Daniel Defense/Larue/Samson/KAC Vs. Yankee Hill Machine

[xounlistedxox]

I've always wondered why DD, Larue, Samson, KAC, TROY etc free float rail systems cost more than double that of YHM free floating rail systems.

I recently purchased two yhm specter length free floating rails systems, two lo-pro yhm gas blocks, and two mbus front sights, and the tool to install it all for about $340, so two of my rifles are now outfitted with complete setups for a little more than the price of just the rail setup from the other guys. The YHM rails are rock solid, very well made, and made in the US. What gives? Do the other guys use magical coatings, super rare aluminum, or are they made on the moon and shipped back to earth?

I'm not trying to be a smart alec... I honestly just would like to know what makes the other guys rails cost $300 and YHM ~$100

Thanks in advance

[Jicko]

Quality.

Same reason why BMW cost more than KIA. Both car runs.

PS. You get good bang for your buck with YHM...

[shark92651]

(Speaking of DD rails in particular here) Lighter, thinner profile, better materials, better finish, better looking, higher demand.

[xounlistedxox]

Jicko

You'll have to be a little more specific than that. One of the shops local to me carries most of the above rail systems, so I've had a chance to look them over in great detail. The only thing I could positively say about some of the other guys is that their finish looks a little more durable.

[tomd1584]

(Speaking of DD rails in particular here) Lighter, thinner profile, better materials, better finish, better looking, higher demand.

this is the perfect explanation.

[xounlistedxox]

From what I've seen the YHM Lightweight rails are about as light as they get. Everyone uses aluminum.

I will agree with you shark in that most of the other guys have a better finish, but as far as looks go that's all in the eye of the beholder. I think the yhm rails look the best... especially in the specter length. And as far as demand goes... the guys at the local shop say they sell at least 3x more yhm than their troy, or dd rails. I'm sure this has a lot to do with cost, but they always seem to be out of the yhm, but have plenty of the others.

I like the other customers was able to check out these rail systems actually installed on uppers and also not installed, and just could not seem to justify paying double for a better finish

[tomd1584]

you should be happy you like the less expensive one better!

[xounlistedxox]

I am happy, but still the question plagues me. This is no more true than in the KAC non free float rails. I bought a set a couple years back and was very disappointed in them. They weren't very solid, and were heavy. I've seen rails from UTG that were more solid than the set of KAC's that I paid over $300 for. Since then I've always made sure to check out this type of thing in person before purchasing.

[BONECUTTER]

What makes knife (xx) $20.00 and what make knife (zz) $100+

Same for Cars/Guitars/TV's/cell phones/ect.

If you havn't learned you get what you pay for by now.... come on.

At the end of your day you ask yourself what quality YOU need and are willing to pay for.

If you can barely play guitar hero there is no point in buying a Les Paul. But if you have the funds why not.

[xounlistedxox]

bonecutter there is of course some truth to what you say, but you don't always get what you pay for.

I'm into high quality knives as well. The pride of my collection would probably be my Fehrman First Strike in cpm3v steel. My cold steel knives in carbon v would have done a decent job, but for edge retention you cannot beat powdered steels, but for rails... where does any of that come into play? I'm not going to be hitting, chopping, or otherwise trying to damage my rails

[xounlistedxox]

I suppose I'll just have to write the manufacturers individually to ask them.

[BONECUTTER]

where does any of that come into play? I'm not going to be hitting, chopping, or otherwise trying to damage my rails

This is where the what are you going to use it for and how hard comes in.

If you run two AR hard...droping to the ground....shooting off a concrete wall....rifles can get banged around real good and one has DD and the other YHM.... The DD's will still be solid/straight. The YHM are more likley to come lose/bend/break/warp/ect.

They are made to a higher level of standards.

Just like if you call Magpul and asks if the MBUS is the best they will tell you no and if your life is going to count on it don't skimp on good irons.

[Hova]

I buy top shelf parts because my rifles are top of the line. Its like seeing a nice import car all riced out. To each his own you know? I want my guns to wear top top top of the line parts, not low end parts along with an explanation of why i have them on my gun. The Larue, DD, KAC logos say it all.

[shark92651]

DD rails are definitely lighter, I am not at the shop or else I would weight them and compare to the YHM. The YHM standard rails are a lot heaver, the Diamond series YHM is better, but still heavier than the DD. The DD rails are thinner, which depending on your hand size, may be a lot more comfortable in your hands than the YHM rails - especially after you add rail panels that make it even thicker.

Aesthetically speaking, I feel the DD is better looking, although I think the Diamond series from YHM is one of the better ones from YHM - at least they finally filled that gap between the upper and the rail.

[xounlistedxox]

If there is a reason to pay for the name I'm all for it, but if all you're paying for is to have the name on your gun because they charge more that makes no sense.

I train at least once a month and typically shoot about 500 rounds. This includes shooting from cover drills, room clearing drills, patrol drills, etc. The worst that has ever happened to my rifle is when going to a secondary weapon transition and my muzzle went into the dirt because I didn't push it far enough to the side when going to a kneeling fire position with my pistol. I've never dropped my rifle, ran into into anything hard enough to even break the standard plastic handguards before I upgraded to rail systems.

The KAC logo to me means Overpriced. This comes from direct ownership of a kac rail setup over the period of several months. I actually sold it and went to a much less expensive drop in setup because it mounted a lot more solid and was less than 1/3 of the price