Im a bewby to the AR15 world.  I just recently purchased a Bushmaster 16" M4A3.  What forearm rails should I get.  I know there is 2 peice rails such as Surefire M73 and Yankee Hill and I have personally looked at the Surefire but not the YHM's.  I also know about the free floating rails.  My questions are:

1.  Free floating or fixed?  Pros/Cons of each?
2.  If fixed, who is better....Surefire, YHM, First Samco, etc?
3.  Floating style...who is best.  YHM, Larue, etc?

Thanks in advance.

Quoted: 1.  Free floating or fixed?  Pros/Cons of each? Free floating helps accuracy and is more solid. 2.  If fixed, who is better....Surefire, YHM, First Samco, etc? Surefire is the only way to go. 3.  Floating style...who is best.  YHM, Larue, etc? LaRue is the only way to go.

Quoted: Im a bewby to the AR15 world.  I just recently purchased a Bushmaster 16" M4A3.  What forearm rails should I get.  I know there is 2 peice rails such as Surefire M73 and Yankee Hill and I have personally looked at the Surefire but not the YHM's.  I also know about the free floating rails.  My questions are: 1.  Free floating or fixed?  Pros/Cons of each? 2.  If fixed, who is better....Surefire, YHM, First Samco, etc? 3.  Floating style...who is best.  YHM, Larue, etc? Thanks in advance.

With the Troy/Samson FF, you don't HAVE to pll the FSB off. You will have to dremel the delta ring off though.

Thanks guys.  My b-day is the 20th, so you can guess what I'm asking my wife to get me.

LaRue free float. Followed VERY closely by Daniel Defense.

I am a DD & Surefire (solid as a rock) fan...love the LaRues, but to me the DD wins on profile and weight.

Jim

I had an M-73 and was not pleased with it. It was very solid but that gap between the bottom rail and the ring looked very poor. I love my YHM FF, it rocks.

Samson/Troy.

Samson, however, implements an extra attachment point.

Couldn't be happier.

Larue seems to have a purplish hue to it.  The DD has weld points on the receiver end of the forearm that I don't care for.

Just petty things, but nonetheless, there...

I like the YHM with the large lightening/cooling holes.

Plus they aren't an arm and a leg.

.

Quoted: Samson/Troy. Samson, however, implements an extra attachment point. Couldn't be happier. Larue seems to have a purplish hue to it.  The DD has weld points on the receiver end of the forearm that I don't care for. Just petty things, but nonetheless, there...

The LaRue mount I have only has the purple hue in photos.  It's odd, but it does not look that way in person.  

I just bought a DD rail and actually paid extra for the weld points.

I have been considering the Samson/Troy rails for my upper with a pinned flash hider, since they'll work and I won't have to destroy the flash hider to install them.  The one thing I don't like about my current setup (RAS II) on that upper is the weight.  Put some accessories and an Aimpoint on it and it's a bit more nose-heavy than I like.  That's also my hang-up with the Samson/Troy rails- they are about the same weight as the RAS II.  

On the plus side, I just lugged my 6-month old son around in my arms all day and have built my upper body strength up enough to compensate for the heavier rails.  I do like how my AR has never squirmed or wrestled with me.  

thanks for the replys fellas.  They all sound like nice pieces.  Decisions...decisions.  I guess price will be the determining factor.  

Quoted: Thanks guys.  My b-day is the 20th, so you can guess what I'm asking my wife to get me.hr

Tell your wife to look at Midwest Industries 2-Piece. 2 minutes on the phone can save you lots of money on some tactical forearm rails. h.gif

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Page2.html

I have recently purchase a set of MI rails (for $129 shipped) & aside from the ability to lock them down with the screw, there is not much of a difference from my KAC RAS that I spent $350.00 on.

Yankee Hill also makes the 2-piece for under $150.  If I were going for a 2 piece I'd just save the $ and buy some First Samco plastic M44's of the EE.

