Model 16 Handguard Rails and Accessories

One of the most customizable parts of any woodsball paintball marker that often goes overlooked is the barrel shroud or handguard. M 16 style barrel kits are very popular as aftermarket add-ons or even standard equipment for most of the scenario style military paintball guns in production today. Some include a quad-rail system that is very easy to add picatinny or weaver based accessories to. Simply slide the accessory to the rail and tighten down. But other models like the composite shell shroud, commonly equated with the M 16, do not provide rail space for accessory attachment. Although this shroud serves a function for the real gun (guards the hand from a hot barrel and houses the gas tube (gas piston), it offers nothing more than cosmetics when it comes to its application on a paintball marker. With the right set-up, you can convert this otherwise mock shroud into a platform for taking your marker from 'dull' to a 'tactical machine'.

If you notice on the M 16 hardguard there are vent holes typically on the top and on the bottom. These holes are aligned in a lightly recessed valley down the length of the shroud. There are rails made specifically for installation on M 16 style shrouds. They fit into the shallow valley and include special hardware that allows the rail to clamp to either half of the shroud. The common Model 16 shroud rail has multiple holes for aligning the rail to variations in the distance between vent holes in the barrel shrouds.


There are two things to keep in mind when choosing an M16 style handguard rail. First, choose a rail that matches the length of your handguard. Not all rails come in the same lengths. Secondly, pick a rail with multiple screw insert holes (or screw holes that are slotted). This allows for greater flexibility in adjusting the positioning of the rail along the shroud. This allows you to align the rail holes with the shrouds vent holes to insert the hardware.


Typically you will have to remove the shroud from your barrel kit to install a rail (rails). Rails can be added to both halves of the plastic shroud. Top rails will typically serve as a platform for front sights. Standard iron sights, laser/front combo sights and flip-up paintball sights will all mount as long as the sight is compatible with weaver/picatinny rails. The bottom rail offers mounting for bipods, foregrips, lasers, flashlight, sling rings... whatever your heart desires or what the battle calls for. Longer rails offer space for any combination of tactical accessories. And when your rail is not being used, simply cover it with a picatinny rail cover. This allows you to keep the rail installed on the shroud and use it as a front grip without snagging your gloves on the metal edges or possibly damaging the rail due to an accidental drop or bump. Remember - most rails are mil standard 7/8" rails. So any universal accessory should mount to them whether for paintball or another shooting sport.


ROCKSTAR Tactical has tons of rails and accessories to customize just about any paintball gun on the market today. Stop by our website, shoot us an email or give us a call... we'll help you transform your marker today!