The drop-in rail, on the other hand, simply drops into place around the front sight post and is held together with a few set screws. For most of us, this means taking it to your local gunsmith to have it installed for you.
#How to install free float rail ar15 install
It requires some gunsmithing tools and a little bit of expertise in order to install it. You will also need to remove the delta ring. It involves removal of the A2 front sight/gas block assembly and installation of a low profile gas block. The installation of an extended free float handguard on a carbine length AR-15 can be a hairy process. This gives you a bit more flexibility in accessory placement or hand placement You can attach your flashlights or bipods up front and still have room to handle your rifle at the near end of the rail.Įasier to install than an extended free float rail Everything installs in place around the front sight without any gunsmithing involved. It has a cutout on top for the front sight post and on the bottom for the sling and bayonet attachments. Unlike the standard drop-in quad rail which extends only to the rear of the A2 front sight post, the quad rail with forward extension extends several inches beyond the A2 front sight post. More rail space than the standard carbine length drop-in rail. Sometimes referred to as the Extended Carbine Length Drop-in Quad Rail or the Carbine Length Drop-in Quad Rail with A2 FSP Cutout, this rail is designed to combine many of the benefits of the drop-in and free float rails. Now allow me to throw another option into the mix - the Carbine Length AR-15 Drop-in Quad Rail with Forward Extension. If you are not familiar, you can refer to our handy guide discussing the pros and cons of each. If you are at all familiar with the AR-15 quad rail market, you are probably familiar with the two main styles of quad rail handguard - drop-in and free float.