I can get a Yankee Hill Free Float Handguard for $99.95 or a LaRue Tactical Free Float Handguard for $247.00.
Both are American Made and seem to work well.
What makes the LaRue 2.5 X as expensive? What do I get for 250% more money?
Rock-solid attachment and rails that are in spec.
A product that far better and you will only have to buy once.
-DM-
Yes…
Is it worth 250% more? Well, that is subjective. Both companies make good rails. The LaRue though has the “it” factor. 
many of the free float guards will “free float” to varying degrees. If you look at the mounting system for the LaRue’s, you will see a big difference between the LaRue’s and others. Along with making a more secure mount, it improves heat transference; true the grip does get warmer faster, but that same heat is being pulled from your barrel where it’s causing more damage.
downside to the LaRue’s is that putting them on isn’t fun. I’m comfortable with working on those type of projects but this time i chickened out and let Grant assemble the package for me (kudos to Grant on that package btw).
All that glitters is not gold…
This is a lot like the optic questions. What makes one RDS superior to this much cheaper RDS?
“Free float” is unfortunately a term that is used a lot like “mil spec”. LaRue’s FF rail systems are true free float and their rails are guaranteed to be in spec. Unfortunately a lot of other manufacturers don’t quite meet that standard.
When you buy a rail from someone like LaRue or Daniel Defense (another good option) you’re getting products that live up to the claims on the label.
If you are going to a one way square range anything will work so cheaper may be better. If you are going to a two way one the quality and specs. of your gear are more important. Larue is as good as it gets.
Yes, LaRue rails are worth 250% more
LaRue is the way to go, followed by DD.
“If Larue is an answer, Larue is the answer”
-Pat Rogers
I’ve found YHM to be junk myself.
I don’t own LaRue but I’ve owned several DDs and I know the LaRues are just as good as the DDs.
With that, I’d chose the LT rail.
YHM is junk and you’ll always “wonder” about the LT rail.
Buy once, cry once. You’ll live through the initial cost I would think. You’ll never regret purchasing it, never. With the YHM, you’ll always wonder about having a better one and the daydreaming will get old, fast. You may be able to resell that YHM at a big loss if you end up giving in to the wondering and daydreaming.
I wouldn’t go so far as calling YHM junk. The are decent well priced equipment.
No. They are very much a waste of money. I will not send another dollar their way. If I get something of theirs I will sell it. Immediately!
It’s that big of a difference.
bad experience? do share.
well i haven’t used any YHM stuff, but I’m gonna. as soon as i decide on a barrel length for my “cheap gun” build i’m gonna order one up.
All i;ve used is DD. Larue’s have always been too ugly, too skinny, or the guy on the phone’s been having too bad of a day by the time he answers my call for me to want to place an order, so I’ve never owned one. DD rocks, but i’ve recently doubted if i HAVE to spend an additional $350 on every build.
i have trouble following the logic that YHM is “junk.” people say, but they never say why. they’re heavier, don’t look as cool (as DD; larue guards are fugly), cost less, and probably don’t wick heat as well… but i’m sure they’re still a jagantaye improvement over ANY plastic guards. so what if they’re not “as good?” that doesn’t make them junk. what if you don’t need “as good,” but need “better than plastic?”
i’ll even do some testing… i’ll bang it around some, benchrest it, pull a barrel temp reading, pop it off and put on a DD, bang it around some and benchrest it, and get a barrel temp again. i suspect i’ll get the same groups and that it wont break under a moderate beating. we’ll see about heat. if someone wants to send me a larue i’ll test it too.
I’m glad I don’t have champagne taste.
LaRue rails (and other high end rails) are smaller, lighter and stronger, more consistent from rail to rail. I prefer Daniel Defense rails myself but LaRue rails are top quality and very nice and on the same par as DD.
It’s kinda like race cars, How fast do you want to go? Speed costs money.
Will a YHM rail suffice for most people? Yes.
IMHO, the best answer in the thread.
I prefer DD free float and KAC non free float but have a YHM on a franken upper. It serves the purpose I wanted it to on a fun gun that I don’t use or intend to use on a “serious” basis. All I wanted was an inexpensive free float to mount a bipod on and it does that just fine. YHM is not in the same league as Larue, DD, KAC etc., but they serve their purpose in the inexpensive(less expensive) market.
That said, yes Larue is worth the price IMHO.
YMMV
I’ve been on most of the firearms forums for years. The best lesson I’ve learned is to browse the threads, paying attention to posters. Eventually a pattern will appear. There are those whose opinions I’ve come to trust and there are those who only parrot what the local forum “Big Dog”, the latest gunrag guru or the currently hottest tactical trainer has to say. I’ve owned DD, Larue, Samson and Yankee Hill. I’ve been satisfied with all of them. Maybe I’m just lucky, but the YHM did what it was supposed to do. The others do, as someone before noted, seem to have more of an “it” factor, which I think in a lot of cases carries more weight than actual superiority of product. Just my 2 cents.
I have always found YHM products to be very good. I would give them a try and see if what I and others are saying is not correct.
David