Behind the scenes, BCM wanted companies to pay to use keymod (to be true in spec keymod, companies have to pay a royalty and could be sued if they didnt pay) where as magpul said companies could use mlok free of charge and they would provide the technical specs, but just need to brand it with Mlok logo....thats part of why mlok has become more popular with manufacturers
This actually isn't true. Keymod was developed by Noveske and VLTOR with the intention of being a free and open platform. Mlok was created by Magpul and requires a royalty for every rail sold with Mlok, along with the logo to certify it was within Mlok spec. Keymod lost the battle because too many companies played it loose with the Keymod spec, along with healthy amounts of FUD about it, which led people to no longer want Keymod and switch to Mlok. Magpul STILL charges royalties to use Mlok, but people happily do it because consumers believe in it and companies are forced to abide by Mlok spec.
This is awesome. I went with mlok bcz strength but you're the first reason I have ever heard that would legitimately make me reconsider. I have had lots of trouble with this problem.
@@pythonBlender7 If you run one of the m-loc bolts into the gas block, your barrel is no longer free floated. Most accessories can sit either in front of or behind the gas block, but every once in awhile it can be annoying. Also if you have found a silencer that fits nicely under your rail, you might notice you can't mount anything up front. Having said all that, I still take M-loc every time.
A while ago Strike Industries introduced a dual system method of attachment they called "SI Link". They had a specially shaped nut and a series of half lugs that would work with both MLOK and KeyMod. I have noticed more recently that the cheaper side of the Internet seems to have taken this one step further. Now there are dual system accessories that DON'T work with either MLOK or KeyMod. Usually they have two different types of nuts that can be interchanged and no lugs at all.
Magpul also made M-LOK open source. Anybody can make the M-LOK rails or accessories, to my understanding. Magpul would then benefit just from all the accessories they sell.
M-LOK is free-licenced. That's not the same, as being open-sourced. You still need their permission to implement it in your weapon, and they are some licence requirement. You just don't pay .
Just purchased a BCM KMR A LW Recce and this is my first go with the keymod rail. I’ve been mlok for a decade so I’m very curious how the keymod functions.
I like how he's pitching him the questions and asking him to expand on it - From a beginner's perspective it makes learning much better because you know when to focus in and when to relax (mentally) lol
My last build pretty much came down to I had a spec in mind for the handguard and could only find one available in KeyMod. All things being equal, I probably would have chosen M-Lok But I'm not really concerned going with KeyMod.
Fast forward to 2022, and Daniel Defense has just discontinued all of their KeyMod rails and rifle models. Noveske, the company which produced the very first KeyMod rails and accessories on the market, also quietly ditched its KeyMod products at least two years ago. I'd say these data points are a pretty good indication that the debate is settled.
I like what Wilson Combat was doing. They just drill and tap their shit. It's not going anywhere. The MLOK/KeyMod thing is dumb. Pic rails rule, and yes maybe Mlok is slightly better, and has more longgevity. But there is something to be said for DickMod - Dicks facing toward the enemy. Vs. MLok slits ... well they are slits.
@@oldrocker1970 Except I still don't think that KeyMod slots look like dicks. ;) And yes, I'm more of a Pic rail guy myself. Other than my BCM upper, which has their MCMR (M-LOK) rail, all of my uppers are quad rail uppers.
I just wish I had all picatinny instead of mlock and keymod both. The attachments I use have picatinny mounts so I have to buy mlock to picatinny conversion strips
Whatever system was on GG&G free float handguards was the original "negative space" mounting system and that existed back in the 2000s. It looks kind of similar to M-LOK.
I saw the barrel resting up against a wall and bending myth, what about a suppressor on a barrel hitting against something? Does that have a chance of the bore not being aligned?
It always depends, tensile strengths of metals are finite, so you can rightfully dig up Eugene Stoner from his grave and yell at him if your AR breaks under normal use
So is there a difference in spacing for picatinny rails that are meant for mlok and picatinny rails meant for keymod? The holes in the picatinny rails for the screws I mean
Does mlok attachments for example handstop grips for mlok would it fit to keymod? Because it seems that it’s the same attachment but keymod has to be moved forward.
I have both, I like the M-lok a lot better. The M-lok feels a lot better in your hand. I've also noticed that Keymods are dying, it is a lot harder to find keymod accessories these days.
Mine came with a key mod handguard... And I really have no opinion on which is better... But the market has shifted more to m-lok which limits my selection. So that is a factor to consider.
