I was hoping someone more educated could help:
Questions in bold
I just had my local gunsmith install a Troy Alpha Rail on my M&P10 (pictures below). The top rails do not line up. When I mentioned this to the gunsmith he said that was normal.
Is this correct? I would think for a home install maybe, but expensive gun dealer to not make it perfect???
This is going to get a custom paint job so I am considering changing the hand guard to something round and less vented to make more canvas space and also completely eliminate the worry of a top rail lining up. This is being used primarily as a precision/long range firearm (sniping hogs with a suppressor at range) and not rapid fired.
Is non-vented ok? Or should I at least get something slightly vented?
Here are links to examples of what I want:
Non-vented
Vented
While I won't have rails, I do not want them. A quad rail is too much for a distance rifle and there is no rail that only has a lower rail. In fact there is no rail I can find that has a native dual rail (top and bottom only) and round sides. I will drill a custom hole for a bi-pod and be done. The benefit in trade would be simple break down (some of the rounds simply unscrew as there are no rails to align), good uninterrupted canvas space for the custom camo job and a lightweight frame free of rails.
Also I am guessing this is normal but on the bottom of the rail (more pics below) the two parts are so tight they are bent together.
Is this level of tightness necessary? I would think stretching that much would weaken the metal there.