By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail.com
December 30, 2011
Last updated on 1/02/12.
Well, it was just a matter of time before Daniel Defense (DD) offered their own 300 AAC Blackout (300BLK) gun and/or complete upper receiver assembly, and that time is apparently soon to come. The first weapon configuration in this caliber will be the Daniel Defense M4 Carbine, Version 5 (DDM4v5, also written DDM4 v5) mid-length direct-gas-impingement (DGI) tactical AR (AR-15) carbine/rifle (DD's current best-seller), although DR would imagine that the company will also offer the DDM4v5 LW (Lightweght barrel), DDM4v7 (also written DDM4 v7) and DDM4v7 LW lightweight mid-length DGI tactical AR carbines/rifles in the new caliber, as well, at some point, but this is only speculation.
It would also seem logical that Daniel Defense might offer 300BLK DDM4 series SBRs (Short Barreled Rifles)/sub-carbines and V-SBRs (Very Short Barreled Rifles) at some point, as well, since the cartridge suffers only minor effectice range loss with shorter barrels.
DefenseReview (DR) was impressed with the low felt recoil of the 300 Blackout round when we test-fired it on full auto in a SBR (Short Barreled Rifle)/sub-carbine at the 2011 NDIA Infantry Small Arms Systems Symposium in Indianapolis, and it should be noted that a 20-round box of Remington UMC 300 AAC Blackout 115gr (115-grain) ammo is currently available for $11.99 USD at MidwayUSA.
A 300BLK DDM4 carbine/SBR should make for a great weapons package due to the cartridge's close-to-medium range potency combined with Daniel Defense's high quality, so it's definitely worth checking out.
At some point, DR would like to build a 300BLK FERFRANS SOAR-P 7.5" (7.5-inch barreled) PDW (Personal Defense Weapon)-type gas piston/op-rod (push-type operating rod) tactical AR SBR under-the-jacket gun (UTJG), and see how it runs with the Surefire MAG5-60 60-shot quad-stack (4×2) 4179 STANAG box magazine, which DR recently got to run at a CTT-Solutions (CTTS) tactical carbine course run by retired Tier 1 U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) assaulter/operator Mike Pannone.
The following press release info comes from the Daniel Defense website:
"For many, the start of a new year means the start of a fresh beginning or a time for something new… an improved and exciting change. At Daniel Defense, it could mean the time to launch a new product, or in this case, an opportunity to offer a new caliber. No caliber has created a buzz over the last year like the 300 Blackout. Daniel Defense will offer the 300 Blackout paired with 2011’s top selling version, the Daniel Defense M4 V5. Together, they bring excellence to a new level. This new variant will be offered as an option in conjunction with the 5.56.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the 300 Blackout, allow me to give you the skinny. This round was originally designed to give the shooter a 30 caliber projectile, which could be fired from the AR platform without an increase in magazine size while still utilizing a standard bolt. The 300 Blackout is 7.62×35 which gives the shooter similar ballistic qualities to the .308 and the 7.62×39, the AK round, without having to give up the light weight 5.56/AR platform. In fact, all recent testing has pointed to similar ballistics as the 7.62×39, but the advantage is the 300 Blackout can still utilize the standard AR magazines without a reduction in capacity. Unlike the 7.62×39, the cartridge is still light on the shoulder and has similar recoil to a 5.56.
Like what you hear so far? Stand by, because there is more. Test results have shown that the 300 Blackout to be more accurate than the 5.56×45 and M4. When tested at ranges of 100-300 meters, it showed better penetration, better terminal effects, and was a more versatile round. Oh, did I mention that when suppressed the 300 Blackout, 7.62×39, was as quiet as the HK MP-5 SD? Yep, that’s right. When suppressed, the 300 Blackout is as quiet as the HK MP-5 SD, which in case you didn’t know, fires a 9mm round.
So let’s review. The 300 Blackout offers increased lethality by offering better penetration, knock down power down range and is offered as a variant option in the top selling Daniel Defense M4 V5. I’ll take two!
Hollywood movie studios and doomsday prognosticators would have us believe the world, as we know it, will come to an end in the coming year. While 2012 has many fearing for what’s to come, the attitude in Black Creek, GA is quite opposite. In addition to a new, ninety-thousand square foot expansion in Ridgeland, SC, we are excited about the highly anticipated DDM4v5-300 AAC Blackout.
In an earlier article entitled Art in Design of a Modern Sporting Rifle, I took you on a tour of the engineering lab where ideas transform into actual working prototypes. Transforming specs into a marketable product involves raw materials, programming of machinery, creating special tools, and other logistics. As we embark on the next leg of this tour, you’ll witness a hunk of metal, what we refer to as a forging; become a Mil-Spec Daniel Defense Semi-Auto Lower Receiver like that standard in the 300 Blackout.
Standing on the factory floor, earplugs in, sporting protective eye gear, it’s important to pay close attention to the raw materials. You may ask where we get the metals for our guns. For the semi-auto lower, it begins with a forging. As you can see, it already resembles the part we’re manufacturing. By doing it this way we save money, create substantially less waste, while maintaining structural integrity.
The forging is placed into one of Daniel Defense’s Okuma MB-5000 Horizontal Mills. As a side note, the equipment, plus tooling cost around $650,000. Due to proprietary information and tool with fixture design, I am unable to show you its interior operation. To sum it up, an automated process machines the forging: shaves, grinds, drills, threads, you name it. At the end of the process, you’ll have a part that looks like what is seen in the picture.
Systematically, parts are extracted from every batch and sent to our state-of-the-art Quality Assurance Lab. The CMM (coordinate measuring machine) verifies the unit is machined to precisely the right dimensions. This type of oversight ensures every Daniel Defense rifle, including the 300 Blackout, exceeds expectations.
Like icing on the cake, the semi-auto lower receiver is finished with what’s called type 3 hard coat anodizing. This finish process augments its durability—many times greater than if it were untreated; and gives it that flat black appearance. Taking into consideration the conditions the Daniel Defense rifle is subjected to, the anodizing is vital to the firearm’s longevity.
As you contemplate adding a new AR to the collection in 2012, whether it be the Daniel Defense DDM4v3, v7 or v5-300 AAC Blackout, or one of our other models, rest assure the rifle you choose will be properly engineered, manufactured with the highest grade materials, machined to precise specifications, quality tested, and assembled by the best in the business. To learn more about Daniel Defense, please visit us online at DanielDefense.com."
Company Contact Info:
Daniel Defense, Inc
101 Warfighter Way
Black Creek, GA 31308
Phone: 866-554-4867
Fax:912-851-3248
Email Contact Page: https://danieldefense.com/contacts
CAGE Code 3E3E2
Website: https://danieldefense.com
Advanced Armament Corp. (AAC)
2408 Tech Center Parkway
Suite 150
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Office: 770-925-9988
Fax: 770-925-9989
CAGE: 3K8N3
Website 1: http://300aacblackout.com
Website 2: http://www.advanced-armament.com
Remington Arms Company, Inc.
870 Remington Drive
P.O. Box 700
Madison, NC 27025-0700
TEL: 800-243-9700
Fax: 336-548-7801
Website: http://www.remington.com/
Military, Law Enforcement, & Federal Agency Sales
TEL: 336-548-8899
Fax: 336-548-8798
MidwayUSA Ammunition
Attention: Customer Service
5875 West Van Horn Tavern Rd.
Columbia, MO 65203
Toll Free: 800-243-3220
Fax: 800-992-8312
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.midwayusa.com
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