Arca rail, is it the next best thing or a marketing trick?

[Member 34319]

Getting into precision rimfire has been a fun and annoying journey.

Everytime I look I see something different that may or may not be better?

Is 1913 rail dead? Mlok dead?

Everything precision orientated is Arca rail now. Why?

It also is 10x what a similar 1913 attachment costs. Again why?

Is Arca really better? Or is it just a flex?

Thanks!

Reno

Read More

 

[powermad]

I'm headed that direction.

The attachments are not expensive, tri-pods can cost a bit depending on your needs.
I have a Bog tri-pod but like anything else, I should have spent the extra money and got a ball head with arca plate.

I'm looking at these.

SLIK DX700PRO Tripod (BLACK)

stores.hogsaddle.com

GNN XB-44DL Ball Head

Shadow Tech, LLC Sunwayfoto GNN XB-44DL Superior Low Profile Tripod Ball Head with Duo-Lever Clamp Kit with Sunwayfoto DP-60R Universal Quick-Release Plate for Tripod Shooting

stores.hogsaddle.com

MARC M-LOK Plate

stores.hogsaddle.com

There is quite a bit of stuff to attach to an arca rail now other than a tri-pod too.
Weights, barricade rests, bi-pods, etc.

 

[mortar maggot]

ARCA rails are great for mounting bipod, or setting a rifle on a tripod.

More surface area, and nice tight fit. You can quickly put the rifle on a tripod.

But for NV, flashlights and etc M-LOK and 1913, even Keymod still are good.

I have a few rifle chassis with a built in ARCA rail, now I need the tripod.

 

[arakboss]

ARCA rails are great for mounting bipod, or setting a rifle on a tripod.

More surface area, and nice tight fit. You can quickly put the rifle on a tripod.

But for NV, flashlights and etc M-LOK and 1913, even Keymod still are good.

I have a few rifle chassis with a built in ARCA rail, now I need the tripod.

Should I upgrade from sling swivel

 

[Ginocide]

First, 1913 isn't going away anytime soon, probably not at all until there's some type of evolutionary leap forward in weapons design and implementation that we can't possibly predict yet. MLOK also isn't dead as it allows the selective placement of 1913 rail segments while keeping the parts you want to be smooth, smooth. I would argue that keymod is dying though.

ARCA has been a standard on competitive target-shooting rifles for a long time. If you hadn't heard of it, it's not that it's new, it's just that it's not really represented nearly as heavily in tactical or military use, and a lot of US sporting gear moves hand-in-hand with our military. ARCA has it's own positives and negatives and I recommend picking whatever you like best (or is compatible with whatever stock/chassis your heart and budget desires). Personally the large and frequent recoil lugs on 1913 give me peace of mind, and since I know that this standard continues to be the foremost military interface I can rest assured it's not going anywhere and that innumerable suppliers of innumerable parts will continue to be available at highly competitive prices.

 

[mortar maggot]

Should I upgrade from sling swivel

I guess as long as it works for you, save your money. That 30-40+ year technology stills works good enough.

 

[powermad]

Generally when I think of an arca rail it's for mounting to a tripod.
Not using arca for everything as it's bigger than an 1913 rail.

But if you have a full length arca rail on the bottom of the hand guard that gives you the option to standardize your gear for it.
I just need a short section as I don't plan on using it for anything but a tripod.
I have short mlock 1913 rails for a bipod, WML, ect.

 

[Member 34319]

I'm definitely noticing the trend of precision stuff being more towards ARCA. I guess I never knew it was that big. I thought it was something relatively new.

I'm confused to how it is any better than adding a rail section to the bottom of a gun and mounting the attachment to that.

 

[Lazyfaire]

Getting into precision rimfire has been a fun and annoying journey.

Everytime I look I see something different that may or may not be better?

Is 1913 rail dead? Mlok dead?

Everything precision orientated is Arca rail now. Why?

It also is 10x what a similar 1913 attachment costs. Again why?

Is Arca really better? Or is it just a flex?

Thanks!

Reno

I have put ARCA rails on several of my rifles. Instaed of buying several $150-200 bipods I can have one that I can quickly move off of one and onto another. Put the clamp knob on the left side (port for swabbies) and you can move the bipod forward and back to fit your situation.

 

[Hueco]

I'm headed that direction.

The attachments are not expensive, tri-pods can cost a bit depending on your needs.
I have a Bog tri-pod but like anything else, I should have spent the extra money and got a ball head with arca plate.

I'm looking at these.

SLIK DX700PRO Tripod (BLACK)

stores.hogsaddle.com

GNN XB-44DL Ball Head

Shadow Tech, LLC Sunwayfoto GNN XB-44DL Superior Low Profile Tripod Ball Head with Duo-Lever Clamp Kit with Sunwayfoto DP-60R Universal Quick-Release Plate for Tripod Shooting

stores.hogsaddle.com

MARC M-LOK Plate

stores.hogsaddle.com

There is quite a bit of stuff to attach to an arca rail now other than a tri-pod too.
Weights, barricade rests, bi-pods, etc.

The max load on that tripod doesn't seem like it'll have the top end you'd want for a precision rig.

Getting into precision rimfire has been a fun and annoying journey.

Everytime I look I see something different that may or may not be better?

Is 1913 rail dead? Mlok dead?

Everything precision orientated is Arca rail now. Why?

