So I bought a new to me, used Daniel Defense upper receiver.
It was advertised as being a DD upper and from the pictures I saw, it appeared to be. Let me give you the break down of what I got in the mail:
Daniel Defense Omega-X FSP rail
Daniel Defense upper receiver
BCM/VLTOR Gunfighter Mod3 Charging Handle (can't complain about that)
Daniel Defense read A1.5 sight
Spike's Tactical Standard Phosphate HPT/MPI Tested M16 BCG
DPMS 16" 1x9" Twist, AP4 Contour (their M4 cut barrel)
Now, I knew it was coming with a Spikes Tactical BCG. I could clearly see the "Spider" laser engraved into the side of the carrier (sellers pictures), where the DD would have been, if it was a Daniel Defense That was the least of my concern. Spikes has a quality BCG, it's HPT/MPI tested and all that good stuff. It's quality just like any of the DD, BCM, LMT etc BCG's out there.
What has me annoyed is the DPMS barrel. The seller claims he bought it that way and did not know it had a DPMS barrel. He didn't seem to concerned to hear about my issue and before I could even ask for a refund he said, well I sold that upper to fund another project, the money is gone so I can't even offer you a refund, sorry.
He said he put 1,500 or so threw it, zero issues. I believe he had no issues, DPMS stuff isn't THAT bad. It's just when your expecting a DD upper, well the barrel is the heart and soul of the whole damn gun!
I picked up the whole upper for $525.00 dollars shipped, it's lists out at $1039.00 on DD's website.
Did not come with the DD vertical forward grip btw.
SO here is my question... I have $400~$450.00'ish set aside for optics, been saving for a Aimpoint Micro-T or maybe an EOTech XPS. I'm thinking about just using part of that money to BUY a Daniel Defense barrel and waiting on the optics. If it was one of you, what would you do? Get the DD barrel or just skip it and use the DPMS and get the optics?
I can get a basic button rifled DD barrel for $220'ish. I don't think it really matters if it CHF's or not for what I'm doing which is just weekend plink'ing and a SHTF gun. Then again maybe for just a basic plinker and a SHTF gun, the DPMS is good to go? I did put 200 rounds threw without a single failure, it's just the point of the thing. Like I said above, the barrel IS the heart of the Daniel Defense upper.
On the lower receiver end it's all decent quality too. I built that myself using a Smith and Wesson lower, full Daniel Defense LPK, a Magpul MIAD rifle grip and a Magpul CTR stock kit. Then it's got a Magpul ASAP sling attachment point on it. The gun is quality all around but that dang DPMS barrel just seems out of place!
It's like having a Porsche with a Ford Fiesta motor in it!![]()





Bookmarks