Its ALG Defense EMR (Ergonomic Modular Rail) will change what you can expect from a low-cost, AR-15 hand guard that has a free-float feature. This rail is stunning in terms of numbers, however they don’t tell the full story. It’s also slimmer, lighter and cheaper than you imagine!

Overview

The EMR is an adjustable, slick-sided tube-style, free-float rail that is appropriate for AR-15 model rifles. It is available in three lengths of 10, 12 and 13 inches” 12″ and 13″ and four colors: Black, Desert Dirt, Gray and Purple (very extremely purple).

There are many slick-sided tube-style free float rails available, however the EMR goes one step further by taking away from the rail’s top completely. It is just a thin round rib that runs across the entire length of the rail to take it’s place.

The rail sections included are able to be mounted to the exterior of the rail, including one short piece that is “Co-Witness Rail” which can be positioned on the top rib in order to be positioned to match the width of the upper receiver rail. Three rail sections include (2×2″ sides rails along with one 2″ co-witness rail).

The EMR also includes everything needed to attach the rail, including an aluminum barrel nuts, a barrel nut the shim kits, screws for mounting and a customized barrel wrench for nut. It also comes with a rotation-limited QD sling socket that can be swiveled on the left and right sides of the rail.

Notes from Utilization

I was first struck by the sound quality in the EMR. Its tolerances with the the nuts are so close that the rail produces the sound of sucking when it is pulled out of the barrel. It’s not too rigid or difficult to remove, just perfect joined. The wrench included is perfectly sized to fit the barrel nut. The surface texture is comfortable to see as it is on your hands. Every edge that could be sharp is broken to ensure the sake of comfort. The surface is even and smooth. The EMR is a perfect example of quality and care for the smallest of details. it’s not something you’d expect from to find a rail for just $135. It’s not a good rail at this cost. It’s a great rail for any price.

The EMR is a pleasure to hold when held in your hands. The entire rail is slightly ribbed texture that’s extremely grippy in conjunction to the anodized matte finish. There isn’t any sharp edges. The top rib which is at the 12 hour rail makes this one appear very thin in the hand. It is perfect for those who favor thumb-over grips. I’ve found that I can hold this rail with a very firm the thumb in a grip that is free of discomfort.

The dimensions of the outside diameter (1.75″) of the rail aren’t telling the full picture of how thin it actually is in the hand. A majority of rails feature top rails that are and is not part of the measurements that manufacturers provide. I have a few slim rails that allow me wrap my hands over the rail, so my pinky finger and my thumb meet – they are typically identified as having an outer diameter about 1.5″ inches. If I perform similar tests with the EMR it is possible to cross my thumb and pinky fingers. The absence of a the top rail is what makes it, functionally one of the tiniest rails available.

It’s also one of the lightest rails available. This 10-inch” version weighs 8.96 pounds. It’s not heavy, but it’s jaw-droppingly so. However, the number gets more amazing when you realize that it comes with the barrel nut as well as the integrated left and right side mounts for slings! The sling mounts that are integrated help to reduce weight and save money in the to the stream.

This EMR is the simplest to install free-float rail by using an exclusive barrel nut I’ve ever used due to the wrench included and shim kit that is color-coded. The wrench comes with numerous witness marks which when used as described in the instruction manual help in providing you with the exact the shim combination you should make use of.

I took a couple of minutes to study the directions (clip one corner from the man’s card) and I then set about installing the rail with just my hands, without the assistance of an apron (put the corner back onto my card!). I’m not saying that every rail can be installed like my did, or to even attempt to install it without a vice however, I was able it.

The rail sections are simple to set up and take down. It is the easiest way to put them in place after the tube has been taken out of the carbine, however it can be done when the tube is mounted. The back plates included have a clever and basic way. They are one piece , so the rail mounting screws are both inserted to the exact backing plate. They’re also skeletonized to decrease weight and avoid interference with barrel components.

My only issue with the EMR revolved around co-witness rails. One of the first issues I had to deal with was the desire to have an illuminated light at 12 o’clock as well as a front sight. The supplied rails are narrow to allow for both. It’s tempting to suggest that ALG Defense should make a longer co-witness rail however this would undermine the amazing, top-rail-free user-friendly design and ergonomics that are the hallmark of EMR. I’ve just pleaded with ALG Defense to sell me an more co-witness rail till they became tired of me, and then they agreed. Problem solved. It would be great to see the rail sections included on their site as an accessory

Another issue I encountered was that the back of the co-witness rail panel came into contact with my gas block that was low profile. It turned out that the gas block I had been together wasn’t as slim as I had thought. The issue was resolved by changing to an Geissele Automatics Low-Profile Super Gas Block. I’m sure that all low profile gas blocks work, but keep in mind that there might not have many interior space between the gas block and the rail backer should you wish to connect an electric rail directly to the block. I’m sure that there is no reason to believe that it won’t work using one of the more substantial gas blocks with a low profile with the EMR.

I don’t know how to measure it, but the EMR is more solid than most rails with slick sides. It’s more like a quadrail in terms of how stiff it is. It isn’t an engineer, but I believe this is due to the single piece extrusion design that is the tubing, the long barrel nut, as well as the snug fit between the tube and the. The tube is attached onto the barrel nuts using six screws that are arranged into two rings with three screws. The two rings can be separated fairly because of long barrel nuts, which I would guess increases the strength of the whole system.

Wrap Up

The numbers don’t really reveal the full story in the case of the EMR. The design and quality are superior to what the price might suggest. It’s more functionally slim than rails with smaller exterior dimensions on paper. The weight is much more impressive than what it appears at first glance because it comes with the barrel nut as well as the sling mounts. From the statistics alone, it’s an outstanding rail value for price. If you get your the rail in your hands I’m sure you’ll think it’s a great rail. EMR isn’t just a fantastic rail value… it’s an excellent rail.