Daniel Defense 11.5″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, 5.56 NATO, 1:7 Twist, Government Profile, Carbine-Length, with Low Profile Gas Block

Product Description

The Daniel Defense 11.5″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel with Low Profile Gas Block is a 5.56mm NATO, 1:7 twist, Government-profile barrel on a carbine-length gas system, listed by Daniel Defense at 1.36 lbs in the low profile gas block configuration.

Eleven and a half inches is the sweet spot a lot of short-gun builders land on. It is a little over an inch longer than the 10.3″ MK18 pattern, which gives back some velocity and, more usefully, lowers port pressure and lengthens dwell enough that the gun tends to be less finicky about buffers, springs and ammunition.

The low profile gas block configuration is what you want if the handguard is a free-float M-LOK or KeyMod tube. It gives you one continuous top rail, a clean run of handguard over the gas block, and the freedom to fit an adjustable gas block later if the gun spends time suppressed.

Key Facts

• Brand: Daniel Defense
• Model: 11.5″ 5.56mm, Carbine, 1:7, GOV
• Manufacturer Part Number: 07-077-07108
• Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
• Barrel Length: 11.5″
• 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 (with low profile gas block): 1.36 lbs
• Barrel Weight (stripped): 1.28 lbs
• Barrel Configuration: With low profile gas block

Why 11.5 inches instead of 10.3 or 12.5?

Against 10.3 inches, an 11.5″ barrel is easier to get running. The gas port is further from the chamber, so peak pressure drops and dwell time increases, and that translates into a gun that is less sensitive to buffer weight and ammunition. You also pick up muzzle velocity, which matters for terminal performance from a short 5.56 barrel.

Short barrel, NFA reality

Barrels are components and not firearms, so no FFL transfer, 4473 or background check is required to buy this one. Assembly is where the law applies. An 11.5″ barrel on a rifle-configured receiver produces a short-barrelled rifle under the National Firearms Act, requiring BATFE registration, approved transfer through an SOT dealer and a tax stamp. No muzzle device can bring 11.5 inches to the 16-inch rifle minimum. Western Sport holds an SOT, so call 817-393-4000 if you want the registered route handled here rather than working it out yourself.

Compare this against the other short options in our Daniel Defense barrels, choose a matching tube from our rails and handguards, and check our bolt carrier groups and charging handles for a compatible bolt carrier group.

Ordering from Western Sport in Roanoke, TX

We have run Western Sport out of Roanoke, Texas since 2007 as a licensed FFL and SOT and a Daniel Defense master dealer, with a gunsmith on site who assembles short uppers as a matter of course. Call 817-393-4000 and we will help you get the gas system right the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does the 11.5″ barrel weigh with the low profile gas block?

A: Daniel Defense lists 1.36 lbs for this configuration. For comparison, the same barrel is 1.28 lbs stripped and 1.59 lbs with a front sight base fitted. Those figures are barrel and gas block only, so add your gas tube, barrel nut, handguard and muzzle device to reach a total upper weight.

Q: Is 11.5″ easier to tune than a 10.3″ barrel?

A: Generally yes. The gas port sits further from the chamber, so peak port pressure is lower and dwell time longer, which makes the rifle less sensitive to buffer weight, spring rate and ammunition. Many builders find an 11.5″ carbine-gas gun runs correctly with standard parts where a 10.3″ needs tuning.

Q: Does this barrel need NFA registration?

A: The barrel itself does not, because a barrel is a part rather than a firearm and requires no FFL transfer. Installed on a rifle-configured receiver, however, an 11.5″ barrel creates a short-barrelled rifle requiring BATFE registration and a tax stamp.

Q: What muzzle thread is on this barrel?

A: 1/2×28 TPI, the standard 5.56 AR-15 thread, so the usual flash hiders, brakes and suppressor mounts fit. Short 5.56 barrels produce a lot of muzzle blast, so many builders choose a device with blast mitigation in mind. Do not use a 5/8×24 mount from a 300 Blackout or 7.62 barrel; the threads are different.

Q: Which gas tube length do I need?

A: A carbine-length gas tube. This barrel uses a carbine-length gas system, so a mid-length tube will be too long and will not seat correctly. If you are also selecting a handguard, confirm it clears your low profile gas block and leaves enough exposed muzzle for the device you plan to install.

Q: Will a free-float handguard fit over the gas block?

A: Yes, that is the purpose of the low profile gas block configuration. A free-float M-LOK or KeyMod tube can run over the block, giving you a continuous top rail and a clean forend. Check the handguard’s internal clearance against your specific gas block, and remember this configuration provides no built-in front sight.

Additional information