@@MrBossuporbowout Better verify that, I have a handguard n that looks like it accepts both. The slots are too narrow for m-lok. Nothing more than vents
I prefer Mlok. The design looks much cleaner and in my own personal experience it's more secure. I've had keymod mounts start to loosen up after a few months of heavy use. I've yet to have any Mlok stuff loosen up on me.
I put together my 3d printer the other night and noticed that some of the attachment mechanisms looked very similar to Mlok. Keymod is just recycled hardware store shelving attachments. What I never liked about Keymod is that the slots are the wrong way around in my opinion. Things can be knocked loose by hitting them or by recoil. Instead of relying on the rail to support the attachment you are solely relying on the clamping force of the screws. The slots should be reversed so that they support the attachment in the direction of most of the forces translated to it, which would be rearward.
@@VndNvwYvvSvv Some manuals state that on a bolt action rifle you have to push it forward and on semi-autos, you have to push it backward. The reason for that is that the bcg hammering forward has a bigger effect than the actual recoil. (That's not my opinion, that's what the manuals say).
Confused why one would be stronger than the other, both use similar attachment screws onto handrails that are made of the same material. So where does the added strength come from?
I ordered a hand stop for my AR an it has M--Loc rails. An they sent me a key mod hand stop!!.. So can I just change the screws on the key mod handstop to M-Loc?!?!.. Will that work?!?!?..
Can someone please tell me how much weight you are adding by having all 4 sides with picatinny rails vs either MLOK or Key MOD (whichever is lighter). Is it an ounce or 2 or actually something worth switching to instead of picatinny?
I am building my first AR.. And I wanted a larger circumference handguard.. I had held one and it felt good.. many of the Mlock handguards I was looking at were skinny. The only thicker Handguard was Keymod... Id prefer Mlock overall because it seems the accessory choices are a bit wider in variety. If I build another it will be Mlock
I'm still a fan of keymod but I do believe it will slowly get phased out due to mlok being more common and popular. I even went through the trouble of adapting a magpul afg2 directly to keymod without a picatinny section on my AR, possibly the only one around.
Do I have to have one of these quad rails in order to use a quick detach sling mount? I currently have the stock plastic hand guard but I really want a QD sling mount.
For a future video: Is there any problem storing a blued revolver in the holster for storage??? I have heard both: don't due it It can ruin the bluing and that it's OK It will not cause any problem Thanks
I have an AR with an M-LOK barrel shroud, it's good and it looks nice (not that it matters), but holy hell it attaching things like foregrips a pain in the ass.
Heard alot of people bash key-mod, some of them might not have actually fastened it correctly ( push forward and tighten ) and that could have been the case or maybe it wasn't, I don't know, I wasn't there and it's not mine. All I know is I haven't had any issues over here using it.
M-Lok is the industry standard now. Four years ago this debate was still kinda going but today it's a non issue. Most major companies don't even make Keymod anymore. The advantage of Keymod at this point is, if you don't care much about accessories you can find a great deal on some rails on closeout sales. Not kidding.
Noveske was the first company that brought KeyMod rails and accessories to market, and they seem to have ditched it (quietly) around 2020. BCM still manufactures its KMR-A (KeyMod rails), and still seems to be pushing KeyMod, but I suspect that there's going to come a day when it's no longer economically viable for them to keep producing it.
My only issue with M-Lok is that some manufactures will put slots in places that look like M-Lok but are just a fraction too thin to actually get the attachment points in. Such as on the top of a non monolithic handguard, or at the 45 degree points. I have one handguard that has a little bit of picatinny that extends from the upper receiver and a little bit at the front for a sight and then a bunch of M-Lok shaped cutouts between the two sections but they are just a tiny bit too narrow so I cant attach anything up there like light switches, DBAL, or PEQ. But this has more to do with the manufactures then it does with M-Lok really.
I work at a franchise gun store and we carry nothing but M Lok. Accessories and guns alike. My customers think that Keymod is some kinda new thing that hasn't taken off and have never heard of it
I love these videos, Brownells has found the perfect pairing of your boring second cousin discussing things with that random uncle. The only reason I watch this stuff is cuz...guns.
@@CalebSavant I've really limited accessories, but I do have a Magpul MOE front stock, are MOE & Mlok interchangeable??? Would be nice to know for future purchases!!!
