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

[J_Rock]

Slowarrow. yhm also has their own double locking system for their rails which would be impossible to remove without the use of tools, or completely destroying the gun. It does not move at all.

Theres a reason why the DD barrel nut and locking mechanism were chosen by SOCOM for their new RIS II system and YHM was not...

Honestly dude it sounds to me like you are trying to justify purchasing a cheaper rail system.

[Purple K]

Theres a reason why the DD barrel nut and locking mechanism were chosen by SOCOM for their new RIS II system and YHM was not...

Honestly dude it sounds to me like you are trying to justify purchasing a cheaper rail system.

As if military purchases are NEVER influenced by politics and lobbying.

[J_Rock]

As if military purchases are NEVER influenced by politics and lobbying.

The M1A1 Abrams is not really a good tank, it was just chosen because of politics and lobbying.

The FN SCAR is not really a good rifle, it was just chosen because of politics and lobbying.

The F-15 is not really a good fighter, it was just chosen because of politics and lobbying.

The MRE is not really a good ration, it was just chosen because of politics and lobbying.

Do you want me to go on?

Find me some evidence if that was the case.

[Purple K]

I didn't say ALL military purchases were adversly influenced.

[Bug Splat]

I've shot with DD, larue and YHM, and a few others. The DD and Larue are very nice. Very light very solid and look great but to me they are not worth 3 times the price. I just ordered a YHM Light Specter for $99. I just don't care enough to spend 3 times the price for a DD or Larue. They are very nice don't get me wrong but they are more money then I am willing to spend on a rail system. I'd rather put the money toward optics, or ammo. If they were the same price I would pick DD but they are not so I pick the Yank and keeping $200 in my pocket.

PS
I've spoken with Mr Larue and he is a stand up guy. He is not anti-CA.

[xounlistedxox]

J rock...

I don't need to justify anything I do with any of you. I am simply trying to find out why people spend so much of their hard earned money on something that is marginally better than something else for less than half the price.

If something is truly worth the price for good reason I will buy it. I like having high quality reputable products no matter what is involved. Cars, knives, firearms, clothing, musical equipment etc, but it sounds to me like the other guys rails are falling under "versace" type status. Everyone wants them because of the name. You can find this with many things. Guitar amps for example. A Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier I find to be no better than a Carvin V3, but it's more than twice the price because Carvin sells factory direct and has no middle man mark up like most other guitar and amp companies.

I have two close friends that both work for local gun shops and both of them order through accusport. I could have had them order a Daniel Defense rail for considerably less than retail, but even at that I could not find any reason to spend more than what I was spending.

[xounlistedxox]

Sniper...

Scopes are one of the very few areas that you do get what you pay for. You cannot honestly compare scopes and quad rails. Every long range rifle I've set up has had a piece of glass that cost more than the rifle itself.

I have learned not to spend money because of hype and bs. I recently sold a 1911 pistol to have money to outfit two of mr AR's. I had about $1500 I was willing to get some good stuff and took the time to check out all of the options. All I was in the market for were two free floating rail systems, two stocks, new slings, and some new vertical foregrips, so cost was no option. Only functionality, value, and what others had to say.

The guys at the local shop I went to carry most of these products as I have already stated. They all run YHM Rails. I being the consumer asked if I should buy the DD, TROY, or YHM all of which were in stock. Every person in the shop recommended the yhm over the rest. This was simply because of what has been stated quite a few times in this thread. There is not enough difference in quality, or options in the other guys to give reason enough to buy them vs the yhm.

[wash]

The answer is probably machining time.

To make a lighter, thinner rail, the machining is more extensive and time consuming, complicated fixtures are probably required.

These rails must be a real bit*h to machine and still remain straight. That's why they are all made on very expensive CNC machining centers.

As to the question "is it worth it?", they are worth as much as the market will bear.

It sounds like YHM sells a lot of rails and since they are cheaper, the margin must be smaller. If Daniel Defense sells less rails but spends more time machining them, you're going to pay for it.

I know if I want something it will wind up in my possession even if there is something just as good and less expensive that I do not want.

I'm not so big on rails myself but if I wanted to buy a set I would have to get my hands on the candidates before I choose.

I've got a YHM modular free float tube on my newest upper and I like it a lot. Since it's only a tube, the machining isn't really difficult like a lightweight rail but the quality is good and it does the job. I'm sure I would like a VTac free float tube better but it costs more.

