Daniel Defense GL/SSC Upper Receiver Group, 12.5″ 5.56 NATO, RIS II 11.5 FDE

Product Description

The Daniel Defense GL/SSC Upper Receiver Group, 12.5″ 5.56 NATO, RIS II 11.5 FDE (part 23-004-20154-047) is a complete upper built on a 12.5 in. cold hammer forged Government-profile barrel in 5.56mm NATO – chrome lined and Mil-Spec heavy phosphate coated, 1:7 twist, carbine gas system – fitted with the free-floating GL/SSC RIS II rail in Flat Dark Earth and a Daniel Defense A2 flash hider. Daniel Defense lists it at 3.9 lbs.

GL/SSC stands for Grenade Launcher / Sound Suppressor Capable, and it describes what the rail does. The free-floating GL/SSC RIS II integrates all M203 grenade launcher mounting components directly into the rail, with no additional parts or special tools, and its free-float hanger system keeps the upper compatible with suppressors and M203 accessories at the same time – a combination that is hard to achieve, since an M203 normally clamps to the barrel or handguard.

Key Facts

• Brand: Daniel Defense
• Model: GL/SSC Upper Receiver Group
• SKU / MPN: 23-004-20154-047
• Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
• Barrel length: 12.5 in.
• Barrel profile: Government
• Twist rate: 1:7
• Barrel material: Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, cold hammer forged
• Barrel finish: Chrome lined, Mil-Spec heavy phosphate coated
• Gas system: Carbine
• Muzzle device: Daniel Defense A2 flash hider
• Rail: Free-floating GL/SSC RIS II, 11.5 in. FDE; integrates all M203 mounting components into the rail
• Compatibility: Suppressors and M203 accessories via the free-float hanger system
• Weight: 3.9 lbs
• Origin: Made in the USA

A URG is not a firearm – no FFL transfer needed

An upper receiver group contains no serialized part. The regulated component of an AR-pattern rifle is the lower receiver, so a URG is not a firearm in its own right and needs no FFL transfer and no background check – it ships like any other component. You still need a complete lower, and that is the part that transfers: see our complete lowers and lower receivers.

A 12.5 in. barrel and the NFA – this one matters

Daniel Defense’s own note is worth quoting directly: “Once this part is assembled into a complete firearm, it becomes a regulated item by the National Firearms Act (NFA). Please check with your local and state municipalities for any further regulatory requirements. It is the buyer’s responsibility to make sure they comply with all NFA rules and applicable laws.”

In plain terms: a 12.5 in. barrel on a rifle-configured lower creates an NFA short-barrelled rifle, which must be registered with a BATFE tax stamp before assembly. The lawful configurations are a lower already registered as an SBR, or one built as a pistol – unlike 14.5 in., there is no realistic pin-and-weld route to 16 in. We hold SOT credentials and process NFA registrations, so call 817-393-4000 first. See also our NFA firearms.

Ordering from Western Sport in Roanoke, TX

Western Sport is a Daniel Defense master dealer, an FFL since 2007 with SOT credentials and a gunsmith on site in Roanoke, Texas. Short uppers generate more questions than anything else we sell – call 817-393-4000 before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does GL/SSC stand for?

A: Grenade Launcher / Sound Suppressor Capable. It describes the rail: the free-floating GL/SSC RIS II integrates all M203 grenade launcher mounting components directly into the rail without additional parts or special tools, and its free-float hanger system keeps the upper compatible with suppressors and M203 accessories at the same time.

Q: Do I need an FFL to buy this 12.5 in. upper receiver group?

A: No – a URG has no serialized part, so it is not a firearm and needs no transfer or background check. But Daniel Defense’s own note applies: once this part is assembled into a complete firearm it becomes an item regulated by the National Firearms Act, and compliance is the buyer’s responsibility.

Q: Can I put a 12.5 in. upper on my existing rifle lower?

A: Not on a rifle-configured lower without registration – that assembly creates an NFA short-barrelled rifle, which must be registered with a BATFE tax stamp before it is put together. Lawful options are a lower already registered as an SBR or one built and configured as a pistol.

Q: How much does the GL/SSC URG weigh?

A: Daniel Defense lists this upper receiver group at 3.9 lbs – the upper alone, before you add a lower, stock and magazine. The figure reflects the 12.5 in. Government-profile barrel and the free-floating GL/SSC RIS II rail, which is a lighter package than a full quad-rail upper.

Q: Is the barrel chrome lined?

A: Yes. 5 in. barrel as Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, cold hammer forged, chrome lined and Mil-Spec heavy phosphate coated, with a 1:7 twist, Government profile and carbine gas system. Chrome lining is what you want on a short barrel seeing high round counts and heat.

Q: Does the GL/SSC URG include a bolt carrier group?

A: We are not stating either way. Daniel Defense does not specify the bolt carrier group, the receiver material or the muzzle thread for this upper, and we would rather omit a spec than publish one we cannot trace to this exact part.

Additional information