your position/window etc. to work with the rifle instead of messing with the rifles. The mouse pad like covering with a flat bottom rifle should also work well, be flexible and fast.

One thing we've done that works well with hunting rifles in window blinds is a soft 2-3" thick pad. It allows the round rifle stock to sink in a bit providing more stability, but it's also fast and works at any angle out the window. Depending on how much time you have, size of your shooting lanes etc. that might not be an issue. We've found it's a good compromise on being fast and instantly working for any shot angles but not as helpful for flat bottom stocks.

 

[Diver160651]

I know the gamers love ARCA, and I get it, it's super adjustable for all the various scenarios and fast, but personally for hunting I wouldn't be a fan unless it has the scallop locks like 419 does etc.

^ another argument for a full-length rail Actually, if your rail is sliding most likely you have a poor fit. Note that ARCA is NOT a standard, a piece of tape can help. Even if it does slide a 1/4" under the recoil of a lightweight magnum it isn't the end of the day; after all just how many shots are you taking on an animal?

I think we must acknowledge all hunting is NOT the same. It might not be the best choice for in a bind with a super solid window already in place that is low enough to put a Schedium on. Hell you can do the same with a portable blind without the stable window using the Schedium or pint on top of @hic28 Able Table. But in the West, where I hunt, most hunting is done out of a pack or at least involves some sort of mobility.

FWIW I love full-length rails and tripods for hunting - I have a bunch of Elk and many pigs at ranges and situations other hunters might have to pass or not possible/probable from the positions vegetation and the steep hills offered. Plus, the same setup doubles for glassing. Between losing the bipod, bag and using the same tripod to glass from, I have a lighter total package. Done right, it is an absolute game-changer for Western hunting.

That said, if I was shooting out a window as I do for pest control under NV, I use a heavy fill pint gamechanger. But that little bag weighs MORE than the entire tripod setup.

 

[stello1001]

I agree I already have a flat platform that is really stable. The problem comes with the two sling studs on the bottom of my stock. I'm thinking of just pulling them out for now. I can throw a bag on the window frame (which is a 2x4) and that would take care of the sling stud problem. However, the window is already really really high as it is and adding a bag only creates a bigger problem. The other thing I'm looking at right now is looking for a much taller chair. Either way, I positioned myself with the rifle on the window as if I were to take a shot. I noticed that not having a magwell (like I do with my chassis rifle) means I want to add a barricade stop as well so I can drive the rifle a bit. Anyhow, I may not even end up getting an arca. I was wanting opinions and info on them with the hope that Area419 would have a black Friday sale on them.

**edit**

Holy smoke, Area419 has added arca rails to their sale. Maybe I will be buying one or two after all...

 

[Defy Gear]

I agree I already have a flat platform that is really stable. The problem comes with the two sling studs on the bottom of my stock. I'm thinking of just pulling them out for now. I can throw a bag on the window frame (which is a 2x4) and that would take care of the sling stud problem. However, the window is already really really high as it is and adding a bag only creates a bigger problem. The other thing I'm looking at right now is looking for a much taller chair. Either way, I positioned myself with the rifle on the window as if I were to take a shot. I noticed that not having a magwell (like I do with my chassis rifle) means I want to add a barricade stop as well so I can drive the rifle a bit. Anyhow, I may not even end up getting an arca. I was wanting opinions and info on them with the hope that Area419 would have a black Friday sale on them.

If you're looking for some rail sections for your MLok-slotted chassis rifle, we have some very nice options currently at a steep discount for Hide members with free shipping; follow the link in my profile for some photos (Post #2) and use "SNIPERSHIDE" at checkout for the discount.