Daniel Defense Barrel Replacement Kit, 5.56 NATO, 11.5″, 1:7, Government Profile, Carbine-Length

Product Description

The Daniel Defense Barrel Replacement Kit, 5.56 NATO, 11.5″, Government profile, carbine-length is a 1:7 twist replacement barrel package for short AR-15 pattern firearms, in the length that sits between the 10.3-inch MK18 pattern and the 12.5-inch general-purpose short carbine.

Eleven and a half inches is where a lot of short-gun builders end up, and it is a sensible length to re-barrel to. Compared with 10.3 inches the gas port sits further from the chamber, so peak pressure is lower and dwell time longer, which makes the gun less sensitive to buffer weight, spring rate and ammunition. You also recover some muzzle velocity, which matters more on a short 5.56 barrel than most people expect.

Short barrels are also the ones most likely to need replacing. High port pressure, concentrated heat and frequent suppressed use all accelerate throat erosion, so an 11.5″ barrel that has run thousands of rounds may well be due. Re-barrelling restores the gun without touching the registered receiver, which keeps the paperwork exactly where it is.

Key Facts

• Brand: Daniel Defense
• Model: Barrel Replacement Kit, 5.56 NATO, 11.5″, 1:7, Government, Carbine-Length
• Manufacturer Part Number: 28-101-07435-030
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Barrel Length: 11.5″
• Twist Rate: 1:7
• Barrel Profile: Government
• Gas System: Carbine Length

Where an 11.5-inch barrel can legally go

The kit is a component, not a firearm, so it ships to you with no FFL transfer, no Form 4473 and no background check. The National Firearms Act applies to the assembled firearm. An 11.5″ barrel on a rifle-configured receiver creates a short-barrelled rifle requiring BATFE registration, approved transfer through an SOT dealer and a tax stamp, and no muzzle device can extend 11.5 inches to the 16-inch rifle minimum. Nothing about an existing registration changes when the barrel does, but call 817-393-4000 if you want that confirmed for your particular firearm.

What we state and what we confirm by phone

One honest note before you order. There is no published specification sheet for this Barrel Replacement Kit, so we state only what the kit’s own designation establishes: 5.56 NATO, 11.5″, 1:7 twist, Government profile, carbine-length gas system. We are not going to quote a weight, a muzzle thread pitch or a packing list by borrowing figures from a different barrel. Call 817-393-4000 and we will confirm the exact contents and specifications from stock before you buy.

Compare individual lengths in our Daniel Defense barrels, source small parts from our upper parts, or browse the rest of our Daniel Defense catalog.

Ordering from Western Sport in Roanoke, TX

We are a Daniel Defense master dealer in Roanoke, Texas, licensed as an FFL and SOT since 2007, with a gunsmith on site who re-barrels short guns regularly. Call 817-393-4000 and we will confirm the kit contents and specifications for you before anything is ordered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does replacing the barrel on my registered SBR affect the registration?

A: The registration attaches to the firearm, not to the barrel, so changing a barrel within the same configuration does not by itself alter it. Changing to a different overall configuration can raise questions. If you want that confirmed for your specific firearm, call 817-393-4000 and speak to us as an SOT dealer before you start.

Q: What is in the 11.5-inch Barrel Replacement Kit?

A: There is no published packing list for this kit, so we will not state contents we cannot verify. Call 817-393-4000 and we will confirm from stock. The designation establishes 5.56 NATO, 11.5 inches, 1:7 twist, Government profile and a carbine-length gas system, and those we will stand behind.

Q: Is 11.5 inches easier to run than 10.3?

A: Generally yes. The gas port sits further from the chamber, which lowers peak port pressure and lengthens dwell time, so the rifle is less sensitive to buffer weight, spring rate and ammunition choice. You also recover some muzzle velocity, which matters on a short 5.56 barrel where velocity is already the main compromise.

Q: Can this barrel go on a rifle?

A: Not on a rifle-configured receiver without NFA registration, because an 11.5″ barrel creates a short-barrelled rifle. No permanently attached muzzle device reaches the 16-inch minimum from 11.5 inches. It belongs on a firearm registered as an SBR or configured as a pistol.

Q: Do I need an FFL for this kit?

A: No. Barrels and barrel parts are components rather than firearms under federal law, so there is no transfer, Form 4473 or background check and the kit ships directly to you. Component rules vary by state and city, so confirm your own jurisdiction’s requirements if you are ordering from outside Texas.

Q: How often do short barrels need replacing?

A: It depends entirely on round count, rate of fire and whether the gun runs suppressed. Short barrels see high port pressure and concentrated heat, so throat erosion and accuracy loss show up at lower round counts than on a 16 or 18-inch barrel.

Additional information