@Patrick Faricy Thank you... I just looked at what I bought online again and it is advertised Magpul AK MOE M-LOK forend handguard... I've yet to add it cuz I bought the wrong one, I bought the one without the indent for the sling attachment point and then purchased the aftermarket front handguard attachment to change Saiga to AK style handguards... So, I've got to either Dremel off the sling attachment point or purchase the other handguard that allows for the sling point. I'm in no hurry, I bought a nice set of wood!!! Blab blab blab... thanx tho'
Call me crazy but I don’t like either.. I served in 2nd Ranger battalion, worked with SF, CAG, one of the SEAL teams and never saw anyone with an MLOK, hand guard. EXCEPT for a CAG security detail running integrally suppressed 300BLK. Not sure which units under SOCOM would have them. Picatiny all around,
It feels apparent what the weakness in Keymod is: It's the fact that you can slide it in easily by pushing forward then tighten means that enough force in the opposite direction will push your accessory back into the large hole, dislodging your accessory. M-lok on the other hand, when positioned correctly, means that a backward force won't dislodge the accessory. With Keymod, if you have a backwards force, the only thing keeping it on is friction, whereas with M-lok, the rail itself and friction keeps it in place.
Incorrect. Properly-designed KeyMod accessories will have a lug that "hooks" into a slot forward of the attachment point, preventing any rearward movement as long as the screws stay tight. It's not just friction, it's a solid mechanical stop that keeps the accessory from being able to move backwards.
They’re both great, which isn’t to say that standard hand guards or Picatinny rails are phased out just yet. I remember when KAC products were adopted by my service, hence most of my personal rifles wear similar RIS or RAS. Use what you like.
Jeff, I agree M-LOK was developed to be able to attach to polymer ...and primarily to add to Magpul’s profits by pushing initially their own proprietary design. I have seen many more M-LOK hit gas blocks and/or heavy barrels and spin one or more attachment points out of engagement when tightening, but never with Keymod. Keymod is easier to assure full engagement at all points. The sliding only affects the sequence of installing immediately adjacent items, but is otherwise far more foolproof. Keymod rails require removal of more metal in manufacture, so they are virtually always lighter-weight and thereby also more expensive to make, hence the push towards M-LOL by manufacturers.
Question: if you find a good brand upper with keyMod for a good price, is it worth it converting the handrail to m-lok? Or should I just deal with the keymod (I do have other uppers in m-lok), or is the money better used on optics/mags/ammo/training?
J.B. Weld and duck tape is the best. But on a serious note I've never owned any keymod. I had set ups much stuff and acquired so many pic rail accessories that I didn't jump on either system quickly. Maybe I would've stayed with pic rail but M-Lok is just too available now.
Keymod is like HD DVD. M-Lok is like Blu Ray. Keymod still works, but the accessories and support are not as widely available. It will eventually end up dying off.
If you're new to this go with M-Lok simply because you have more people making M-Lok attachments but if you have Keymod there's no compelling reason to replace it. Yes M-Lok is technically stronger but I don't think you're attaching your rifle to a tree and pulling your handstop with a truck so...
Behind the scenes, BCM wanted companies to pay to use keymod (to be true in spec keymod, companies have to pay a royalty and could be sued if they didnt pay) where as magpul said companies could use mlok free of charge and they would provide the technical specs, but just need to brand it with Mlok logo....thats part of why mlok has become more popular with manufacturers
Yeah, open source will tend to win, especially in hardware applications.
HK is still trying what BCM wanted...
Exactly
This actually isn't true. Keymod was developed by Noveske and VLTOR with the intention of being a free and open platform. Mlok was created by Magpul and requires a royalty for every rail sold with Mlok, along with the logo to certify it was within Mlok spec. Keymod lost the battle because too many companies played it loose with the Keymod spec, along with healthy amounts of FUD about it, which led people to no longer want Keymod and switch to Mlok. Magpul STILL charges royalties to use Mlok, but people happily do it because consumers believe in it and companies are forced to abide by Mlok spec.
@@Leodigarius M-Lok is free licensed. You need their permission, but it is royalty free.
Gorilla glue for that everlasting hold. None of your accessories or hair are moving.
I lost it at hair 😂😂😂💀
That's messed up. But I had to laugh at it.
What a good laugg that was.
"Or hair". Only in 2021 does that reference make sense. Jesus fucking Christ. 😂🤣😂🤣
😂
I have two of each. Keymod was all the rage when I built my first two. Honestly they both work just fine. Not throwing away perfectly good handguard.
