Picatinny rail

The Picatinny rail, also known as the MIL-STD-1913 rail or tactical rail, is a standardized mounting platform used on firearms to provide a consistent and secure interface for attaching various accessories. It is characterized by a series of transverse slots with specific dimensions and spacing. This standardized design allows for interoperability between different manufacturers of firearms and accessories, ensuring that accessories designed for a Picatinny rail can be mounted on any firearm that also features a Picatinny rail.

The development of the Picatinny rail was overseen by the Picatinny Arsenal, a United States Army facility, hence its name. The standard, MIL-STD-1913, was formally adopted by the U.S. military in 1995. Prior to the Picatinny rail, accessory mounting systems were often proprietary or lacked consistent dimensional standards, leading to compatibility issues.

Common accessories mounted on Picatinny rails include optical sights (scopes, red dot sights), laser aiming devices, tactical lights, vertical grips, bipods, and rail covers. The rail's robust design and secure mounting capabilities make it suitable for use in demanding environments and tactical applications. The distance between the slots on the rail is critical for proper accessory alignment and secure attachment. While the Picatinny rail is a military standard, it has become widely adopted in the civilian firearms market for hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense applications.