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I have a question that I wanted to throw out there. What (in your opinion & why) is the best Free Floating Rail system out there? Highest level of rigidity, best alignment, ect. I'd appreciate your opinions. Reason for the question is I recently went with the MCTAR-22 because I have an OPS-416 piston. (it fits under this rail... sort of) for one reason or another, I have decided... "Screw pistons, I'm going back to DI cause I feel that its more reliable with the M4 platform." Now I have a Piston that I refuse to use, and a rail that I hate. Oh I love wasting my hard earned dollar.

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My favorite rail = LaRue
Most sensible rail on the market = DD Omega

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The Larue and the DD rails are great rails, but overpriced.  If that's your thing and you have the money, they will serve you well.  

If you want something at a reasonable price that works really well go with a YHM rail.  Instead of $300 you spend $120, you get a rail that is plenty sturdy for duty use, and has anti-rotation screws so it won't come loose.  For that price, you can't go wrong.

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DD Lite Rails are awesome.

However keep in mind that with a lot of the FF rails there is a point of diminishing returns. Keep in mind what you need the rail for. On that note, for the average shooter, YHM and MI rails are great.

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Agreed.  YHM stuff is great.  Their rails are solid and the price is great.

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I've always looked at the high end rails as dressing up a gun rather than using "just" a YHM rail.  Don't get me wrong, the high end rails are plenty capable of use on a true battle rifle, but when you mention diminishing returns, what do you get in returns.  What is functionally different between a DD Lite Rail and a YHM Light Rail?  The DD is a little lighter, but very little, and both are rigid enough for hard use.  The DD looks better, and if that is something that is important to the end user that's fine, but what functionality do you get from the more expensive rails?  I've shot both types and I don't see a performance advantage.  

If we're talking bolts, or barrels, or scope mounts, etc I understand where guy are coming from.  For example, I use a Larue mount for my Trijicon scope on one of my duty weapons.  The added money for the higher end stuff makes sense to me there.  I need it to be durable, quick detach, and return to zero.  I don't feel like I get as much for my money with high end handguards or stocks.  They do the same thing, they just look better while they're doing it.

in all honesty, most people would be better served with a ff tube and a couple bolted on segments of rail... poof, $50 sturdy Freefloat system...





If you're going to be tackin on a bipod, a light, a grip, sling swivels, a PEQ, etc... then a quad rail might make sense =P
I just like to look cool with my lights and grips...

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Advantages are....

Weight.  Its more than you think, a carbine course will show you that in a heartbeat.

Rails are in spec - I've seen more than one YHM out of spec, some worse than others.

Precision of the build- I've seen YHM rails that were noticably off center relative to the barrel, with the problem traced back to the rail.  Can be a bitch when using flip up irons.

Lockup- I've seen YHM rails come loose, even ones that were installed properly.

Ease of installation- some of the newer YHM builds might work better but damn....getting them lined up in the past used to be a bit of an adventure.  With my DD's, I can install them to the exact torque# that I want, and lining them up is a breeze.

On that note, I've also seen YHM rails that have been absolutely 100% perfect.  I use a bunch of YHM parts so I am definitely not knocking the company, but DD and Larue rails have advantages in nearly every category that go far beyond just simply playing "dress up"

A daniel defense or a Larue rail is not just a away to dress up a rifle.  There are advantages there and while a YHM will free float and let you mount stuff to your gun there are better thought out and lighter alternatives.  Whether or not you want to pay for or need them is completely up to the user.  Some do, some don't.  Bottom line is it won't make you a better shot, it won't make the gun more accurate, but to dismiss higher end rails as just a dress up part is a bit of a stretch.

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I agree 100% that weight is very important.  That is one of the reasons I recommend guys stay away from certain other brands.  My point was that the YHM Carbine Length Light rail is 2oz heavier than the DD Carbine Length Lite Rail.  That doesn’t amount to much, both are very light.  FWIW I’ve run my share of carbine courses, and will be instructing my first one coming up here in April

As for precision, I have yet to see any YHM free float rail out of spec.  I’m not saying it hasn’t happened, and at about 1/3 the price I’m sure it is more common than with the high end units, but I’m sure they would replace it without issue.  I haven’t heard any complaints about their service.

I’ve yet to have a YHM rail come loose on me and I’ve run quite a few of them hard.  I’m not saying it isn’t possible, but it hasn’t been my experience.  

Ease of installation is a good point.  I’ve never installed a DD or Larue rail system (I have shot a DD, but not put one together) but I’ve heard the DD is more user friendly.  The YHM stuff was tricky until I bought an alignment tool from Brownells.  I haven’t had a problem since, and I have done several, but I understand not everyone has access to one of those tools.

I wanted to end by saying I didn’t intend to “dismiss” the high end rails.  I meant only to point out that I don’t feel the advantages of these rails warrant the much higher price tag.  In the end I believe the biggest difference to be appearance.  I own several items, many AR related, that I purchased because I wanted them, regardless of the higher price tag.  That doesn’t mean that something cheaper wouldn’t have been just as functional.

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Excellent, good to know about the courses too.

Honestly, I didnt know the carbine ones were that close, but I don't run anything shorter than DD lite 12's, so thats where Im basing my comparisons.  

The Larue isn't terrible to install, but you have to time the barrel nut absolutley spot on, but once you get it there, the rest is a breeze.  The DD is great, simply because the nut is such a low profile that you don't have to index anything.  The rear ring and the rail itself sandwich around the nut, giving you the ability to make very very minor adjustments for rotation and even height.  Good stuff all around.