Hi everyone I'm new on here but had a question just bought a m&p 15 .223 cal. And wanted to install a quad rail any suggestions on one that is good that won't break my bank your reply will help and much appreciated thanks

I think S&W uses the one by Troy Industries, or at least they did, on the M&P15X.

if your not wanting a free float rail there are quite a few options you can try primary arms if you think you may want a vert grip they have a nice priced combo i think even one with a light also, even the utg(ducking head)has their new forearm that is made in the US locks up solid comes with covers and was below $100.00 last time i checked, but if your rifle will see hard use you may want to check out Troy's or some of the other big names

I just replaced the original forearm on my M&P 15OR with a factory replacement Troy industries quad rail. $133 delivered. This is the same one on the M&P15X. Its very easy to install and a quality part.

link please?

If you got a carbine - Primary Arms for $29.99 and is a quality item, we use them on our tac weapons, I use it on my personal carbines also. > Our own drop in carbine length quad rail - takes about 2 minutes to eaisly install.

That is a drop in, not a free float, correct?

looks alot like the utg rail except it's slots are numbered differently, if it's anything like the utg and for $30.00 bucks you can't go wrong, i just started buying from Primary Arms (got their weapon light) and was really pleased with the quality

Check out these guys.
YHM, Yankee Hill Machine Co., Inc. – Makers of High Quality Firearms, Accessories & Sound Suppressors | Forearms
They have both the split drop in and free float hand guards.

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Buy cheap, pay twice.

I am using a Troy drop in Battle Rail.....been extremely happy with it. Works well with the bi-pod and provides multiple attachment points for a sling swivel. I use ladders to cover the unused rail areas.

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Stu

Thats what I bought... Actually I think FT recommended it when I asked, lol!

Its a decent quad-rail for the price! Quick and easy install, and firmly secured with 4 allen screws.
It'll keep me content for the time being (but I don't really beat on my firearms)!
Only thing that I found a lil strange, is that it encompasses the handguard cap... not sure if thats normal or not (Still new!)

Why is your front sight on the quad rail rather than the gas block top? Looks like it would be lower than the plane of the rear sight.

That sight really needs to be on the gas block at the most forward slot, the rear sight needs to be at the charging handle and the most rear ward slot. Its a same plane system. Don't use the magpul on the front gas block. You can put it on the front most slot on the handguard rail, and get it to work OK, but the correct distance beween the rear and front sight is the rear most slot on the upper and the most forward slot on the gas block.

The magpul should not be placed on the gas block.

It encompases the cap because there is a lip on the inside that the bottom edge of the cap sets on which causes it to appear recessed just a bit into the hand guard, nothing wrong with that.

The Prmary Arms quad rail for $29.99 is a same plane quad rail that fits the same plane and rail height of the S&W upper and gas block perfectly. Its drop in, and also uses four screws. Its a good railed handguard, we really like them.

Absolutely. IF the sight isn't on the gas block because it is polymer and you're afraid of melting it, just replace it rather than "throwing the baby out with the bathwater". A set of matched sights not on the same plane are probably useless or close to it at best.

well the utg does closeup around the hand guard cap like that but like posted earlier it's made to do that...but... i can't really tell in the first pic but is the front of the rail lower than the gas block?it should be level with it the utg rail and other rails setup to make a straight mount from the rear of the upper to the end of the gas block, check to make sure it's not mounted upside down

Hard to tell by the shadows, but it looks to me that the top rail *is* at the same height as the gas block...

~Dan