Which is better to buy a Daniel Defense V1 or V5. What are the pros and cons of each.
Thanks
Depends on your end purpose on which is better. They’re equal quality. The v1 is a carbine with fixed front sight, the v5 is a mid length, and it can come with sights or without.
Both great weapons… in fact each rifle doesnt have much in the “con” category unless you want to count for “I cant afford both”… What gas system do you want, what rail system do you want? Buy either with confidence.
If you don’t have a precise use in mind, V5LW is the preferred answer as long as cost is comparable.
OmegaX Rifle length rail, a lighter barrel (still CHF) and a middy, and you have your choice of sights (mine wears MBUS now, though I though I’d use DD Fixed sights), so flexibility the V5 wins, and lightweight is preferred if you’re not going to be running much match ammo through it.
I’d snag the V5 upper, and then find a lower that you can put a QD swivel stock (CTR, STR, ACS-L, IMOD, EMOD, or Gen2 SOPMOD) and use those two sling points, then start thinking about the optic and weaponlight configuration you want… at least that’s the route I went with mine.
I own bolth and I have been using the V1 a little more than the V5 lately, I have no other reason other than I just got the V1 and I am trying it out for a while.
As far as the V5 goes, the middy is nice, it has a little softer recoil pulse than the carbine on the V1, its also nice because if you are running irons on it like me it gives you a rifle length sight picture so accuracy is better as longer distances. Other than that there is really no way for me to say one is better than the other.
I do like the fixed FSB on the V1, I am running an EOTech on mine and its nice to have the constant co-witness with the A 1.5 rear sight, I dont have to worry about using flip up sights. Its also nice because there seems to be a little more parts around for the carbine length style rifles. Ever sence middys have taken off its damn near impossible to find any mid lenght gas tubes in stock anywhere(not that you would ever need one) and I am just one of those types that likes to have some spare parts lying around for my rifles.
All in all they are bolth solid rifles and you will be happy with either. Just figure out which will best serve you and pull the trigger…no pun intended:p
Good luck with your purchase
I’ve got both and it’s hard to choose. I have the V1 set up with fixed rear sight and aimpoint T1 with a streamlight tlr1 on top in front of the fsp. V5 has folding troy sights and a burris 1-4x with an adm qd mount.
I usually grab the V1 first to go shoot.
You have to decide if you want carbine or mid, fsp or not.
I was at the same point you are about A month ago. I went with the V5 because i like the thought of being able to pick my front site. I prefer to have flip ups that I can just flip down so they do not interfere with my sight picture. If I need it I can simply flip it up. If I decide I want to go with a fixed sight I can do that also. I also like the midlength gas system I can tell decent difference between it and my carbine length gas systems.
Sorry if I am resurrecting this thread. But I have the same exact question. What did the op end up choosing?
LGS has a V1 on hand but could also get a V5 within a week or so. I thought I originally wanted fold down sights but that was before I understood the 1/3 co-witness.
Why don’t you PM him since we don’t know because he never came back to tell us?
The correct answer is buy both, that’s what I did. 
This. I have the V5 lightweight. For a hard use patrol carbine, the V1 is hard to beat.
What are the advantages of having a FSB?
The pins
The FSB which is also the gas blocks provides the advantage that the gas block is pinned to the barrel which is the most reliable and durable method and the fixed FSB is much more robust than rail mounted sight systems which are more susceptible to damage.
I own the V5 and I love it, I like the Mid length gas system over the Carbine length over all, just personal preference. I’ve shot the V1 and only after a lot of research bought the V5. Your not really going to go wrong with either, the only question really is which one can be setup to your individual preference. If you like the standard fixed front sight then awesome a V1 if not then V5 with flip ups. Your not going to hear a bad review of both, and if you do they probably don’t know what they are talking about.
I vote v5 just because i like the midlength setup. I have a v3 and everyone that shoots it is in love with it.
I’ll vote for the V1. I have a v1 and a BCM midlength. The midlength shoots softer, but the carbine is more reliable. I can shoot Tula (I only tested it to see if it would work)through the v1 and it cycles fine. The BCM, not so much.
I’ve done about 200rds of Wolf through my DDV5 and it worked awesome, any problems might be the Ammo its self. I like to shoot the Wolf to piss of my piston buddies who claim that the DI guns always jam, when his piston (Huldra, an Adam Arms setup) can’t shot steel. They biggest problem with Tula or Wolf is the accuracy and the fact that most ranges won’t take it.
If you are going with BUIS you can get a longer sight radius on the V5. I also think it looks more slick and you have a little more rail real estate.
Talking dwell time for a middy is less than a carbine… Therefor the lower powered rounds won’t fair as well as the better ammo. Tula=lower power.