Shall we discuss the merits of picatinny rails on rifles?

and the AR service rifles add the lead where? in the trap door for the cleaning kit... at the butt end.

Rails are for hanging lights, Eotechs, strobes, blenders, toasters and grenade launchers.

To tell the truth.... it's a great way to tailor a fighting carbine for mission specific tasks... but do I really need a laser identifier and 3 sighting systems on a rail to punch tin cans at the gravel pit?

The AR in the native state is a light handy rifle... the M4 variants make the rifle better and easier to use quickly from a motor vehical or in QCB entry work. But when the rifle gets way past 7 pounds you really need to justify the do dads and add ons in my opinion.

Rifle Picatinny Rail

Honestly, I kind of agree with you. I'm not a big fan of hanging 5 pounds of junk off of my Rifle either. However, I do have a Picatinny Tri-Rail on my AK, to which I have a Surefire tact-light, and a 5mw Green Laser mounted. I like it that way, but it does make her a little clunkier to move around as you said. I've tried a couple fore-grips, but I never found any I liked. Oh, and I also used a piece of rail to mount another Surefire to the slide of my Remington 870 Express Magnum. I use that for my home defense gun, so the tact-light actually might come in handy someday.

Welp, that's my take on Picatinny Rails, hope that helps!

I like the rails, you can interchange in between different aiming devices without sight adjustments, if you remembered where and dialed them in the first place. As for a light, well I had to clear dark rooms before, do it once without one, then a light becomes your best friend. I have a laser, but that is just for fun. The main problem about snagging, for me, is the all the armor and the vest that a had to wear. If I was on my own that helmet is gone. So I love the rails, and I love the classic look with the carry handle, A2 style.

The way I figure it, there is no need for rails on the hand guard. If you want something to rip up your off hand, you could wrap barb wire around the hand guard. You did make me think that a brick with a rail mount might be useful for long range shooting. You could hang it under the hand guard. I figure that a light on a gun makes a real good target for a bad guy and you are point a loaded rifle at anything you point your light at. I always carry a light low and to the outside when I am checking for bad guys, but that is with a handgun.

There are practical accessories too. If I had an AR, I would invest in:

A bipod because I enjoy shooting with those even under 100 yards when I'm plinking and if I paid the money for an AR, you can bet that I'll target shoot and plink with it.

A shoulder strap. I like these on my rifles and shotguns. It makes carrying the gun easier when I have gear too. A light strap made from paracord won't be too heavy or cumbersome.

And I'll be one of "those guys". I'll take a flashlight on my gun. Not just for the purpose of seeing in the dark though. I would want a powerful and bright enough light to blind and cause stress even in daytime conditions. To a trained soldier, this would be a bright target. But to a thug who is probably nervous anyway, a bright strobing light is more likely to cause stress and panic for a few seconds. I've spoken with LEOs who use the strobe function of flashlights as a means of engaging a threat with less lethal intimidation. My reasons for installing a light with as many lumens of brightness as possible would be similar.

Plus there is no guarantee that I can get to my light switch. If I lived by myself, I wouldn't care. Any shadowy figure in the dark can reveal itself in the light of my muzzle flash then. But I stay with roommates and my girlfriend is practically living here too. I can't take chances shooting in the dark when others share my home.

I tend to agree with you - there isn't that much I'm interested in hanging off the barrel end. I do like the design for being able to have a ton of adjustment in where I put my optics or other sighting systems. I've got them on my AR. However, my next AR I'm going to get a smooth tube that I can mostly just use as someplace to grab the gun up front if I go into a rope style grip.

Thinkingblade

I love the angled foregrips I love the rails I think their sexy.Its more of a quick mount kind of thing and McRibs are amazing. I have never experienced any snagging that is noticeable inless your in a ******* string factory, the lights are for more of a dazing affect I also hate lasers love the acog

I like rails but I like basic. Foregrips? Yes, but not for 100 yards+. Lights? No. Lasers? No. Swiss Army knives? Maybe...

I don't believe in hanging all that crap off of forearm rails. I do have a picatinny rail on the bottom of the forearm for use with a bipod(when i use one).