Daniel Defense Omega rails are the only "true" free floating rails?

[shocktokyo]

So, just the other day I went to a new gun shop a few cities from where I am from and told the owner I was looking for a free floating rail system. He shows me the Daniel Defense Omega 7 rail, which I LOVED and is extremely lightweight, but when I asked if he had any other free float rails in stock he said that the Daniel Defense free float rail is the only "true" free floating rail. Is there any merit to that?

 

[rjrivero]

Um, no.

It is a top tier Rail, and they do a great job with them, but it is NOT the ONLY "TRUE" Free floating rail on the market.

Knight Armament, Troy Industries also make "top shelf" rails. I have a rail from Samson on one of my guns that is pretty solid as well. There are LOTS of free floating rails around.

You sure won't go wrong with a Daniel Defense Omega. I have one on my Carbine, and it is top notch.

 

[possum]

not by a long shot. let me guess that is the only "free float rail" that he had n stock huh? he wanted to see you what he had.

 

[kwelz]

While I would consider it one of the best it is far from the only true Free Float rail out there. Even ones I don't recommend like the YHM rails are free float.

 

[Pete D.]

DD

I have a little trouble with DDs terminology. Is the barrel free floated? That is the important thing. Last time I looked at a DD Handguard/rail system, there was not really a free floated barrel. The problem was that the sling swivel was still attached to the barrel and the DD handguard still used the stock handguard cap. Thus the barrel was not free floated. I just looked at the Omega and could not tell whether that is the case there.
Normally, free floated barrels have a tube that is installed over the barrel and has its own handguard cap/swivel attachment that isolates sling pressure from the barrel.
Last DD that I looked at had not done that. As I say, though, I could not tell from the pictures at the DD site. The Omega system is described as requiring "zero modification" to the existing gun. If that is truly the case, what is done with the stock handguard cap? Is it just left on and they use something else? If the stock cap is used, then the barrel is not free floated.
I'd really like it to result in a truly free floated barrel but I cannot tell if is is so.


This a video showing the Omega attached to the stock handguard cap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTKy83OxVYk

This is a video showing installation of a free float tube the harder way. Note that there is nothing bearing on the barrel at the front.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK4XzPll9U8&feature=related
Pete

 

[kwelz]

Pete I am not really sure what you are talking about here.

First of the sling swivel being attached to the barrel has nothing to do with the Rail. So I am not sure what you are getting at there.

Secondly the only DD rail that uses the handguard cap is their Drop in EZ CAR system. This is an inexpensive Drop in rail made to compete with the Troy DI system. They make 5 other Handguard systems, all of which are Free Float.
Omega (Drop in that uses original Barrel nut but not the handguard cap and is Free floated)
Omega X
Lite
M4
RIS

 

[Pete D.]

First of the sling swivel being attached to the barrel has nothing to do with the Rail. So I am not sure what you are getting at there.

Secondly the only DD rail that uses the handguard cap is their Drop in EZ CAR system.

Azizza: What I was getting at - too indirectly. I guess, was accuracy. The intent of "free floating" is to eliminate sling pressure on the barrel. If the device doesn't do that, what's the point? Since the sling is attached to the sight base where the handguard cap is, in order to take sling pressure off the barrel the sling must be attached to something that does not pull on the barrel. That's what a free float tube does...provides a place to mount a sling that does not pull on the barrel. The more common way to do this is to install a tube which screws on over the barrel and does not pull on anything attached to the barrel. The second video to which I supplied a link shows a LaRue free float tube being installed. It does what I have described.
The first link shows what is described as the Omega rail being installed - you may know better than I if you watched the video whether that was an Omega rail or not. In any case, the video clearly shows the rail being "attached" to the handguard cap. That means that sling pressure applied to the rail will transfer through the cap to the barrel and may affect accuracy. If the user chooses to connect the sling to the original swivel, then there is no reason to have a "free float tube" other than mounting stuff on the gun.
Maybe the video is wrong but I saw it and it made me wonder because it appears that the cap is being used.
You are obviously experienced with this, what am I seeing (or not) in that video?

Pete

 

[kwelz]

Ahhh. I see where the confusion is. An Omega rail with go right up to and almost touch the handguard cap. However unlike a normal handguard or non free float Drop in rail, it applies no pressure on that cap. If you were to cut that Cap off then rail would still install just fine..

The rail is made this way in case someone wants to install the rail on a service or duty rifle that can not be disassembled.

 

[MCMXI]

An Omega rail with go right up to and almost touch the handguard cap. However unlike a normal handguard or non free float Drop in rail, it applies no pressure on that cap. If you were to cut that Cap off then rail would still install just fine..

