The demand to attach accessories to a weapons
platform dates back to the 1970s and expanded into the SOPMOD (Special
Operations Peculiar Modification) program, completed in the early 1990s. The
SOPMOD program, built primarily around the M4 carbine and the Rail Interface
System (RIS), gave birth to accessory attachment possibilities for rifles and
other carbines. The concept allowed operators to attach a wide range of
different equipment to a greater range of weapon systems depending on the task.
Let's look at the advantages of the M-LOK Rail cover
system.
1. A Wide Range of Accessory Options:
Weapon accessories come in an almost infinite
variety, with new goods being introduced every year. Accessory manufacturers
are beginning to choose the M-LOK system because of its weight savings,
versatility, and cost advantages. Let's have a look at some of the
M-LOK-compatible accessories.
● Optics - Red dot
optics positioned in front
● Flashlights are used
to identify targets.
● Aiming devices that
use visible and infrared light
● Offhand weapon
stability with vertical foregrips
● Offhand weapon
stability with angled foregrips
● Heat mitigation and
offhand stability using rail panels
● IR lighting, target
pointing, and clip-on style lenses are all night vision features.
● Primary or backup
seeing options with iron sights
● Secondary Sighting
Options with Iron Sights
2. Secure Attachments:
The M-LOK system attaches accessories via a
slot rather than an outward-facing rail. To establish a good and secure
attachment, and M-LOK mount employs two or more internal levers that are put
into the slot and tightened with a hex wrench. The internal lever holds the
mounting system by sandwiching the mount between the M-LOK slots. M-LOK mounts
and devices are removed by removing the hex screws a quarter turn and sliding
the lever out of the slot.
3. Weight reduction:
Adding equipment to the front end of a rifle
or carbine adds weight by definition. The greater the weight is given to the
weapon system and the further it is from the shooter, the more force is
necessary to maintain it lifted on a target. The opposite is true: a lighter
forend or handguard requires less effort to keep the rifle in place. M-LOK
systems are generally lighter than Picatinny systems because they do not
require the added heft of external rails.
4. Globally Known
The M-LOK rail attachment method has become
the industry standard for forend accessory attachments. Manufacturers can
design and develop devices using the M-LOK standard with the confidence that
they will fit all M-LOK handguards. Manufacturers had to pick between a
Picatinny mounting system and the need for a universal attachment between a
proprietary mounting system and the accessory itself until now. The M-LOK icon
assures customers that their accessory will fit on their handguard without any
additional adjustments or changes.
The M-LOK system is the clear choice for
modular rifle handguards. It reduces weight, eliminates superfluous bulk,
avoids additional production expenses, and provides a sturdy and stable
platform for accessory attachments. These seven advantages of the M-LOK Rail cover system can help shooters make more informed
selections when purchasing a forend system for their AR-15 rifle.
