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Posted: 4/14/2005 6:09:36 PM EDT
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I bought a YHM 2 pc Carbine railed forend a few weeks ago from Brightflashlights (great service and price, BTW) for my new Bushy Superlight. While the rail (any brand) provides much versatility, I've been thinking how it'd be if I had designed one for my application. First off, rails at 3 and 9 o'clock aren't where it's at, IMHO. They are at the wrong angle for a top sling and a flashlight sticks out like a sore thumb. The light is just waiting to get smacked on a barracade. Second the unit seems a bit heavy (actually it's only 4 oz heavier than the A2 HG it replaced). Third, while the YHM is fine, I'd like to see a trimmer unit, especially with panels installed. As we all know, the 6 o'clock rail is the cat's meow. Why not design a unit with three rails??? Most folks don't use the top rail (I don't anyway) so a rails 120 degrees apart at 6, 2 and 10 would seem to be ideal. That would solve the sling and flashlight issues and the unit would be much trimmer and lighter. So I ask, why four rails????? Then again, maybe I'm just weird. 
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Lights and lasers work well at the 3 and 9 position (just ask the Military). I will agree that the optimal position for a light is at 1 o'clock, but it just isn't going to happen. The YHM rails are one of the more heavier rails out there. If you wanted to save weight you should have looked at DD or LT as they are much lighter. C4 |
You may not but a lot of people (particularly the military) do. As been pointed out, the YHM that you bought is one of the larger (both in weight and size) rails out there. There is also no reason you have to mount your light in the 3 or 9 position. You can always mount it in the 6 o'clock position. |
This is primarily concerning rail location. I'm not going to pay $200 extra dollars over the YHM rail to save 2 0z! YHM quality is ok by me. It is true that some of the more expensive systems are trimmer. If YHM would make a three rail forend it would have all the benefits in regard to size/weight at a reasonable cost! BTW, I prefer a 2 pc rail so many on the market don't fit my needs. |
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If you're making a 3 rail system I'd rather see the rails at the 4:30 and 7:30 positions. Those of us who use VFGs (and thus need the rail on the bottom) like to mount our lights so the thumb can press on the tailcap. Now we have to use YHM Angled Dovetail mounts or expensive GG&G Offset Light Mounts or some other system. If I'm putting my light at 11:00 (where I like it) it means I'm not using a VFG so I don't need the bottom rail. |
Well, I like the two piece design but it would be easy for YHM to add screw holes to the customizable tube for a 2 and 10 o'clock rail option. That's a great idea and one I bet they'd listen to the customer on. |
Drill it and tap it yourself. Cheap and easy. |
The GG&G is not a two piece unit, it requires removal of the delta assembly. It and the Midwest unit (which is a two piece non-free floationg system) are good for those that don't need all the rails and who wantr a little more versatility in rail placement. Their modularity, however, can be both an asset and a liability as the more complex something is the more that can go wrong and having to keep track of various extra parts usually means lost parts at some point. |
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