Well keymods got ya boned!!! Lol
My sentiments exactly 💯
Key mod has one minor advantage: The hardware doesn't go in as deep as m-loc, so you might not hit things like the gas block.
This is awesome. I went with mlok bcz strength but you're the first reason I have ever heard that would legitimately make me reconsider. I have had lots of trouble with this problem.
@@pythonBlender7 If you run one of the m-loc bolts into the gas block, your barrel is no longer free floated. Most accessories can sit either in front of or behind the gas block, but every once in awhile it can be annoying. Also if you have found a silencer that fits nicely under your rail, you might notice you can't mount anything up front. Having said all that, I still take M-loc every time.
@@scottlamp3097 I have to image you have one of those meme guns with every attachment available on it, for this to be a problem.
@@MAGAMAN Nope, because I have run into that problem with extremely limited attachments.
can confirm, I hit my gas block when installing my foregrip.
4:04 " One system is not necessarily better than the other"
"BUT THE M-LOK is a little bit stronger"
Guess m-lok is the superior one
Statistically significantly stronger in controlled testing. ;)
M-Loc is stronger...just in case your rifle tips over in your gun safe.
Exactly. And I love this “controversy” because cheaper parts with dick’s on them.
😂
Great, concise information as always. Plus... 1:00 great close up of the astronaut cat coffee mug and the synchro slurp at the end. My day is made.
I am jealous of that hair. Holy smokes. Caleb has nice hair too.
MLOK wins, just cuz of aesthetics. Thats all I need
#bigfacts
I can't lie, this is they reason I went with it. I did do a quick search, and they are really pretty much the same, so go with what you like the best.
Someone once called the key mod system the “babydicks” system. Now I can’t unsee it. I have two rifles with the babydicks setup... 😂🤣
Real shooters use KeySlot.
💯💯
It would have been great to demonstrate identical items being attached using both systems.
This.
You just turn a wrench. Not much to see.
Both are good. I like M-lok but I found it hard to concentrate on the video because Caleb had a sprig of hair out of place. Very unusual.
He clearly needs a bit more Ballistol.
Agreed, I felt the same way!
He should be ashamed, and feel bad about it too. ; )
Bad hair day
Must have forgot to use the blue loctite today 😉
Really enjoy all of your content!
Thanks to everyone on this channel!
Thanks for explaining the difference between the two.
A while ago Strike Industries introduced a dual system method of attachment they called "SI Link". They had a specially shaped nut and a series of half lugs that would work with both MLOK and KeyMod. I have noticed more recently that the cheaper side of the Internet seems to have taken this one step further. Now there are dual system accessories that DON'T work with either MLOK or KeyMod. Usually they have two different types of nuts that can be interchanged and no lugs at all.
Magpul also made M-LOK open source. Anybody can make the M-LOK rails or accessories, to my understanding. Magpul would then benefit just from all the accessories they sell.
M-LOK is free-licenced. That's not the same, as being open-sourced. You still need their permission to implement it in your weapon, and they are some licence requirement. You just don't pay .
Just purchased a BCM KMR A LW Recce and this is my first go with the keymod rail. I’ve been mlok for a decade so I’m very curious how the keymod functions.
I like how he's pitching him the questions and asking him to expand on it - From a beginner's perspective it makes learning much better because you know when to focus in and when to relax (mentally) lol
I have some keymod stuff, have ran it hard through classes, never had anything come off. It works fine
I started with keymod but am really only m-lok now. You get a finer adjustment with m-lok. The keymod lugs have to be set in the little sections only.
My last build pretty much came down to I had a spec in mind for the handguard and could only find one available in KeyMod. All things being equal, I probably would have chosen M-Lok But I'm not really concerned going with KeyMod.
Fast forward to 2022, and Daniel Defense has just discontinued all of their KeyMod rails and rifle models. Noveske, the company which produced the very first KeyMod rails and accessories on the market, also quietly ditched its KeyMod products at least two years ago. I'd say these data points are a pretty good indication that the debate is settled.
Also the company that designed KeyMod now makes M-LOK stuff, lol.
I like what Wilson Combat was doing. They just drill and tap their shit. It's not going anywhere. The MLOK/KeyMod thing is dumb. Pic rails rule, and yes maybe Mlok is slightly better, and has more longgevity. But there is something to be said for DickMod - Dicks facing toward the enemy. Vs. MLok slits ... well they are slits.
