Daniel Defense DD4 RIII: Full Review

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to participate in an abbreviated 223 Carbine Class at the Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. With the course to be featured on several episodes of Guns & Ammo TV, I decided to purchase a new AR-­15 in preparation. Sure, I had AR-­15s, but they were of the California-­legal variety.

For those residing in more gun-­friendly states, California law prohibits a centerfire rifle capable of accepting a detachable magazine from having standard AR-­15 features such as a pistol grip, telescoping stock, flash suppressor, or forward pistol grip. Inexplicably, in California, such innocuous features turn an AR-­15 into an illegal “assault weapon.”

Recently, I moved to Arizona. I am no longer bound by California’s restrictive gun laws. Immediately, I decided my AR-­15 collection was due for an upgrade. With a new driver’s license in hand, I walked into C2 Tactical in Phoenix. That same day, I left with a Daniel Defense DD4 RIII, a rifle I selected after careful consideration of its features.

The DD4 RIII is fully ambidextrous, meaning the bolt catch, safety selector and magazine release can be operated with either hand without needing to adjust the firing grip. Even the Grip-­N-­Rip charging handle can be pulled with either hand to chamber a round, clear a malfunction, or lock the bolt to the rear. Ambidextrous controls are not only beneficial for lefties, but they are also useful in situations where available cover or injury requires a right-­handed shooter to transfer the rifle to the left shoulder.

Aside from being southpaw-friendly, the DD4 RIII is packed with features that make it an excellent choice for competition, duty, and home defense. Upper and lower receivers are constructed of CNC-machined 7075 T­6 aluminum that’s Type III hardcoat anodized in black.

The lower receiver features a flared magazine well that helps to funnel magazines for more efficient loading. Flush quick-detach (QD) points at either side of the rail and on the buttstock, near the receiver allow us to attach our favorite QD slings without the need for an aftermarket mount.

The buttstock and pistol grip are made of glass-filled polymer and sport a soft-touch overmold for comfort and control. The buttstock facilitates a non-­slip comb and includes comfortable buttpads. The pistol grip’s integral triggerguard and ergonomic design make for easy handling, too.

The mil-spec receiver extension is made of 7075 T6 aluminum, housing a heavy “H” buffer. This buffer weight is intended to slow the bolt carrier’s rearward travel and reduce felt recoil while minimizing wear and tear on the rifle. The extension enables the stock to securely adjust into one of six different positions. Therefore, an ideal length of pull can be achieved by most.

Being able to adjust the length of pull to fit different shooters on a shared rifle — as I found might be the case as a law enforcement officer, but also applies to home defense — is a huge benefit. This option also comes in handy when a person transitions from wearing relatively thin, soft body armor to a bulkier vest carrier with hard plates or vice-­versa.

The DD4 RIII features a mid-­length, direct impingement (DI) gas system. The pinned, low-profile gas block is CNC machined 4140 hardened steel and mil-spec heavy phosphate coated. Mid-­length gas systems are known for producing smooth recoil impulses, too, enabling the shooter to deliver rapid, accurate fire. Of course, to deliver fire of any kind, the AR-­15 must be operational.

Years ago, at an AR-­15 armorer’s course, I learned that AR-­15 reliability is primarily dependent on the bolt carrier group (BCG). If it’s clean and lubricated, the rifle will typically run regardless of how well maintained the rest of the rifle is. The mil-spec M16-profile DD4 RIII BCG is chrome lined, giving it lubricity, durability, and ease of cleaning qualities.

It’s often said that the barrel is the heart of a rifle. The heart-healthy DD4 RIII features a 16-inch cold-hammer-forged, chrome-moly Vanadium-steel barrel. The Government-profile barrel features a 1-in-7-inch twist. It’s chrome-lined and mil-­spec heavy phosphate coated. The barrel is capped with a flash hider made of 17-­4 stainless steel, which is salt bath nitride finished.

One of the main selling points of the DD4 RIII is the 12 1/2-inch RIS III handguard (i.e., “rail,” or “forend”). This two-­part CNC machined 6061-­T­6 aluminum rail is a lighter, more streamlined version of the battlefield-legend RIS II, which was developed for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The rail is thin enough to establish a firm grip, making it easy to snap the muzzle up on target and transition from one target to the next quickly.

The RIS III features the same six-­bolt lock up that free floats the barrel to ensure ideal barrel harmonics, but instead of the older Picatinny quad-rail (as on the RIS II), the RIS III boasts the current M-­Lok mounting system. This enables us to add sections of Picatinny rail only where needed, reducing bulk, the handling profile, and its weight. The Flat Dark Earth (FDE)-colored RIS III is also Type III hardcoat anodized.

