Question about scratching up AR by mounting accessories

[js_paddle07]

Hey everyone. I'm new here -- 1st post.

I just got a M&P15OR and I am very pumped about it. I have a light and bipod mounted on the barrel. Should I put some type of tape or something underneath the rail mounts to keep it from scratching the barrel? I feel like if I tighten everything down that it will scratch pretty easily. What do you think?

 

[Arik]

It can scratch but so what? Nothing is gonna happen with a few scratches. You should see my AR.

Another thing. Its usually not a good idea to mount stuff directly to the barrel. It throws off the barrel harmonics and you would have to resight your rifle. If you take that off you'd have to resight again. It makes even less sence on an AR which is designed to have as much of a free floating barrel as possible. It can make almost no difference or you can be off the paper af 50 yards.

I'd recommend a lot of reading up on a AR and rifle general. There is a lot of useless tacticool poop out there. At best it looks mean but does nothing. At worst it actually makes the shot worse

This is the same reason rifles with barrel mounted bayonets get sighted in either without a bayo or only with. Cant have both. If its sighted in with a bayonet that bayonet stays on the entire time

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cyphertext]

If you are going to hang accessories on the rifle, you need to get a railed handguard, not some railed clamp on the barrel. If you have things attached directly to the barrel, scratches are the least of your worries.

 

[js_paddle07]

If you are going to hang accessories on the rifle, you need to get a railed handguard, not some railed clamp on the barrel. If you have things attached directly to the barrel, scratches are the least of your worries.

Wow. I'm glad I posted this. I had no idea that mounting directly to the barrel was such a bad idea. I am completely new to ARs though. Keep the advice coming please. I'll go ahead and remove the light and bipod.

 

[Harrison]

ARs are both a tactical rifle and a working rifle. Working guns tend to accumulate scratches, rubs and small dings. It just adds character and does not degrade performance.

 

[BillyJack2012]

Wow. I'm glad I posted this. I had no idea that mounting directly to the rail was such a bad idea. I am completely new to ARs though. Keep the advice coming please. I'll go ahead and remove the light and bipod.

I'm a little lost. You said you were mounting to the barrel which is what everyone is warning against. Now you say you are mounting to the rail? If so, that's what a rail is for so you are ok. As far as scratches, it's gonna get scratched. If it bugs you, just grab a Sharpie.

 

[dogzapper]

Back in the days of wood and blued steel, the first scratch was a major disaster ... and it never seemed to get better.

Enter the era of the hunting rifle with a black synthetic stock and stainless steel and dings are considered battle scars. Scars to be proud of.

ARs are very much the same as a desk. If the desk clean and spotless, no work has been performed there. If the desk is maybe a little unkempt, scratched some and doesn't look new .... it's seen major action.

My ARs are tools; I take immaculate care of the mechanics. The spit & polished exterior, maybe not so much.

Best of luck with your new AR; you will love it totally.

God Bless,

Steve

 

[mkk41]

Scratches? Who's gonna see any under all this junk?




MagPul and others sell tactical plastic snap-on covers for Picatinney rails. They even sell 'em in colors. Just like Legos!

 

[eschoendorff]

The AR is a tool to do a job. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the look of a sleek black AR. But it is still a tool and is meant for work.

I am also a fan of hand tools, and I have some pretty nice Snap On tools in my most-used sizes. The Snap On tools cost quite a bit more, but they are first to see duty, scratches be damned! I paid more for them so that they could take the beating!

I feel sort of the same about my AR. It's a tool, not furniture.

All that said, a scratch on my AR would bother me quite a bit!

I've been tempted to try some of the barrel-mounted tactical doo-dads, but somehow mounting something directly to the barrel just seemed like a bad idea. Heat, vibration, etc. Now I'm glad that I kept my barrel tacticool free! :lol:

 

[js_paddle07]

I'm a little lost. You said you were mounting to the barrel which is what everyone is warning against. Now you say you are mounting to the rail? If so, that's what a rail is for so you are ok. As far as scratches, it's gonna get scratched. If it bugs you, just grab a Sharpie.

Typo. I meant barrel, not rail. The stuff WAS mounted to the barrel; I removed it.

