Modern firearms are relatively adaptable and easy to customize. One can upgrade them easily with a wide range of accessories available in the market. However, appropriate mounting of accessories requires a compatible attachment system. M-LOK is one of the most efficient and popular rail interface systems. It’s developed and patented by Magpul industries. M-LOK effectively attaches accessories to the firearms and is an improved version of the previous MOE system.
The MOE had many shortcomings, like – it used a weld nut which had to be manually placed in the handguard before mounting accessories. The spacing also wasn’t uniform either, in this range. M- Lok handguard uses metric dimensions between the slots, making it possible to adjust the position of the accessories.
It’s perfectly suitable for free-floating handguards and works with both metal and polymer parts.
Some of the benefits of M- LOK handguards
1. A Versatile Range of Accessories
There are numerous accessories available in the market for firearms. To enhance the functionality of firearms, you can upgrade them with the latest accessories. Further, the mounting of accessories is effortless with an M-LOK handguard.
Some of the common accessories using the M-LOK standard are Optics, lights, lasers, and so on. The M-LOK rail system has large squared size durable slots. With so many slots, one can mount more accessories with a crammed T-nut to the front face of the slot. This can be done in either forward or rear-facing ways, and you also don’t need to attach them to the rear side of the rail. This makes room to accommodate your needs, and also provides increased flexibility!
2. Lower Additional Weight
Adding weight to the rifle cuts down on recoil and balances your rifle. However, if more weight is added to the rifle and it is located farther away from the shooter, then you’d need greater force to keep it focussed on a target.
The M-LOK handguards are slimmer and lighter as it doesn’t need external rails like Picatinny. The M-LOK compatible weights can easily be mounted by using standard hardware and T nuts, so; you get to install or remove them as you see convenient to.
Moreover, the M-LOK handguard design allows optimization with the least material inputs. These handguards reduce fatigue as less weight means lower efforts required to hold and operate your gun.
3. Reduced Bulk
The M-LOK systems weigh far less than their counterparts. This is owing to the fact that they do not require external rails for attaching accessories. The overall outer diameter of the M-LOK system is less. The Picatinny rail systems require larger outer diameters for external rails and the clearance of equipment is attached.
Moreover, the stress testing between certain handguards has proved that M-Lok-affiliated firearms, when dropped on the ground, manage to keep the attachments firmly in place.
For this reason, the success rate of M-LOK is 100%, in comparison to 40% of key mode and Picatinny systems.
4. Smooth Profile
M-LOK handguards do not require external rail attachments. Thus, they provide the shooter with an easier feel and leveled surface for better hand placement. The smooth finish is beneficial for your clothing and rifle case. Contrary to the rough, cheese-grater feeling of Picatinny handguards – which force the shooter to add rail covers to smooth out handguard profiles.
5. Low Costs
The traditional antiquated rail systems required more raw material and labor to develop them. External attachment faces require multiple machining maneuvers, thus increasing the time to manufacture a single rail.
However, M-LOK handguards have a series of measured slots requiring precise removal of excess material. Hence, limited manpower and fewer machine hours, as well as lesser overhead expenses, are required to manufacture M-Lok handguards. Interestingly, the M–Lok is a popular choice for budget-conscious shooters.
6. Universally Accepted
The M-Lok system is a free licensed design. Thus manufacturers obtaining a free license from Magpul Industries can design and develop devices and related accessories according to M-Lok standards and specifications. Moreover, the M-LOK rail attachment system has become the default industry standard for forend accessory attachments, since they have a universal fit across all M-Lok handguards. Now, consumers don’t need to worry about the availability of M-LOK compatible accessories!
Conclusion –
Conclusively, the M-LOK rail system is a great addition to your firearm. It allows you to create your own distinctive firearm as per your individual requirements. Along with upgrading your firearm, the lightweight of this system aids you in achieving accuracy. Initially, the military’s standard rail system interface was Picatinny. However, among all the systems tested by naval authorities, M-LOK had the lowest deviation in point of aim shift – making it the best choice.
When it comes to durability, repeatability, and load tolerance, U.S military contracts have the M-LOK systems incorporated within them. By eliminating unnecessary bulk from your firearm, avoiding additional manufacturing costs, and providing a secure platform – M-LOK handguards are definitely an ideal choice for your firearms.