Luckily I didn't have a choice in the matter, the upper I bought had the YHM tube. If I had a choice I probably would have picked the VTac.

[xounlistedxox]

See now that makes sense. I was thinking earlier about how the DD and some other rails have several holes for QD swivels and such already machined into them. These coupled with other things cause labor to be used and as we all well know labor a lot of the time costs more than the part itself.

[Jicko]

How about this.... to some of us, we simply want the best, rather than "best bang for the buck"..... we don't mind paying 2x or 3x for something simply cuz they are "better".... it is just like MOST things.... you pay a certain amount to get the "basic", then the $$-differential diminishes..... ie. you pay much more and you only gain a little at a time (but you do gain some)..... this is just like speakers or many other audio equipments....

[fcr]

I hate the YHM mounting system, and the width. I just got rid of an upper with one and it feels way too wide compared to a DD lite rail, LMT MRP and an MOE that I have. I am building another upper and am considering an Omega or LaRue freefloat. YHM is not functional for me. Never tried a Troy.

[Clodbuster]

The YHM customizable free float forearm had the features I was looking for. I don't care about branding or price.

As for quality and durability, it will last a long, long time. I don't know if it had a bunch of "nicks" or scratches on it when I bought it. But it sure has a bunch of it now. Scrapping against gravel and wood will do that to any piece of anodized metal regardless of "quality".

Clod

[xounlistedxox]

I appreciate opinions here, but I'm looking for more facts. I have yet to hear what materials any of these rails are made from. I have written several of the manufacturers named above, but no responses yet. The best and most likely reason I have seen so far that is probably factual:
More Machining Time i.e. more labor = more money

This makes a lot of sense and I can appreciate it if it winds up being the truth.

I chose the setup that I did without bias and without cost as an option. I was able to check out most of my options prior to making a purchase.

I did notice that yhm also conforms to strict military standards.

Those that are saying "well military uses DD, or KAC" I've purchased the exact KAC rail system in use by a ton of military and I would prefer the UTG Drop in Rail system because it locks up tighter to any rifle it's installed to and for 1/6 the price.

I get very frustrated when people try to tell me why I made a post, or why I chose what I did. I made this post to gather more factual information on products. I chose what I did because I saw no reason to spend a ton more for the same benefit. I am an honest person and I tell it like I see it. If you don't like it then make sure you have a valid reason opposing. Don't just come in and say stuff like "oh the military uses it so it must be better" or "it costs more so it must be better" IF thats the case I have some magically filtered water that I will sell you for $100 per 20oz. It's better because it costs more.

I am no stranger to spending more for a product that is much better than another product and costs 3x more. As previously stated I purchased a Fehrman Knife that costs 3x more than a similar cold steel knife. Guess what... the purchase has been well justified. My fehrman retains it's edge very well and does not chip nearly as easily. The cold steel loses it's edge fast, but is easier to sharpen. These are the type of facts I am looking for. I have yet to hear about someone seeing someone else run over a dd rail with a truck vs. a yhm and one fail vs the other one not fail.

One of my friends bought a TROY MRF DI rail and at the time I was running "cheap garbage" UTG rails, but for some reason my UTG rails were a lot more steady and worthy of putting optics on and the TROY was not as it could freely move around. We both have LMT uppers, so the uppers had nothing to do with the mount of the rails. I told him if my "cheapo" UTG rails failed in torture tests before his TROY rails(3x the cost) then I would buy him a brand new set. He declined and is currently selling his TROY Rails.

[Clodbuster]

I happen to have one of the legendary hammers that the military paid $200 for. And it is better than a $5 home depot hammer.

Clod

>>
Don't just come in and say stuff like "oh the military uses it so it must be better" or "it costs more so it must be better" IF thats the case I have some magically filtered water that I will sell you for $100 per 20oz. It's better because it costs more.

[Clodbuster]

Someone gave it to me for free BTW. I'm not nuts to pay $200 for a hammer...

Clod

I happen to have one of the legendary hammers that the military paid $200 for. And it is better than a $5 home depot hammer.

Clod

>>
Don't just come in and say stuff like "oh the military uses it so it must be better" or "it costs more so it must be better" IF thats the case I have some magically filtered water that I will sell you for $100 per 20oz. It's better because it costs more.