Today, we are looking at the Daniel Defense DDM4 A1 RIII AR-15 rifle. The price category in which you place Daniel Defense rifles will vary depending on each person, but I think it’s safe to say they are not cheap rifles. I like finding that budget gun for a great price, and there’s a lot out there. But it’s also fun to check out those guns on the other end of the price spectrum, right?
When you start comparing rifles, it’s important to remember one thing. Everyone’s opinion is just a little different when you start using words like quality, budget, and cheap. I often refer to the quality of a gun based on the price you pay for it, not how it compares to every other gun out there. But, as the price goes up, you start to wonder what you are getting for that extra $500, $1,000, or even $1,500.
When I was little, my grandfather always said “Look at that expensive green paint” when he saw a John Deer tractor. To him, the price tag went up just because of that John Deer name and green paint. We all know branding is a big deal, and some items cost more because of a brand’s logo. Currently, the DDM4 A1 RIII runs about $2,200 or sometimes less if you can find it on sale.
So, when it comes to guns, why are some brands more expensive than others? Multiple factors come into play that can drive the price up from other guns. They can include:
- Size of the manufacturing facility
- Types of machines being used
- Type of material used for making the firearm
- Location the material is sourced from
- Quality of staff
- Quality control process within the company
- Proprietary designs and the amount spent on developing new designs
Daniel Defense DDM4 A1 Lower Receiver
Several factors in the lower receiver contribute to the high price tag of the DDM4 A1. First is the design, which is proprietary to Daniel Defense. When a company spends time and money to make a design change, it will enviably increase the cost. With the DDM4, this change includes flared mag-well and ambidextrous controls.
Ambidextrous controls are not uncommon, but each company has its own design to make them work. This, of course, significantly increases the price of the lower receiver. Daniel Defense did a great job on their controls, and I’ve found them easy to use with either hand. A magazine release is located on the left side, just below the bolt catch, and has a serrated edge for gripping.
Daniel Defense used an oversized, square-shaped bolt release on the left and right side of the gun, which also has serrations. I did some mag-change drills with it, and the ambidextrous controls made a world of difference. It’s also much easier to lock the bolt open without reconfiguring your hands on the rifle.
The DDM4 A1 RIII has a standard mil-spec curved trigger with about a 7.5-pound trigger weight. According to Daniel Defense, it is a mil-spec trigger that comes from industry leaders like Geissele or Timney. It has no play before the wall and a crisp break on the pull.
The lower receiver itself is made of 7075-T6 aluminum and is topped off with a Type III hard coat anodized finish. This is a standard for any quality lower receiver today.
DDM4 Complete Upper with RIII Handguard
Like the lower receiver, Daniel Defense’s upper receivers are CNC machined from 7075-T6 aluminum. Unlike the lower receiver, the upper is mil-spec with a forward assist. The upper receiver sounds a little boring, but it’s all the stuff attached to it that gets more exciting.
The barrel is Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel, cold hammer forged, and chrome lined. Aside from the lower receiver, this is where some of that extra money is going. Many companies use Chrome Moly Vanadium steel for their barrels, but the number of companies making chrome-lined barrels is few and far between. The 14.5-inch M4 profile barrel is also heavy phosphate coated and HP/MPI tested.
Because the barrel is under 16 inches, an extended DD flash suppressor is pinned and welled to keep Uncle Sam happy. The flash suppressor is made from 17-4 PH stainless steel and has a Salt Bath Nitride finish. I had heard some complaints about the aesthetics of the welding job, but mine looked great.
For the gas system, the DDM4 A1 RIII is a direct impingement that runs on a mid-length tube. It has a pinned, low-profile gas block that is CNC machined from 4140 hard-ended steel with a heavy phosphate coating. The BCG is a mil-spec M16 profile that is chrome-lined and MP-tested.
Other Little Upgrades
Besides the bare bones, the DDM4 also comes with a Daniel Defenses “Grip-N-Rip” charging handle. This extended charging handle is made from 7075-T6 aluminum with stainless steel roll pins. I like the size of the charging handle because it sticks out just enough to get a good grip on it without catching on things.
Daniel Defense also makes their own pistol grip and adjustable stock, so you get a matching set with the DDM4. I like the looks of the pistol grip, but it’s just a little on the slender side for me. This may be something I change out down the road. The six-position handguard has QD attachments or a slot for a sling. Both it and the pistol grip are glass-filled polymer with a rubbery texture that DD calls “Soft Touch Overholding.”
The RIII handguard is probably one of the things that stood out to me the most. This handguard uses a patented “Bolt-Up System,” which locks the barrel nut in place. It also gives it a unique look, which I really like. Made of aircraft aluminum, the handguard is light and helps reduce the overall weight of the rifle. M-LOK slots run the length of the handguard and QD attachment points are on both ends as well.
Do the numbers add up?
There is no question that Daniel Defense uses high-grade materials for their rifles. I may change out the pistol grip, but that’s not because of the quality. For me, the ambidextrous controls, barrel, and handguard make this rifle worthy of a higher price tag. I’m not sure it will outperform some other rifles in the $1,600-$1,800 price range, so it’s just a hair overpriced for me, but not by far.
I’ve said many times that there are some great quality ARs out there for a reasonable price. It’s possible to find a $500 AR that will function impressively. But over time, some materials will wear down faster than others. The barrel and BCG are among the most important when it comes to quality parts, and Daniel Defense didn’t hold back.
On the range, it shoots extremely smoothly, and I haven’t had any issues with it yet. I’ll be running several more drills over the next few weeks before I write a full review on it. I would like to see some different types of ammo and magazines through it, along with some distance shooting. From what I have seen so far, I don’t think I will be disappointed with its performance. When you can find the DDM4 A1 RIII on sale, it retails for just under $2000. That’s still a lot of money for a rifle, but it’s an impressive AR-15.
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