Picatinny rail

The Picatinny rail (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈpɪkətɪni/ or /ˌpɪkəˈtɪni/), alternatively known as the MIL-STD-1913 rail, STANAG 2324 rail, or simply "Tactical Rail" is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform, similar to the Weaver rail mount.

Description

The rail comprises a series of ridges with a T-shaped cross-section interspersed with flat "spacing slots". Scopes are mounted either by sliding them on from one end or the other; by means of a Weaver mount which is clamped to the rail with bolts, thumbscrews or levers; or onto the slots between the raised sections.

History

The Picatinny Arsenal's role with the rail was to test/evaluate it and to create a military standard for it. This was Mil-STD-1913, dated 3 February 1995.

Specifications for the M16A2E4 rifle and the M4E2 carbine received type classification generic in December 1994. These were the M16A2 and the M4 modified with new upper receivers where rails replaced hand guards.^[1]^[2]

The rail itself dates from work by the A.R.M.S. company in the early 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

Uses

The Heckler & Koch HK416 is equipped with a proprietary accessory rail handguard with MIL-STD-1913 rails on all four sides, used here to mount a vertical foregrip and Aimpoint CompM4 red dot sight

The rail was originally for scopes. However, once established, the use of the system was expanded to other accessories, such as tactical lights, laser aiming modules, night vision devices, reflex sights, foregrips, bipods, and bayonets. Because they were originally designed and used for telescopic sights, the rails were first used only on the receivers of larger caliber rifles. But their use has extended to the point that Picatinny rails and accessories have replaced iron sights in the design of many firearms, and they are also incorporated into the undersides of semi-automatic pistol frames and even on grips.

Technical specifications

The Picatinny locking slot width is 0.206 in (5.23 mm). The spacing of slot centers is 0.394 in (10.01 mm) and the slot depth is 0.118 in (3.00 mm).^[3] The only differences between the Picatinny rail and the similar Weaver rail are the size of these slots and the fact that they are standardized. Weaver rails have a slot width of 0.180 in (4.57 mm), but are not necessarily consistent in the spacing of slot centers.^[4] Some accessories are designed to fit on both Weaver and Picatinny rails; but most Picatinny devices will not fit on Weaver rails.^[4] As of May 2012, however, most mounting rails are cut to Picatinny standards, and many accessories come with the recoil pin cut to the Weaver-compatible diameter. Also, many rail-mounted accessories come with only a single recoil pin - avoiding the issue of differing slot spacing

Picatinny rail dimensions, cross section (dimensions in inches)
Picatinny rail side view (dimensions in inches)

References

[1]
[2]
Picatinny Rail Specifications
DODSSP U.S. Department of Defense Single Stock Point for Military Specifications, Standards and Related Publications

External links

[1] ttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m4.htm

[2] ttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m16-variants-a2.htm

[3] ttp://www.quarterbore.com/library/pdf_files/mil-std-1913.pdf

[autogenerated1-4] Brownells - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories and Gunsmithing Tools

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