Picatinny rail systems have been the standard for several decades now, and are very common on sporting rifles like AR-15 platforms. That being the case, they are also common over the rails of all different sorts of rifles and shotguns for the purpose of mounting scopes and other optics.
But Picatinny rail systems are now no longer the only option at your disposal, and for several years alternatives like M-LOK rail systems have been growing in popularity. So, if you’re eyeing a series of assembled uppers and want to know which is best for you, here’s what you should know: here are 5 reasons M-LOK rail systems might just be a better choice for your build than a Picatinny handguard.
Lower Weight
Of all the big relative advantages of M-LOK rail systems over Picatinny handguards, this is probably the best one. M-LOK rail systems are considerably lighter and slimmer than Picatinny rail systems, which can significantly impact the handling of your rifle.
And, not only are Picatinny handguards significantly heavier, it’s about how they add weight to the rifle. Adding weight under the upper or near the grip would be one thing, but since handguards encircle the barrel, Picatinny handguards at a lot of mass forward on the rifle.
This can result in a rifle with a center of gravity that’s heavily forward-skewed, which can make it a little more cumbersome to handle, especially with a longer barrel, and especially in tight quarters. This aspect of M-LOK rail systems can make them even more appealing for carbines, SBRs and ARPs, because they keep the overall weight down and improve handling in tight spaces.
Sleeker Aesthetic
With an M-LOK rail system, you also get a slimmer, sleeker, more pleasant aesthetic. While this is not so much a material difference, there are some shooters who generally prefer the look and feel of M-LOK handguards over Picatinny rail alternatives, and at the end of the day, you have to like your rifle.
More Comfortable to Use, Less Snag-Prone
There is also no small cohort of shooters that claim, and justifiably so, that M-LOK handguards are much more comfortable to handle, especially when not wearing gloves.
A huge difference between Picatinny and M-LOK systems is that Picatinny systems have slots and ridges, whereas M-LOK systems only have slots. Those raised ridges increase the surface area of the Pic rail, which can offer better purchase when wearing gloves, but without gloves, it can feel like you’re handling a cheese grater.
That is not the case with M-LOK systems, which have an ostensibly smooth surface, minus the fact that there are technically slots present. Regardless, many operators find that they are more comfortable to use and more ergonomic.
The fact that there are slots on Picatinny rail systems also predisposes them to snagging on gear, which can be annoying when you’re carrying a lot of gear externally, such as on a MOLLE system. Since M-LOK systems are smooth, there are no ridges on them to snag on any gear.
Magpul Free-Licensed M-LOK, So There’s No Shortage of Attachments
While M-LOK rail systems are not expressly open-source, Magpul, which produces them, free-licenses them. So, while permission is required, there are still a lot of manufacturers with access to the design who can therefore make shooting attachments for them.
It may remain the case that Picatinny rail systems are still more widespread and enjoy wider use than M-LOK rail systems, but there is an increasing number of available shooting attachments for M-LOK systems, so that shouldn’t be a reason you don’t build with one.
Easy Shooting Attachment Adjustability
Another big thing about the M-LOK rail system is that it offers a great deal of versatility with respect to how attachments can be adjusted. For one, you don’t need to access the inner side of the system to secure attachments, and for another, since you can slide the attachment forward and backward in the slot, all things considered, they offer greater flexibility and modularity than Picatinny handguards.
Not that Picatinny handguards are not good, because they do ultimately offer a good deal of flexibility, but when it comes to making finely tuned adjustments of shooting attachments, M-LOK systems may be the better choice.
Explore Assembled Uppers Pre-Configured with M-LOK Rail Systems Here
These are just 5 reasons that are commonly cited as defenses of the claim that M-LOK rail systems are better than Picatinny handguards. With that said, we carry both. If you’re tossed up, and want to explore a collection that contains assembled uppers with both Picatinny and M-LOK rail systems, take a look through our catalog of complete upper receivers and if you have questions about their specifications or parts compatibility, get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to help.