Opinion; this glorious article first appeared on AmmoLand Information in August of 2020 and seems right here now right here with contemporary updates.
Daniel Protection has established itself as a serious participant in America’s booming gun producer market, garnering a strong repute in addition to profitable army contracts. All this was completed within the span of solely 20 years, a comparatively quick time contemplating the age of different standard producers. On the 2020 SHOT Present, Daniel Protection introduced a brand new addition to their line-up, the DDM4-PDW. Designed as a compact variant of their DDM4 collection of AR’s, the DDM4-PDW takes benefit of the short-barrel-friendly ballistics of the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge.
Let’s check out the DDM4-PDW’s tech specs as offered by Daniel Protection earlier than diving into unboxing and vary studies.
Daniel Protection DDM4 PDW Pistol (300 Blackout)
Tech Specs:
LOWER RECEIVER: Mil-Spec with Enhanced Flared Journal Effectively and Rear Receiver QD Swivel Attachment Level. CNC Machined of 7075-T6 Aluminum
UPPER RECEIVER: Mil-Spec with Indexing Marks and M4 Feed Ramps. CNC Machined of 7075-T6 Aluminum
BARREL: Chrome Moly Vanadium Metal, Chilly Hammer Solid, 1:7 Twist, 7″ S2W Profile, Chrome Lined, Mil-Spec Heavy Phosphate Coated, and HP/MPI Examined
GAS SYSTEM: Low Profile Fuel Block CNC Machined of 4140 hardened metal with Mil-Spec Heavy Phosphate Coating, Pistol Size, Direct Impingement
MUZZLE DEVICE: Daniel Protection Linear Compensator, 17-4 PH Stainless Metal, Salt Bathtub Nitride Completed
BOLT CARRIER GROUP: M16 Profile, Mil-Spec MP Examined, Chrome Lined, Correctly Staked Fuel Key
BUFFER: Maxim Protection Enhanced Buffer System
HANDGUARD: MFR XL 6.0 M-LOK, CNC Machined of 6061-T6 Aluminum, Kind III Arduous Coat Anodized
CHARGING HANDLE: GRIP-N-RIP Charging Deal with, Physique CNC Machined of 7075-T6 Aluminum, Handles & Latch CNC Machined of 6061-T6 Aluminum, Heavy Responsibility Stainless Metal Roll Pins, Kind III Arduous Coat Anodized
BRACE: Maxim Protection CQB Pistol Brace
PISTOL GRIP: Daniel Protection Pistol Grip, Glass Stuffed Polymer with Tender Contact Overmolding
Made within the USA
First Impressions:
Out of the field, the DDM4-PDW (pistol braced model) provides a robust first impression. Beginning with the fundamentals you’d anticipate from any respectable AR, this gun reveals nice elements fitment and is obvious of apparent tooling marks. The receivers match collectively tightly, with none slop. Fundamental bins checked.
Shifting up, I ran some dry-fire and weapons manipulation drills. The bolt service group slides backwards and forwards as if on wheels. Model new this gun feels prefer it’s broken-in. This charging deal with is certainly one of my favorites already, drawing favorable comparisons to the Radian Raptor ambi deal with. The over-molded pistol grip is comfy, a pleasant bonus. The linear compensator is nice on the 7″ barrel, protecting the exaggerated bark to a boring roar.
Whereas the Maxim PDW inventory/braces are among the many most sturdy on the market, they do lack in a single characteristic that I think about to be a close to necessity: the power to increase the inventory/brace with out miserable the discharge latch. CMMG has this characteristic on certainly one of their shares (known as “grip-n-rip”, to not be confused with the charging deal with on this gun with the identical title). Q has this characteristic on their honey Badger inventory/braces as nicely, and I’ve used it lengthy sufficient to really feel like I don’t wish to do with out it for a house protection gun. A small quibble within the massive image, and one some shooters will disagree with me on, particularly because the Maxim brace provides the very best cheek weld, I imply taking pictures place from any of the PDW braces I’ve seen.
The included finger cease can be a close to necessity and a welcome addition to the DDM4-PDW. With a 6″ forend, there’s not quite a lot of actual property to seize onto and the hand cease provides the shooter a constant maintain with the assist hand, and nicely as a safety-check earlier than a finger heads previous the firing line, so to talk.
Summer time break is at all times a tricky time to get some taking pictures completed, with so few good ranges close by and so many individuals busy with them. To get a while alone I used to be pressured to go to a pair quick ranges to get teams completed with this gun (and a pair of others). I began off with a fast zero on the connected Trijicon ACOG. I introduced out some Federal 120gr Energy-Shok rounds, in addition to a bundle of Magtech 200gr subsonic rounds.
I’ve spoken on the Federal cartridge earlier than, and used it very efficiently in searching. I reluctantly point out the Magtech subsonic loading now, as a result of as quickly as phrase will get out it’ll be even harder to search out than it already is. Magtech is making among the finest subsonic loadings for the .300 Blk, as regards to accuracy and reliability. Being a FMJ spherical it isn’t optimized for searching, however runs nice even in my choosy rifles which can be tuned for suppressed supersonic. Don’t sleep on Magtech if you happen to haven’t heard of them, these things is superior!
Again to the vary. The Federal 120gr averaged just a little beneath 2 MOA, which is fairly par for the way the spherical performs in most of my rifles. Magtech’s subsonic FMJ grouped nearer to 1 MOA, excluding a few fliers brought on by sweat dripping into my eyes. 100°+ isn’t optimum for taking pictures! If I had been to choose one factor that would enhance the teams, it might be the set off. It’s nice for fight taking pictures, which this gun is ready up for, however not as nice for tight teams. The set off is a bit heavy however has a clear sufficient break. In the event you’re taking pictures for a success/miss, the hammer drops proper if you need it to.
After transferring to a different vary website (at greater elevation), I labored some CQB drills on a mini-IDPA metal plate at 25 yards. The DDM4-PDW actually confirmed off as a well-balanced and deftly-set up little PDW. That is precisely the sort of gun I wish to pull out when one thing dangerous goes bump within the night time, or from behind the seat when a 4-legged tasty goal of alternative presents itself.
It’s straightforward to get enthusiastic about taking pictures a brand new gun. As an expert reviewer, that sheen wears off fairly shortly. Once I say that the Daniel Protection DDM4-PDW is among the nicest AR’s I’ve shot within the final 4 years, that places it atop a pile of many dozens from main producers. I’ll be getting the DDM4-PDW out to an extended vary quickly, I’m actually trying ahead to grouping at 100 yards and working a pair extra ammo varieties via this gun. Within the meantime, I needed to drop off this fast (1000 phrase) heads-up as to what Daniel Protection is bringing to the desk with their instantaneous traditional, the DDM4-PDW. This gun runs $1865 and has financing accessible. Test it out!
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About Rex Nanorum
Rex Nanorum is an Alaskan Expatriate dwelling in Oregon together with his spouse and children. Rising up on business fishing vessels, he discovered his subsequent journey with the 2nd Bn, seventy fifth Ranger Regt. After 5 excursions to Afghanistan and Iraq, he adventured concerning the west coast turning into a business fisheries and salvage SCUBA diver, rated helicopter pilot teacher (CFII) and private coach, earlier than turning into a gear reviewer and author.”
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