Picatinny rail
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The Picatinny rail (/ˈpɪkətɪni/ or /ˌpɪkəˈtɪni/), or Pic rail for short, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail (cancelled), is a military standard rail interface system that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It was originally used for mounting of scopes atop the receivers of larger caliber rifles. Once established, its use expanded to also attaching other accessories, such as: iron sights, tactical lights, laser aiming modules, night vision devices, reflex sights, holographic sights, foregrips, bipods, slings and bayonets.
An updated version of the rail is adopted as a NATO standard as the STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail.
Significance
Because of their many uses, Picatinny rails and accessories have replaced iron sights in the design of many firearms, and they are also on the undersides of semi-automatic pistol frames and grips.[1] Their usefulness has led to them being used in paintball, gel blasters and airsoft.[2]
History
THE NUMBERS WHAT DO THEY MEAN MASON
Design & specifications
The rail consists of a strip undercut to form a "flattened T" with a hexagonal top cross-section, with cross slots interspersed with flats that allow accessories to be slid into place from the end of the rail and then locked in place. It is similar in concept to the earlier commercial Weaver rail mount used to mount telescopic sights, but is taller and has wider slots at regular intervals along the entire length.
The Picatinny locking slot width is 0.206 in (5.23 mm). The spacing of slot centres is 0.394 in (10.01 mm) and the slot depth is 0.118 in (3.00 mm).[3]
Comparison to Weaver rail
Whereas the earlier Weaver rail is modified from a low, wide dovetail rail, the Picatinny rail has a more pronounced angular section.[citation needed] Designed to mount heavy sights of various kinds, a great variety of accessories and attachments are now available and the rails are no longer confined to the rear upper surface (receiver) of long arms but are either fitted to or machine milled into the upper, side or lower surfaces of all manner of weapons from crossbows to pistols and long arms up to and including anti-materiel rifles.[citation needed]
The only significant difference between the Picatinny rail and the similar Weaver rail are the size and shapes of the slots, where the Picatinny rail has square-bottomed slots while Weaver rails have rounded slots.[citation needed] This means that an accessory designed for a Weaver rail will fit onto a Picatinny rail whereas the opposite might not be possible (unless the slots in the Weaver rail are modified to have square bottoms.)[citation needed]
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] While some accessories are designed to fit on both Weaver and Picatinny rails, most Picatinny devices will not fit on Weaver rails. From May 2012, most mounting rails are cut to Picatinny standards.[citation needed] Many accessories can be secured to a rail with a single spring-loaded retaining pin.
See also
- NATO Accessory Rail
- Warsaw Pact rail, is a rail mount system to connect telescopic sights to rifles
- Rail Systems
- Zeiss rail, a ringless scope mounting standard
- Third Arm Weapon Interface System
References
- ^ "Does a Concealed Carry Gun Need an Accessory Rail? | Gun Belts Blog". Bigfoot Gun Belts. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
- ^ "Magfed TCR". Tippmann Sports. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Military Standard 1913was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Brownells
External links