The DD4 RIII doesn’t come with sights, though. I suppose this is fine given that shooters often add their own or run optics exclusively. I decided to use EOTech’s HWS XPS2, their “Thin Blue Line” edition that recognizes the community of active and retired LE officers. I carried a similar EOTech optic as a member of a California SWAT team, so I find the 68 MOA ring with 1 MOA dot reticle familiar and ideal for rapid target acquisition. These optics have proven plenty reliable during my service, but I added a set of Magpul MBUS Pro sights for backup.

Any AR-­15 intended for duty or defensive applications needs a mounted light, in my opinion. I wasn’t about to attach a lackluster moonbeam onto my brand new DD4 RIII. Instead, I opted for a light I knew was up to any task: Surefire’s M640DFT-PRO Turbo Scout light. This high-candela output light delivers a far-­reaching beam due to its reflector, which enables us to identify distant threats, even through window tint. The streamlined profile and ergonomic design blended perfectly with the RIS III handguard. I added a Magpul MVG vertical grip to the bottom rail, which orients my thumb to activate the Scout light without having to adjust my hand placement on the rifle.

Finally, I added a Viking Tactics (VTAC) sling to the rifle. Not only are VTAC slings built to withstand the harshest environment, they also make it easy to adjust to the task at hand; cinch it up for supported shooting or loosen it to unmount the rifle and transition to the opposite shoulder. Of course, the VTAC sling is also capable of securing the rifle to your body, much like a holster secures a handgun.

The DD4 RIII performed well during my accuracy testing from a bench rest at 100 yards. For testing, though, I swapped the EOTech for an appropriate scope. There were sub-­1-inch groups. A .7-inch group was achieved using basic Hornady 55-grain softpoint, even! Overall, the average five-shot group spanning three different loads measured a respectable 1.2 inches.

The triggerpull weight measured 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Having pulled my fair share of AR-­15 triggers, Daniel Defense’s felt unremarkable. I suspect a trigger upgrade could enhance accuracy, but let’s be honest: Most people aren’t buying these rifles to slow-fire tight groups from a bench.

Even a glance tells us the DD4 RIII is a fighting rifle, which is why Gunsite’s 223 Carbine Class was the perfect proving ground. Like all Gunsite classes, the emphasis was marksmanship, gun handling, and mindset. As such, the curriculum involved shooting from atypical positions such as kneeling and prone, as well as shooting on the move.

Outdoor simulators, such as the timed Urban Scrambler provided an opportunity to link various skillsets as participants negotiated obstacles such as vehicles and doorways. Emphasis was placed on maximizing cover and bracing the rifle whenever possible for improved long-­range accuracy. This fast-­paced course of fire culminated with a transition from an empty AR-­15 to a pistol. Indoor simulators allowed participants to practice clearing a structure with an AR-­15. The goal is to find the bad guys before they find you, while being mindful of potential “no-­shoot” targets. This reinforces the type of threat discrimination required in the real world; not every person you encounter while armed presents a deadly threat.

Despite having significant tactical experience with AR-­15s, the 223 Carbine Class proved both challenging and educational. Not only was I able to refresh and enhance my skills, I was also able to put my newly acquired DD4 RIII through its paces. It passed with flying colors, reaffirming my choice.

Daniel Defense enjoys a well-­earned reputation in the tactical community for manufacturing rifles and short-barreled rifles (SBR) worthy of betting your life on. This is exactly what military and law enforcement personnel do when duty calls them into harm’s way. But it’s not just soldiers and cops whose lives may be threatened. If you want an AR-­15 for home defense, you deserve a rifle worthy of your commitment to protect yourself and your loved ones. Why wouldn’t you rely on the ready-­for-­anything DD4 RIII?

Daniel Defense DD4 RIII

• Type: Gas operated, semiautomatic
• Cartridge: 5.56 NATO
• Overall Length: 32.25 in. (collapsed); 35.87 in. (extended)
• Weight: 6.52 lbs.
• Barrel: 16 in., Government profile, cold hammer forged, 4150 Chrome-Moly Vanadium (CMV) steel, 1:7-in. twist
• Gas System: Mid-­length
• Muzzle Device: DD Flash Suppressor
• Grip: DD, glass-filled polymer with soft-touch overmolding
• Receiver Material: 7075 T-­6 Aluminum
• Sights: None
• Trigger Pull: 5 lbs., 8 oz. (tested)
• Rail System: DD RIS III, 12.5 in. (M-­Lok)
• MSRP: $2,324
• Manufacturer: Daniel Defense, 866-554-4867, danieldefense.com

---