@@oldrocker1970 Except I still don't think that KeyMod slots look like dicks. ;) And yes, I'm more of a Pic rail guy myself. Other than my BCM upper, which has their MCMR (M-LOK) rail, all of my uppers are quad rail uppers.
Beta vs VHS / Bluray vs HD Disc. I am betting on M-Lok.
I like both, although I did start out using Keymod and still continue to this day. So, Lets Stop Dividing this country!!!🤨 😆😆😂
Love them both
I just wish I had all picatinny instead of mlock and keymod both. The attachments I use have picatinny mounts so I have to buy mlock to picatinny conversion strips
i'd rather buy adapters than have rail everywhere all the time.
picatinny, of course
Whatever system was on GG&G free float handguards was the original "negative space" mounting system and that existed back in the 2000s. It looks kind of similar to M-LOK.
I saw the barrel resting up against a wall and bending myth, what about a suppressor on a barrel hitting against something? Does that have a chance of the bore not being aligned?
It always depends, tensile strengths of metals are finite, so you can rightfully dig up Eugene Stoner from his grave and yell at him if your AR breaks under normal use
Sturdier and more accessories. All i needed to hear. Thanks!
So is there a difference in spacing for picatinny rails that are meant for mlok and picatinny rails meant for keymod? The holes in the picatinny rails for the screws I mean
I have both and the keymod accessories have all worked loose over a day’s shooting.
Thanks for the lesson. I'm new to firearms and your channel really helps. God Bless You
I never really thought about the advantages/disadvantages I just chose keymod on a whim and I like it
Duct tape is the superior mounting option. It can be used without mounting hardware or mismatched hardware. 😝
I am a hose clamp and zip toe guy myself.
Does mlok attachments for example handstop grips for mlok would it fit to keymod? Because it seems that it’s the same attachment but keymod has to be moved forward.
I have both, I like the M-lok a lot better. The M-lok feels a lot better in your hand. I've also noticed that Keymods are dying, it is a lot harder to find keymod accessories these days.
Mine came with a key mod handguard... And I really have no opinion on which is better... But the market has shifted more to m-lok which limits my selection. So that is a factor to consider.
True. i agree.
I have a rail with keymod and Mlok on it and I don't know which to choose lol
@@MrBossuporbowout Better verify that, I have a handguard n that looks like it accepts both. The slots are too narrow for m-lok. Nothing more than vents
@@charisperissos1320 will do
I prefer Mlok. The design looks much cleaner and in my own personal experience it's more secure. I've had keymod mounts start to loosen up after a few months of heavy use. I've yet to have any Mlok stuff loosen up on me.
KeyMod, M-lok, Its all just tactical shelving hardware. Change my mind.
I put together my 3d printer the other night and noticed that some of the attachment mechanisms looked very similar to Mlok. Keymod is just recycled hardware store shelving attachments.
What I never liked about Keymod is that the slots are the wrong way around in my opinion. Things can be knocked loose by hitting them or by recoil. Instead of relying on the rail to support the attachment you are solely relying on the clamping force of the screws. The slots should be reversed so that they support the attachment in the direction of most of the forces translated to it, which would be rearward.
@Sean Westerman Correct. Anyone who's mounted a single picatinny or weaver scope should know this.
@@VndNvwYvvSvv Some manuals state that on a bolt action rifle you have to push it forward and on semi-autos, you have to push it backward. The reason for that is that the bcg hammering forward has a bigger effect than the actual recoil. (That's not my opinion, that's what the manuals say).
Confused why one would be stronger than the other, both use similar attachment screws onto handrails that are made of the same material. So where does the added strength come from?
I ordered a hand stop for my AR an it has M--Loc rails. An they sent me a key mod hand stop!!.. So can I just change the screws on the key mod handstop to M-Loc?!?!.. Will that work?!?!?..
In sync coffee drinking never gets old. 😂
Can someone please tell me how much weight you are adding by having all 4 sides with picatinny rails vs either MLOK or Key MOD (whichever is lighter). Is it an ounce or 2 or actually something worth switching to instead of picatinny?
Thanks I really enjoy your videos
I am building my first AR..
And I wanted a larger circumference handguard.. I had held one and it felt good.. many of the Mlock handguards I was looking at were skinny.
The only thicker Handguard was Keymod... Id prefer Mlock overall because it seems the accessory choices are a bit wider in variety.
