Daniel Defense 16″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, 5.56 NATO, 1:7 Twist, Lightweight Profile, Mid-Length, with Fixed Front Sight Base

Product Description

The Daniel Defense 16″ Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, Lightweight profile, mid-length, with fixed front sight base is a 5.56mm NATO, 1:7 twist barrel that Daniel Defense lists at 1.81 lbs in this configuration, combining a light contour, a soft-shooting mid-length gas system and a permanent pinned iron front sight at the full non-NFA rifle length.

This is a patrol rifle barrel. Sixteen inches means no registration and no pinned muzzle device; mid-length gas gives the softest impulse and the longest sight radius available at this barrel length; and the pinned front sight tower means the rifle has permanent, zero-holding irons that need no batteries and cannot be knocked loose.

Handguard choice follows the tower. Mid-length two-piece drop-in handguards, a mid-length quad rail indexing between the delta ring and the sight base, or a free-float tube short enough to stop behind it. If a continuous M-LOK tube running over the gas block is the plan, the low profile gas block version of this barrel is the one to order instead.

Key Facts

• Brand: Daniel Defense
• Model: 16″ 5.56mm, Mid-Length, 1:7, LW
• Manufacturer Part Number: 07-078-10116
• Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
• Barrel Length: 16″
• Twist Rate: 1:7
• Barrel Profile: Lightweight
• Gas System: Mid-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 front sight base): 1.81 lbs
• Barrel Weight (stripped): 1.50 lbs
• Barrel Configuration: With front sight base (FSB)

Why this combination suits a patrol or duty rifle

A duty rifle needs to be light enough to carry all shift, soft enough to shoot fast, and functional with a dead optic. This configuration addresses all three: the Lightweight contour keeps the gun handy, mid-length gas flattens the impulse, and the pinned front sight means irons are always there. The 16-inch length keeps the rifle outside the NFA, which matters for an agency or a private owner who does not want registered guns.

Installation and legal notes

This barrel installs in any AR-15 or M16-pattern upper on its A4 extension and requires a mid-length gas tube. The pinned front sight tower fixes the gas block position for you, so the tube is the main gas-side part to source. You also need a barrel nut and delta ring arrangement suited to your handguard style.

Add a rear sight from our iron and night sights, pick a mid-length handguard from our rails and handguards, or compare profiles across our Daniel Defense barrels.

Ordering from Western Sport in Roanoke, TX

Western Sport operates from Roanoke, Texas with a licensed FFL and SOT held since 2007, and we are a Daniel Defense master dealer with a gunsmith on site. If you want this barrel fitted, headspaced and zeroed with a rear sight before you collect it, call 817-393-4000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does this barrel weigh with the front sight base fitted?

A: Daniel Defense lists 1.81 lbs for the 16″ Lightweight mid-length barrel with the front sight base. The same barrel is 1.50 lbs stripped and 1.58 lbs with a low profile gas block, so the pinned tower adds roughly 0.31 lbs, and it sits forward where it has the most effect on balance.

Q: Is the Lightweight profile strong enough for duty use?

A: Daniel Defense states the Lightweight profile sheds ounces without sacrificing durability or accuracy, and it is Cold Hammer Forged from 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium steel with a chrome-lined bore like the heavier profiles. The practical limitation is heat during sustained fire rather than strength, so short strings suit it best.

Q: Which handguard style works with the pinned front sight?

A: Mid-length two-piece drop-in handguards, mid-length quad rails that clamp between the delta ring and the sight tower, or a free-float tube short enough to terminate behind the tower. A full-length rail running over the gas block will not clear it.

Q: Do I need a mid-length or carbine gas tube?

A: Mid-length. This barrel uses a mid-length gas system and the front sight tower is pinned at the mid-length position, so a carbine gas tube is too short to reach the bolt carrier gas key. Order a mid-length tube specifically; most generic parts kits supply carbine tubes by default.

Q: Can I change the muzzle device on this barrel?

A: Yes. At 16 inches the barrel already meets the federal minimum rifle length, so nothing needs to be permanently attached and the 1/2×28 threads stay free. Fit a flash hider, brake or suppressor mount with a crush washer or timing shims and swap it whenever you like.

Q: Does this barrel need to ship to an FFL?

A: No. Barrels are components rather than firearms, so no transfer, Form 4473 or background check is involved and it ships straight to you. Only serialized receivers require an FFL. Some states and cities regulate components separately, so confirm your own jurisdiction’s rules before ordering from outside Texas.

Additional information