Trying to decide on my next AR. I’ve always wanted a Daniel Defense m4 and I like the V7. I initially thought about getting a standard profile barrel, but the LGS has a special on a lightweight profile barrel v7. It’s got me thinking.
Uses: home defense and standard plinking mostly within 100 yards. Probably about 1-2k rounds per year. Not a duty weapon, not for long range. Other gun is a Rock River CAR m4 that is easily a 1 MOA gun and will become my longer range project. RRA is great but heavy.
Concerns/questions:
any difference in ability to shoot various weight bullets?
how much of a factor is barrel heating? Will it be noticeable during routine ops? How much do you really need to shoot before heat becomes an issue, either affecting accuracy or ability to hold the weapon? Is it after a 30 round mag dump, or 2x 30 round mag dumps, or 100 rounds in - couple minutes, or what?
same questions about accuracy. What’s the real difference between a standard profile and light in terms of accuracy?
1.) No difference in the ability to shoot different bullet weights
2.) Barrel heating may be a factor if you’re going to be doing lots of full-auto mag dumps. Heat may cause a zero shift for the LW barrel after several 30 round mag dumps, but it will still definitely be minute-of-bad-guy.
3.) Some say barrel harmonics may affect accuracy. The “government” profile of the standard DD barrels has more weight at the muzzle end, theoretically giving it a stronger “whip” effect when shooting.
Get the LW version. I wish I would have. I have a standard V5. Also wish I had a tube-style foreend. Plan to install a 13" BCM KMR soon to fix that issue!
Enjoy your DD.
I have the V7 with the gov’t profile barrel and I can tell you now that I wish I had the LW. With the type of shooting I do, I don’t need the added benefits of the thicker barrel. I don’t do mag dumps or full auto fire but YMMV. If you’re into that kinda stuff then by all means go for it, you’ll most likely be pleased with either but I’d rather the LW.
I almost chose a DDM4V5 Lw upper but went with BCM ELW barrel. With the quality of DD barrels I would think that their LW CHF barrel will serve most very well.
Made that mistake. Won’t make it again. May have Adco re-profile mine when I throw the KMR on there. What is the diameter of the LW barrels ahead of the gas block? Do they continuously taper until the muzzle?
If you don’t believe the small weight decrease outweights the benefit of having a more meaty, durable barrel. I have a 16" BCM KMR and have no interest in a light weight barrel. If I bought it again tomorrow I’d get it with a government profile barrel. You think it be a 5 pound difference the way some people push light weight barrels. My gun is very light as is and have no desire to take away material off the barrel for very little difference for something that is already light and balances just fine. I do think a mid weight taper is the best and wish it was a option but I’m not comfortable with pencil barrels. YMMV.
I have the M4V7LW upper. For the sheer practicality of it, I could see no benefit of a Govt profile barrel for my purposes. The equal barrel thickness prior to the gas block (V7=V7LW) was what pushed me over to the LW. I could not wrap my head around the concept that an increase in barrel thickness from the GB to the muzzle device provided any real benefit. With the free float MFR, that extra weight at the end was only being supported by the barrel structure itself, as the only other POC with the receiver is the gas tube. I could only imagine that the exra weight out there added to whip.
I am no physics/structural expert, all my experience is user-end and I could be completely wrong. My .02, YMMV.
I agree. Never been a pencil barrel fan either. My DDM4-V7 comes up just great and balances the way I like it. Wish I had it back in the 70’s when I was in the sht.
A little extra meat on the barrel isn’t a terrible thing. But extra weight at the end of the barrel isn’t useful at all in my opinion.
I will accept extra weight if it provides an actual advantage. To me, the Government profile does not have a discernable difference in accuracy or durability.
That doesn’t mean I don’t have Gov’t profile barrels (I do, including 2 16" mids and a 11.5"). But I much prefer the lightweight profile.
Isn’t the profile before the hand guards the same? I thought govt profile was lw behind gas block and thick up front giving you no advantages, while adding weight to the worst possible area.
Either way, LW barrels from DD are very accurate and durable, for HD, SD, get the LW.
Government profile. . .the very name should send you running in the opposite direction. You can search the forum to find the reason they added mass to the very end of the barrel-- and it doesn’t have anything to do with shooting. If you plan on using your weapon to do a lot of prying, then by all means, get the government profile. I have a DD lightweight, thanks to the many recommendations on this forum, and am very pleased.
If you are concerned about heat or accuracy, get a barrel with more mass where it actually helps–between the chamber and the gas port. Noveske, Sionics, and Criterion make excellent quality mid-weight barrles with a more logical profile.
LW is nice for toting around the woods, popping off the occasional shot, but in a serious fighting rifle, I would always prefer a heavier profile. I have a DDM4V7 standard profile. It’s a bit heavier than it looks, but it shoots like a dream and I dump mags at full speed with my SD-3G and don’t have to worry about warpage or anything. Plus, I would like the option of jabbing someone with the barrel if I have to. I don’t trust pencil barrels to withstand that kind of abuse. If a standard profile barrel is too heavy for you, I’d say you should up your workout program. A 1 or 2 lb. increase in weight never hurt anyone.
DD uses either the Govt profile or LW profile barrel on V7’s, with free float MFR tubes. Both are the same diameter prior to the gas block. If you need to attack or pry someone/something with the business end of the barrel, the Govt profile is no stronger than the LW in the aforementioned area. No matter where you grasp the rifle (unless maybe your holding it by the gas block), the force is transferred down the barrel to the barrel nut/receiver. Therefore, on both barrels, force travels through an area of equal thickness/strength. In applying the “weakest link” theory, I still believe that the thicker visible area gives the perception of increased strength.
If you can provide any factual info articulating why your M4V7 is stronger than an M4V7LW, I’m open to it.