Firearms are and have always been in a constant state of evolution. Much like every other form of technology on the planet, firearms continue to change and on existing platforms to mee the end user’s mission-oriented needs. With so many uses for firearms currently it is no wonder why so many of these popular platforms have pushed into a modular direction.

The AR-15 for example, is one of the most highly customizable weapons platforms available today. One big part of that is the attachment systems for accessories offered and there is not one more popular than the venerable M-Lok. So what is M-Lok? Let’s check it out!

M-Lok On two AR-15s. PC: https://kineticdg.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ZU7Z0888-copy.jpg

The MLok Rail System

Simply put the M-Lok Rail System is an attachment system that allows the user to add different accessories to their AR-15 rifle or pistol. Nearly every accessory you can think of can be attached via M-Lok to the handguard of the firearm, including but not limited to; Foregrips, tactical flashlights, laser/IR systems, pressure pads etc.

M-Lok Modular Rail Systems consist of sections cut out along a handguard. Each of these slots is 20mm in length and allows the shooter to mount accessories every 20mm or 30mm along the length of the handguard. While most commonly seen on the AR-15 platform we are also starting to see M-Lok offered as an option for lever-action rifles, AK variants and even tactical shotguns!

M-Lok Modular Rail System shown on this complete AR-15 Upper.

History of the M-Lok Rail System

We would be hard pressed to find a shooter that has not heard of Magpul - especially in the AR-15 world. The story of M-Lok begins in 2007 with the Magpul MOE attachment system developed for their Masada rifle. Unfortunately, the MOE was a flawed system and the Masade itself proved to be a large project for a smaller company. The MOE was scrapped and the Masada design was taken over by Bushmaster, becoming the ACR Rifle.

The Magpul Masada Rifle. Not the MOE attachment system that later developed into M-Lok.

PC: https://www.military-today.com/firearms/magpul_masada.htm

In 2014 Magpul released the M-Lok Rail System with the lessons learned from the MOE. The new M-Lok system included metric dimensions, the ability to be utilized on free-float handguards and would work with both polymer and metal parts making this new rail attachment system incredibly versatile. Since then M-Lok has become the standard in rail systems with USSOCOM awarding it highest marks in their impacts tests.

USSOCOM Chooses M-Lok

In 2016 a study recommended to USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) that the M-Lok modular rail system be utilized over the alternative attachment systems tested. Due to this, “USSOCOM has chosen to incorporate the M-Lok modular rail system in acquisition efforts including the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group (SURG) and Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR),”

M-Lok received the highest marks in the failure load exam and fun fact - the devices used to test the M-Lok attachment strength failed every time BEFORE the M-Lok! In drop testing, M-Lok received the highest marks ever seen as well.

USSOCOM has adopted the M-Lok system. PC: https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-socom-test-determined-the-future-of-modular-weapon-rail-systems/ 

One interesting point of note: M-Lok’s ability to remount an optic/sight on the same spot experienced an average point of aim shift of only 1.3 MOA. To put that into perspective - another system tested was 4x that! THis can be very handy if we change optics often - we’ll know exactly where to remount it and not have to spend valuable ammo or time just to get back on paper as we zero the optic. If the best soldiers in the world trust M-Lok Modular Rail Systems, you can bet your hiney you can too!

Why we need M-Lok

If everything you read above was still not enough to convince you that you need M-Lok on your AR-15 handguard then let’s think about what you use your rifle for exactly. If we use your weapon for home defense it is highly recommended to have a tactical flashlight installed so we’ll be able to identify our target clearly. It also can be handy to have a side canted red dot if we need to use a shorter range optic. Foregrips on the handguard can also help us control and manipulate the weapon far easier.

If we plan on utilizing any kind of accessories on the weapon at all we’ll need an attachment system and M-Lok Modular Rail Systems are, as shown above, trusted by the best of the best to be rock solid and reliable. If we take everything into consideration then it almost doesn’t make sense to NOT utilize M-Lok on our AR-15s or even other types of rifles such as lever actions or AK variants.

Best M-Lok Accessories

M-Lok accessories include just about everything you can think of including on a weapon! You will be hard-pressed to not be able to find the accessories you need compatible with M-Lok due to M-Lok being open licensed. You heard that right. In order to use the M-Lok design any company can just ask for permission and it is granted from Magpul - with the only stipulation being the dimensions must remain exactly the same. Some ideas of M-Lok accessories:

• Tactical flashlights
• Laser/IR aiming devices
• Side Cant Optics Mounts
• Foregrips
• Pressure switches to run above names accessories
• Bipods

M-LOK Rails Have Standardized the Gun Industry

Let’s face it, the majority of us shooters really enjoy accessorizing our weapons. The M-Lok Rail System is almost a necessity and is certainly the standard these days when it comes to rail attachment systems. We even see companies making M-LOK rails for shotgun platforms as well now, and for good reason of course. M-Lok is a trustworthy and rock-solid investment for your weapon. Ready to trick out your AR-15? Understand that you'll have to deal with the increased weight of a quad-picatinny rail (AKA cheese-grater), risk the complete failure and breakage if you rock a KeyMod rail and only Lord knows why you'd opt for an actual handguard from the Persian Gulf War era instead of a rail system. If it's not a clone inspired build, just use a M-LOK rail and call it a day.