View Full Version : Yankee Hill forearms
Has anyone had any experience with YHM customizable free float forearm? I was thinking of adding one to my next build in case I ever want to add a VFG or light.
AR15barrels
07-26-07, 00:12
Has anyone had any experience with YHM customizable free float forearm? I was thinking of adding one to my next build in case I ever want to add a VFG or light.
You are probably not going to get a high opinion of YHM handguards on this site.
People will be quick to mention past problems with the design and their experiences with improperly installed specimens.
Others will be quick to mention that the rails might not be perfectly to spec because their tangodown VFGs did not fit on the rails.
Those same people will not be so quick to admit that Tangodown VFGs fit tightly on LOTS of rail systems.
If YHM are installed correctly, they are completly functional, but fat in the hand.
The customizable is not as bad in the fat respect, but it is an aluminum tube and therefore subject to getting really hot.
Plan on a support hand glove if you shoot a lot.
YHM handguards are a good value, but most here will not admit to choosing their rail system based on cost.
Choosing an inexpensive rail system is not tacticool.
Robb Jensen
07-26-07, 06:16
Great rails for the money, as Randall says they are huge. Most people try to install the barrel nut on these using a USGI barrel wrench which will distort the holes in the barrel nut and sometimes break the wrench and/or damage the nut badly. When I install Yankee Hill FF tubes/rails I use a PRI 5 pin barrel nut wrench or the Yankee Hill wrench which has 3 long pins. The pins on both of these wrenches are longer than the USGI wrenches to better distribute the torque to the barrel nut without screwing it up.
PRI wrench
http://www.pri-mounts.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/05-0082t.JPG
Yankee Hill wrench
http://yankeehill.bizland.com/store/media/YHM-9621.jpg
I don't know if they're still doing it but Yankee Hill Machine makes or did make the flash hider/suppressor mounts for AAC.
Yay. Choosing quality parts is going to be mocked as "tacticool" on this website also :rolleyes:
I was interested in Customizable FF handguard also. In addition I'm looking at the YHM Smooth Carbine FF Forearm.
http://yankeehill.bizland.com/store/product291.html
Anyone have any experience with it.
http://yankeehill.bizland.com/store/media/YHM-5000_2_big.jpg
Customizable FF forearm:
"http://yankeehill.bizland.com/store/media/Custom_Forearms.jpg"]http://yankeehill.bizland.com/store/media/Custom_Forearms.jpg
along the same lines
what about a basic carbon fiber one?
I would like a FF on my carbine, but will probably only ever mount a tac light occasionally... and the carbon fiber ones advertize not getting as hot
I mountain bike seriously and own a custom mountain bike shop, our frames average 2 K and bikes average 5k
We bet the crap out of carbon fiber handlebars and they take the abuse fine
there are places I trust carbon fiber and places I don't really like
Don't bother. There's a reason that people don't like them! I have one, and the biggest problem I have is that the rail on top doesn't match up with the rail on my upper. Not just butting up against it, but they're different heights. That's unacceptable to me, since I was planning on putting a front sight on the rail instead of the gas block.
They're not just large, either. They're heavy. So let's recap: quick to heat, large, heavy, rails don't match, possibly require special tools to install? Pass.
YHM handguards are a good value, but most here will not admit to choosing their rail system based on cost.
That goes both ways ya know. Most people will ONLY choose the YHM because it's cheaper, even though they really want the more expensive (and better) LT or DD, and then spend untold amounts of energy and hours posting on the internet defending their choice of sub-par and inexpensive equipment while claiming that their decision wasn't based on economics at all.
Wait, that doesn't just apply to rails, or frankly just to guns.... it's the whole damn internet! In fact, it applies to virtually every purchase that every American male makes ever in his lifetime. We may not NEED that Weber grill, or F350, or 400HP car, or Dewalt drill, etc. but we sure as hell always try our best to buy it.
People would get along alot better if they just admitted that they bought lesser quality gear because they either can't afford the better stuff or didn't think they needed it. You gotta hand it to that jem guy in that regard; he views his AR as only a plinker so he bought a plinker-quality DPMS and freely admits to it.
AR15barrels
07-28-07, 20:34
Wait, that doesn't just apply to rails, or frankly just to guns....
