Daniel Defense DD4 RIII S SBR, 5.56 NATO, 11.5″ Barrel, Black

Product Description

The Daniel Defense DD4 RIII S is a semi-automatic 5.56 NATO NFA short-barrelled rifle with an 11.5" Government profile barrel, 1:7 twist, carbine-length gas system on a low profile gas block, a RIS III 10.5 M-LOK rail in black and a Daniel Defense flash hider.

Eleven and a half inches is the thinking shooter’s short barrel. It is only an inch longer than a 10.3" MK18, but that inch buys back measurable muzzle velocity and a longer distance between gas port and muzzle — a slightly gentler gas curve and an action a little easier on itself. For a suppressed build, or a compact rifle that will also be shot past close-quarters distances, 11.5" is often the better engineering answer.

The RIII generation is what you are buying into as much as the barrel length. The lower is fully ambidextrous, so bolt catch, safety selector and magazine release all work without moving your firing hand, and the charging handle is ambidextrous too — useful on a short gun shot from both shoulders around cover. The RIS III 10.5 rail is Daniel Defense’s M-LOK reinterpretation of the SOCOM RIS II, lighter than the quad it replaces.

NFA short-barrelled rifle — what the purchase involves

This is a short-barrelled rifle regulated under the National Firearms Act. You will need a BATFE tax stamp and an approved NFA transfer, completed through a dealer holding a Special Occupational Tax stamp. Western Sport is an SOT and does these transfers regularly. We will not offer legal advice or predict timelines here — call 817-393-4000 and we will explain the process as it actually runs through our shop, and what we need from you to start it. Our NFA firearms category lists what else we can transfer the same way.

Key Facts

• Brand / Model: Daniel Defense DD4 RIII S
• Manufacturer Part Number: 02-191-12105-047
• Legal category: NFA short-barrelled rifle (SBR) | Finish: Black
• Action: Semi-automatic | Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
• Barrel: 11.5", Government profile, 1:7 twist
• Gas system: Carbine length, low profile gas block
• Muzzle device: Daniel Defense flash hider
• Rail: Daniel Defense RIS III 10.5, M-LOK attachment, black
• Controls: Fully ambidextrous bolt catch, safety selector and magazine release; ambidextrous GRIP-N-RIP charging handle
• Brand build standard — barrel: Cold hammer forged Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, chrome lined, Mil-Spec heavy phosphate coated, HP/MPI tested
• Brand build standard — receivers: CNC machined 7075-T6 aluminium, Type III hard coat anodized
• Brand build standard — bolt carrier group: M16 profile, Mil-Spec MP tested, chrome lined, properly staked gas key
• Weight, overall length, muzzle thread: call 817-393-4000 to confirm for this part number

11.5 inches or 10.3 inches?

Both are NFA short-barrelled rifles, so the paperwork is identical and the decision is purely about performance. Choose 10.3" if the absolute shortest package matters most — vehicle work, entry work, minimum footprint. Choose this 11.5" if you want more velocity, a slightly more forgiving gas curve, and a rifle that still works at a hundred yards and beyond. If you plan to hang a suppressor on the front, the 11.5" is generally the easier host. Compare the MK18 configurations and see our suppressors.

Ordering from Western Sport in Roanoke, TX

Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas holds both an FFL and an SOT, is a Daniel Defense master dealer, and has been in business since 2007 with a gunsmith on site. This short-barrelled rifle requires transfer through a licensed FFL that is also an SOT, together with an approved NFA transfer and tax stamp. Call 817-393-4000 to begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the DD4 RIII S an NFA item?

A: Yes. With an 11.5-inch barrel and a shoulder stock it is a short-barrelled rifle under the National Firearms Act, which means a BATFE tax stamp and an approved transfer through a dealer holding a Special Occupational Tax stamp. Western Sport is an SOT; call 817-393-4000 and we will explain how a transfer through us works.

Q: Why pick 11.5 inches over the 10.3-inch MK18 length?

A: Velocity and gas behaviour. The extra inch recovers measurable muzzle velocity and lengthens the distance from gas port to muzzle, which gives a slightly gentler gas curve. For suppressed use, or for a compact rifle that will also be shot past close-quarters distances, 11.5 inches is usually the better engineering answer.

Q: What does the fully ambidextrous lower actually change?

A: You can run the bolt catch, safety selector and magazine release without shifting your firing hand, from either shoulder. On a short rifle that gets fired around cover from both sides, that is not a novelty. The GRIP-N-RIP charging handle is ambidextrous as well.

Q: What rail does it use?

A: A Daniel Defense RIS III 10.5 in black, with M-LOK attachment. The RIS III is modelled on the RIS II two-piece rail Daniel Defense developed for SOCOM but rebuilt in M-LOK to cut weight while keeping durability, and at 10.5 inches it reaches out over the gas block toward the muzzle on this barrel.

Q: Can I add a suppressor to this rifle?

A: An 11.5-inch 5.56 rifle is a good suppressor host, but a suppressor is a separate NFA item with its own transfer and its own tax stamp. It is also fitted with a Daniel Defense flash hider from the factory. Call 817-393-4000 before buying a can so we can confirm the muzzle thread and what mounts to it.

Q: How does delivery of an SBR work?

A: It transfers through a licensed FFL that also holds an SOT, with an approved NFA transfer and tax stamp. Western Sport in Roanoke, Texas is both, so we can handle the whole thing. Call 817-393-4000 and we will tell you exactly what we need and in what order.

Additional information