Weapon System: AR15/ M16

Manufacturer: Midwest Industries

Item Installed: MI-20 Rail

Purpose of Item: A free floating rail allows for multiple attachment points of equipment, to include optics, vertical foregrips, lights, lasers, and other items. A FF rail also allows for better accuracy by the barrel not being touched by the forearm. For many users, it is more a matter of a stable handguard/ rail that will not rattle or wiggle under hard use than it is absolute accuracy.

Tools Needed:
(2) Towels or rags
Tape
Pliers
Cutting tool (dremel or hacksaw will work)
Screwdriver (flathead)

Items Included:
Rails
Allen head screws
Allen head wrenches
Instructions
Locking solution


The Midwest Industries rail (MI-20) is a Free Floating Rail designed to be installed and used on a standard AR15/ M4 carbine. This guide does not act as a substitute for real world knowledge, and is not designed to turn the reader into a professional “gun plumber”. However, it is my belief that the overall installation process is simple enough for anyone who is familiar with the AR15, and has a basic level of skill with simple hand tools. This is based on my own method of installation, and all liability is with the end user. If you stab yourself, shoot yourself, or find some other manner of getting yourself hurt, you are responsible for your own actions. If you have doubts, get help.

With the above out of the way, let’s make sure that we are starting with an empty weapon. Once that is done, remove the upper receiver, pull out the charging handle and bolt carrier group (verify the chamber is empty a second time), and lastly, pull off the handguards.


You should now be looking at something similar to the below picture.







Take your box with the MI-20 rails. You should find a plastic bag with 2 different size allen wrenches, several different allen head screws (2 different sizes), a locking compound for the screw threads, and the four primary components of the rail. Below is a picture showing the 4 rail parts.