I can corroborate that statement. I have an Omega rail on my POF and removed the handguard cap since it was redundant. The barrel is definitely free-floating.

 

[MrCleanOK]

With regard to sling mounting, something like this seems like a no-brainer. Am I missing something here?

 

[kwelz]

Mr. Clean you don't even need that with the DD rail. It has the Anti Rotation QD built into it. You just need the actual QD swivel.

 

[Pete D.]

Azizza: Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Pete

 

[shocktokyo]

Thanks for all of the info, I have been confused with this "true" flee float rail stuff. I kind of figured he was just trying to get me to buy the thing, but I figured since some of these companies play around with their words a little that I might as well ask.

 

[shocktokyo]

Why would you not recommend the YHM free float rails? I have noticed that they are priced significantly lower than other free float rail systems, is there a big non-recommended reason why?

 

[Wahoo95]

The YHM rails are big, bulky, and heavy which is why I don't recommend them.

 

[kwelz]

Yep. Big, heavy, badly designed.
The YHM light rail is heavier than a DD rail and not made nearly as well. I have used a couple and was never impressed with them at all.

 

[Welding Rod]

Any functional problems?

 

[kwelz]

The Rails have been known to be out of spec and they are very wide which can be a problem for some people when they actually run the gun.

ETA: I hav also heard of rotation issues. Didn't happen on any of mine but I have seen examples where it has.

 

[Timbozi]

Yep. Big, heavy, badly designed.
The YHM light rail is heavier than a DD rail and not made nearly as well. I have used a couple and was never impressed with them at all.

kwelz:

which ones do you recommend? In the market now for my first build and would appreciate the advice. -thanks!

 

[atblis]

DPMS
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=291848

You could make the argument that a tube that attaches to the barrel nut isn't truly floated. This is one of the selling points of the monolithics.

 

[kwelz]

Timbozi, you can't go wrong with any of the DD rails. In my opinion the Lite rail is the most solid however.

But for most civilian shooters I recommend you look at the Troy TRX extreme rail. Much mess expensive and lighter than most of the DD rails. It has removable rail sections so you can customize it to what you need. And it is about half the price of an equivalent DD rail.

And I would not suggest that DPMS rail. Firstly it is marketed by DPMS which makes it suspect. Secondly it doesn't allow for the mounting of anything including sights. It is just a tube.

 

[rbernie]

The YHM rails are big, bulky, and heavy which is why I don't recommend them.

I have used the YHM 'customizable' smooth forearms on several builds and been very pleased with them. I prefer to have rails only where I want them, and the YHM product has done exactly what I needed - floated the barrel, provided rails only where I want, and not made the forearm too wide or bulky to grasp offhand. At 14.6 oz. for a rifle-length tube, it's not the lightest but it's also far from porky. The smooth customizable YHM forearm lacks the anti-rotation screws of their railed forearms so I would not use them for builds that will put optics on the forearm, but I see no reason to poo-poo them for builds that do not intend on putting alignment-critical items on the forearm.

An alternative to the YHM 'customizable' is the JP tube; I have used it and also think very well of it. It has anti-rotation qualities that the YHM smooth tube does not, but it also does not have the solid integral sling mount that the YHM offers unless you use a rail-mounted sling swivel.

Secondly it doesn't allow for the mounting of anything including sights. It is just a tube.

You say that like it's a bad thing. I know that having no less than three linear feet of rail on the forearm is all the fashion rage, but nothing irks me more than a forearm that treats my hand like a cheese grater or that is so festooned with rail covers that it's uncomfortably wide to grasp.

I have used smooth/non-railed float tubes for many of my hunting and varmintin' ARs with great satisfaction. After all, for that style of rifle I do not need any rails and I only want a forearm that floats the barrel appropriately, provides appropriate protection for the gas tube, and isolates my off hand from the heat of the gas block/gas tube. About the only issue that I have with the M1S and DPMS 'plain' tubes is that I have to drill a hole for a sling swivel, but for a $40-$60 tube I consider that a small issue to remediate.

My 'social uses' ARs all have fixed/pinned FSBs and standard non-floated forearms (MOE with a small light rail on the right side), since for my uses they do not need railed float tubes.

 

[Welding Rod]

I am with you rbernie, I would prefer a plain round vented float tube that would allow attachment of rail sections only where I want them. I prefer a round section in the hand placement area.

I have never had a use for any rail other than a short section at the muzzle end of the tube for a light, and a second short section at the muzzle end for a bipod.