1. M-LOK to KEYMOD: yes its possible Rather than order up one, a friend suggested I bring my rifle by and see how 'close' the M-LOK rails are. I would say the difference between the two is a few thousands of an inch. It almost drops in!
  2. The slots provide metric 20 mm (0.79 in) length intervals, and accessories can be mounted either within a slot or bridging between slots, making it possible to adjust the position of accessories in smaller intervals than the length of the slot. The slots on an M-Lok handguard are approximately 32 mm (1.260 in) long and 7 mm (0.276 in) wide.

We were asked, “What are the pros and cons of M-Lok vs Keymod?”

KeyMod & M-Lok Universal – Rail Section – 7 Slots Red $ 25.95 Strike Industries LINK attachment system takes the age old question Key-Mod vs. M-Lok and came up with the ultimate solution, a dual interface design compatible with both M-Lok and Key-Mod, same hardware with no need for additional parts. Conceptually, M-Lok, short for Modular Lock, is the same neighborhood as KeyMod – it’s a negative space mounting system that allows you to attach accessories to your firearm. Rather than the keyhole format, M-LOK uses a slot-like design which originated on the Masada Concept Rifle way back in 2007.


Long ago there was no standard for attaching stuff to firearms. We use sling studs, bayonet lugs, hose clamps, bespoke custom mounts, etc.

Then came the MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. And all was well. It took some time for people to move away from the weaver rail, but eventually most of the world adopted the 1913 rail. Except for Zee Germans, who as always thought they could do better. They came up with their own spec for rails, where they took the surface most likely to get damaged in use and make that the critical dimension. Thus the NATO spec rail was born.

Then people wanted smaller and slicker hand guards. Companies started milling off the rail section and offering bolt on rail sections. But each company had their own system. While the bolt spacing was somewhat standardized due to the sizing of Picatinny rail, how the rail section interfaced was not standardized. KAC, LMT, Larue, Colt, etc all had their own various rail attachments for their slick handguard.

VLTOR designed a new mounting system in 2012. Somewhat similar to the old post and slot system used in shelving, they included a taper on the mounting tab and recoil lugs. Best part is that they released the design as open source, so any company could use it for free.

Noveske and Bravo Company were early adopters and helped popularize the system. It looked like it was going to be the next standard. But then something interesting happened.

Before we get to what happened, lets talk about the other option, M-LOK.

Magpul came up with a new mounting system on their Masada and their early MOE line of accessories. They had slots cut(or molded) into the hand guards allowing accessories to be bolted to the slots. This was 2009. But this MOE slots sucked. They were inconsistent, and the backside of the slot had to be accessed to install an accessory.

In 2014, Magpul came up with a new standard, the M-LOK. M-LOK used slots where the accessory would lock in using a rotating T-Nut. M-LOK is free licensed, not open source like KeyMod. So people can made it freely, but they have to get permission from Magpul. This way Magpul ensures people don’t deviate from spec.

Wow, writing the history there took longer than I thought this article would be.

So what are the cons:

KeyMod accessories can be installed wrong. When I first mounted a KeyMod QD swivel, the next day I read about people mounting Keymod accessories backwards. I said, “How could anyone mount one of these backwards?” Then I found out that I mounted mine backwards. Doh.

Also some companies are cutting corners and making KeyMod accessories out of spec. Either missing the critical taper on the lugs, or missing recoil lugs.

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As for M-LOK. M-LOK accessories protrude into the rail, so in areas with little clearances they can be an issue. Or sometimes the screws can protrude enough to touch a barrel in a narrow free float tube.

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It looked like KeyMod was winning the modular handguard war. Many were pushing it as the superior mounting system and it looked like the Army was going to adopt it for use on newer hand guards and sniper rifles.

Then we get to the interesting test. NSWC-Crane did a test between the two. They deemed M-LOK as being better.

Overall, test and evaluation demonstrated that the M-LOKTM modular rail system surpassed the performance results achieved by other modular rail systems. In repeatability testing, M-LOKTM allowed for the repeated installation of the same accessory rail in the same location on a handguard with an average point of aim (POA) shift of 1.3 MOA, as low as one quarter the average POA shift observed by other modular rail systems. Drop test results demonstrated that M-LOKTM systems maintain securement of accessories to the handguard and sustain less damage from impact forces than some other modular rail systems. Failure load testing demonstrated that M-LOKTM systems support the highest load of all modular rail systems tested. In fact, the test equipment used to interface with 1913 accessory rails secured with the respective modular rail system across testing repeatedly failed prior to failure of the M-LOKTM attachment system. Even so, testing of the M-LOKTM systems failed at loads as high as over three times the maximum failure load of some other modular rail systems. NSWC Crane recommended to USSOCOM that the M-LOKTM modular rail system be utilized over the alternative systems tested. USSOCOM has chosen to incorporate the M-LOKTM modular rail system in acquisition efforts including the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group (SURG) and Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR).

