Shall we discuss the merits of picatinny rails on rifles?
Ok, so I was sitting in McDonald's today, chowing-down on a McRib sandwich and sipping my Coke, when I suddenly got an epiphany of sorts. I don't know where it came from, but it just struck me.
I absolute hate picatinny rails on rifles. I always figured they were uuseless for accessorizing the AR-15 platform rifles. That things like ffore-gripsactually make it harder to achieve accurate long range shooting. That lights actually giveaway the shooters position in a tactical situation. That lasers are pretty much useless in daylight conditions. That all of that bulky "stuff" hanging from the forearm of a rifle will actually create issues with the guns "snagging" on other debris in both open and urban settings.
But then it hit me! The bulk. The weight. The mass, if you will. I can recall speaking with AR-15 shooters that competed in NRA High Power Matches. They explained that they used bags of lead shot and placed them inside the stock compartments to give the rifles more weight. They also placed steel rods inside the forearms of the AR-15s to add weight to the barrel area. Brilliant! The added weight actually stabilizes the rifle for long range shooting. It also helps to control muzzle climb when firing.
Ok, so now my question is as follows. What accessories attached to a picatinny rail are actually useful? Do you like the rails? Or are you a "hater" like me? Feel free to give your real word experiences and preferences.
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