Daniel Defense DD4 RIII Rifle, 5.56 NATO, 16″ Barrel, California Compliant

Product Description

The Daniel Defense DD4 RIII Rifle in this configuration is a semi-automatic 5.56 NATO rifle with a 16" Government profile barrel, 1:7 twist, mid-length gas system on a low profile gas block, a RIS III 13 M-LOK rail and a Daniel Defense flash suppressor, built by Daniel Defense as a California Compliant SKU.

The DD4 RIII is Daniel Defense’s fully ambidextrous rifle. The lower lets a shooter work the bolt catch, safety selector and magazine release without moving the firing hand off the grip, and the GRIP-N-RIP charging handle is ambidextrous as well.

A 16" Government profile barrel on a mid-length gas system is the do-everything 5.56 configuration, and the reason is dwell. Moving the gas port further from the chamber lowers port pressure and slows unlocking slightly, giving a flatter impulse and less battering of the bolt and carrier. The Government profile also keeps steel under the gas block where a lightweight barrel thins out. The RIS III rail is modelled on the RIS II quad Daniel Defense developed for SOCOM but rebuilt in M-LOK — lighter, still durable, still able to mount an M203 — and at 13 inches it runs nearly to the muzzle.

Key Facts

• Brand / Model: Daniel Defense DD4 RIII
• Manufacturer Part Number: 02-191-03270-055
• Legal category: Rifle  |  Class: California Compliant
• Action: Semi-automatic  |  Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
• Barrel: 16", Government profile, 1:7 twist
• Barrel material / finish: Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, cold hammer forged; chrome lined, Mil-Spec heavy phosphate coated, HP/MPI tested
• Gas system: Mid-length, low profile gas block
• Muzzle device: Daniel Defense flash suppressor, 17-4 PH stainless steel, salt bath nitride
• Muzzle thread: 1/2 x 28 TPI
• Rail: Daniel Defense RIS III 13, M-LOK, 6061-T6 aluminium
• Receivers: CNC machined 7075-T6 aluminium, Type III hard coat anodized
• Controls: Fully ambidextrous bolt catch, selector and magazine release; ambi GRIP-N-RIP charging handle
• Bolt carrier group: M16 profile, Mil-Spec MP tested, chrome lined, staked gas key
• Furniture: Daniel Defense buttstock and pistol grip, soft touch overmolding
• Trigger: Standard

California Compliant configuration — read before ordering

Daniel Defense builds this SKU as its California Compliant version of the DD4 RIII, separate from the standard 16" DD4 RIII. Compliance requirements change, they are read differently from locality to locality, and a configuration that satisfies them now may not later. Western Sport cannot tell you this rifle is legal where you live. Verify current requirements for your own state, county and city, and call 817-393-4000 so we can confirm the exact compliance features on this SKU.

Choosing between DD4 RIII lengths

This 16" mid-length is the general-purpose answer: a rifle with no NFA paperwork, full velocity and a soft impulse. The 14.5" RIII with a pinned and welded muzzle device buys duty-carbine handling while still measuring 16 inches permanently. Shorter barrels land in the pistol or NFA categories and are bought a different way. Compare the Daniel Defense rifles, the wider DDM4 rifle range and our optics.

Ordering from Western Sport in Roanoke, TX

Western Sport is a Daniel Defense master dealer in Roanoke, Texas — a licensed FFL and SOT in business since 2007, with a gunsmith on the premises. This rifle is serialized and must be transferred through a licensed FFL, ours or a dealer in your area. Call 817-393-4000 to start the paperwork or ask about the configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the RIS III rail change compared with the older RIS II?

A: The RIS III is modelled on the RIS II rail Daniel Defense developed for SOCOM but built around M-LOK instead of a Picatinny quad. You keep the durability and the M203 mounting provision while carrying less weight. On this rifle it measures 13 inches.

Q: Why a mid-length gas system on a 16-inch barrel instead of carbine?

A: Moving the gas port further from the chamber lowers port pressure and softens unlocking. The rifle recoils flatter, returns to target faster and puts less stress on the bolt and carrier. A 16-inch barrel has room for it, which is why mid-length has become the default for general-purpose 5.56 rifles.

Q: Is this DD4 RIII legal in California?

A: We cannot tell you that. Daniel Defense builds this SKU as a California Compliant configuration, but compliance rules change and are applied differently from one locality to the next. Verify the current requirements for your own jurisdiction before ordering, and call 817-393-4000 so we can confirm the exact compliance features on this SKU.

Q: What makes the DD4 RIII different from a standard DDM4?

A: The ambidextrous lower. On the RIII you operate the bolt catch, safety selector and magazine release from either side without shifting your firing hand, and the charging handle is ambidextrous too. The rail generation differs as well: RIS III M-LOK rather than the MFR or RIS II rails used elsewhere.

Q: What muzzle thread does this 16-inch barrel use?

A: 1/2 x 28 TPI, the standard 5.56 thread, fitted at the factory with a Daniel Defense flash suppressor in 17-4 PH stainless steel with a salt bath nitride finish. If you are planning a suppressor mount, call 817-393-4000 so we can confirm how this SKU’s compliance configuration affects it.

Q: Does this rifle have to ship to an FFL?

A: Yes. It is a serialized firearm, so it must be transferred through a licensed FFL. Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas holds an FFL and an SOT and has handled transfers since 2007, and we can either complete it at our counter or ship the rifle to a dealer nearer you.

Additional information