What is a Picatinny Rail?
A picatinny rail, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, is a metal rail with a series of ridges and notches that allow for the attachment of a wide range of accessories, such as weapon sights, flashlights, laser sights, scopes, grips, and more. The rail was named after the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, where it was first developed in the late 1990s as a standardized system for mounting accessories onto weapons. Picatinny rails are nowadays used on a wide range of firearms, from pistols to rifles to shotguns, and are even being adapted for use in other applications such as robotics and industrial automation.
PICATINNY RAIL VS. WEAVER RAIL
Both the Picatinny and Weaver mounts are types of accessory rails commonly used to attach accessories such as weapon sights, scopes, and grips to firearms. Both mounts achieve the same goal, but there are some key differences between the two.
The Picatinny rail has a series of ridges that protrude from the rail, allowing for greater flexibility when attaching accessories. This means that the accessories can be moved along the rail to any desired position. Picatinny rails also have standardized measurements and slots, allowing for the easy interchangeability of accessories across different platforms. (Picatinny slots are .206” wide with a center-to-center groove width of .394”.)
Weaver mounts have cross-slots along its length, instead of ridges. This gives the Weaver mount less flexibility when it comes to positioning accessories as they must be precisely aligned with the cross-slots. Additionally, Weaver mounts do not have standardized measurements, so it may be difficult to find compatible accessories.
ACCESSORIES FOR PICATINNY RAIL
FAQS
M-Lok (short for Modular Lock) is a mounting system that allows you to attach accessories- like an optic, laser, flashlight, or bipod - to a negative space mounting point. In basic terms, M-Lok allows you to mount just about anything to your rail system without having to remove the rail. And, you can mount it exactly where you need it.
When compared to the Picatinny rail, The M-Lok rail is simpler, more lightweight, and extremely versatile. The main problem with the Picatinny rail is it can add excessive weight and bulk. This can negatively affect shooting, especially since that extra weight tends to build up on the fore end of your rifle.
A Picatinny Rail mount is a type of mount designed to securely attach accessories to a firearm. It consists of a long rail with a series of ridges, or slots, that form a standardized pattern. This pattern allows for accessories specifically designed for the Picatinny rail to be quickly and securely attached. Picatinny rail mounts are commonly used to attach sights, lasers, flashlights, and other accessories to firearms.
Here is a general overview of how to go about attaching a Picatinny rail to your firearm:
- Determine the location where you want to attach the Picatinny rail. Some firearms may already have pre-drilled and tapped holes or grooves designed to accept the rail, while others may require gunsmithing to install the rail.
- Clean the area where you will be attaching the Picatinny rail. Use a cleaning solution and a clean cloth to remove any dirt, debris, or oil that may interfere with the attachment.
- Align the Picatinny rail with the pre-drilled holes or grooves, making sure that it is level and centered. If there are no pre-drilled holes, you will need to mark the location where you want to drill holes for the rail.
- Secure the Picatinny rail to the firearm using screws, bolts, or other mounting hardware. Tighten the screws or bolts to the manufacturer's recommended torque specifications. It's important to avoid over-tightening the screws, as this can damage the rail or the firearm.
- Test the attachment to ensure that it is secure and that the rail is level. If necessary, make any adjustments to the mounting hardware.
Once the Picatinny rail is securely attached to the firearm, you can then attach any Picatinny-compatible accessories, such as scopes or lights, to the rail using the appropriate mounting hardware.
Picatinny rails are standardized, which means that the dimensions and spacing of the slots are the same across different manufacturers and models. This standardization ensures that Picatinny-compatible accessories from different manufacturers will fit properly on any Picatinny rail.
The dimensions of a Picatinny rail are specified by the MIL-STD-1913 standard, which outlines the requirements for the rail's slot spacing, width, depth, and other dimensions. The slots on a Picatinny rail are 0.206 inches wide, with a center-tocenter spacing of 0.394 inches.
It’s worth noting that there are some variations in the manufacturing tolerances of Picatinny rails, which can result in slight differences in the actual measurements of the rail. These differences are typically very small though, and do not affect the ability of Picatinny-compatible accessories to be attached securely to the rail.
Picatinny rails are designed to be a universal mounting platform, which means that accessories from different manufacturers can be easily attached to any firearm with a Picatinny rail. The standardized dimensions and spacing of the slots on a Picatinny rail ensure that Picatinny-compatible accessories will fit properly and securely on any Picatinny rail, regardless of the manufacturer or model.
Picatinny and M-Lok are two different types of mounting systems that are not directly compatible with each other.
Picatinny rails have a series of evenly spaced slots that run parallel to the firearm's barrel, while M-Lok is a newer mounting system that uses a series of T-shaped slots that allow accessories to be attached directly to the firearm's handguard.
To use a Picatinny accessory with an M-Lok handguard, you will need an adapter that allows you to mount the Picatinny accessory to an M-Lok rail. In the same way, if you want to use an M-Lok accessory with a Picatinny rail, you will need an adapter that allows you to mount the M-Lok accessory to a Picatinny rail.
Yes, it is possible to use a Weaver mount on a Picatinny rail but is not ideal since the Weaver mount's cross-slots need to be aligned precisely with the Picatinny rail's ridges in order to be attached properly. It is also important to keep in mind that Weaver mounts do not have standardized measurements, so they may not fit all accessories designed for Picatinny rails. All in all, it is usually better to use a Picatinny mount on a Picatinny rail for maximum compatibility.
Per our return policy, any item(s) returned within 30 days, in original packaging and condition, will be issued a refund less shipping charges and a 10% restocking fee. Restocking fees are waived for exchanges. We do not issue refunds in the form of store credit. Items must be exchanged or refunded in the form of the original payment. Buyer assumes responsibility for any return shipping expenses. Buyer must contact Red Hawk Rifles to pre-authorize any return
***Restrictions: The following items are not eligible for refunds/exchanges:
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