This section contains content that is written like an advertisement. Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. ( November 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) It may seem obvious at this point, but Picatinny rail systems require larger outer diameters than M-LOK systems. A quad rail (top, bottom and sides) requires space for the external rail as well as clearance for the equipment being attached. In comparison, since the M-LOK system does not utilize an external rail for attachment and does not require clearance for attaching devices, an M-LOK system can have a smaller overall outer diameter. IV. M-LOK vs Picatinny - Final Thoughts

One of the main advantages of this system is that it’s a free-floating piece that slides over your rifle barrel. You may have to attach a barrel extension, but otherwise, you put the M-Lok over the barrel, tighten the screws, and secure it in place.

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The M-Lok is a relatively new rail system, so it has some advantages you can’t find with older models like the Picatinny Rail (more on that later). Here’s a rundown of the various benefits you can expect: Weight – M-Lok is much lighter and more agile than Picatinny, all without losing durability or resilience. Magpul M-LOK estimated dimensions". Archived from the original on 6 June 2019 . Retrieved 2 May 2017. The tool required for mounting, in addition to the thread size, also depends the screw head type. Hex keys are used extensively in the firearms industry, but metric and imperial hex keys as a general rule are not compatible. It is possible to damage the tool and screw by selecting a tool that is too small for the fastener, which can be done by using an imperial tool on a metric fastener, or the converse. An exception to this is 4mm hex keys, which are almost the exact same size as 5⁄ 32in (3.97mm). In many industries, this makes 4.0mm ( 5⁄ 32in) hex keys preferred for consumer products because end users can successfully use an imperial key on a metric fastener, and vice versa. Besides the ability to add and remove accessories, two of the biggest considerations when selecting an attachment system is weight and bulk. In general, M-LOK systems weigh less than their Picatinny counterparts because they don’t require the extra mass of external rails.

Adding an M-LOK handguard to your Airsoft gun is a great way to modernise it for skirmishing in the 21st century. M-LOK provides reducedweight when compared to 20mm Picatinny with a more comfortable, ergonomic profile and sleek, modern looks. In the race to find the dominant negative space attachment system, M-LOK goes head-to-head against KeyMod, and with no clear winner, only one thing is for sure. Negative space attachment is the future of Airsoft!KeyMod vs. M-LOK Modular Rail System Comparison", Presented by Caleb McGee, Naval Special Warfare Center Crane Division, 4 May 2017; Abstract #19427 Attach to the Handguard Directly – Sometimes, you don’t want a full-length rail system weighing your gun down. An M-Lok allows you to attach a small section to the handguard instead. The quarter-turn T-slot nuts have different torque specifications depending on the handguard material: Launching as part of the MOE system from Magpul around 2007, the M-LOK system uses an industry standard size slot system. In combination with accessory mounting systems that use a rotating internal lever that is loosened or tightened with a hex key, lights, foregrips and a host of other attachments are securely fastened in a slot on a handguard. The M-LOK system can save on unnecessary weight, reduce the outer diameter of the platform itself and has a smoother outer face, reducing the potential for snags on other gear in use by the operator.

Another more recent player in the accessory rail system industry is KeyMod. This rail is similar to M-Lok, but it’s a bit lighter and more nimble. M-LOK allows for direct accessory attachment onto the "negative space" (hollow slot) mounting points, and is a competing standard to VLTOR's open sourced KeyMod system for replacing the ubiquitous Picatinny rail in some applications. [1] Compared to the Picatinny rail system, both M-LOK and KeyMod enable the user to have a slimmer, lighter, smoother and more fenestrated handguard/ fore-end with accessories mounted only where needed, whereas a Picatinny handguard typically will have rail slots for its whole length, resulting in a heavier and bulkier handguard with sharp edges and poorer barrel ventilation. The M-LOK system can be seen as an evolution of the Magpul Original Equipment (MOE) system, but the two are not fully compatible. Though newer M-LOK accessories can be used on older MOE slot handguards if an adaptor plate is used, there is no adaptor available for using older MOE accessories on the newer M-LOK handguards.More rails mean more attachments. Up your game and personalise your airsoft gun with RIS rails, M-LOK rails and KeyMOD rails from Patrol Base.