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Thread: Rail Covers

  1. #1
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    Question Rail Covers

    I've been looking around at different rail covers and everyone seems to have their favorite for some reason or another. Many people on ARF seem to go by looks alone though. What I'm wondering is if there is a real advantage between one type or another.

    Currently, I have the ladder covers that came with my DD Omega and was thinking about going with the Mako or DD covers but there are LMT Tango Down, Tango Down, Magpul XT, Ladders, Promag, UTG, Mako, Knights, Ergo etc...

    Then there are 5, 10 and 15 slot panels. Is there any advantage of getting 3 5's or a 15? Can you cut down, say a Ergo 15 to make 3 5's? Tango Down and KAC seem to have locks. What's the advantage over a tight fitting slip-on like Magpuls or ladders?

    And why are they so expensive?

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
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    My favorite setup so far has been my DD 9.5 m4 rail with the magpul ladder covers. It seemed to be very comfortable to me at least.

    I like DD's M4 rails.
    "Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered. There was no one there."
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    I can give you my opinion on which I think are the best for certain setups of a carbine. I use a combination of ladders and Ergo "Full Cover" rail covers on my DPMS-DI carbine. I use the ladders on top anywhere there is not an iron sight or optic just to protect the rail. I originally chose the Ergo Full Cover (EFC) railcovers because they are soft and rubbery and are very easy to attach and detach. I have a 15 slot EFC on the left side where I only have a sling attachment. I have a 15 slot EFC which I cut for length on the right side because I have a Vltor Light Attachment with a G2 Nitrolon in it. Being able to cut the EFC railcovers is another postive for them. For the bottom of my rail, I used the ladders cut to where I just have room to attach my VFG.

    On my POF I have Magpul XT covers, 15 slot full on both sides, because I have no attached accessories. I have a full XT on the bottom at times when I use it without a VFG. I have ladder covers the length of the top rail, again
    except where I have sights. When I'm using a VFG on the bottom I use ladders cut to length for that VFG as well.

    I have found that EFC rail covers are easily knocked of a bottom rail when used with a VFG. Magpul XT's are also more inclined to fall off or get knocked off when used on the bottom rail as well, but not to as much a degree as the EFC because the XT is more rigid.

    The only real experience I have with another type of rail cover is the Tango Down. I didn't like it at all. It was very difficult to try to attach. I never got it on my rail. I ended up tossing it.

    I hope this is some help to you,

    TS

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    My personal favorites are Tango Down's. I preferr the solid covers and you can set it and foret it.
    They are hard to begin, but what I have found with the locks is that they can attach and lock anywhere on the rails, unlike others such as my KAC panels. The other panel must lock in either the farthest front or rear slots on my Samson's or other rails because that is the only slot fully open around the edges.

    I have the Magpul XT panels and laddder covers also, both are nice, the XT panels are nice and grippy for the hand, they can be cut down to length and I have never experienced any falling off.

    If you are going to hang gear from your rails, I would opt for either full length panels like the XT's and cut them first, over a few panels of smaller sizes.
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    Quote Originally Posted by NvrenufRR View Post
    If you are going to hang gear from your rails, I would opt for either full length panels like the XT's and cut them first, over a few panels of smaller sizes.
    I wholeheartedly agree. EFC's or XT's are great because you can cut them to whatever length you want or need.




    TS

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    Quote Originally Posted by jeffy View Post
    I've been looking around at different rail covers and everyone seems to have their favorite for some reason or another. Many people on ARF seem to go by looks alone though. What I'm wondering is if there is a real advantage between one type or another.

    Currently, I have the ladder covers that came with my DD Omega and was thinking about going with the Mako or DD covers but there are LMT Tango Down, Tango Down, Magpul XT, Ladders, Promag, UTG, Mako, Knights, Ergo etc...

    Then there are 5, 10 and 15 slot panels. Is there any advantage of getting 3 5's or a 15? Can you cut down, say a Ergo 15 to make 3 5's? Tango Down and KAC seem to have locks. What's the advantage over a tight fitting slip-on like Magpuls or ladders?

    And why are they so expensive?

    Thanks in advance.



    There are a lot of different brands, but they all serve a similar purpose. Panels protect the entire rail, while ladder covers are in place to protect the 1913 sections.