It also is 10x what a similar 1913 attachment costs. Again why?

Is Arca really better? Or is it just a flex?

Thanks!

Reno

I like arca. I come from the photo world and so, it's very familiar. The key benefit is in rapidly adjusting your gear attached - which to me is really only a bipod/tripod thing. All of your other accessories aren't going to need to move around, but a bipod you may want to slide up or down depending on need. Think about an NRL match and having to shoot off of different barriers. Quickly sliding your bipod up or down or off entirely is made easier with arca.

And like @Lazyfaire , it allows tool-less swaps between rifles with ease.

 

[powermad]

The max load on that tripod doesn't seem like it'll have the top end you'd want for a precision rig.

The max load on the one I linked is 88 pounds.
The heaviest rifle I have is 14 lbs.

Is there more to it than that?

 

[mortar maggot]

The max load on the one I linked is 88 pounds.
The heaviest rifle I have is 14 lbs.

Is there more to it than that?

Powermad, the link that came up for me was a bit over 19lbs.

 

[powermad]

The GNN XB-44DL is what comes up when I click on it.

Model	GNN XB-44DL
Ball Diameter	44mm
Pan Base Diameter	58mm
Height	2.83 Inches
Weight	1.09 Pounds
Max. Load	88 Pounds
Bottom thread	UNC 3/8″-16
Clamp Type	Screw/Lever Combo Clamp 38mm Arca-Swiss

 

[powermad]

I'm confused to how it is any better than adding a rail section to the bottom of a gun and mounting the attachment to that.

You just use a picatinny marc plate if a 1913 rail is all you have like with a quad rail.

Picatinny MARC Plate

stores.hogsaddle.com

But if you have an mlock hand guard you can just use an arca rail.

 

[Flopsweat]

I have put ARCA rails on several of my rifles. Instaed of buying several $150-200 bipods I can have one that I can quickly move off of one and onto another. Put the clamp knob on the left side (port for swabbies) and you can move the bipod forward and back to fit your situation.

I have one good bipod and one cheap one. I have quad rails, mlock or keymod on most of my rifles and a few spare short pieces of pic rail for mlock and keymod. If the gun in question isn't already set up for a bipod, it can be in a matter of minutes. Just one extra task while setting up the range bag and casing the guns.

 

[powermad]

They do make pic mounts for tripods but are not cheap.

Kopfjager Reaper Rail with Picatinny Mount (Mount only)

Kopfjager Reaper Rail with Picatinny Mount (Mount only) Poised to provide rock-solid stability, the Reaper Rail Upper Assembly provides shooters reliability in harsh environments. The Reaper Rail Upper Assembly mounts rifles with a Picatinny rails to medium and heavy-duty tripods with 3/8-16...

www.nightvisionguys.com

 

[Member 34319]

I guess I'll have to watch more folks use Arca in the various competitions.

I've got a great bipod, it's not super expensive, but it's features make it very nice compared to a basic Harris style. It is very easy to swap from one rifle to the next so as long as they have a rail section on them.

 

[powermad]

I don't compete but when it's all muddy and nasty out a tripod is much better than going prone for me.

Small chair and a bag makes a comfortable and stable platform.

 

[Hueco]

The max load on the one I linked is 88 pounds.
The heaviest rifle I have is 14 lbs.

Is there more to it than that?

The max load of the tripod that you linked is ~19lbs. The head will always be able to handle more, it's a block of metal...basically.

So, you have a tripod max of ~19 less the 1lb the head weighs means your by the book max is ~18lbs.

With camera gear, I try to stay 20% away from the top max load...I don't want any slippage on those long exposures ;-). With a rifle pushing the max, you'll end up seeing the legs slip under recoil. Not the end of the world, but avoidable with a beefier tripod.

I guess I'll have to watch more folks use Arca in the various competitions.

I've got a great bipod, it's not super expensive, but it's features make it very nice compared to a basic Harris style. It is very easy to swap from one rifle to the next so as long as they have a rail section on them.

I put an Arca adapter on my Harris and it's working well. At some point I'll probably upgrade but...for now...it works well.

 

[Flopsweat]

The max load of the tripod that you linked is ~19lbs. The head will always be able to handle more, it's a block of metal...basically.

So, you have a tripod max of ~19 less the 1lb the head weighs means your by the book max is ~18lbs.

With camera gear, I try to stay 20% away from the top max load...I don't want any slippage on those long exposures ;-). With a rifle pushing the max, you'll end up seeing the legs slip under recoil. Not the end of the world, but avoidable with a beefier tripod.


I put an Arca adapter on my Harris and it's working well. At some point I'll probably upgrade but...for now...it works well.

The tripod in the link is indeed rated for only 19.8 LBs.

SLIK DX700PRO Tripod (BLACK)

stores.hogsaddle.com

MAX. OPERATING HEIGHT	71 IN
MIN. OPERATING HEIGHT	10.8 IN
MAX. CENTER COLUMN EXT	15 IN
CENTER COLUMN TYPE	INVERTIBLE CENTER COLUMN
FOLDED LENGTH	27.6 IN
WEIGHT	5.5 LBS
NUMBER OF LEG SECTIONS	3
MAX. LOAD	19.8 LBS
LEG LOCK TYPE	LEVER LOCK
LEG TIP	RUBBER FOOT
TRIPOD MOUNT THREAD	3/8

That seems pretty fragile to me.