[CRogers]

I'm looking to purchase a 2 piece non-free floating handguard. The 2 that I'm interested in are these...

Midwest Industries MCTAR-17

Knight's Armament M4 Carbine RAS

Why are the Knight's Armament stuff so freakin expensive? Are they that good in quality, fitment, etc.
I know there are a lot of KAC groupies out there but...why? Which would you choose and WHY?

 

[ron169]

i would have to go with the MI tube. No sense spending that much for a non flee float tube.

 

[CRogers]

So...is Knight's locking mechanism worth the extra money or are you just paying for the name? This is my SHTF rifle and I don't want to have to use tools to take it apart as much as possible. I don't care for sub MOA accuracy. So not being a free float design doesn't matter to me as far as the cost is concerned. I just want to know what the reason for KAC being more expensive is.

 

[rushca01]

It's KAC and just that, no doubt they make a very fine product but you are paying for same name in there too imho. It's more expensive to civis, I don't think the .mil is paying 360 a pop for a rifle length FF rail. I saw some staggering figures once on the cost the .gov pays for it's issue m4's from Colt, it aint much, I think a fully functioning M4 sold to the .gov was under 300 bucks.

 

[marinesg1012]

From what i remember a M4 was around 700 or so..... but dont quote me it has been a long long time since I could look it up on the supply system....

 

[Cold]

I installed a used Ras on a friends stag 2 weeks ago, very easy and he bought it used of a GA hunting forum akin to this one.

I have no exp with the MI but I can say all of the Knights gear I own (I own an SR-15) is flawless, I would not hesitate on anything with KAC along or on it.

 

[rushca01]

From what i remember a M4 was around 700 or so..... but dont quote me it has been a long long time since I could look it up on the supply system....

So I was only off about 400 dollars, still cheaper than we pay for one

Cold has the right idea, shop for a used one. The EE's generally have a quite a few floating around. Used might be your only option anways as I don't know anyone that has them in stock.

 

[Cold]

68forums.com poster sureshot375 got a used carbine ras for around 170, I am not kidding and Ive seen them for 150 on ARFCOM EE

 

[marinesg1012]

Rush you were right they are a lot cheaper then you can buy one.. of course the .mil buys millions of them...

 

[sureshot375]

Yeah like cold said I picked up a used one for 170. Looked brand new, not even any scratches or marks from mounting. It seems to be well made, and I was supprised how light it is. I'm happy with my purchase. I don't have any expirence with the MI so i can't give a head to head comparison.

 

[rushca01]

Here's a great example:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=119&t=692066

 

[CRogers]

Holy crap! I go to work and come back to all of this!Shoot out...no shoot out! WTF? Anyway...thanks for all the info here. I think I will take that used RAS. I also noticed that the RAS has a heat shield on the bottom half and the MI unit does NOT! Thanks again for all of the helpful info...used RAS it will be!

 

[rushca01]

Glad we could help, yeah you missed the shoot out thread!

 

[CRogers]

One more question before I go to bed. Why did this thread get moved from 6.8 discussion to General discussion? Just out of curiosity so I don't do it again and make the mods keep moving my threads.

 

[ron169]

One more question before I go to bed. Why did this thread get moved from 6.8 discussion to General discussion? Just out of curiosity so I don't do it again and make the mods keep moving my threads.

A thread about forearms isnt a 6.8 specific topic, more general firearm related. The 6.8 is for 6.8 mm tech questions related directly to the cartridge. The more accurate forum is probably the accessories forum.

 

[CRogers]

Thanks!

 

[CRogers]

Well, I should be receiving my "New In The Box" KAC RAS shortly. I went ahead and purchased it from a guy on AR15.com (thanks for the suggestion). I got it for $100 less than I've seen it on any other website...NEW. I'll take pictures and write it up when I get it.

 

[FALbert]

KAC is the standard to go by. I've owned three RAS and a RIS before other companies started to make comparable rails, but after getting out of carbines for midlengths, I sold them off. The locking system is only for the upper rail. The bottom works loose over time, especially if you are using a vertical grip. The only MI rail I've ever owned was a 10" FF. It is nice for the price and is similar to the Troy in the way it mounts. I would not hesitate to use MI.

 

[CRogers]

The locking system is only for the upper rail. The bottom works loose over time, especially if you are using a vertical grip.

If the top is locked down and the bottom is secured to the top by tabs...how does the bottom come loose? If it does come loose how do you re-secure it so that it doesn't?

 

[FALbert]

The lower rail is really held in place by the handguard cap and delta ring. Now on the RAS2 free float system (my preference for carbines), the lower rail does secure to the upper half with tabs. There is a solution, but it seems to be hit or miss. KAC makes what they call the SAS rail, which is basically a lower rail with a locking mechanism. My one experience with this was not good. I could not get the unit to fit under the delta ring.