Hi guys, figured I would share a recent evaluation of mine that is a little bit different from my normal reports as I don't typically evaluate light weight barrels, or things from Daniel Defense. With so many great companies making solid AR kit these days, I haven't had the chance to try out Daniel Defense as much as I'd like to in the past. So with that said, I'm pretty confident I left what little bias I would have had out of this particular evaluation, and all data contained below is formatted in the most scientific approach that I could achieve. I bought this barrel from RainierArms several weeks ago.
General Specs:
Barrel Material: Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel
Barrel Type: Cold Hammer Forged
Barrel Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Barrel Twist: 1:7
Barrel Length: 14.5″
Barrel Profile: Lightweight Profile
Barrel Gas System: Mid-Length
Gas Block: Pinned Low Profile
Inside Finish: Chrome Lined
Outside Finish: Military Specification Heavy Phosphate Coated
Muzzle Thread: 1⁄2×28 TPI (Threads Per Inch)
Gas Port Diameter: .625
Barrel Extension: A4
Weight: 1 lbs 6 oz
Made in the USA!
Accuracy Evaluation....
Procedure: 10rd groups/100yds/prone w. bipod
Three groups of Hornady 55gr. VMAX (30rds) is my long time "control" for evaluating barrels @ 100yds. Other ammo groups are being posted just for "snapshot" purposes.
Barrel temps were never allowed to reach over 75 degrees F while shooting an individual group, and a 5 minute break was allowed between groups.
Barrel temps are monitored via digital infrared thermometer...
Conditions:
Temp: 66 degrees F
Humidity: 87%
Pressure: 30.15 -->
Elevation: 461ft.
Rifle: DD 14.5" mid length CHF LW/Geissele 13" SMR MK1/Geissele SD-E trigger/NF NXSc 2.5-10x24 w. mil dot. Atlas bipod.
Results:
"Control groups" Hornady 55gr. Vmax:
For reference/comparison: same procedure/ammo/etc as above except these were shot with an uber accurate Rock 18" 5R SS SPR barrel....we can clearly see how the lightweight profile starts out "lights out" accurate, but sure enough as stats grow...we see each additional group's POI change slightly, and open up. Just like blackjack in a casino, you can beat the house for an hour or two...but as time goes on, you can't defy the house's odds. The SPR barrel is obviously gonna be more accurate, but it's really important to note not so much the group size measurements, but rather how consistent each group's overall POI remains the same.
"Snapshot groups" (L-R: Hornady 5.56 75gr. TAP T2....Federal M193....Hornady 55gr. Zmax):
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