AR-15 quad rail install question

[Guest Hank]

Hello,

 

I have a Panther Arms DPMS and am wanting to install a 12 inch quad rail.  Unfortunately, before i purchased one at a gunshow a couple months ago, i did not do my research.  I purchased the 12 inch quad rail with no accessories such as a D-ring or installation kit (it did come with allen screws hold it together.  I am wanting to install it myself and I have searched Youtube and the internet for tips.  Everything I have found shows a barrel with the triangle front site, mine does not have that.  It came with a mini quad rail gas block and I came to find out that my 12 inch quad rail would not fit over it (as implied, im am ignorant).  So my next step was to get a low profile gas block, which I did.  So now I am trying to install the quad rail and lock it into place.....Which there lies my question and trouble.

 

Can anyone help?

 

Sorry for the long post..

 

Hank

[Danger Rane]

Can you upload a picture of your upper in current configuration and also a picture of your rail that you are wanting to install.  That way we can tell you exactly what you are missing and how to make it happen. 

[Lumber_Jack]

What brand is your free float? Also as stated above a picture goes a long way

[Magiccarpetrides]

Is your quadrail a free float or a nonfree float?  if its non free floating you will most likely need a ring to connect it to at the front of the gun...if it does free float you shouldnt need any kind of ring and will fix to the barrel nut or have an attachment that replaces the barrel nut like the older troy rails did.

[Lumber_Jack]

If you can't figure it out send me a PM and we can meet up and I'll help you figure out what you need. Or if you have. All the items I'll help you put it on.

[Guest Hank]

I am working on putting a picture up.  Unfortunately I do not know the brand of the rail because I bought it without box or information.  The only parts that came with it is allen screws to hold it together (it is a 2 piece rail). 

 

I should have pics up shortly and hopefully that will help....

 

LumberJack- if we cant get this figured out, i will most likely need your help!

 

Thanks guys

[Dolomite_supafly]

It sounds like the ones that clamp onto the handguard retainer at the front. If that is the case your gun need to have a rifle length system to use the 12" rail. It sounds like you have a carbine length system and if that is the case the clamp on quad rail will not work. You could get another clamp on block and place it at the rifle position to make use of the quad rails. I have done it and it works fine but it is not ideal.

 

I am also local to you and can help you out if needed.

 

Dolomite

[Guest Hank]

Ofcourse, the guy who cant put a quad rail on, cant figure out how to post pictures....

 

Any help here

[Guest Fwdftw]

You can email me them and i can host em? Or you can upload em to a photobucket account and post the links here in the thread. 

[Lumber_Jack]

You can email me them and i can host em? Or you can upload em to a photobucket account and post the links here in the thread.

Yeah once loaded into photobucket click the "share" button and then copy the [IMG] code and past it here

[Guest Hank]

 

 

Sorry for the bad lighting..

 

 

1) stock front rail gas block and ring

2) low profile gas block installed

3) mysterious 2 piece 12 inch quad rail

 

 

Im looking forward to seeing what can be done.....

Edited January 22, 2013 by Hank

[Dolomite_supafly]

Those quad rails are the clamp on type and will not work with your setup.

 

Because your barrel is thin in front of the gas block you cannot even use the extra gas block and clamp it in place and use it as a fake gas block to hold the quad rails on. The barrel is too thin for that to work.

 

Because you have a spring loaded delta ring and a micro gas block without a handguard retainer I don't think you are going to find anything to work with your current setup. At a minimum you need to put the front handguard retainer back on behind the micro gas block and use standard carbine length handguards or carbine length clamp on rails. The only way it will work with your current setup is a Rainier free float tube that clamps to the barrel nut after you have removed the delta ring and sprin assembly. The Rainier tube will cost $150+ depending on length.

 

Is that barrel in the picture how you received it or did you replace items?

 

Again, the rails you have there will not work at all with what you have.

 

Dolomite

[Guest Hank]

Well crap!  It seems that not doing my homework and buying this rail on a whim screwed me.  Hmmmm, what to do, what to do.,,,

 

The barrel set up came stock.

[gregintenn]

I'm you in reverse! I have a Bushmaster Patrolman Carbine with a free float quad rail, and I'd like to get rid of it. I'm not sure what parts or tools I'd need either.

 

The quad rail is heavy, and feels in your hand much like a cheese grater.

Edited January 23, 2013 by gregintenn

[Oh Shoot]

I'm you in reverse! I have a Bushmaster Patrolman Carbine with a free float quad rail, and I'd like to get rid of it. I'm not sure what parts or tools I'd need either.

 

The quad rail is heavy, and feels in your hand much like a cheese grater.

 

In keeping with my simple utilitarian ways, I have used these on three different factory hand guards for the few things I've wanted to add (just bipods so far), just using the existing holes. Very pleased. Actually have only used the short ones, bought two sets.

 

-

 

- OS

Edited January 23, 2013 by Oh Shoot

[LawVol]

at this point, your best bet is to get a free-float rail or tube.  There are several quality ones in the $150-$200 range.  Midwest Industries, Troy, or the aforementioned Rainier Evolution are a few.  

 

Be careful about buying no-box rail systems at gun shows;  there are a lot of airsoft counterfeits out there that look real and even have logos and trademarks.  

[NoBanStan]

LawVol is correct. I learned on my quest for a magpul FDE set that there's a TON of people who will masquerade the Magpul PTS (training equipment) for the standard MOE gear. Sure, they look the same but there's a difference in quality.

[Guest Hank]

Thanks for your help guys.  So with the free floating rail system, do i need to get a certain length?  Would i be able to sell the no-box rail or am i just out of luck?

[Lumber_Jack]

Thanks for your help guys. So with the free floating rail system, do i need to get a certain length? Would i be able to sell the no-box rail or am i just out of luck?

Any length will work but I'd get one that covers the gas block. Your front site will sit on the end of the rail so the longer site radius the better. Of course longer is heavier. If it were me I'd get a mid length rail. I just bought one from Midwest Industries. I like it a lot. It's about $150

[Dolomite_supafly]

With the free floats you can use whatever length you want.

 

If you want, before you buy next time PM me with what you plan and I will help you. Learning is all part of the AR game and I have wasted hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on stuff that either didn't work or that I didn't like.

 

Dolomite

[Guest Hank]

Thanks very much for the help guys!  I truly appreciate it.

 

I will reach out to you all when i decide to buy something else so i dont go through this aggravation again!