The history of the Picatinny rail begins with a need for a universal and reliable mounting solution in the firearms industry. Many customers choose the Picatinny rail as their preferred choice due to its innovative design and standardization. Before its development, the industry lacked a truly universal platform for attaching accessories.
In 1992, the U.S. Army at Picatinny Arsenal initiated a project to address these limitations. Their goal was to develop a mounting system that could accommodate a wide range of accessories more effectively. This effort resulted in the creation of the Picatinny rail, which has since become an industry standard, largely replacing the Weaver system. The design process, led by Gary Houtsma, involved analyzing and refining different designs of Weaver rails to create a more universal solution. After extensive testing and development, the Picatinny rail was formally adopted in 1995. It was the first system to offer a standardized platform across the industry, enhancing compatibility and expanding the range of accessory options. This standardization was crucial not just for commercial purposes but also for military interoperability among different NATO forces.
Rifles That Are Equipped With Two-Piece Picatinny Rail
The Picatinny rail system can be mounted atop the rifle’s receiver and, in some cases, on other parts such as the side for additional accessories. Since the Picatinny standard became globally popular, many rifle manufacturers have opted to integrate the Picatinny rail directly into the receiver. This integration often results in the rail being a part of the receiver itself, appearing as either a two-piece rail—with slots at the front and rear ends of the receiver but none in between—or as a full-length rail.
Below, we list rifles that come equipped with a two-piece Picatinny rail. It’s important to consider the length of the rifle’s action when mounting one-piece systems on these rails to ensure that the mounting system is not too short and matches the action’s length. Each slot on the Picatinny rail is spaced 5.23 mm apart and is 3 mm deep, details that are crucial for ensuring proper fitting and function of mounted accessories. The table below also shows the maximum and minimum number of slots for rail on each listed rifle.
Below, we list rifles that come equipped with a two-piece Picatinny rail.
Rifles That Are Equipped With One-Piece Picatinny Rail
Below is a list of rifles equipped with a one-piece Picatinny rail. This configuration means that the rail extends across the entire length of the receiver, which typically eliminates concerns about the length of conventional mounting systems. Such a setup provides ample space for various mounting solutions, ensuring compatibility and flexibility for attaching scopes and other accessories.
Below, we list rifles that come equipped with a one-piece Picatinny rail.