Daniel Defense’s New Guns for Summer 2014
Russ Chastain 08.27.14
Daniel Defense (DD) has announced some new guns to their semi-automatic AR offerings, and man they look nice. I resisted the pull of ARs for years, but I finally caved and picked one up some years back. Once they get in your blood, it’s tough to get ’em out, and DD’s new guns look to be a good blend of form and function that will get the job done and look good doin’ it.
(Photo courtesy of Daniel Defense)
The DDM4 300 is an AR pistol in 300 AAC Blackout. Standout features include a 10.3-inch cold hammer forged S2W® barrel, pistol-length gas system, and a pinned low profile gas block.
DDM4 300 Specs:
- Caliber: 300 AAC Blackout (7.62x35mm)
- Barrel: 10.3″ chrome moly vanadium steel, cold hammer forged, salt bath nitride, S2W® profile
- Rifling Twist: 1:8″
- Gas System: Pistol length
- Muzzle Device: DD improved flash suppressor
- Rail System: DDM4 RAIL™ 9.0
- Overall Length: 27-1/16″
- Weight Unloaded: 5.3 pounds
- Part Number: 02-088-22179
- MSRP: $1,699 US
(Photo courtesy of Daniel Defense)
Daniel Defense’s DDMK18 AR pistol also has a 10.3-inch cold hammer forged barrel, but it has a carbine-length gas system and different rail setup. Plus, it’s chambered for 5.56 NATO. DD says the “Flat Dark Earth MK18 rail system features the Bolt-Up System, which has been rigorously tested prior to fielding by USSOCOM (currently over 15,000 units).”
DDMK18 Specs:
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO (5.56x45mm)
- Barrel: 10.3″ chrome moly vanadium steel, cold hammer forged, chrome lined, government profile
- Rifling Twist: 1:7″
- Gas System: Carbine length
- Muzzle Device: DD improved flash suppressor
- Rail System: MK18 RIS II FDE
- Overall Length: 27-1/16″
- Weight Unloaded: 5.4 pounds
- Part Number: 02-088-06030
- MSRP: $1,699 US
(Photo courtesy of Daniel Defense)
The DDM4 V11 rifle is an AR carbine based on DD’s V9 series. It uses the new SLiM (Slim Lightweight Modular) Rail™, which has KeyMod keyhole-shaped holes in it. This attachment system is designed to be recoil-resistant and is said to offer great “return-to-zero” results when something has been removed and reinstalled. KeyMod keyholes are on both sides and the bottom, and the top has a continuous picatinny rail.
The SLiM Rail™ 15.0 provides light weight and good barrel cooling. At 15″ long, it lets the user grab the gun farther forward if desired, which often gives the operator more precise control. DD’s new collapsible buttstock has a nice look to it and can be used with either (or neither) of two rubber butt pad inserts.
DDM4 V11 Specs:
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO (5.56x45mm)
- Barrel: 16″ chrome moly vanadium steel, cold hammer forged, chrome lined, government profile
- Rifling Twist: 1:7″
- Gas System: Mid-length
- Muzzle Device: DD improved flash suppressor
- Rail System: Slim rail™ 15.0
- Overall Length: 32-1/4″ to 35-7/8″
- Weight Unloaded: 6.28 pounds
- Part Number: 02-151-20026-047
- MSRP: $1,599 US
(Photo courtesy of Daniel Defense)
Finally, the DDM4 V11 S2W (Strength to Weight) is a carbine-length rifle with the same KeyMod-equipped SLiM Rail™ 15.0 as the DDM4 V11, with the biggest differences being the longer (18″) barrel and the use of a rifle-length gas system.
DDM4 V11 S2W Specs:
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO (5.56x45mm)
- Barrel: 18″ chrome moly vanadium steel, cold hammer forged, salt bath nitride, S2W® profile
- Rifling Twist: 1:7″
- Gas System: Rifle length
- Muzzle Device: DD improved flash suppressor
- Rail System: Slim rail™ 15.0
- Overall Length: 33-3/8″ to 36-3/4″
- Weight Unloaded: 7.45 pounds
- Part Number: 02-151-81659-047
- MSRP: $1,599 US
