Vltor CASV-14: M14/M1A Rail System

[qualcorp]

Looking for some help here with M1a that I acquired awhile back with a Vltor top rail. Replaces top hand guard, Mounting points (3): Stripper Clip Guide, rear of barrel, and around the Operation Rod (OpRod) guide. Presently retails for $325.00. Been using open sites shooting the M1a the way god intended. Recently due to ever younger eye site, I’ve been forced to scope this rifle to continue use, that’s where the problem started. Properly installed one of my scopes using six bolt rings, could not get it to hold zero. Removed and put a 24” square across the 17”rail and sure enough had a bow big enough to throw a cat through. Talk about sway back. I’ve found no instructions (or response from manufacturer)as to installation/removal and like I Said retail id $300. Buckaroos. Anyone have any experience with these? Looks like could be straighten or shimmed if I could get it off the rifle as it seems to be well made (ah well..) using hefty all metal construction My guess it was improperly installed no way to tell if came with shims or not. Near as I can see I've released it from stripper clip guild and bolts removed at OpRod guild(assuming that’s all holding at that point).

[UnaStamus]

Sell it on ARFCOM and say you just want to reduce weight.

Given that you are mounting magnified optics, you need a rigid and perfectly flat rail. VLTOR rails are aluminum, and they can be bent. I don't think you're going to have much luck keeping that thing straight if you bend it back straight. Buy a SEI, Fulton or Sadlak rail mount and sell the VLTOR at a discount. There are plenty of mall ninjas out there that would love being able to mount Viridian lasers and 3 flashlights to their plinking rifles.

[qualcorp]

received email this morning from Katie/Vltor attached was installation instruction sheet showing the secret hidden bbl clamp attachment. I’ll complete the removal see just how jacked up the piece is and what to do next. I’ll try get a decent pic up. Although aluminum construction the unit seems plenty ridged I believe properly installed/shim? Could be a reliable mount?… perhaps for someone else

[AFTERMATH]

While it's certainly not a good sign, the bow - in and of itself - probably isn't the culprit for poor zero retention...
Whatever caused the bow, if not mfg., or perhaps pressure exerted on the barrel/receiver because of the bow, might do it.

Attachment at the op rod guide makes me wonder - it's not uncommon for those to be a bit loose... Possibly causing misalignment and movement when cycling.

[UnaStamus]

Here's the other issue- what scope are you using?

[qualcorp]

Scope while isn't new anymore, does get rotated to other rifles as Eotech and magnifiers without problem, ever. Was $200.-300.00 range few years ago. I suppose someone could have banged it without my knowledge....hhmmmm. I'll put it on AR and test scope for zero. Meanwhile rail has been sent back for straightening. Thank You and happy thanksgiving to all my MGT brothers!

[qualcorp]

James,

I was hoping that we would be able to bench the handguard and straighten out the top rail. This is defiantly not the case. When your friend installed it, there are all kinds of areas where the handguard is bent in different directions. It isn’t just the top rail. The sides are all bowed out. We had tried to straighten the side rails but we are afraid that we are going to do more damage to it by trying to straighten it. Due to the improper installation, the rail would not fall under our warranty. So unfortunately I am going to be returning it to you via UPS ground as-is.

Friend=was actually another MGT member who I wont mention names
That would explain why the original owner dumped it so quickly. I found the post where he bought it used from frontier with the rail unattached. Appears he installed, mounted a scope and dumped the rifle off quick. I got it in a trade, I paid asking for the most part and had no problems what so ever until my eyesight ordered me to scope. Open sites were right on at 100. I got lucky there.