HUGE layoffs at Daniel Defense

[ABNAK]

Ditto here. My deepest sympathies.

I made it through about 7 or 8 pages before I got worn out with all the Daniel Defense bashing so forgive me if I haven't read the rest.

I will say that other than maybe my Noveske Rogue Hunter, my DDM4V7 SLW is the most accurate, reliable, and well-built AR-15 I own or ever have owned. Heck I'm shooting it in my avatar. I absolutely love this thing and it has even given me the confidence to start competing. No, I haven't put 20,000+ rounds through it yet but so far it has run 100% flawlessly. As far as the furniture is concerned I guess I'm the only one on Earth who thinks the grip is very ergonomic and feels fantastic. Same with the stock. I actually find them aesthetically pleasing as well.

Yes, you're the only one!

[theorangecat]

As far as the furniture is concerned I guess I'm the only one on Earth who thinks the grip is very ergonomic and feels fantastic. Same with the stock. I actually find them aesthetically pleasing as well.

Functionally, I like the DD grip and am ambivalent about the stock (I have used worse)... I may be the only person to have retrofitted the new grip onto an old M4V3, but that A2 grip had to go.

If something works well enough, I'll give it a pass on aesthetics unless I really want to be liked by the cool kids who consider it ugly.

toc

[hile]

I like the ergos of the DD grip. The stock takes a little bit of getting used to, but I don't dislike it either. My next AR will be BCM, but I may put a DD pistol group on it.

[Caduceus]

Ditto here. My deepest sympathies.

I made it through about 7 or 8 pages before I got worn out with all the Daniel Defense bashing so forgive me if I haven't read the rest.

I will say that other than maybe my Noveske Rogue Hunter, my DDM4V7 SLW is the most accurate, reliable, and well-built AR-15 I own or ever have owned. Heck I'm shooting it in my avatar. I absolutely love this thing and it has even given me the confidence to start competing. No, I haven't put 20,000+ rounds through it yet but so far it has run 100% flawlessly. As far as the furniture is concerned I guess I'm the only one on Earth who thinks the grip is very ergonomic and feels fantastic. Same with the stock. I actually find them aesthetically pleasing as well.

My baby...

Never tried the grip. the buttstock I was "meh" on, but for some reason it works on my 10.3 DD upper (irony, I know). Because of the curve in it, it kind of just rolls up onto my shoulder. It doesn't work that way on a regular 16" rifle.

[Coal Dragger]

I have minor objections to the furniture on my V11 Pro.

The butt stock is fine. It's a collapsible butt stock for crying out loud, I really don't get too worked up about any of them either way. I've never had an issue with it or any other carbine butt stock of decent quality.

The pistol grip and integrated trigger guard could be significantly improved with a replaceable back strap so a user could adjust trigger reach a bit. That's about my only legitimate bitch.

As for cosmetics... well that's subjective but AR's are not Holland and Holland best grade guns so I don't care so much.

[thegreyman]

Yes, constructive criticism clouded by vitriol. I really like the Daniel Defense rifles.

I hope the Daniel Defense employees who have been laid off will be rehired or find new employment to support their families. I wish Daniel Defense well. I hope DD and the other members of the firearms industry successfully maneuver their way through tough times - especially Colt. Who would have ever anticipated the demand that Obama would generate? Up until the election of President Trump, the demand was still strong and production was maintained to meet the demand. I had no idea that President Trump would actually be elected; did you? I am so relieved he was; I imagine that most gun manufacturers did not consider his election a sure thing, and proceeded accordingly.

I really what to thank the forum members who injected empathy and reason into a painfully long thread. Personal attacks on fellow members are unnecessary, stupid and thoughtless, juvenile, counterproductive, mean spirited, and hurt the forum

Sorry some of you guys can't get Daniel Defense rails.

[Diamondback]

I too, wish DD well, and hope they're in a position to hire most back soon.

In the greater scheme, other than a few models the RIS II quibble is really small potatoes... at least for the M4 and Mk 18 they offer both complete and "stripped" (no BCG/CH/MD) URG's, which you can always have your favorite smith strip and refinish. It's an annoyance to us who like mil-spec parts, but it just means a little more time and cost. First World Problems for us... not such good news for the poor folks caught in the downsize.

Stocks, I personally don't use against my shoulder anyway since you'd have to rip apart and reassemble my entire upper torso to make one fit, so those are academic--basic mil-specs are inexpensive and easily slapped on, though I usually prefer models that offer better "tail-weight" for balance. YMMV, and I've always been a bit of an oddball.

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

LMAO at this thread. DD makes great rifles, has done so much for our community, and is now in a very tough spot through financials and the Vegas shooting. I feel for them, and for you poor folks who lost your jobs.

I, apparently for one, will still buy and use DD gear and rifles. You guys are too funny, sadly.

[Sry0fcr]

Aside from rapid expansion and cap-ex based on a boom or bust business cycle (obviously, it busted), did management there forget that they have a fully functional manufacturing facility with the capability to manufacture damn near anything? I have a couple clients that used to fabricate drilling rigs and substructures that moved to fabricating DOT trailers, telecom towers and even custom BBQ pits to fill their capacity after the oil & gas market dropped out. Today they're doing well enough to hire despite the soft oil business, but they're headed up by smart business people that decided that just because they started off building one product didn't mean that they had to stay that way... I think DD probably outgrew the leadership's ability to position the organization for success & that the leadership wasn't savvy enough to even realize it. Which is probably even worse...

[GH41]

The guys than run the machines probably came from all over the country. Savannah isn't exactly a manufacturing hotbed. I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of the skilled workers relocated to work for DD and will head back north for future employment. Look at this link. You don't have to be a machinist realize the kind of overhead DD has. I wonder how much of it runs lights out?? https://danieldefense.com/black-creek-ga-facility-tour