colt barrels verus daniel defense barrel
- Thread starter AlbertanBound
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I've never had an issue with DD barrels. Pretty good accuracy from 'em too in my 16" and 12.5". I just picked up a gently used 18" S2W which I've yet to shoot some groups with. If you can afford the Noveske barrels, have at it for sure. I recently got an LMT M4 upper I haven't shot yet for first hand experience.
I've been shooting a DD 18" S2W mid length barrel for over a year now. Its a wicked peice of equipment. Its by no means a sub MOA barrel, but with decent ammo, and an eotech, I manage 1.5-2" groups consistantly. Ive shot it out to 600m and been able to make hits on a sillouette target (if the wind is nice to me). At 500m I can consistantly make hits on a sillouette target. I love my Daniel Defense barrel. 100% reccomend. As for Colt, they make a good product as well, although I tend to see them priced rather high for what you are getting. I've used a Colt Canada SA20 with similar results, but I have more time on the Daniel Defense.
I think that depending on what you are looking to do, either company would be a good choice. It will come down to who makes the profile, gas length, and coating/bore finish (chrome lined, Salt nitride, stainless, ect) that you prefer.
The above mentioned options have good reviews, but I dont have experience with them.
I think that depending on what you are looking to do, either company would be a good choice. It will come down to who makes the profile, gas length, and coating/bore finish (chrome lined, Salt nitride, stainless, ect) that you prefer.
The above mentioned options have good reviews, but I dont have experience with them.
For me it comes down to gas port size. Everything else is secondary.
What lenght are you looking for? Are you looking for 16", if so go with Daniel Defense because Colt doesn't make a mid-lenght. Are you looking for a short barrel? Daniel Defense's short barrels are overgassed, and I'm pretty sure Colts are too, if you can find one. The flipside with Daniel Defense is you get a hammer forged barrel, that is always a good thing.
What range are you able to shoot at? If it's 100m and under, I wouldn't remotely consider accuracy a factor (nor would I consider a barrel over 11.5") so a high-end precision barrel is a waste of $.
Both of them make a good barrel, however I give the edge to DD.
Did you take a look at LMT? Because they are masters at barrel making (actually they are masters at making everything AR, moreso than DD ot Colt) and their gas ports are the correct size, which is why I only buy LMT barrels.
What lenght are you looking for? Are you looking for 16", if so go with Daniel Defense because Colt doesn't make a mid-lenght. Are you looking for a short barrel? Daniel Defense's short barrels are overgassed, and I'm pretty sure Colts are too, if you can find one. The flipside with Daniel Defense is you get a hammer forged barrel, that is always a good thing.
What range are you able to shoot at? If it's 100m and under, I wouldn't remotely consider accuracy a factor (nor would I consider a barrel over 11.5") so a high-end precision barrel is a waste of $.
Both of them make a good barrel, however I give the edge to DD.
Did you take a look at LMT? Because they are masters at barrel making (actually they are masters at making everything AR, moreso than DD ot Colt) and their gas ports are the correct size, which is why I only buy LMT barrels.
Im not sure what you feed your AR, but out of curiosity have you had any issues cycling with low end ammo?, IE Tula, Norc, Etc... I heard a while ago, that due to the gas port size, the LMT barrels would not cycle some of the low end ammo. Not sure if you can shed any light on this.
Cheers
I have never had any cycling issues with it. Norinco was hot stuff (5.56 spec) and it shot the (yellow box and white box, the yellow box stuff was marvelous) crates I had beautifully. Right now I'm going through crates of steel cased MFS .223 55gr and Barnaul 62gr, it cycles very reliably and makes a neat little pile 10-12ft at my 4. I do feel the action running slower with the steel cased stuff, especially MFS 55gr, the Barnaul 62gr is running more firmly, the crates of American Eagle .223 black box 55gr I had were running considerably slower than the Norinco 5.56, but faster than MFS.
I am running a mil-spec action spring and Colt H2 buffer (in all my AR's). I haven't run Tula, but I'd guess it should be comparable to the MFS. Very accurate too, I consistently get 1" groups at 50 meters with cheap 55gr using a red dot (consistently being me testing accuracy every few thousand rounds, usually when I change ammo, 99.999% of my shooting is done off the bench).
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You must be referring to Colt USA barrels as all Colt Canada barrels are hammer forged and then some.
Why not consider accuracy a factor when only having a 100Yd. range to shoot at? almost all rifle accuracy starts to be judged at 100Yds. as MOA (inside an inch at 100Yds. and beyond)?
I do agree DD makes a good barrel and theres nothing wrong with a DD barrel (very good quality) and better then Colt USA, however I'm not ready to say it's better the a Colt Canada barrel (and yes I've used both a CC and a DD).
It's just unfortunate at this time CC only has a few barrels available to the public and in limited lengths (perhaps 6 months will make a difference and we'll begin to see IUR's in many sizes, would definitely be worth the wait).
