[-v-]

So, I find myself at a bit of a quandary. My local gunshop has two AR-15s that caught my attention: A CMMG 16" with a chrome-lined 1/7 and a YHM 16" chrome-lined 1/9 twist, with a YHM rifle length rail system. Asking price for the YHM is a bout $950, about $700 for the CMMG, plus the Governor's portion.

My main hang-up is quality of the rifle vs barrel twist rate: will the quality of the CMMG measure up to that of a YHM and is the 1/7 that much better then a 1/9? Goal is for a range/competition firearm that can double-duty as a HD/SHTF gun. Intended shooting distances are contact to 350 meters at most.

So, if YOU had to choose between these two, which one would you get, and why?

[highorder]

The CMMG will be a fine rifle. Save the $250 for mags and ammo.

[Coal Dragger]

Neither.

I have a CMMG, and the quality leaves a lot to be desired. YHM I am not as familiar with.

Frankly if you want an AR made to real specs, using the right materials with the correct metallurgy, to a high standard of reliability then buy a Colt.

[nipprdog]

It would help if you told us what the actual prices are.

Until then, Spikes has a couple of great deals now;

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/st15-m4-le-carbine-p-387.html

http://www.spikestactical.com/new/z/st15-midlength-le-carbine-p-443.html

[Al Thompson]

Couple of buddies and I have CMMG uppers, 1/9 twists in three. One is a SBR and had some issues. CMMG had him ship it back on their dime despite some modifications he had made. Obviously I'd go with CMMG again.

That being said, depending on what type of competition you want to shoot may actually be a bigger factor than anything else.

[rellascout]

What are you using it for? Is if for heavy work or is it for plinking and watching the mall? LOL

If it is for plinking get the CMMG and more ammo.

[-v-]

This is going to be a 3-Gun rifle. I think maximum range on our course is about 200 yards.

[rellascout]

Its a coin toss... I would go with the CMMG and the ammo but YMMV.

[Z-Michigan]

CMMG is probably higher quality than YHM anyway.

You could get something nicer like a Spike's Tactical for little more, though.

[Guns and more]

I never heard of YHM and that alone might affect resale.
I always recommend this site:

http://forums.officer.com/showthread.php?81462-So-you-want-to-buy-an-AR-15-huh

I learned so much before buying mine.
And he isn't too technical.

[Hanzo581]

YHM is Yankee Hill Machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gFZFN7oLlw

And I would go with that over the CMMG.

[Welding Rod]

I don't have any first hand experience with YHM guns.

I suppose if I had to make that choice I would get the YHM since I know I don't want the CMMG.

[wnycollector]

I have uppers from BCM, Del-Ton and CMMG. CMMG is good to go in my opinion.

[OpelBlitz]

YHM is no Colt, but their offerings are of a decent quality. I would go with CMMG here though and spend the extra $ saved on ammo.

[madcratebuilder]

Neither, order a BCM. Then resist the urge to "upgrade" it.

[Gary G23]

I'm with madcratebuilder. No way I would limit myself to what the local gun shop has.

[mshootnit]

I would go with a 1/9 twist because its better with 90% of the ammo you are likely to shoot through the rifle. Once I shot a critter through the neck at 230 yards with a Nosler 60 gr. partition through a 223. That was with a 1/12 twist barrel.

[Unistat]

YHM. 1/9 can shoot up to 68-70 grain ammo and that should do you fine. Even more so if you buy quality ammo with good bullets suited to the task (hunting, target, plinking and what not.) Also, a rifle length gas system will be more reliable and cause less wear and tear on your gun.

[bri]

If you really want to limit yourself to the LGS, then go with the cheaper and buy more ammo.

Personally, in that price range, I'd go with a Spike's. Which is what I did last fall, good quality, great price.

[Usagi]

Nothing wrong with either. Whichever one is cheaper.

[Birddog1911]

If you're going to have a serious 3 gun rifle, I'd vote neither. The QC on CMMG is getting a lot of bad rep right now, and the YHM is an unknown.

Spikes, BCM, Daniel Defense, or Colt would be excellent choices for a serious 3 gun rifle.

[TonyAngel]

Yeah, the initial post sounds like you are putting YHM up on a pedestal or something. Yankee Hill is nothing special and is just another one of those "good for the money" brands.

For the prices they are asking, I wouldn't get either. Like the guys said above, call Spike's.

Since we are talking carbines, the above reference to a rifle length gas system is a bad idea, even if you could find one; however, I would suggest a mid length gas system. They do shoot more smoothly. Personally, if I were to buy a complete rifle, I'd call Bravo Company and get one build with a 14.5" barrel with mid length gas system. Those shoot very smoothly and are quite handy.

[RockyMtnTactical]

Get a BCM and don't look back.

[wnycollector]

Bravo Company and get one build with a 14.5" barrel with mid length gas system. Those shoot very smoothly and are quite handy.

+1 on that. I love my 14.5" BCM middy. With that, if you want to buy a rifle that you have actually picked up at the gun store...the CMMG might be the way to go.

[tomrkba]

Colt, Noveske, Knights Armament, or Bravo Company.

[FMJMIKE]

I bought a CMMG AR-15 and it would not extract several different brands of ammo. I sent it back and CMMG didn't do anything. They blamed the ammo I was using. So I sold it and bought a Spikes Tactical and a Bravo Company rifle and am much happier. CMMG sells rifles with out of spec chambers then blames the ammo.
:mad:

[sarduy]

both are great guns, i own both but if i had to pick one i would have to toss a coin, i recommend you do the same....

[-v-]

Lots of good advice guys, do appreciate it. I think the BCM offering is looking to be increasingly likely as the guys who get my money next.

[kwelz]

I will go with the general consensus here and say neither. Get a BCM, DD or even spikes. Don't bother with lower quality companies like CMMG and especially not YHM.

[steven58]

For $950.00 you can do better!

I own BCM and a friend has Spikes. Both have shot thousands of rounds including 100s of steel cased Ruskie Crapskie with 0 issues.

With both rifles the first 30 rounds ever fired were Wolf 75 gr. Steel case out of a beat all to hell GI magazine with black follower I rescued out of the mud at a Ft Dix range 20 years ago. I call it "the de-virginizer"(anytime I build an AR that's the first mag in. After that "Magpul") All 30 rounds fired perfectly.

We bought the ARs as separate lowers shipped to LGS and uppers shipped to homes. Both rifles totaled in under $900 sans rear sights.

Also, both companies have fantastic cusomer service for when the inevitable happens with any mechanical device.