If I build another it will be Mlock
Finally! Thanks for explaining them.
I'm still a fan of keymod but I do believe it will slowly get phased out due to mlok being more common and popular. I even went through the trouble of adapting a magpul afg2 directly to keymod without a picatinny section on my AR, possibly the only one around.
With that said, it comes down to looks. I myself like the way the key mod looks.
Do I have to have one of these quad rails in order to use a quick detach sling mount? I currently have the stock plastic hand guard but I really want a QD sling mount.
Will an M-Lock attachment fit on a keymod rail?
For a future video: Is there any problem storing a blued revolver in the holster for storage??? I have heard both: don't due it It can ruin the bluing and that it's OK It will not cause any problem Thanks
If you do it, you want a silicone lined leather holster.
I have keymod where a good place to order accessories?
I have an AR with an M-LOK barrel shroud, it's good and it looks nice (not that it matters), but holy hell it attaching things like foregrips a pain in the ass.
"Today on Smyth Busters", "Elvis and Kenny Rodgers talk handguards!"
HAH! This needs to be top comment!
I own both. More mlok choices. But if you shop. There are some deals on Keymod accessories and handguards.
Keymod bcm rail is my favorite. Love the look
+1. Just bought a BCM Recce-14. Chose the Keymod version because I thought it looked better. Now I’m second guessing myself.
Awesome video! Learned a lot, thank you!
Whats the name of that mlok handguard?
Heard alot of people bash key-mod, some of them might not have actually fastened it correctly ( push forward and tighten ) and that could have been the case or maybe it wasn't, I don't know, I wasn't there and it's not mine. All I know is I haven't had any issues over here using it.
M-lok that have the spring loaded attachments are the best.
You guys are great ! Thanks !
M-Lok is the industry standard now. Four years ago this debate was still kinda going but today it's a non issue. Most major companies don't even make Keymod anymore. The advantage of Keymod at this point is, if you don't care much about accessories you can find a great deal on some rails on closeout sales. Not kidding.
Noveske was the first company that brought KeyMod rails and accessories to market, and they seem to have ditched it (quietly) around 2020. BCM still manufactures its KMR-A (KeyMod rails), and still seems to be pushing KeyMod, but I suspect that there's going to come a day when it's no longer economically viable for them to keep producing it.
Buying what ever in stock
I've gone with mlok purely for the cleaner look.
My only issue with M-Lok is that some manufactures will put slots in places that look like M-Lok but are just a fraction too thin to actually get the attachment points in. Such as on the top of a non monolithic handguard, or at the 45 degree points. I have one handguard that has a little bit of picatinny that extends from the upper receiver and a little bit at the front for a sight and then a bunch of M-Lok shaped cutouts between the two sections but they are just a tiny bit too narrow so I cant attach anything up there like light switches, DBAL, or PEQ.
But this has more to do with the manufactures then it does with M-Lok really.
M-LOK developed by Magpul if I'm not mistaken, hence the name?
Yeah made my Magpul. The M stands for modular.
@@georgekromidas5097 Roger that
I work at a franchise gun store and we carry nothing but M Lok. Accessories and guns alike. My customers think that Keymod is some kinda new thing that hasn't taken off and have never heard of it
Again, I live in Iowa. What's with the coffee mugs?
Which system does Brownells sell more of?
I love these videos, Brownells has found the perfect pairing of your boring second cousin discussing things with that random uncle. The only reason I watch this stuff is cuz...guns.
Good, fair discussion. But when they stated their (different) preference, I had this mental image of a coin flip for who would favor which...
I prefer the look of m lok as well. A bunch of keyholes on my grip doesn’t appeal to me
What about Magpul MOE???
That is what turned into MLok, MLok is an updated MOE.
@@CalebSavant I've really limited accessories, but I do have a Magpul MOE front stock, are MOE & Mlok interchangeable??? Would be nice to know for future purchases!!!
@Patrick Faricy Thank you... I just looked at what I bought online again and it is advertised Magpul AK MOE M-LOK forend handguard... I've yet to add it cuz I bought the wrong one, I bought the one without the indent for the sling attachment point and then purchased the aftermarket front handguard attachment to change Saiga to AK style handguards... So, I've got to either Dremel off the sling attachment point or purchase the other handguard that allows for the sling point. I'm in no hurry, I bought a nice set of wood!!! Blab blab blab... thanx tho'
All three of my bcm rifles have a 1913, key mod and mlok. All three have there place but mlok is sure the popular one now
Whatever you can get your hands on
Next, Steve and Caleb debate proper toilet paper orientation
These two guys are just great.