Can anyone recommend a nice railed hand guard to replace the stock one? I would like to mount the light at least.

 

[kennyb]

and...welcome to the forum JS!

 

[cyphertext]

Typo. I meant barrel, not rail. The stuff WAS mounted to the barrel; I removed it.

Can anyone recommend a nice railed hand guard to replace the stock one? I would like to mount the light at least.

I think you are going to have to do some homework on that one. What is your budget? Do you want free float, or just a simple drop in so that you can attach stuff? Or would the Magpul handguard with rail sections meet your needs?

My opinion...spend the money on ammo and practice shooting and become proficient with the firearm first. The light does no good if you can't hit what you are aiming at.

 

[WU_Who]

Get the lil magpul rails that can be mounted to the stock handguard. Only about $7.

 

[Kadonny]

IF you decide to get a rail, get a good American made rail rather than some Chinese junk. Troy, Daniel, Knights Armament etc. You want your rail rock solid with no movement at all or you will hate it, I promise. Look around, you can find some nice prices.

I agree on the practice thing, but I also say if you have the money, make the rifle how you want it. When I bought my Sport, I immediately changed the handguard to a drop in railed guard and love it. Easy to install, and affordable. Do what you want, just don't hang stuff off the actual barrel.

 

[Bedouin2W]

Midwest Industries is another great option for a drop in quad rail, you'd need the carbine length.

Midwest Industries: G2 Two Piece Drop-in

 

[js_paddle07]

Get the lil magpul rails that can be mounted to the stock handguard. Only about $7.

So will Amazon.com: Magpul L5 MOE Rail Section, Black: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31D45Qah33L.@@AMEPARAM@@31D45Qah33L rail fit the stock hand guard on my AR?

 

[js_paddle07]

and...welcome to the forum JS!

Thanks kennyb!

 

[cyphertext]

I agree on the practice thing, but I also say if you have the money, make the rifle how you want it.

When it is a brand new platform to you, how do you know how you want it before you shoot? Are you just basing it on whatever you think looks cool? I've seen a lot of people throw away a lot of money thinking they want this or that accessory, only to find out that they really wanted a simple rifle. Until you use it and decide what the primary use of the rifle is, how can you decide? You don't know what you don't know at that point...

For example, I wouldn't have a bipod and a tac light on the same rifle. Two different uses for the rifle. Typically a light is for close up use, where a bipod is to steady the rifle for long range shooting. The two accessories don't go together in my mind. A rifle set up for HD and close range shooting is set up differently from a hunting and long distance rifle. Of course, it is his rifle and he can do what he wants though...

 

[Kadonny]

When it is a brand new platform to you, how do you know how you want it before you shoot? Are you just basing it on whatever you think looks cool? I've seen a lot of people throw away a lot of money thinking they want this or that accessory, only to find out that they really wanted a simple rifle. Until you use it and decide what the primary use of the rifle is, how can you decide? You don't know what you don't know at that point...

For example, I wouldn't have a bipod and a tac light on the same rifle. Two different uses for the rifle. Typically a light is for close up use, where a bipod is to steady the rifle for long range shooting. The two accessories don't go together in my mind. A rifle set up for HD and close range shooting is set up differently from a hunting and long distance rifle. Of course, it is his rifle and he can do what he wants though...

I agree regarding the conflicting uses of the bipod and light. And I agree the OP should become a bit more familiar with his new rifle. However, the OP obviously already bought the accessories, so he should have a means to mount them if he wants to. For me, a quad rail or rail mounting system is almost a must have. That way you have a means to mount stuff if you want but you also have a functioning rifle if you wish not to mount stuff......or mount and dismount stuff at his wish.

 

[cyphertext]

However, the OP obviously already bought the accessories, so he should have a means to mount them if he wants to.

True, but what kind of mount? Drop in? Free float? Rails that attach to the stock handguard? Perhaps a tube handguard that can have rails added as needed? All dictated by use...

Want to use that bipod and shoot long distance? Free float the barrel.

Just want something to attach a light to? Drop in would suffice.

Without knowing how he is going to use the rifle, have no idea what to recommend.

So OP, what do you plan to do with the rifle? What type of shooting?