AR-15 MaxRail from Suburban Machinery, Inc.

By Tom Murphy

Normally a purveyor of parts for BMW motorcycles, Suburban Machinery (www.suburban-machinery.com) has branched out into the rail mount market for AR-15 type rifles with their MaxRail. Made from 6061-T6 aluminum extrusion, it allows scopes, night vision equipment, red dot sights, iron sights, or other tactical devices to be mounted in any of three positions on top of the rifle. The MaxRail in the photo is bare aluminum for illustration only. The actual rail is hardcoat anodized black.

The MaxRail is available in 14, 16, or 18 inch lengths and is attached to the upper receiver through countersunk holes using 6-32 x 1/2 inch flathead screws. The minimum number of screws are 3-4 in the receiver and at least four in the handguard. With the longer rails, or with a heavier caliber than 5.56, all ten supplied screws should be used.

Suburban Machinery recommends that a qualified gunsmith with access to a Bridgeport type mill should do the installation. Included in the kit is an installation guide block, .205 locating pin, two #37 drill bits, and ten 6-32 x 1/2 flathead screws. A 6-32 tap is not included. Prices are: 14 inch rail - $139.95; 16 inch rail - $149.95 and 18 inch rail - $169.95. The guide block, drills and pin - $39.95

Suburban Machinery, Inc.
www.suburban-machinery.com
(440) 951-6555

A short time after this article was submitted on the MaxRail, The author was contacted by Terry Phillips, owner and inventor of MaxRail. He has devised a way to mount the rail without having to have a gunsmith drill and tap the rifle upper. It is, instead, a clamp system that locks the rail to the upper. This will make the installation much faster and considerably less expensive as a gunsmith won’t be needed. The clamps will be color-treated just like the MaxRail. However, the price isn’t firm as of this writing.

This article first appeared in SmallArmsReview.com on April 18, 2014

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