People would get along alot better if they just admitted that they bought lesser quality gear because they either can't afford the better stuff or didn't think they needed it. You gotta hand it to that jem guy in that regard; he views his AR as only a plinker so he bought a plinker-quality DPMS and freely admits to it.
So true, but it's not just guys.
Women compete like this in their choice of clothing and men.
They all want Brad Pitt, but settle for what they can obtain/afford.
Thanks for the info and opinions guys. I'm definately going on price with the YHM. I am mainly trying to build up 4 or 5 good guns before the next ban. Since I don't use a VFG or a light paying $300 for a rail doesn't make sense right now for me since that money could go to buy more parts. But for $62 I think I could justify it if the quality is decent and it works as advertised.
Don Robison
07-29-07, 12:05
So true, but it's not just guys.
Women compete like this in their choice of clothing and men.
They all want Brad Pitt, but settle for what they can obtain/afford.
Yea, my wife wanted Brad Pitt, but settled for Alfred E. Neuman
YHM rails tend to NOT follow the M1913 spec, are heavy, wide and generally very sharp (compared to other manufacturers).
My personal opinion is to save your money and look for a better rail that is used. There is no shame in buying used gear and in all honesty, you come out ahead in many ways.
C4
Thanks for the info and opinions guys. I'm definately going on price with the YHM. I am mainly trying to build up 4 or 5 good guns before the next ban. Since I don't use a VFG or a light paying $300 for a rail doesn't make sense right now for me since that money could go to buy more parts. But for $62 I think I could justify it if the quality is decent and it works as advertised.
If you just want to get guns before the next ban, don't waste your money on crappy YHM parts. Buy more lowers. You can still buy parts for your guns after a ban, but you won't be able to buy the banned items. Pick up some magazines or lowers or just stock guns if that's what you want to do.
AR15barrels
07-30-07, 02:24
If you just want to get guns before the next ban, don't waste your money on crappy YHM parts. Buy more lowers. You can still buy parts for your guns after a ban, but you won't be able to buy the banned items. Pick up some magazines or lowers or just stock guns if that's what you want to do.
Do you know the exact wording and legal mechanisms that will be in place for the next ban?
If so, can you please tell me next week's lotto numbers? ;)
Don't assume that a future ban will work exactly like a past ban.
It's quite possiblethat exact configurations could be required to be registered.
If this were the case, those stripped lowers are not much use if you can't build them up...
I've just found the J P ENTERPRISES V-Tac that looks pretty good and seems to have a better reputation. The price of it is about double the YHM but still half the LT and DD. I like the idea of putting a rail where you need it when you need it.
Robb Jensen
07-30-07, 17:37
The VTAC is an excellent FF tube.
AR15barrels
07-30-07, 17:48
I've just found the J P ENTERPRISES V-Tac that looks pretty good and seems to have a better reputation.
Good choice.
The VTAC is an excellent FF tube.
While looking at some search results a little while ago I think you said you wouldn't put a VFG on this tube. Any reason or just personal perference? The 2 inch rail looks to only have one screw which could be weak but the 4 inch rail I think has three.
Thanks for the input
Robb Jensen
07-30-07, 21:29
I think as long as your not torquing the hell out of it, kicking doors in etc then a forward grip would probably be okay. I'm not really a forward grip kinda guy, I only have 1 AR with one when I change from the Surefire 951 presently on it to a X200 the forward grip will come off.
The 2" rail has 2 screws and the 4" rail has 3 screws. The tube is held to the flange on the upper receiver by a series of small screws. Not big screws like the LaRue or DD Lite Rail.
I think the JP forearm is the ticket for me. Now I have to fiqure out if I want to get the carbine tube and use the standard FSB or the rifle tube with a gas block or skip the 14.5 SBR and go with a midlength 16 inch, the decisions are never easy.
It appears they have made a few changes to the 2 inch rail. Hopefully the 2 screw rail is standard now.
http://www.jprifles.com/photos/JPTRx4s.jpg
http://www.jprifles.com/cart_pix/ph/559.jpg
http://www.brownells.com/Images/Products/452000040.jpg
Robb Jensen
07-31-07, 04:16
The last 2" rails I bought from them (one 2 months ago, and one 2 weeks ago) both have two mounting screws.