Cheers D
I'm sure with some good glass, you'd probably get 1MOA or better. At least all the reviews I've read say that the 18" S2W is a sub-MOA barrel. I'm hoping so 'cause I picked up a gently used one.
My 16" Gov't profile DD barrel seems capable of MOA or better but haven't gotten out to confirm that yet 'cept for when I was testing out some loads earlier this season.
My thoughts exactly, by swapping to an optic better suited to making small groups at 100m+ along with some quality match ammo. (or even better dialed-in hand-loads), sub-MOA groups would be a reality.
Cheers D
If a rackgrade rifle will only shoot match ammo at sub-moa and crap at shooting widely available ammo, it is useless unless you only shoot match ammo.
A proper gauge of a rack grade rifle is to shoot rack grade ammo, not to shoot ammo that you can't purchase in the quantity that you use all the time.
IMHO, a rack grade rifle should shoot no more than 2.5MOA (5" ) with rackgrade ammo in 10 round groups at 200m. Preferably, it should stay under 2MOA at 200m.
If you cannot do better than 5" at 200m, you need to cross that ammo out (unless you use that ammo for under 50m) or cross the gun out ( if it can't shoot most ammo at 2.5 MOA)
On the other hand, if your rifle is purchased to shoot match ammo, you should gauge its performance with match ammo and disregard how it works with the rack grade stuff.
A proper gauge of a rack grade rifle is to shoot rack grade ammo, not to shoot ammo that you can't purchase in the quantity that you use all the time.
IMHO, a rack grade rifle should shoot no more than 2.5MOA (5" ) with rackgrade ammo in 10 round groups at 200m. Preferably, it should stay under 2MOA at 200m.
If you cannot do better than 5" at 200m, you need to cross that ammo out (unless you use that ammo for under 50m) or cross the gun out ( if it can't shoot most ammo at 2.5 MOA)
On the other hand, if your rifle is purchased to shoot match ammo, you should gauge its performance with match ammo and disregard how it works with the rack grade stuff.
damn, I'm not sure what the shoot to live quals are like nowadays, and what the guys are actually scoring. But anyone that could group 4in @ 100m from the prone (unsupported, no mag resting), was viewed as an expert. Getting 2.5moa would have been god like.
"Shoot to Live" is not what guys are doing when they try to get 1moa groups... bench, bags up front, bags under the buttstock, often a high magnification scope, a trigger so light your Sgt would have a heart attack knowing you were sometimes issued live ammo!
Its kind of an apples vs oranges thing.
$$$
Im sure you are right. Back when I had a bushnell AR optic 1-4, i managed to squeeze out a few groups that were just under 1MOA with some match ammo. I actually plan on going back to a 1-4, but better glass so that I can go back to this haha. You will definitely like the barrel. Its a tack driver
. As far as some of the other comments, I wasn't aware that CC barrels were available for individual purchase, but they are very well made as well. As for the adjustable gas block, yes, you could go that route if you are willing to spend an additional $80-120 (I'm guessing) on that. alternatively, you just make sure the barrel you buy is nicely spec'd out with what you need as far things like gas port size. Depending on what the OP is looking for out of their rifle, MOA vs MOM (Minute of Man, lol) would be a consideration. Lots of decent inexpensive options for barrels, but they won't necessarily shoot MOA or better. I agree with the 2.5MOA statement above. A tighter group is always nice, but not always necessary. conversely, for myself if I cant through down a half decent group at 200, because my rifle isn't capable (unlikely, guns are almost aways better than people haha) with Federal 62gr, then that would bug me.
$$$ as was previously mentioned and also reliability. When talking firearms I use the american philosopy that the firearm will be used in life and death situations so it must be absolutely 100% reliable. A setscrew can back off or the end of the setscrew can erode over time.
I have 2 Noveske barrels, a 14.5 SS Afghan with a mid length gas system and a CHF 10.5" CQB with a carbine length gas system.
Both these barrels produce sub MOA groups using the proper ammo and 1-2 MOA with my reloads of 55gr Hornady FMJ.
The Afghan has never failed in over 5,000 rounds no matter what buffer weight I run. That is the softest shooting rifle I've ever experienced and I get that comment often.
The 10.5" CQB is a little more picky with buffer weights and uses an H2 buffer.
Noveske Match Mod0 chambers give you 100% reliability with as much retained accuracy as possible.
Noveske CHF barrels are double chrome lined to withstand full auto firing.
fn barrels are also double chrome lined. I have a remington defense barrel that shoots .77 moa with target ammo,1 moa with umc remington, 2 moa with 62 gr ss109, and .5 moa with black hills load. I also have a novesque barrel that does basically the same but is in in 1 in 8 twist. You will never regret buying a novesque barrel, its like buying a case of beer instead of a 6 pack, its just better
