Why do these things cost $200+ dollars for some? I got my first AR about 2 months ago, its what you would call a "budget" gun...blackthorne kit, spikes lower, NCStar scope (still 1" groups @100 yds for 100 rnds so far!). I wanted to get a quadrail for it, then a bipod, but I looked and everything was ridiculously priced! I ordered a cheapie off of amazon monday for $50 bucks so we will see how that goes, I was just wondering why they cost so much?

Yeah what's the deal?

Machining is very expensive, and very time consuming.

They also tend to use high quality alloy for the strength, which adds to the cost.

Once someone figures how to investment cast one, they'll become more affordable.

6061 T6 Aluminum is expensive I guess and machining as well.

So the cheap one I got off amazon isnt gonna like explode or anything then....I'm guessing the expensive ones are better quality for those people whose lives depend on their rifles functioning properly? All I need mine to do is hold a bipod...

True but the only ones that will figure out how to cast ones are the chinese. Cast anything sucks.

Just got the one I ordered Monday in the mail, here it is on my gun





Feels nice and secure, and the bipod even came with it for free! Total amount spent on gun so far including everything is right around $775

Ive had a cheapo and sold it and the upper with it. Main difference that I could feel was weight. My $125 UG quad (i think thats the manufacture) was a lot heavier than the Daniel Defense or other high end rail.

Not necessarily... The aerospace industry is full of folks who can make precision castings. Should one of them decide to get in on the AR game, we could see some interesting things happen.

All the stigma surrounding casting have been pretty well dispelled, and quality is at an all time high. Today we have better quality standards and alloys available than ever, and the ability to make some really nice pieces.

PING golf makes darn near all their clubs through investment casting, and they're some of the best in the industry. I don't see any reason why they couldn't transpose that casting technology into the firearms industry.

There are already plenty of cast parts in your gun now, this would just be another bigger piece.

I'd be more concerned about the Blackthorne upper exploding than any quad rail exploding.

Here is my two cents. You can get a plenty good quad rail for a reasonable price. Most if not all of these are made from 7075 Al. Take a look at the Midwest Industries or YHM lines for affordable parts with good quality. The UTG rails are less expensive but still decent construction. Cheaper because they are made overseas. On the high end brands you pay for the name and large amounts of engineering that goes into designing something new and different. Larue Tactical and DD make awesome products but are at the top of the price list. I would look at it like this, if your rifle was going to be used as an implement of war I would want the highest quality part out there. It might mean the difference in life or death. Since most of the folks on here are not fighting wars with their rifles, you can probably stand to go with a less expensive but still reliable brand. Those of you on an extreme budget, don't be afraid to go with an imported rail they work just fine.

I build a lot of these types of rifles and have used just about every rail out there have not seen but a couple that I would be concerned about using again. The point to my rambling is don't be afraid to go with a lower end rail they all basically work the same way and are made of the same material.

I bought a Midwest Industries and it is very light and $145, I really don't like the quad rails, but with the MI I have I can add rails when and where I need them.



Couple of things still needed to finish it, then I am thinking about Cerakote or Black T

Yea I've heard the stories on how bad it is and I'm an idiot for buying it blah blah blah....woulda been nice to have the corvette, but I had to settle for the kia for now! If it breaks, I'll replace it with somethin better when the money comes around

As a former sales rep for one of the extremely highly priced brands already previously mentioned, yes.....


You get what you pay for.

On a budget, I'd go Midwest Industries. Troy is good also as is Daniel Defense. For hunting work any will do.


Whatever you do, get rid of the Blackthorne/Hesse/Vulcan (same company). They are not "budget" they are "explosion waiting to happen" guns. Well known to be the absolute worst QC on the planet. I would sooner shoot a cloned rifle built in Darra, Pakistan than a Blackthorne. And yes, I am serious.


If your life depends on your rifle, as mine has in the past, your choices narrow significantly to about five manufacturers, one of whom i worked for.

That is also a big part of Ruger's bottom line.

Not sure it is that more. The Blackthorne uppers appear to go for $300-400 (w/o charging handle and bcg). You can get a 16" Bravo Company upper for $385, the only difference being you don't get a hand-guard on the BCM. Then you've spent about the same money for something that is actually closer to being mil-spec.

TRY THESE GUYS BOTACHTACTICAL.COM I GOT MINE FROM THEM DONT KNOW HOW IT WORKS YET CAUSE IAM STILL IN THE SAND BOX IN AFGHANISTAN MY BOSS HAS A SET ON HIS AR.

Botach has a well known reputation for screwing people on delivery.