Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Upper Project, 16" Mid-length HBar

I don't know why I want to keep them on there myself, I can't see a clear front sight anymore anyways. I just like it.

I'm a fan of Smoothicity...................

First shots. 52 yards, 5X prism. Bipod/beanbag on Magpul polymer handguard.
4300 ft, 20F, near calm.

75gr Hornady BTHP over 24.0 gr XTerminator.

Four 5-shot groups on paper, first three sub-1", got sloppy on the last one.

Not bad for a new barrel. I need to make a decision if I want to float it or not. Leaning toward floating it.

Very nice

After I sighted it in, I did some plinking out to 300 yards or so, Upper functioned great. I put the rifle lower on for the first run to have a pretty rigid lower, and give the rifle a good chance to perform.

I'll be getting some on-paper results out to longer distances eventually, curious to quantify results out around 500 yards or so

Certainly nothing to complain about.

The absolute number one thing you can do to ensure a static zero is a free-float handguard.



Montana Marine,

Troy Delta Rail is what you want.

From a few years ago.


Colt M4 with Geissele SSF, SWFA SS 3-9x, A2 FH, and using MK262 Mod1 ammo. The test was that the gun was zeroed at 100 yards on a NRA B8 bull from sand bags, with over lapping bulls replaced each cycle. 20 rounds were used to confirm zero (2x10), and then two rounds per 10 different positions/rests/attachments.

Standard KAC handguards on left, the exact same gun with drop in Troy Delta rail on right.

That's a real difference.

Is the Troy product significantly better than similar two-piece floaters from Daniel Defense (Omega), or Midwest Industries?

Educate me.

When considering free-float rails, it is my perception that its job is to stay in place and not break. Why would I spend $250 on a rail that does those things no better than a $70 rail?

Neither MI not DD make an extended FF drop in.









I am unaware of a $70 drop in, free float extended rail?


As for a what a rail should do, it’s a bit more than stay in place and not break, however it may not matter for your uses.

I was over at the Troy website looking around, the only mid-length Delta rail I see is the M-Lok style. Having two M-Lok float tubes already, I'm not a fan. I find I'm always working around the gas block, or even barrel contact with the M-Lok bolts.

So, Quad Rail for me. Is the Troy MRF a decent rail?

I wouldn't mind a mid-extended tube with the FSB cutout, but not to keen on the M-Lok style.

Are you sure it was MLOK? Troy’s VTAC Version looks like MLOK but is not. However, the answer is to use KDG Kinetic rails for MLOK.



In any case, it doesn’t apply to the Delta Rail setup. Look how the rail is designed.

To answer your last question- the MRF is fine as a handguard but if you are going to get rid of the FSP there are better/lighter/stiffer rails available.


If you want to have a drop in free float handguard, the Troy Delta or Charlie rail is it.

Thanks for the pic, I'll look at the mid VTAC.

I'm keeping the FSB. I see a 9" MRF available on Troy's site. I thought that would work on my mid-length.

I have a mid gas VTAC I can send you to check out if you want. Just sitting in a box.

Thanks for the kind offer, but I'll just make a purchase.

MM, you mentioned contact with the barrel and/or gas block and it made me suspicious of my own setups. I'm using inexpensive full-length free-float rails of the keymod persuasion on two rifles (soon to be four), and one is particularly skinny. Sure enough, I have a device attached to the rail directly beneath the gas block on that rifle. I was able to verify that I have at least 20 thousandths of an inch clearance between the gas block and the keymod backing nuts. I suppose that's enough. I have not used any M-Lok stuff so I can't say one way or another, but keymod may work for you better than M-Lok. If you're inclined to go with either of the systems, that is.

Thanks for the info on that, I've never had anything keymod. I've pretty much decided for me, it's going to be picatinny quad rail.