Best Hard-Use AR15s in 2022?

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Originally Posted by SwampDweller

Just an update on my final decision. I ended up ordering a Daniel Defense M4v9 (16" midlength gas w/ 15" quad rail). Some day I'll try out M-lok, but today is not that day. Looking forward to getting and shooting my new rifle!

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Why the 15" rail?

Thats a lot of extra rail and extra weight especially in a quad.

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Originally Posted by Paul Blackburn

Why the 15" rail?

Thats a lot of extra rail and extra weight especially in a quad.

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No particular reason. I found a really good deal on it through my job. I was gonna go with the RIS III but this kinda fell into my lap. The DDM4 quad rail is still lighter than my M16A4 upper with KAC M5 RAS.

OP, congrats! I’m looking at DD as well, so let me know what you think.

All, what’s the 14.5 version of the DD M4 V7?

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Originally Posted by TOTS

OP, congrats! I’m looking at DD as well, so let me know what you think.

All, what’s the 14.5 version of the DD M4 V7?

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The V7 SLW

https://danieldefense.com/ddm4-v7slw.html

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Originally Posted by SwampDweller

No particular reason. I found a really good deal on it through my job. I was gonna go with the RIS III but this kinda fell into my lap. The DDM4 quad rail is still lighter than my M16A4 upper with KAC M5 RAS.

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You'll be fine with what you chose. That's a solid rail and will serve you well.

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Originally Posted by Paul Blackburn

Why the 15" rail?

Thats a lot of extra rail and extra weight especially in a quad.

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Among other things, it appears that if you filter the DD rifle listing page for midlength gas, picatinny hand guard, and 5.56, that’s the only option.

https://danieldefense.com/rifles/ar-15-rifles.html

https://danieldefense.com/rifles/ar-...gas_system=102

If you include carbine-length gas
https://danieldefense.com/rifles/ar-...system=102,101
You get at least one marginally more sensible option, but it then has (a) a carbine length gas system (which will get you ridiculed on the internet) and (b) a 14.5” barrel with pinned muzzle device (which, ironically, will seemingly NOT get you ridiculed on the internet, despite being rather pointless).

I would personally love to see the handguard from the DDM4A1 installed on the DDM4V9 (which seems like it’d be an easy enough swap?). Or, as much as I prefer the picatinny as well, I might opt for the DD4 RIII as I like a little exposed barrel.

Attachment 97415

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Originally Posted by rob_s

Among other things, it appears that if you filter the DD rifle listing page for midlength gas, picatinny hand guard, and 5.56, that’s the only option.

https://danieldefense.com/rifles/ar-15-rifles.html

https://danieldefense.com/rifles/ar-...gas_system=102

If you include carbine-length gas
https://danieldefense.com/rifles/ar-...system=102,101
You get at least one marginally more sensible option, but it then has (a) a carbine length gas system (which will get you ridiculed on the internet) and (b) a 14.5” barrel with pinned muzzle device (which, ironically, will seemingly NOT get you ridiculed on the internet, despite being rather pointless).

I would personally love to see the handguard from the DDM4A1 installed on the DDM4V9 (which seems like it’d be an easy enough swap?). Or, as much as I prefer the picatinny as well, I might opt for the DD4 RIII as I like a little exposed barrel.
]

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I've never understood the ridicule for carbine length gas on the internet. On some certain forums with the way it's talked about, you'd think the guns are jammomatics and borderline useless. Sure, midlength may be more appropriate for such barrel lengths, but a well-made carbine gas gun with a proper spec gas port will just run and run, and they have done so for decades with great reliability. I ordered the midlength to try it out and receive the benefits observed during testing, but if all I could have were 14.5" or 16" carbine gas rifles, I wouldn't sweat it. My old Colt LE6920 has been incredibly reliable and accurate.

Also, I thought I was the only one who still has a preference for picatinny. Wouldn't mind trying the RIS III at some point, though. I think part of why I managed to find a v9 at a pretty good price was because picatinny doesn't sell like it used to. I'm good with that.

ETA: I like the idea of the M4A1 RIS II handguard on the V9. Gives you the toughest handguard available on a 16" midlength gas gun. I might have to consider that down the road, but more than likely I'd keep the v9 as it is and get another rifle to do that to.

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Originally Posted by SwampDweller

ETA: I like the idea of the M4A1 RIS II handguard on the V9. Gives you the toughest handguard available on a 16" midlength gas gun. I might have to consider that down the road, but more than likely I'd keep the v9 as it is and get another rifle to do that to.

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My first thought was “get a complete uppper” but DD doesn’t even have any 16in picatinny 5.56 uppers listed. Two 14.5s, a 10.3, and an 18, but no 16.

https://danieldefense.com/uppers.htm...ing_system=391

Only 16in mid-length are with the full-length Brazilian handguard, although one is then”lw” which is intriguing.
https://danieldefense.com/uppers.htm...gas_system=102

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Originally Posted by SwampDweller

I've never understood the ridicule for carbine length gas on the internet. On some certain forums with the way it's talked about, you'd think the guns are jammomatics and borderline useless. Sure, midlength may be more appropriate for such barrel lengths, but a well-made carbine gas gun with a proper spec gas port will just run and run, and they have done so for decades with great reliability. I ordered the midlength to try it out and receive the benefits observed during testing, but if all I could have were 14.5" or 16" carbine gas rifles, I wouldn't sweat it. My old Colt LE6920 has been incredibly reliable and accurate.

Also, I thought I was the only one who still has a preference for picatinny. Wouldn't mind trying the RIS III at some point, though. I think part of why I managed to find a v9 at a pretty good price was because picatinny doesn't sell like it used to. I'm good with that.

ETA: I like the idea of the M4A1 RIS II handguard on the V9. Gives you the toughest handguard available on a 16" midlength gas gun. I might have to consider that down the road, but more than likely I'd keep the v9 as it is and get another rifle to do that to.

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No ridicule from me on the carbine length system, I still have one but rarely run it anymore. I'm not going to get into the argument of which is better but I like the recoil pulse of a midlength system over a carbine system. I've also never had to worry about H buffers, extractor springs, o-rings, etc with a middy. I will say that if you are running steel cased or lower powered 223 ammo, the carbine length seems to be more suited to that.

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Originally Posted by SwampDweller

Also, I thought I was the only one who still has a preference for picatinny. Wouldn't mind trying the RIS III at some point, though. I think part of why I managed to find a v9 at a pretty good price was because picatinny doesn't sell like it used to. I'm good with that.

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I got a DDM4v9 LW because it checked a couple of boxes that were important to me and apparently not many others. On the other hand, a some of my compadres who bought "more practical" AR's in the same timeframe have traded them away, or changed rails, or what have you, while I keep being satisfied with my choice.