IF you have a Daniel Defense .308 18" barrel, what ammo do you shoot and how accurate?

TXAZ · August 12, 2020, 06:41 PM

I'm about to take possession of an 18" Daniel Defense DD5V4.
I'm looking for others that have an 18" .308 Daniel Defense weapon. If you're using factory ammo, what are you using and what type of accuracy are you getting.

Thanks!

Rimfire5 · August 12, 2020, 07:10 PM

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that any individual barrel will shoot just like someone else's barrel even if they are both from the same manufacturer. So I don't think the favorite ammo in another barrel will be a guarantee that it will be the favorite in your barrel.

I have two 24-inch Savage barrels in .308 and one shoots 150 and 155 grain bullets the best and the other shoots 175 grain thru 200 grain bullets the best. Both shoot 168 grain bullets reasonably well but in neither case are the 168 grain bullets the favorite of either barrel.

I have always felt that the 'gold standard' to start to test factory ammo with a .308 is Federal Premium Gold Medal Match 168 grain ammo with SMK bullets. It is a good starting point and usually is close to the best performing .308 factory ammo.

Then, after I know what the rifle does with Fed GMM 168 ammo, I try different weights and brands to see if I can find one that performs better in a particular barrel.

Nosler CC, and Black Hills ammos are good alternatives.
If you don't mind spending money, you might try Lapua Scenar 167s.

None of those ammos are cheap, but they are very consistent and you should find a good performer for your barrel among them.

TXAZ · August 12, 2020, 08:27 PM

Thanks Rimfire, that's great info!

bfoosh006 · September 1, 2020, 06:46 PM

Rimfire5 sums up ammo selection quite well.

I will add, I have had quite good accuracy with Hornady 155gr Amer. Gunner as well as FGMM 168gr.

Remember, Large Frame AR's tend to benefit from good trigger follow through at the bench. Keep a reasonable firm shouldered hold, and keep the trigger pulled to the rear well after the shot.

MarkCO · September 9, 2020, 04:44 PM

Skipped this the first time I saw it, I have the 16" version. I primarily shoot Hornady 155 AMax (Black) for Factory ammo. It is about 1.5 MOA out to 600 yards. Shot about 100 rounds of it so far. Mostly I shoot 140 grain Nosler CC bullets out of it, and those are just at 1 MOA out to 600 yards. I just don't shoot gas guns past 600 anymore, so I have not taken it further, but I know that past 600 in my bolt gunes, both loads start to fall apart.

August 12, 2020, 06:41 PM	#1
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	IF you have a Daniel Defense .308 18" barrel, what ammo do you shoot and how accurate? I'm about to take possession of an 18" Daniel Defense DD5V4. I'm looking for others that have an 18" .308 Daniel Defense weapon. If you're using factory ammo, what are you using and what type of accuracy are you getting. Thanks! __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

August 12, 2020, 08:27 PM	#3
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Thanks Rimfire, that's great info! __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

September 9, 2020, 04:44 PM	#5
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	Skipped this the first time I saw it, I have the 16" version. I primarily shoot Hornady 155 AMax (Black) for Factory ammo. It is about 1.5 MOA out to 600 yards. Shot about 100 rounds of it so far. Mostly I shoot 140 grain Nosler CC bullets out of it, and those are just at 1 MOA out to 600 yards. I just don't shoot gas guns past 600 anymore, so I have not taken it further, but I know that past 600 in my bolt gunes, both loads start to fall apart. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

August 12, 2020, 07:10 PM	#2
Rimfire5 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 923	Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that any individual barrel will shoot just like someone else's barrel even if they are both from the same manufacturer. So I don't think the favorite ammo in another barrel will be a guarantee that it will be the favorite in your barrel. I have two 24-inch Savage barrels in .308 and one shoots 150 and 155 grain bullets the best and the other shoots 175 grain thru 200 grain bullets the best. Both shoot 168 grain bullets reasonably well but in neither case are the 168 grain bullets the favorite of either barrel. I have always felt that the 'gold standard' to start to test factory ammo with a .308 is Federal Premium Gold Medal Match 168 grain ammo with SMK bullets. It is a good starting point and usually is close to the best performing .308 factory ammo. Then, after I know what the rifle does with Fed GMM 168 ammo, I try different weights and brands to see if I can find one that performs better in a particular barrel. Nosler CC, and Black Hills ammos are good alternatives. If you don't mind spending money, you might try Lapua Scenar 167s. None of those ammos are cheap, but they are very consistent and you should find a good performer for your barrel among them.

September 1, 2020, 06:46 PM	#4
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Rimfire5 sums up ammo selection quite well. I will add, I have had quite good accuracy with Hornady 155gr Amer. Gunner as well as FGMM 168gr. Remember, Large Frame AR's tend to benefit from good trigger follow through at the bench. Keep a reasonable firm shouldered hold, and keep the trigger pulled to the rear well after the shot.