Daniel Defense borecam

[SPQR70AD]

Their barrels are less than $300. What does that mean on a $3200 gun? Lots of name perhaps?

it means you are getting ripped off
other people have a different opinion

 

[fatelvis]

Well, I have to say that they respond quickly to their customer service questions, but I wasn’t particularly happy with their answer to my problem. Here is their response to my “sanded down“ looking borescope pics:

 

[Nature Boy]

Gas port erosion, like this, on my Armalite AR15 with ~2,000 rounds of M855. I don’t consider this bad, by the way.

 

[jsn]

"Detailed firecracking" on a chrome lined bore. Who knew?

I learn something new every day.

 

[fatelvis]

Exactly. I just wrote them back Stating that after 300 rounds with this cartridge, there shouldn’t be any signs of fire cracking yet. I sent him a bore cam pic of my 6 mm creed after 1080 rounds. Also, this was in a Ruger rifle, also hammer forged:

I stated that it is obvious that my DD barrel shows signs of a manufacturing defect, or lack of quality control, and NOT fire cracking. I politely asked for a refund.

 

[magic mike]

That bore finish in the OP's first picture looks just like the finish on every aluminum 2 stroke snowmobile engine cylinder I ever worked on. Just rough enough to seat the rings and not shiny.

 

[bozo699]

I installed this Daniel Defense 16” pencil barrel on my home defense rifle a few years ago and barely shot it. I think I put a total of 200 to 300 rounds through it. After cleaning it, I thought I would give it a look with the Teslong borescope. I was puzzled at the condition of the bore. It has never shown any signs of rust, but seems to be pitted or abraded throughout the bore. I have never used anything but patches and more cleaner to clean this rifle. Has anybody else seen anything similar to this? Was this from hammer forging or some type of manufacturing process? I am tempted to use Tubb's Final Finish kit, to smooth out this obviously rough bore. Thanks for your input!

Fatelvis,
That looks great compared to my new factory Savage 6 creedmoor! It’s heavily chattered from throat to crown so badly it looks like alligator fire cracking!... I’ll find out this afternoon it it shoots but I doubt it.
Wayne

 

[Gman]

Exactly. I just wrote them back Stating that after 300 rounds with this cartridge, there shouldn’t be any signs of fire cracking yet. I sent him a bore cam pic of my 6 mm creed after 1080 rounds. Also, this was in a Ruger rifle, also hammer forged:
View attachment 1180857
I stated that it is obvious that my DD barrel shows signs of a manufacturing defect, or lack of quality control, and NOT fire cracking. I politely asked for a refund.

On the AR15 forums, DD are known for the quality of their barrels. BUT, they are considered battle rifles, not entry level AR's.

 

[fatelvis]

I have a feeling those striations and "sanded" look of the rounded off lands is put there by the hammer forging mandrel. They obviously don't lap the bore after it comes from the forge.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

It matters little what the barrel looks like if it shoots less that one min of angle at 100 yards. It's a battle style rifle and not meant to produce bench rest groups. You want a morrow finish, you are going to have to put a lot of lapping into it. 600 to 900 strokes at three different grits of compound. It will look pretty, but it won't shoot any better.

I'll bet that barrel is not chrome lined but chrome molly steel. Chrome lined barrels are very expensive.

In my opinion, that's the way it came from the factory. You only show one section of the barrel. Is it the same all the way down to the muzzle?

 

[fatelvis]

The barrel is chrome lined, and it is that way all the way down the bore.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dont do anything to a chrome lined barrel like lapping/ firelapping. After being hammer forged it wont be even enough to lap it anyway but the chrome throws another wrench into it. Its made to put thousands of rounds downrange and still be acceptable. The pictures of regular rifle barrels on here throws off the image in your head of what a barrel should look like. That barrel looks like any other mil-spec barrel just like their engineer said. Not an issue at all

 

[Dusty Stevens]

It matters little what the barrel looks like if it shoots less that one min of angle at 100 yards. It's a battle style rifle and not meant to produce bench rest groups. You want a morrow finish, you are going to have to put a lot of lapping into it. 600 to 900 strokes at three different grits of compound. It will look pretty, but it won't shoot any better.

I'll bet that barrel is not chrome lined but chrome molly steel. Chrome lined barrels are very expensive.

In my opinion, that's the way it came from the factory. You only show one section of the barrel. Is it the same all the way down to the muzzle?

Actually chrome lined barrels are the cheaper of the barrels, the chrome is meant to hold up under lots of heat from machinegun fire and save erosion a bit

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Actually chrome lined barrels are the cheaper of the barrels, the chrome is meant to hold up under lots of heat from machinegun fire and save erosion a bit

After I wrote the above, I looked up the prices of the chrome lined barrels and was surprised to find that you are right.

 

[BDman]

I'm not sure that my buying a borescope was the best thing. I've lost some sleep over very expensive barrels that I scoped prior to shooting. I was chomping at the bit to get to the range and find out that it shot as "horrible" as it looked.

Happily, I've been wrong to the point of not worrying about it (much) anymore. I've had some beautiful barrels that I could never get to shoot and some rough looking ones that seemed to shoot everything 1/2 moa or better. I've learned where my cleaning regimen should get me, use the BS to check it and put everything away. I have several gunsmith/shooting friends that totally agree with that. YMMV

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I'm not sure that my buying a borescope was the best thing. I've lost some sleep over very expensive barrels that I scoped prior to shooting. I was chomping at the bit to get to the range and find out that it shot as "horrible" as it looked.

Happily, I've been wrong to the point of not worrying about it (much) anymore. I've had some beautiful barrels that I could never get to shoot and some rough looking ones that seemed to shoot everything 1/2 moa or better. I've learned where my cleaning regimen should get me, use the BS to check it and put everything away. I have several gunsmith/shooting friends that totally agree with that. YMMV

This is why we say you cant borescope a barrel and know if it will shoot or not

 

[Dessert]

Part of the “problem” in my opinion is from reading this forum, most everyone seems to be able and have guns with perfect shiney bores that shoot in the ones and twos “all day long”. I’d be happy if I could shoot half minute groups from 100 to 1000 yards “all day long”.

 

[fatelvis]

Part of the “problem” in my opinion is from reading this forum, most everyone seems to be able and have guns with perfect shiney bores that shoot in the ones and twos “all day long”. I’d be happy if I could shoot half minute groups from 100 to 1000 yards “all day long”.

All I can say is, for half the money I spent on the DD barrel, I could have a barrel from PSA or equivalent, with a nice bore, that is capable of getting you a High Master classification. Maybe these big name companies didn't hear that the bar has been raised. You can't ride on a good name forever.
I'm living, and learning.....

 

[jonbearman]

If you can afford it get a kreiger and don't do any fast fire and it should last a long time for the money. My next one will be a kreiger.

 

[fatelvis]

If you can afford it get a kreiger and don't do any fast fire and it should last a long time for the money. My next one will be a kreiger.

I'm right there with ya Buddy. I certainly won't be buying ANYTHING else from Daniel Defense.