Since this test, interest in KeyMod has been reduced, but it is far from dead. M-LOK is gaining much more popularity.

M-LOK design of just being simple slots has allowed M-LOK mounting slots to be added to a great deal of accessories for other older firearms. Newer gun designs are able to have thin aluminum hand guards with simple slots milled in them allowing for the end user to add what ever accessories they deem fit.

Both are good, but now the consensus is that M-LOK is better.

For years, the Picatinny rail was the leader in attaching lights, lasers, foregrips, and other accessories, but it had drawbacks. Adding a Picatinny rail onto a rifle’s handguard or fore-end adds extra weight, and some shooters complain about the extra bulk and “cheese grate” feeling it has on the hand. And although both the Picatinny and Weaver rail systems work great for mounting scopes, their shortcomings in accessory attachments left a lane open for improvement.

These shortfalls brought the next generation of accessory mounting: KeyMod and M-LOK. The KeyMod and M-LOK are based on a slot system rather than the rail system of the Picatinny and Weaver mounts. This means a smoother surface and more mounting options. Both gained popularity since their introduction to the market in the 2010’s — but which system is better? Keep reading to learn a little about the KeyMod vs. M-LOK systems, including how to mount accessories.

Want to skip to which system is better for your needs? Click here.

KeyMod

The KeyMod handguard was developed as a collaboration between VLTOR Weapon Systems and Noveske Rifleworks. They released the KeyMod system to the public in 2012 in hopes of standardizing universal attachment systems. It is an open-source design, meaning the design can be used freely by any company to make rails or accessories.

Instead of having a hand guard with a picatinny rail attached, the KeyMod was designed so that accessories could be mounted directly onto the rail. This also allows for picatinny rails to be mounted onto the handguard wherever needed.

How to Mount KeyMod Accessories

The KeyMod is a modular system with the mounting slots having a key-hole profile. It is composed of two parts, the KeyMod slot and the KeyMod nut.

To mount KeyMod accessories:

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  1. Orient the KeyMod nut the correct way. The backer nut, which is the piece that actually goes into the KeyMod slot, protrudes on one side only at the bottom. This protrusion should face in the same direction as the muzzle of the gun. Many accessories will have an arrow to remind you of the correct orientation.
  2. Place the backer nut of the accessory in the larger hole of the KeyMod slot, then slide it forward into the narrow section of the slot.
  3. Screw in the accessory to give tension to hold it in place.

M-LOK

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The Modular Lock, or M-LOK was patented by Magpul Industries and introduced to the market in 2014. Just like the KeyMod, the M-LOK allows for direct accessory attachment. Magpul sought a design that worked better with non-metal mount surfaces. The polymer accessories Magpul offered didn’t work well with the KeyMod’s conical nut. So, they created the M-LOK system.

Unlike the KeyMod, the M-LOK is not open-sourced, but rather free licensed. This means that manufacturers can only make products using the M-LOK standard after acquiring a license from Magpul.

How to Mount M-LOK Accessories

The M-LOK is similar to the KeyMod system in that both involve locking a nut into a slot on the rail. The M-LOK system uses a rectangular T-Nut and a rectangular slot.

To mount an M-LOK accessory:

  1. Orient the T-Nuts so that they will sit in the M-LOK slots. The accessory is correctly seated in the slot if the bottom of the accessory is flush with the mounting surface.
  2. Use a hex wrench to rotate the T-Nut 90 degrees into the locked position.
  3. Continue tightening the screw to the correct torque specs:
    • Metal accessories to metal handguards: 35 in/lbs
    • Polymer/metal accessories to polymer handguards: 15 in/lbs
    • Polymer accessories to metal handguards: 15 in/lbs

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KeyMod vs. M-LOK – Which is Better?

In 2016, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) put the two to the test to see how they stacked up against each other. The purpose of the testing was to compare which system was superior in regard to repeatability, endurance, rough handling, drop testing, and failure load.

In the Endurance and Rough Handling tests, both systems passed. The most significant variation was in the Repeatability test. M-LOK came out on top with the least amount of MOA shift when removing, then reattaching, an accessory rail with a laser sight. They found that in a drop test, M-LOK accessories remained attached 100% of the time, while KeyMod accessories remained attached only 33% of the time. From this testing, the M-LOK was selected for use on the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group and Advanced Sniper Rifle programs.

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While this testing did not fare so well for KeyMod, that does not necessarily mean that it isn’t a feasible option for applications outside of military use. Both mounting systems are readily available, though M-LOK is arguably more popular.

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Both designs are functional, but for one reason or another, people are often to draw to one over the other. Whether you choose KeyMod or M-LOK, you’ll have a convenient way to mount accessories directly to your handguard.

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