Reviews Midwest Industries Inc. Combat Rail HD Handguard [NEW GEAR] David Lane July 14, 2025 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. NEW from Midwest Industries is the latest line of AR-15 handguards, the Combat Rail HD. Building off the MI Night Fighter, the Combat Rail HD is Midwest’s latest and greatest duty-ready handguard. After getting the chance to run it over the past month, it’s nice to be able to talk about it finally. Available in 9.25”, 10.5”, and 13.5”, the Combat Rail HD builds off of everything I liked about MI’s Night Fighter but just makes it better across the board. Thicker walls, long barrel nut for extra stability, heavy-duty anti-rotation lugs, and steel QD sling inserts. The Combat Rail HD is the Night Fighter after a season of pounding protein and working on gains. Downside, that does come with a little more raw weight — the 13.5” Combat Rail is 4 oz heavier than the Night Fighter at 18oz total. Really, that’s a little weight for a lot of meat.The Combat Rail helps shave some weight and makes the rail feel better in your hand by only having M-LOK for most of the rail at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. At the front of the handguard are 2 M-LOK slots worth of M-LOK at all 7 positions for mounting lights and accessories as needed. The shape this gives the handguard makes it feel great in your hand while gripping it during recoil, but also doesn’t pack on weight like it could. Every corner and curve of the Combat Rail is dehorned and deburred, leaving nothing to snag or catch. Easy to install with the provided wrench head and standard face barrel nut, it’s nice not having to rely on proprietary tools or parts for installation. Heavy-duty anti-rotation lugs keep the handguard locked on tight with zero chance of rotation. While not monolithic, the handguard locks in place and keeps zero even after some abuse. LOOSE ROUNDSThis is a great addition to MI’s lineup and improves on basically everything that I already liked about the Night Fighter handguard. While the Combat Rail adds a few ounces of weight, that weight is worth the trade-off for the enhanced durability. You’ll be seeing this handguard some more in a build coming up. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
