If you've shopped for an AR-15 handguard lately, you've probably noticed something: KeyMod options are getting harder to find, and the ones that remain are often sitting in the clearance bin. Meanwhile, M-LOK dominates nearly every new product release. This isn't your imagination. KeyMod really is fading from the market, and there are clear, documented reasons why. A Quick Refresher: What KeyMod Actually Is KeyMod launched in 2012 as a joint effort between VLTOR Weapon Systems and Noveske Riflew …

For years, the AR-15 buying playbook was simple: grab a budget rifle around $500, then spend the next 18 months dumping money into upgraded triggers, handguards, furniture, and controls until you had something that actually performed the way you wanted. Or, skip all that headache and drop $2,000+ on a Daniel Defense, BCM, or full Gucci build straight out of the gate. That was the binary choice. Endure the grind or pay the premium. That calculus is changing — fast. A new category of rifle h …