GEISELLE SMR SUPER MODULAR RAIL
Background: To improve the 10.5 inch (267mm) version of the Heckler & Koch HK416, which has a standard configuration 9 inch rail, GEISSELE Automatics released back in 2012 the SMR (Super Modular Rail) in Desert Dirt (DDC) & Black Color which is a free float rail including accessory rails to mount lights, lasers and other stuff on it if needed. It is for use with all HK416s with MR 556 barrels.
AZIMUTH G SMR HK416 RAIL
To buy the real steel Rail just for airsoft use without the needs the real Rail offers is quiet expensive and in some places not possible due ITAR shipping rules. The DDC version cost you about $469 bucks the black $438. I know there´re some guys who spend that much money even just for airsoft use! But for the rest of us, there are several companys who produce “replica parts” for airsoft use only and they are much more cost-efficient.
So today we show you a airsoft version of this rail called G SMR RAIL 10.5 inch which is manufactured by Azimuth. Currently it´s only available in BLACK and till the time we write this review we´re unsure if they going to release a Desert Dirt version as well. The rail is designed to fit the VFC (Vega Force Company) HK416 AEG and GBBR airsoft rifles.
MATERIAL & FEATURES
The AZIMUTH SMR G HK416 RAIL is made by CNC machined aluminum and has a black/grey matt finish. It feels really solid and valuable. The allover workmanship of this rail is very good and much better then other once I´ve seen. The details are clean shaped. The threaded inserts at 3/6/9 o’clock positions are also well done and work properly.
The weight is 390g which is around the real one with 357g (12.6 oz). The real GEISSELE SMR 10.5 has the same weight as the real standard HK416 rail with 9 inch.
On the left and right side we see rails who can carry compatible attachements like the Modular Rails which are not included in the package by Azimuth. Those can be bought seperatly at WGC SHOP in Black and also Dark Earth (both from DYTAC). The rail is highly configurable because of the many after market parts. So everyone can modify easily this rail for his personal needs and taste.
DETAIL GALLERY
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION
Like the real one, some modifications are required to install the G SMR RAIL. The sling loops who are fitted on the sides of the gasblock from the HK416 must be complete removed. Why? Because the G SMR RAIL covers the whole gas block from the rifle (10.5 inch) and those loops are to big and would not fit into the rail. The same must be done to the real steel HK416 to fit the GEISSELE Rail. The total “inner width” from the VFC HK Rail is: 45mm / 1.77inch the Azimuth G SMR Rail has: 36mm / 1.41inch VFC gasblock width: 42mm / 1.65inch so it´s clear that the gasblock with loops wouldn´t go through.
The Rail comes with it´s own Barrel Nut which is needed for the installation and it´s already screwed/mounted into the rail. That also means a new screw which is needed to hold the rail in position over the Barrel Nut & tight to the Upper Receiver is also included in the package Azimuth provide. From my piont of view, that´s a good thing because you don´t have to modify the original screw (if needed) which maybe wouldn´t hold the original HK Rail again because it´s to loose then. We all know that some after maket parts have “fabrication tolerances” and they need some modification to fit right. But here your good to go because all parts needed come with the Rail.
As you can see here, the Barrel Nut looks machined and the original back finish is gone. Why this is happen to the Nut? Because our sample had “zero tolerance” inside the Rail and we had a really hard time to get the Nut out of the Rail without any damaging and we were not able to get it back inside in it´s original shape! So we decided to reduce the dimension from the Nut a bit to make this more user-friendly. Our tool for that was a lathe and the overall material removed is about ~1mm.
NOTE: We don´t know if this only happen to our sample or if there was a production run with wrong measurements (Rail/Barrel Nut) at the time we wrote this review!
The following picture shows how tight the Nut sit inside the Rail. You can see the grooves on the Nut when we tryed to get it out.
Barrel Nut installation itself goes without any problems. The matching with the Upper Receiver and Outer Barrel is just nice and everything fit strong and tight together.
Adding the Rail on it after we refit the extent of the Barrel Nut was easy. Screwing it together to hold it in place works just perfect. The dimensions and position from the hole in the Rail where the screw goes through and the depression at the Barrel Nut match 100% so the Rail can sit all the way back and tight to the Receiver.
Just the height between the Receiver and the Rail does not match correct. There´s a mismatch from about 1mm as you can see. Maybe this is why our VFC 416 model we had for the review is Gen1 and not Gen2 and most of the new Rails are made for Gen2 models.
The little plug at the end of the Rail who goes into the Upper Receiver to provide a better and stronger fitting is a little bit to small in overall size but this doesn´t matter much when the Rail is screwed tighten to it. So it wouldn´t move left or right till you use it. This “small plug” maybe also just happen to our test model because I found pictures from the manufacturer which show a mounted Rail where the plug is much bigger and sit tight in the Upper Receiver. Except of these couple probs we had, it was a normal installation like any other Rail who are based on the “free float” system.
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INSTALLATION GALLERY
CONCLUSION
Overall, it´s a very good & strong build Rail made out of CNC machined aluminum. The finish is very well done compared to other Rails based on the real GEISSELE out there at the market. I would say: this is the leader of the pack! It feels solid and and if you´re looking for a fresh modern look for your HK416 – I´m sure you will be happy with this one. The fact that we had some issues with the fitting and measurements from the Barrel Nut “maybe” only happen to our testmodel.
Leave us a comment with your experience or if you have any questions.
The Azimuth G SMR RAIL 10.5 inch is available at WGC SHOP who also provided us this sample. Thank you for the support! The retail is $128 and you can get it here.
