The rifle:
Daniel Defense DDM4V7. The V7 model denotes the MLok version.
Has a 16" CHF, chrome lined barrel with a Gov't profile, 1:7 twist. It's been equipped with a LaRue MBT 2 stage trigger.
The scope:
Kahles K16i 1x6. 30mm tube, 24mm objective. Second focal plane.
The mount is an ERA TAC lightweight cantilever mount. Despite the way it looks it is quite light at about 5 and change ounces.
The reticle:
Yes, its crooked. Sometime after I took this I had it remounted and boresighted. The rings were lapped at this time as well. The boresighting was pretty close to the bullseye @50 yards which was very convenient.
The results:
Done @100 yards. Center ring was with Hornady's American Gunner 55gr HP "match" load. On the left were the IMI 77gr Mk 262 clones and on the right were the Fiocchi 77gr Match loads.
Not bad, I think I can do better though. The rifle can do better I'm sure.
Last bit of shooting of the day, done @200 yards. I had been shooting at 200 and 300 yards all day, blasting steel and fist sized rocks with ease but all my paper targets completely sucked. As I was getting ready to pack up I zeroed the turret dials and as I did so I made an inadvertent adjustment to the elevation dial so I decided to load up a 20 rounder with the IMI 77gr and rezero. Just had to bring it down a bit. Having sprayed some cleaner/oil into the action and bore I sent 5 rounds downrange at the steel before moving to paper. I think that final zeroed group is decent enough. I still think I can do better though.
I left having zeroed @200 yard with the IMI 77gr. The POI for the Fiocchi seems to be the same.
This particular rifle will mostly be used with 77gr ammo. The NYGF build gets the lighter stuff, being setup for close range.
Conclusions:
This is actually the first time I have shot this particular rifle. I find it just as good as the one it replaced. Had a fancy Keymod version DD in a hydrodipped Krytec Typhon camo.
Hydrodipped finishes apparently are not very durable so I contacted Daniel Defense about having it refinished in Cerakote (I like their new "Deep Woods" color). The simply replaced the entire rifle under warranty, which though completely unnecessary was nice. Anyways.......
The new one shoots as well as the old one did.
The LaRue trigger is absolutely fantastic, clean and crisp. Total pull weight is advertised as 4.5lbs, 2.5 lbs initial and a further 2lbs to break. That break is like the proverbial glass. Smooth take up with no over travel. Positive reset with no travel back to the wall. Highly satisfied with it.
I am also highly satisfied with the scope. The clarity is unbelievable, absolutely top notch. In fact it put my $300 Bushnell spotting scope to shame. Utterly. In fact I was able to identify my hits @ 100 yards under 6x magnification with the Kahles about as well as with the Bushnell @ 60x! The Kahles' field of view was also very impressive, better than any other scope I've looked through. Eye box is also pretty generous despite this. This is the main reason, along with the low 16oz weight that I spent the extra money.
The reticle is fine, it has a 1MOA center dot. On paper it's not ideal for long distance precision but @200 yards it was fine. It was fantastic for blasting rocks and slapping steel and it's also excellent as a fast reticle @1x.
The only thing I would like to improve, and I knew this as soon as I started messing around with it at home after purchase, is that the mount is too high. I will eventually get a lower QD mount. For now though fine.
I also zeroed the Bobro ultra lo pro BUIS.
I had concerns that the rear aperture was too large. It is almost obnoxiously large. But @50 yards it was just fine. I was cloverleafing at that distance with the irons so the sights are entirely adequate.
Changes? Well, other than the scope mount not much. I will be replacing the Magpul handstop kit which was damaged at the range with rail covers and a handstop from VZ grips and a larger "Carve" handstop dingus for the rear. And I might try out a Silent Captured Spring assembly from JP industries. That's a low priority though.
Ultimately I am extremely happy with this rig.
I was astonished how easy it was to pulverize the fist sized rocks I kept placing atop the 200 yard target posts. Some one had left a cab of corn at that same line and I was bouncing that thing all over too. At 300 yards the is a small 10" gong and I was hitting that thing with boring regularity as well. I didn't hang paper up there because it's a total bitch hiking up to it. Its literally on the side of a valley at what has to be a good 50' above the bench level. Just getting line of sight on targets there is awkward, you need a crazy amount of elevation.