Two piecers that replace the handguards and are held in by the handguard retainer on the front and the delta ring on the rear are ok to put a flashlight on, but IMHO are NEVER solid enough to mount optics on.  There'll alwayd be some play that will have your zero all over the place.

Save the frustration and get a good free float tube with rails that screws to your receiver.  You'll have to R&R your front sight base, but check out FALARAK's great how-to in the build it yourself forum and get your hands dirty! its cheaper (YHM 4 rail free floats are $120 ) and won't move on you.

No I don't work for or have an interest in YHM, I just like good stuff on the cheap!

I have recently purchase a set of MI rails (for $129 shipped) & aside from the ability to lock them down with the screw, there is not much of a difference from my KAC RAS that I spent $350.00 on.

Have you been smoking wacky weed?  No unsecured two piece can come close to the stability of a RAS or other secured railed forearm.

This might help you decide, there's a great chart that lays things out nicely.


FAQ: Railed forends thread

Quoted: Quoted: Samson/Troy. Samson, however, implements an extra attachment point. Couldn't be happier. Larue seems to have a purplish hue to it.  The DD has weld points on the receiver end of the forearm that I don't care for. Just petty things, but nonetheless, there... The LaRue mount I have only has the purple hue in photos.  It's odd, but it does not look that way in person.   I just bought a DD rail and actually paid extra for the weld points. have On the plus side, I just lugged my 6-month old son around in my arms all day and have built my upper body strength up enough to compensate for the heavier rails.  I do like how my AR has never squirmed or wrestled with me.

You paid extra for the weld points, eh?  To each, his own...lol.

Yes, I know what you mean about your Larue.  I have a Lauer lower that does the same thing.  I think it's something in the parkerizing process that causes that to happen.  Not all processes are the same, however.

The Samson midlength is about 13 oz.  I have it mounted on my 16" HBAR carbine and, for me at least (I tend to like a little weight to my rifles), it offers a really good balance for me.  I have an Aimpoint mounted on the receiver's flattop and a set of flip BUIS, along with a Harris BR bipod and it doesn't seem to nose heavy to me...yet.  I have a 3x coming.  We'll see how it goes then.  LOL.  I might even tip the scales even further by adding a LDI OTAL...but I will have the bipod removed during those times.

Not sure if I agree on a later post about the reliability of a two piece rail system.  The Samson does mount to the barrel nut and offers an extra screw point for added lower retention.  They also have a clamp that prevents the barrel nut from rotating, which is nice...  I think it's a really solid unit.  It has not given me any reason to think otherwise at the time.  Although, on the fair side of things, I do keep my optics on my receiver.  When I implement the 3x, I will have the Aimpoint partially on both, so we'll see if my feelings hold true then.

The YHM rail system...I don't like.  Not sure what kind of aluminum it's made from, but after handling one of their four rail units at a local gun show, my impression was that the quality just wasn't there.  The machining was very average and the finish was decent at best.  It just felt cheap...but, undeniably, it is.  If you don't want to drop around $300 for a 1st tier rail system, then that's the way to go.  It just wasn't for me.

As far as the guy that bought the set of M1 rails without the retention screws...I'd be VERY careful.  Good Luck.

I have the same rifle and I have been very pleased with the Surefire.  It isn't flush with the reciever but I'm only mounting a surefire 650 and a forward grip so it doesn't matter to me.  Now if I hit the lottery and decide to get an Aimpoint with a magnifier like the previous poster then maybe I'll spring for an ARMS.

Why do you like LaRue over the lighter DD?

.

viator

Whats involved with installing FF rails? I am assuming you have to remove the front sight etc? Is there a thread or FAQ section that covers this?  If there is I must have missed it.  

The Larue's are very nice.

For now, I plan on putting a light and a Tango down grip on these rails.  However I dont mind paying more for FF rails to save money on the backend.

Thanks for all the replys.  Keep them coming.  

FALARAK's great how-to for dummies thread, rebarreling, free floats, building an AR ground up, etc

thanks!