REVIEW: Magpul Enhanced XTM Rail Cover and XTM Hand Stop

How do you make your customers happy and still make money? You listen to them. That's exactly what Magpul did with the XTM Rail Covers. There is a new edition called the "Enhanced XTM Rail Cover," along with a matching Hand Stop. We took a look at the system for you and tested it.

The XTM Rail Cover has been around for some time and is very popular - at least among the Keymod/M-Lok-free community. It's no wonder, it's like Lego for adults - you put things together, preferably in different colors, and attach it to your favorite toy. It didn't take long before some users started stippling the panels with a soldering iron, which means burning small holes to create better grip.

Magpul took note of this and included it from the start with the Enhanced Rail Cover. The surface is roughened compared to the previous version, providing excellent grip. But that's not all, hooks have been installed on the back to allow cable routing for laser and light modules. The material used is a heat-resistant polymer.

The covers themselves come as a set, with 4 covers each consisting of a total of 8 parts (2 parts per cover). For an AR-15 Carbine, 4 covers per side are sufficient, as shown here, while a 15" handguard may require 6 per side, depending on preference.

Installation is incredibly easy. Simply take a part in each hand and press it onto the rail from top to bottom and on the sides - done.

Fits securely, doesn't wobble, and can be removed with the help of two flathead screwdrivers.

In addition to the covers, there is also the Hand Stop Kit. It consists of a regular Enhanced Cover (as presented above), a half cover, and two raised parts. The larger part is the actual hand stop.

It serves as a replacement for a foregrip, provides a good grip for the hand on the rail, and is also very suitable for shooting with the hand painted or rested. The handstop is the only part in the set that needs to be screwed, all other parts are assembled as usual.

It's up to the user how they use the cover pieces. Some use the front handstop as a handguard when the kit is placed at the very front near the barrel, so the hand doesn't slip forward, while others - like us - use it between the index and middle finger, where it feels perfectly placed.

If you install the kit relatively far back, you can also grip around and use the front part as a handstop to pull the rifle closer.

CONCLUSION: Both the Enhanced XTM Cover and the Hand Stop Kit are a good choice for expanding AR15/AR10 platforms (or any platform with a 1913 Picatinny rail) and provide excellent control over the weapon. As expected from Magpul, the products come in good quality and without defects. While the Hand Stop Kit lacks a tool, there are worse things.

You can get the XTM Enhanced Cover and the Hand Stop Kit at Horner Arms. The covers are priced at 11 euros per set and the Hand Stop Kit at 25 euros. They are available in Flat Dark Earth, Black, Olive, Gray, Foliage Green, and Pink (Pink only for the covers).