HighSpeedDreams
01-15-08, 21:50
I have a YH free float on my bushmaster modular carbine. Tango down VF's fit very tight but I prefer it that way. Not crazy about the free float but it has never given me a problem.
Came factory installed.
I have one of the YHM customizable tubes. It has been just fine. Someone mentioned that the upper rail didn't line up with the upper receiver rail. They make two different height rails. The lower one will line up.
ETA pic:
http://i1.tinypic.com/8665t1c.jpg
Top rail is low version and aligns with the upper receiver rail.
The other rails are higher profile for attaching other accessories.
They make two different height rails.
The rail with the higher height is for things like a VFG or bipod adapter, or whatever attachement needs more meat to grab ahold of.
-DM-
Dualspringfields
01-19-08, 08:02
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Midwest-Industries-MCTAR-18-p/mctar-18.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Midwest-Industries-MCTAR-17-p/mctar-17.htm
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=793469&t=11082005
New here. So thanks for having me. Whats the purpose in having a free floated hand guard on and M4. I could see it on a Ar15 that is for sniping. Anyway this is what I got on my M4. Its the two piece set. I like them alot. Didnt have to do any mods. on the weapon at all and they fit nice and tight.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o150/dualspringfields/DSC00600.jpg
Casey
AllAmerican
01-21-08, 19:18
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Midwest-Industries-MCTAR-18-p/mctar-18.htm
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Midwest-Industries-MCTAR-17-p/mctar-17.htm
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=793469&t=11082005
New here. So thanks for having me. Whats the purpose in having a free floated hand guard on and M4. I could see it on a Ar15 that is for sniping. Anyway this is what I got on my M4. Its the two piece set. I like them alot. Didnt have to do any mods. on the weapon at all and they fit nice and tight.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o150/dualspringfields/DSC00600.jpg
Casey
Just curious, is that a flattop rifle?? Can't tell by the picture, if it is how much is the gap between the FF and the flattop of the upper? I think that is what they are talking about. I am looking for a set of rails to. Would like to find out what works before I order. I just got a BM shorty FT with the removable handle. So I need a BUIS, a Optic, and some rails.
Thanks!!
Dualspringfields
01-21-08, 21:49
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o150/dualspringfields/DSC00592.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o150/dualspringfields/DSC00592.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o150/dualspringfields/DSC00593.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o150/dualspringfields/DSC00594.jpg
DPMS Flattop.
AllAmerican
01-22-08, 16:33
OK, yes that is a nice looking weapon. Did not mean to hijak the thread, I noticed that in the BM manual there are rails with a yhm prefix so I am thinking that is what they are selling however they cost more.
Thanks for the pictures!
OK, yes that is a nice looking weapon. Did not mean to hijak the thread, I noticed that in the BM manual there are rails with a yhm prefix so I am thinking that is what they are selling however they cost more.
Thanks for the pictures!
Yes. Exactly. " Bushmaster modular accessory system" (B.M.A.S) items are made by YHM. If You are so inlined to purchase this stuff, I would buy straight from YHM. In fact, there's not many things You should need to buy from Bushmaster, unless You like spending more money than You ought to.
AllAmerican
01-22-08, 18:58
Yes. Exactly. " Bushmaster modular accessory system" (B.M.A.S) items are made by YHM. If You are so inlined to purchase this stuff, I would buy straight from YHM. In fact, there's not many things You should need to buy from Bushmaster, unless You like spending more money than You ought to.
Yes I checked a bunch of NM's prices for Eotech, rails, all of the stuff they sell and they are VERY high compared to the actual vendors.... I still have not figured out exactly I am going to outfit mine but it won't be from BM.
Thanks!
Yes, the JP is probably a somewhat better product, but I bought a full length YHM customizable forend and put it on my BM carbine. I'm very satified with it. YHM makes good products at reasonable prices. I thought that was a good thing!?
AR15barrels
01-23-08, 01:28
Whats the purpose in having a free floated hand guard on and M4.
If you run a vertical foregrip, the grip can make the point of impact shift depending on how hard you pull on it.
Having a freefloat handguard eliminates this problem.
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