
Originally I picked up the Model1Sales.com Dissipator Upper as a rifle kit for use as a long range gofer hunter. The 1:8 twist ER Shaw barreled upper was impressively accuracte for a kit rifle however with no disrespect to the Dissipator, guns three times the cost with greater accuracy now fill that duty. This upper has been laying around waiting patiently in the bottom of my Liberty Safe for a project and lower receiver. What to do with a very accurate upper that I still love? The front sight way out near the muzzle is an advantage for iron sight shooting and my idea was to convert and update the upper to a fun iron sighted battle rifle.
Fortunately Troy has a couple cool looking long rail options that could help me drop the lardy heavy un-fluted rail in favor of a lighter forend which is also optics and accessory friendly. I ended up choosing the 11” Troy Vtac TRX Extreme rail in Flat Dark Earth, and decided to add a three pack of the new Troy BattleMags in FDE in the process to update the look and function for a very unique rifle build. To make the build even more unique, I mounted the upgraded Dissipator to a $99 complete polymer lower from New Frontier Armory.
Troy gets “fit” as the image showing the amazing fit at the transition point from upper receiver to forend. I have seen some receiver to rail transitions which are just horrible, but Troy’s fit is perfect and it locks up with absolutely no wiggle. This is saying something for an 11” long rail, however part of that credit goes to the deeper Troy barrel nut which adds significant support for the cantilevered rail.


The Troy Vtac Rail TRX Extreme provides a lightweight 11.2 oz. free float forend which can improve accuracy over a standard handguard and provides accessory rail mounting flexibility. Included with the VTAC TRX Extreme is the forend, barrel nut, barrel nut wrench, and two short and one long piccatiny bolt on accessory rails with a Allen wrench.
The rail features a continuous top picatinny rail with T-markings along the top. The handguard’s cool look is due to the ribbing which shaves weight and improves grip. Barrel heat is dissipated via the cutouts which also provide mounting points for the included accessory rails. Sadly the 1:30 and 10:30 positions will accept the accessory picatinny rails however the top rail interference will not allow use of those positions for mounting offset sights. All the other 3, 6, 9, 4:30, and 7:30 o’clock positions can be used to mount the accessory rails. As the intent of the Troy VTAC TRX Extreme is not to be covered in rails, but to be lean and mean, I respected the design and only mounted one small rail to mount my SureFire Tactical Light when required.
FUNCTIONS
Typically swapping forends is a simple process that starts with removing the front gas block, old tube or forend, and barrel nut and then installing the barrel nut supplied with the new forend and then attaching the new forend. Although all the free float Troy tubes install in the same typical manner, I would term this swap as an advanced upgrade for a couple reasons all due to me and my Dissipator.
Typically swapping forends is a simple process that starts with removing the front gas block, old tube or forend, and barrel nut and then installing the barrel nut supplied with the new forend and then attaching the new forend. Although all the free float Troy tubes install in the same typical manner, I would term this swap as an advanced upgrade for a couple reasons all due to me and my Dissipator.





I have been a Magpul fan since the Pmags cured a magazine related functioning issue on my 308’s and now own quite a few 5.56 mags for various ARs. That said I like the feel of the Troy BattleMags better. They feed just as well, but the fishscale grip and and rubber floor plate lock provide a much better grip than even the much loved Pmags. The result is I can get mags in the gun faster and smoother with more control.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The net of the swap was a 2.4 oz weight savings, but now with an accessory rail, greatly improved comfort, and the FDE color which transformed the look of the Dissipator. The feel of the smaller Troy rail is drastically easier to grip and the weight reduction forward of the receiver helped the Dissipator point faster. All the way around the Troy VTAC Rail TRX Extreme delivered on a top notch rail system with features that worked perfectly for this AR re-make and update.
SPECS

SOURCES
Troy Industries
http://troyind.com/
Model1Sales
http://model1sales.com/
New Frontier Armory
www.newfrontierarmory.com
The net of the swap was a 2.4 oz weight savings, but now with an accessory rail, greatly improved comfort, and the FDE color which transformed the look of the Dissipator. The feel of the smaller Troy rail is drastically easier to grip and the weight reduction forward of the receiver helped the Dissipator point faster. All the way around the Troy VTAC Rail TRX Extreme delivered on a top notch rail system with features that worked perfectly for this AR re-make and update.
SPECS
- Compatible with any M16/AR15 Mil-Spec AR Upper
- Length 11”
- Weight 11.2oz
- Includes:
- Barrel nut wrench
- 2 - Short rails
- 1 - Long rail


SOURCES
Troy Industries
http://troyind.com/
Model1Sales
http://model1sales.com/
New Frontier Armory
www.newfrontierarmory.com
1 comment:
What’s the rear sight pictured?
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