Daniel Defense DDM4V7. The V7 model denotes the MLok version.
Has a 16" CHF, chrome lined barrel with a Gov't profile, 1:7 twist. It's been equipped with a LaRue MBT 2 stage trigger.
The scope:
Kahles K16i 1x6. 30mm tube, 24mm objective. Second focal plane.
The mount is an ERA TAC lightweight cantilever mount. Despite the way it looks it is quite light at about 5 and change ounces.
The reticle:
Yes, its crooked. Sometime after I took this I had it remounted and boresighted. The rings were lapped at this time as well. The boresighting was pretty close to the bullseye @50 yards which was very convenient.
The results:
Done @100 yards. Center ring was with Hornady's American Gunner 55gr HP "match" load. On the left were the IMI 77gr Mk 262 clones and on the right were the Fiocchi 77gr Match loads.
Not bad, I think I can do better though. The rifle can do better I'm sure.
Last bit of shooting of the day, done @200 yards. I had been shooting at 200 and 300 yards all day, blasting steel and fist sized rocks with ease but all my paper targets completely sucked. As I was getting ready to pack up I zeroed the turret dials and as I did so I made an inadvertent adjustment to the elevation dial so I decided to load up a 20 rounder with the IMI 77gr and rezero. Just had to bring it down a bit. Having sprayed some cleaner/oil into the action and bore I sent 5 rounds downrange at the steel before moving to paper. I think that final zeroed group is decent enough. I still think I can do better though.
I left having zeroed @200 yard with the IMI 77gr. The POI for the Fiocchi seems to be the same.
This particular rifle will mostly be used with 77gr ammo. The NYGF build gets the lighter stuff, being setup for close range.
Conclusions:
This is actually the first time I have shot this particular rifle. I find it just as good as the one it replaced. Had a fancy Keymod version DD in a hydrodipped Krytec Typhon camo.
Hydrodipped finishes apparently are not very durable so I contacted Daniel Defense about having it refinished in Cerakote (I like their new "Deep Woods" color). The simply replaced the entire rifle under warranty, which though completely unnecessary was nice. Anyways.......
The new one shoots as well as the old one did.
The LaRue trigger is absolutely fantastic, clean and crisp. Total pull weight is advertised as 4.5lbs, 2.5 lbs initial and a further 2lbs to break. That break is like the proverbial glass. Smooth take up with no over travel. Positive reset with no travel back to the wall. Highly satisfied with it.
I am also highly satisfied with the scope. The clarity is unbelievable, absolutely top notch. In fact it put my $300 Bushnell spotting scope to shame. Utterly. In fact I was able to identify my hits @ 100 yards under 6x magnification with the Kahles about as well as with the Bushnell @ 60x! The Kahles' field of view was also very impressive, better than any other scope I've looked through. Eye box is also pretty generous despite this. This is the main reason, along with the low 16oz weight that I spent the extra money.
The reticle is fine, it has a 1MOA center dot. On paper it's not ideal for long distance precision but @200 yards it was fine. It was fantastic for blasting rocks and slapping steel and it's also excellent as a fast reticle @1x.
The only thing I would like to improve, and I knew this as soon as I started messing around with it at home after purchase, is that the mount is too high. I will eventually get a lower QD mount. For now though fine.
I also zeroed the Bobro ultra lo pro BUIS.
I had concerns that the rear aperture was too large. It is almost obnoxiously large. But @50 yards it was just fine. I was cloverleafing at that distance with the irons so the sights are entirely adequate.
Changes? Well, other than the scope mount not much. I will be replacing the Magpul handstop kit which was damaged at the range with rail covers and a handstop from VZ grips and a larger "Carve" handstop dingus for the rear. And I might try out a Silent Captured Spring assembly from JP industries. That's a low priority though.
Ultimately I am extremely happy with this rig.
I was astonished how easy it was to pulverize the fist sized rocks I kept placing atop the 200 yard target posts. Some one had left a cab of corn at that same line and I was bouncing that thing all over too. At 300 yards the is a small 10" gong and I was hitting that thing with boring regularity as well. I didn't hang paper up there because it's a total bitch hiking up to it. Its literally on the side of a valley at what has to be a good 50' above the bench level. Just getting line of sight on targets there is awkward, you need a crazy amount of elevation.
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