Daniel Defense 12.5″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, 5.56 NATO, 1:7 Twist, Government Profile, Carbine-Length

Product Description

The Daniel Defense 12.5″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel in this retail assembly is the stripped configuration of the company’s Government-profile, carbine-gas 5.56mm NATO barrel: 1:7 twist, no gas block or front sight base fitted, weighing 1.40 lbs.

Stripped is the configuration for people who already know which gas block they want. That covers a lot of 12.5″ builds: adjustable blocks for suppressed shooting, particular low profile blocks chosen to clear a slim handguard, or a block already sitting in the parts drawer.

Twelve and a half inches is the most capable of Daniel Defense’s short carbine-gas lengths. Against 10.3 and 11.5-inch barrels you recover velocity and gain gas system margin, so the rifle is less sensitive to buffer weight and ammunition. Against 14.5 inches you save two inches of length and some weight out front, at the cost of moving the build into National Firearms Act territory.

Key Facts

• Brand: Daniel Defense
• Model: 12.5″ 5.56mm, Carbine, 1:7, GOV
• Manufacturer Part Number: 07-077-17022-018
• Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
• Barrel Length: 12.5″
• Twist Rate: 1:7
• Barrel Profile: Government
• Gas System: Carbine Length
• Manufacturing Process: Cold Hammer Forged
• Material: 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium (CMV) steel
• Bore Finish: Chrome lined
• Exterior Finish: Mil-Spec Heavy Phosphate
• Muzzle Thread: 1/2×28 TPI
• Diameter at Gas Port: .750″
• Barrel Extension: A4
• Barrel Weight: 1.40 lbs
• Barrel Configuration: Stripped (no gas block fitted)

Parts you still need for a stripped barrel

Plan for a gas block and a carbine-length gas tube. The journal is the standard .750-inch AR-15 dimension, so low profile clamp-on and set-screw blocks, adjustable blocks and F-marked front sight towers cut for .750 all fit. Daniel Defense states that its own gas blocks follow military specifications for dimensions, which is useful when mixing brands.

Short barrel, short answer on the law

A barrel is a part, not a firearm, so this purchase involves no FFL transfer, no Form 4473 and no background check. Assembly is where the National Firearms Act applies: a 12.5″ barrel fitted to a rifle-configured receiver produces a short-barrelled rifle requiring BATFE registration, approved transfer through an SOT dealer and a tax stamp. No muzzle device extends 12.5 inches to the 16-inch rifle minimum. A pistol-configured firearm, or a receiver already registered as an SBR, are the lawful destinations. Call 817-393-4000 if you want help sorting the registration route.

Choose a block from our gas blocks and gas tubes selection, pick a barrel nut and rail from our rails and handguards, or compare finished options in our Daniel Defense uppers.

Ordering from Western Sport in Roanoke, TX

Roanoke, Texas has been home to Western Sport since 2007 and we hold both an FFL and an SOT there as a Daniel Defense master dealer. There is a gunsmith on site who installs stripped barrels and gas blocks constantly, so if you would rather not buy the tooling, call 817-393-4000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What gas block size does this barrel take?

A: A .750-inch gas block, the standard AR-15 journal diameter. That covers clamp-on and set-screw low profile blocks, adjustable blocks and F-marked front sight towers cut for .750 inches. You will also need a carbine-length gas tube to match the port position on this barrel.

Q: Why buy a stripped barrel instead of one with a gas block?

A: Control over the gas system. Stripped makes sense if you want an adjustable block for suppressed use, a specific low profile block to clear a slim handguard, or you already own the block. You also avoid paying for a part you would immediately remove.

Q: Is 1.40 lbs the weight of just the barrel?

A: Yes. Daniel Defense lists 1.40 lbs for this 12.5″ Government profile barrel, and since this SKU is the stripped configuration that figure is the barrel alone. Add your own gas block, gas tube, barrel nut, handguard and muzzle device weights to get a realistic upper receiver total.

Q: Does this barrel need an FFL transfer?

A: No. A barrel is a component and not a firearm under federal law, so there is no transfer, no Form 4473 and no background check. It ships directly to you. Component rules vary between states and municipalities, so verify your own jurisdiction’s requirements if you are ordering from outside Texas.

Q: Can this barrel go on an AR pistol?

A: Yes. On a firearm configured as a pistol, a 12.5″ barrel involves no NFA registration. On a rifle-configured receiver the same barrel creates a short-barrelled rifle requiring registration and a stamp. If you are not certain how your receiver is classified, call 817-393-4000 before ordering rather than guessing.

Q: Is the bore chrome lined on this barrel?

A: Yes. Daniel Defense specifies a chrome bore finish with a Mil-Spec Heavy Phosphate exterior, which is the combination abbreviated as chrome lined and phosphate coated. Chrome lining improves corrosion resistance and makes cleaning easier, particularly useful on a short barrel that sees high gas volume and heat.

Additional information