Evaluating Daniel Defense's 14.5" CHF LW 5.56 barrel...

[ALCOAR]

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):

[ALCOAR]

Velocity Evaluation:






Setup: Oehler 35P proof screen chronograph set 10yds from muzzle

**Barrel temps were never allowed to reach over 75 degrees F while shooting an individual velocity string, and a 5 min. break was allowed in between different strings.

Conditions:

Temp: 66 degrees F
Humidity: 87%
Pressure: 30.15 -->
Elevation: 461ft.

Velocity results:



Ballistic charts for each individual ammo type were calculated using the above "true" velocity data, and then my actual conditions.

M855 / 14.5" Ballistic chart



MK318 / 14.5" Ballistic chart



M193 / 14.5" Ballistic chart

[ALCOAR]

FINAL REPORT:

Grades....

Accuracy: B+

Handling: A+

Consistency
(resistance to accuracy
degradation from
barrel heat): C-

Machining/finishing: A+

chrome lining, rifling, GB fixture, feed ramps, muzzle threading, and exterior phosphate coating were all excellent on this particular barrel.

In summery,

If Daniel Defense makes every product in their line up as nicely as they do these barrels, then they will for sure cement a place in the AR industry for a really long time to come....right alongside Colt, LMT, KAC, etc.

I'd strongly recommend this barrel for any Patrol/Duty/HD/PD type AR build where one isn't likely to encounter scenario's that will require either copious amounts of precision, or large volumes of successive firing.

For what it is.....one helluva tiny barrel....I'm walking away very impressed

*** As always, the velocity data wouldn't be possible without a fellow awesome member's generosity...Thanks Slomo for the usage of the 35P.

[g5m]

Thanks. Another very interesting post.

[justin_247]

Those are better results than I expected. Pretty impressive!

[Grease Monkey]

I just recently used this barrel (with fsb) on my most recent build and I have been very happy with it's performance as well! This was my second barrel from them and I think I will continue to use their barrels in future builds. Thanks for the great post!

[markm]

The accuracy is what it is for a barrel in that catagory. Perfectly acceptable.

That port size seems small for a 14.5 middy based on what the boys were saying in another thread... They were liking ports in the 7 range for that set up.

[G-lock]

Markm-
Do you think he was measuring the barrel diameter at the gas block rather than the gas port itself?

[LeroyRT]

Excellent write up, but I have to make note of one thing: The gas port diameter is not .625". That is the diameter of the barrel at the gas port. The gas port diameter is above 0.070" from the one I measured a long time ago.

[sapper36]

Thanks Trident, that is the exact barrel that I was looking at for my wifes rifle, looks like you just sealed the deal for her!!