The company that invented KeyMod has started making M-Lock. Just let that sink in.
It was either that or stop selling handguards!
Picatinny?
Was just going to post this haha. Of course everyone knows pic is best.
Too heavy for me.
1913 ftw
I prefer keymod most of my lightest handguard are keymod but I'll use M lok too every now and then
Keymod is slightly phallic and therefore better. Imo
So do refer to it as "dik-mod"
If the performance is similar, i always pick what looks better, so i pick keymod. Very vibey
Call me crazy but I don’t like either.. I served in 2nd Ranger battalion, worked with SF, CAG, one of the SEAL teams and never saw anyone with an MLOK, hand guard. EXCEPT for a CAG security detail running integrally suppressed 300BLK. Not sure which units under SOCOM would have them. Picatiny all around,
It’s sturdier because it can’t move in either direction whereas with key mod, it can move backwards if loose. But really, only when loose.
It feels apparent what the weakness in Keymod is: It's the fact that you can slide it in easily by pushing forward then tighten means that enough force in the opposite direction will push your accessory back into the large hole, dislodging your accessory. M-lok on the other hand, when positioned correctly, means that a backward force won't dislodge the accessory. With Keymod, if you have a backwards force, the only thing keeping it on is friction, whereas with M-lok, the rail itself and friction keeps it in place.
Incorrect. Properly-designed KeyMod accessories will have a lug that "hooks" into a slot forward of the attachment point, preventing any rearward movement as long as the screws stay tight. It's not just friction, it's a solid mechanical stop that keeps the accessory from being able to move backwards.
They’re both great, which isn’t to say that standard hand guards or Picatinny rails are phased out just yet. I remember when KAC products were adopted by my service, hence most of my personal rifles wear similar RIS or RAS. Use what you like.
Totally agree I still use and like rails etc. No screws and loctite do dick around with just to mount...guess what? a rail...; )
Magpul developed Mlok because keymod tended to pull through polymer hand guards. Obviously would not be good for Magpul’s stuff (or sales).
Jeff, I agree M-LOK was developed to be able to attach to polymer ...and primarily to add to Magpul’s profits by pushing initially their own proprietary design.
I have seen many more M-LOK hit gas blocks and/or heavy barrels and spin one or more attachment points out of engagement when tightening, but never with Keymod. Keymod is easier to assure full engagement at all points. The sliding only affects the sequence of installing immediately adjacent items, but is otherwise far more foolproof.
Keymod rails require removal of more metal in manufacture, so they are virtually always lighter-weight and thereby also more expensive to make, hence the push towards M-LOL by manufacturers.
Wasn't keymode made by hk?
Question: if you find a good brand upper with keyMod for a good price, is it worth it converting the handrail to m-lok?
Or should I just deal with the keymod (I do have other uppers in m-lok), or is the money better used on optics/mags/ammo/training?
IMHO the $$ is always better used on optics/mags/ammo/training. Emphasis on Ammo. Without it the gun is an expensive paperweight
J.B. Weld and duck tape is the best. But on a serious note I've never owned any keymod. I had set ups much stuff and acquired so many pic rail accessories that I didn't jump on either system quickly. Maybe I would've stayed with pic rail but M-Lok is just too available now.
Key mod's been going on clearance.
Keymod is like HD DVD. M-Lok is like Blu Ray. Keymod still works, but the accessories and support are not as widely available. It will eventually end up dying off.
If you're new to this go with M-Lok simply because you have more people making M-Lok attachments but if you have Keymod there's no compelling reason to replace it. Yes M-Lok is technically stronger but I don't think you're attaching your rifle to a tree and pulling your handstop with a truck so...
I find Keymod a lot simpler to install and honestly feels more robust. MLOK is good as well but don’t know why Keymod is hated
What about MOE?
MOE was just the prototype for M-LOK
From a manufacturing standpoint m-lok is cheaper to manufacture and simplistic in design
Good video
Ease of manufacturing is a key component. Mlok is just slots keymod has more complicated attachment zones.
Still prefer Picatinny over either either of those. To each their own.
I don't care which is actually better. Keymod looks like I should attach shelving on it to put stuff on that I'm selling...
*_Looks in confusion with my A1 handguard_*