Never had M Lok before and need some help. I think it's one of the dumbest inventions I've ever seen and I'll never buy another firearm with M Lok hand guards. I have Keymod on a different rifle and they're awesome, but I'd rather not buy a whole new set of hand guards. The problem I'm running into is that the screws and the locking piece take up too much room and will dig into my barrel if I tighten them down. It's a completely idiotic design. Is there any other attachment besides M Lok that will work on M Lok hand guards where it will just sit flush with the hand guard like keymod does?
Alternative for M Lok
- Thread starter eldude
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mcb
Member
You can always use shorter screws with the M-LOK T-muts. They are just 10-24 screws. Can you share pictures of your hand-guard and how the T-nuts/screws are hitting you barrel? I am also partial to Key-Mod but have never had that issue with any of my M-LOK stuff contacting my barrel.
I do have a few piece of picatinny rail that is compatible with both M-LOK and Key-Mod but I don't think they would alleviate your particular problem. Pictures would help us diagnose and maybe fix you issues.
I do have a few piece of picatinny rail that is compatible with both M-LOK and Key-Mod but I don't think they would alleviate your particular problem. Pictures would help us diagnose and maybe fix you issues.
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berettaprofessor
Member
Sorry, if I have "low profile" handguards that make the Mlok too close for screws, I just grind down the screws that come with the rail and cold blue the ends. No issues and I've done it several times. I love MLok for the variety of accessories, ease of application, and strength.
Which handguard do you have and what are you wanting to attach to it?
FredWyn
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I think it's a low pro hand guard because I'd need 1/4" screws which I couldn't find at either Lowes or Home Depot. I'll try Ace next. I was able to get one screw in, there's more room towards the muzzle. It actually seems to be held in place pretty well with just one. It'll bother my OCD, but I think I'll survive. I just need it for a detachable bipod. I'm probably being overly grumpy, but I'm just trying to put a little picatinny rail section on, this should take 15 seconds and require no modifications haha.
Sistema1927
Member
I have one Keymod equipped weapon, and the rest are all M-Loc. What is needed are mounting screws/nuts that would work on both so that you could switch accessories around.
mcb
Member
There are a few makers making rail sections compatible with both systems. I have one piece of picatinny rail I use with an green hunting light that moves between my two 300 BO guns, one with M-Lok and one with SquareDrop (Remington's version of Key-mod). Seem to work well with both.
This is the one I bought, Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077WNQ7KT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Skylerbone
Member
I have M-LOK accessories from Samson, Magpul, Odin Works, Phase 5, and Strike Industries and all appear to be of similar screw length with only 1 rifle having trouble accepting a double screw near the proprietary barrel nut thus far. I spotted that before ordering a single screw QD attachment point and all is well. 5 ARs, 3 low pro and zero problems with M-LOK.
Are the screws hitting your gas block by chance?
Are the screws hitting your gas block by chance?
It's very easy to simply shorten the screws, FWIW.
herrwalther
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Not sure where you got your M-LOK gear, but none of the screws on mine come even close to the barrel of my AR. I have about 3/4" space between the two. Maybe you got a bad counterfeit product?
Varminterror
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I'd simply shorten the screws.
berettaprofessor
Member
Unless you're using a picatinny-attachable bipod, hate to break it to you, but MagPul sells an MLok compatible bipod mount directly to the handguard; no intervening rail necessary. Have several and they are great. Magpul, Amazon, MidwayUSA, all sell it.
Link here for Youtube video on installation. (It's a little longer than it needs to be).
I doubt it, hand guards are from PSA and picatinny rail is from magpul. I think it's because the barrel is short, I have similar room on a regular sized AR with keymod hand guards. I ended up just using one screw, seems sturdy enough. The picatinny rail is only 1.5 inches long so I don't think it really needs two anyways
Why don't you just shorten the screws so that it can be installed securely?
greyling22
Member
fastenal will sell you a short screw, or, like the others have said, get out a file, grinder, belt sander or something and shorten your own.
Theohazard
Member
M-lok is superior to Keymod in every single way. If you’re having trouble with it then either you're installing it wrong or that specific manufacturer did a poor job with their specific product.
EDIT: I guess I should have read the rest of the thread before responding. It just looks like your screws are too long for your setup. That’s not a problem with the M-lok design, it’s a problem with the screws your manufacturer supplied. All the screws I’ve ever used on my M-lok rails didn’t come close to touching the barrel. The only issue I’ve ever had was with a slim rail and having a screw hit the gas block.
EDIT: I guess I should have read the rest of the thread before responding. It just looks like your screws are too long for your setup. That’s not a problem with the M-lok design, it’s a problem with the screws your manufacturer supplied. All the screws I’ve ever used on my M-lok rails didn’t come close to touching the barrel. The only issue I’ve ever had was with a slim rail and having a screw hit the gas block.
DerMerchant
Member
As others have said, and what I do also, Is to grind down the screws so they do not touch my barrel. I have low profile MLOK handguards on my AR, and AR-10 and it has worked fine.
It's not bad at all. Certainly less of a PITA than having your bipod wobble or fall off because the rail attachment was half assed.
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