Daniel Defense DD5 V4 6.5 Creedmoor Review – Accurate and Versatile

There are more modern sporting rifle manufacturers than at any time in history, but Daniel Defense continues to set themselves apart by offering the highest-quality, most accurate MSR rifles with a long list of premium features.

The Daniel Defense DD5 V4 takes that ease-of-use and versatility one step farther by offering a new gas-block design that allows you to quickly and easily adjust the gas block to shoot suppressed or unsuppressed. Designed in-house by Daniel Defense’s engineering team, the system allows the shooter to rapidly and easily customize their rifle’s operation using simple tools. The gas block adjustment, located between the M-LOK slots, can be controlled using an Allen wrench. A simple quarter turn is all that’s required to shoot suppressed. What’s more, the gas block is machined from hardened 4140 steel and the rotating switch pin is made from 17-4 stainless steel that has been salt bath nitride treated for maximum corrosion resistance.

In addition to the new adjustable gas-block design, the DD5 V4 6.5 Creedmoor MSR offers all the premium features you’d expect to find on a Daniel Defense rifle. It comes with the company’s proprietary 18-inch cold hammer forged barrel that is chrome lined for consistent performance, ease of maintenance and long life. The 8620 bolt carrier group is equipped with a buffer for smooth, consistent cycling and an improved recoil pulse, and it’s superfinished and DLC coated for maximum wear-resistance and hassle-free cleaning.

The VAR stainless steel bolt utilizes Daniel Defense’s enhanced extractor geometry and dual ejector setup that sets the industry standard for reliability and performance, and a 4-Bolt Connection System mates the barrel to the upper receiver offers class-leading durability. Both the upper and lower receivers are CNC machined from 7075-T6 aluminum and are Type III hard anodized.

The 15-inch DD5 M-LOK rail is CNC machined from 6061-T6 and is hard anodized as well. Like the upper and lower receiver, the 6-position Mil-Spec receiver extension is made from 7075-T6. Premium machined components throughout make the DD5 V4 a rock-solid MSR that will survive in the worst environments.

With a weight of 8.6 pounds, the DD5 V4 in 6.5 Creedmoor is perfectly balanced, suitable for serious long-range target shooting to 1,000 yards or more, yet it’s light enough to carry in the field. This balance and minimal weight is due in part to Daniel Defense’s S2W (Strength-to-Weight) barrel profile, which is perfectly suited for a wide range of applications.

A 1:8 twist barrel allows shooters to make the most of high-BC, heavy-for-caliber 6.5 bullets, and the barrel features a 5/8 x 24 threaded muzzle and comes standard with the company’s Superior Suppression Device, which is made from 17-4 stainless steel and comes with a durable salt-bath nitride finish. With six stock adjustment points, overall length varies from 35 3/8 to 39 inches. Best of all, the DD5 V4 is made in America.

DD5 V4 On the Range

One of the things that sets Daniel Defense apart from its many competitors is the company’s use of premium and shooter-friendly components throughout their rifles. Both the pistol grip and buttstock are Daniel Defense’s own glass-filled polymer design with soft-touch overmolding. These provide a secure and comfortable grip on the rifle and they’re both well-suited for long-range sessions.

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The GRIP-N-RIP independently ambi charging handle with anti-gas feature is easy to find, grasp, and manipulate and bolt travel is smooth. The controls are ambidextrous and easy to operate, and the flared magazine well makes mag swaps fast and efficient.

Daniel Defense DD5 V4 rifles ship with 20-round Magpul PMAGs but are designed to accept any SR-25 magazine. Not only is this rifle made from quality components but there’s also an unmistakable sense that the design team at Daniel Defense built this rifle with the shooter in mind after extensive field testing, a gun that’s built by gun guys.

That attention to detail is on full display when you shoot this gun at the range. With Hornady 140-grain ELD Match and 143-grain ELD-X precision Hunter ammo, 100-yard three-shot groups were running between 0.6 and 0.8 inches, and even five-shot groups remained under an inch. That’s due in part to the rifle’s outstanding barrel and precision build quality, but it’s also partly to do with the excellent Mil-Spec trigger.

I followed the initial testing with shots at 200, 300, and 400 yards, maxing out the shooting range without beginning to max out the capabilities of the DD5 V4. This gun manages recoil very well and it’s comfortable to shoot. The comb design is perhaps the best in the crowded MSR field, and the grip is properly angled for complete control over the gun without discomfort or fatigue. As you might expect, there weren’t any failures throughout the test.

At $2,499, the DD5 V4 isn’t cheap, but you simply can’t get a rifle of this build quality for less. It offers premium components throughout and smart design elements that are the result of lots of range work, not just lab work. Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, the Daniel Defense DD5 V4 is a superb all-around rifle, capable of consistently hitting targets at a half-mile or more. It would also make a great hunting rifle, and it’s tough enough to survive the rigors of daily range or ranch work. Plus, switching from suppressed to unsuppressed shooting is fast, simple, and efficient.

There are more AR builders today than at any time in history, but there’s only one Daniel Defense — and the DD5 V4 6.5 Creedmoor is an example of why this company remains at the top of a very crowded field.

Daniel Defense DD5 V4 6.5 Creedmoor Specs:

• Mounting System: M-LOK
• Caliber/Cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Muzzle Thread: 5⁄8×24 TPI (Threads Per Inch)
• Gas System: Rifle
• Barrel Length: 18 inches
• Barrel Profile: S2W [Strength-to-Weight]
• Weight: 8.6 pounds
• Length: 35 3/8 – 39 inches
• Magazine: Magpul PMAG 20-Round
• Case: Daniel Defense Full-Latch Impact Plastic Case

For more information on the DD5 V4 or any of Daniel Defense’s other rifles, visit their website at www.danieldefense.com.