    Various brands offer different types of texture, with some being soft, and others being rather rigid.

    Costs are a factor of multiple things, but the guys who have bought airsoft/ cheap versions have reported covers melting, so I would guess that a portion of the costs are using specific materials.



    Shortly after SHOT 08 I should have a thread written up showing various rail covers, and pros and cons associated with them.

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    I use the KAC panels for the sides and bottoms, and Magpul ladders on the top. The panels are good for gripping, protect the guard and the rail, and don't come loose. The ladder is low profile and prevents having a foot of cheese grater to snag and tear up everything. It also allows for enough air to circulate out of the top. I've even used the ladder strips on other Pic rails items.
    As for the cost on KAC panels, it is probably because they all start out as 11 rib models. The factory cuts down the other lengths from that one basic mold; they don't have 9, 5, 3 and 2 rib molds.










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    Quote Originally Posted by Stickman View Post
    There are a lot of different brands, but they all serve a similar purpose. Panels protect the entire rail, while ladder covers are in place to protect the 1913 sections.

    Various brands offer different types of texture, with some being soft, and others being rather rigid.

    Costs are a factor of multiple things, but the guys who have bought airsoft/ cheap versions have reported covers melting, so I would guess that a portion of the costs are using specific materials.



    Shortly after SHOT 08 I should have a thread written up showing various rail covers, and pros and cons associated with them.
    Yeah, I have been thinking that cheaper ones, especially knockoffs or airsoft aren't the way to go. I'd rather pay for quality once. I'm pretty sure I want panels not ladders though. I've got ladders on all four sides. I've have a TG Vert. Grip coming and I eventually want to add a G2 with a rail mount of some sort.

    I guess now the questions are hard or soft. And is there any advantage or disadvantage to having three 5's as opposed to a single 15? Or should I just get a 15 that allows trimming down? I'm assuming if I stick with a name brand,I should be OK.


    I'm kinda curious to know if each of these companies actually makes their covers inhouse or not. I suspect some no not.

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    I use Magpul covers and seems like i am always installing rail covers in the winter, although my shop is heated its not like its summer, and talk about stiff covers, my solution was to wave my heat gun slighty over the cover before i put it on the rail, and that makes it pliable enough to install....

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    Quote Originally Posted by weaponizer View Post
    I use Magpul covers and seems like i am always installing rail covers in the winter, although my shop is heated its not like its summer, and talk about stiff covers, my solution was to wave my heat gun slighty over the cover before i put it on the rail, and that makes it pliable enough to install....
    Yeah, I've heard the Magpull XT's are a PITA to install.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jeffy View Post
    Yeah, I've heard the Magpull XT's are a PITA to install.
    In my experience, the XT's weren't a big PITA to get on, just more difficult than ladders or Ergo EFC's. To me the XT's are a middle of the road between the soft EFC's and the harder Tango Downs. XT's are also nice because they have lines marking one inch and that makes them easy to cut down. As far as I'm concerned the 15 slot covers are all I would buy unless you have something you are going to attach that will leave 5 slots open.


    TS

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    Magpul XT's are my favorite due to being able to cut them down to fit.

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    My experience is with Magpul XT's and Knights. I far prefer the Magpul. They are "grippy" without being sticky like rubber panels nor too slick like hard plastic panels. They are also quite easy to shorten. Come in several colors, too. They are easy to take on and off once you have done it a few times--it ain't rocket science. Magpul ladders go on top and bottom of my DD M4 forend with the panels on the side.

    The Knights panels are good quality but are slick to hold and loose on my rails.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by fogofwar View Post
    The Knights panels are good quality but are slick to hold and loose on my rails.

    I have a quick-fix for loose KAC panels:

    - Apply a thin bead of black RTV along one side of the back of the panel. Let the RTV cure.

    This should tighten up the panel, and prevent it from sliding back and forth or rattling.



  15. #15
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    In this video of a standard KAC rail panel without RTV, the panel slides easily onto the rail and rattles when locked.





    In this video of a KAC rail panel with RTV, one can see how the RTV has actually taken a set from being installed on the rail over an extended period of time. Sliding the rail panel on, one can see how much tighter the panel slides in place and once locked into place, the rattle is gone.


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