There have been reports of over-gassing on all DD barrel lengths.
Do your own research.
Saw zip about 16" M4s being overgassed.
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Ive shot and examined one DD 16" gun and one of their quasi mk18 guns. Both guns were carbine length gas systems and both were overgassed. All things being equal, id take a Colt over a DD…no question. However, the colt you mentioned has had work done on it (FF rail and lo pro gas block, right?). Im not too fond of the troy rail. Also, the gas block is a critical piece. What kind of lo pro gas block was installed? Id want to make certain that gas flow was squared away. What kind of rail is on that DD, a lite I?
I was trying not to write a Russian novel. the FSB was Dremeled down. Best possible gas block.
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How do you figure Colt is closer to spec? The commercial rifles are not built on the same machines as the government rifles. The machining centers Colt uses are probably 40 years old! I’ll take DD QC over Colt any day of the week! Colt cannot compete. That’s why they are where they are at today.
Nope.
Colt got to where they are today because of unfunded union liabilities and lack of participation in the civilian marketplace.
It has nothing to do with QC or their engineering prowess.
Could you really go wrong either way? I know this threads talking point is choosing one or the other, but if the op is looking for “general purpose, SHTF, HD backup carbine” then I would not hesitate to either way. But if pressed, I would go with the Colt.
I’m not going to ask you how much either of the two rifles are priced at, but have you considered just buying a brand new rifle?
I’m not trying to come off ignorant of the question you posted, but today’s prices on AR’s are probably the best they’ll be for a long time.
For example, a brand new Colt 6920 or 6720 will be ~$800(?); I may be off a little.
It’s hard to imagine a far cheaper price than that, and with a new gun you have piece of mind that if something goes wrong you still have warranty. A gun that was tweaked with, or used always has that bit of uncertainty.
There was a thread here a while back where someone was considering buying/trading what appeared to be a very lightly used SR-15. Upon closer inspection it turned out someone somewhere replaced some critical parts with heavily worn out ones.
Got beat to it - depends which rail (even within the rails from one manufacturer).
The great news is that the OP is choosing between two very good options… that’s why it’s not super easy.
I don’t think a LW barrel is going to lose you anything but some ounces. The LW barrel and the standard government profile will be identical aft of the gas block where the weight counts. adding extra weight to the 8 inches after the gas block is not adding much in terms of stability to the barrel.
True, a stock 6720 at G&R is ~$800, but then there’s tax, shipping, FFL, background check and upgrading to a FF rail. PLUS, I try to buy w/o paperwork whenever I can. The owners of both of these guns are well known to me and there is no dime store smithing / parts swappage here.
Can you arrange to shoot both of the guns? if so, then buy whichever one you like better after shooting them.
Or just buy both…
I’ve shot both. Very slight edge to FD. Not a noob. Looking for
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Just buy one. Thread over.
I have heard people saying Colt QC is slipping. However whenever Ive investigated the claims they were either talking about that Colt branded cheapo rifle (Seriously Colt?) or were just Colt haters who couldnt produce any real evidence. Colt rifles still get inspected by third party QC personnel.
Thanks, this is the kind of info I come to M4C for. I also found another thread in which Iraqgunz indicates that early Daniel Defense guns with the Savannah roll mark are not the equal of the recent offerings. no specifics, no specifics were given because that o p suggested going private.
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False, on all accounts. Colt’s factories, like most reputable manufacturers, are regularly updated. There are numerous sources out there for this type of thing, but ill suggest a piece entitled “Behind the scenes at Colt” published by guns and ammo in 2012. In said article you will see numerous pictures of raw forgings, bolt carriers on lathes, finished rifles, discussions on various pieces of equipment etc. Colt’s civilian guns are built in the same fashion as their military guns. A civilian Colt 6921 upper, for example, is a military M4 carbine upper. The two are analogous.
Or you could back-up your statement. 
Or you could stop being lazy.
There have been lots reports of over-gassing with DD.
I really don’t care either way.
I’d go with the Colt and here’s why:
At that time, DD was just starting out. It’s kind of like buying a new-model year car; you want the bugs worked for a year or so first. Daniel Defense now is absolutely good to go, and I’d say in the top tier with Colt, BCM, Noveske, etc. If it was a new DD vs an old colt, I would go with new DD; I own a DD MK12, and it’s the most quality rifle I’ve over owned, for whatever that’s worth, but I haven’t owned any of the other brands (I did own a BCM ELWF but didn’t actually shoot it, sold it befroe I shot it).