Daniel Defense enjoys a high reputation as a manufacturer of fine AR-style semi-automatic rifles in calibers such as .223 Remington, .300 Blackout and .308 Winchester. At the SHOT Show 2019, the Black Creek, Georgia-based company surprised us with the Delta 5 precision bolt-action rifle in 6.5mm Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington and .308 Winchester.
Daniel Defense Delta 5 - The first bolt-action by Marty Daniel
Only in 2009 Marty Daniel started with Daniel Defense and his first DDM4 V1 AR-15-style semi-auto rifle. The young company has since continued its success story in the guns world. Nowadays you can come up with a considerable AR catalog and one of the secrets of success is the fact that almost everything is developed and built in-house. You do not just shop for everything on the huge, inexhaustible AR-10/15 market and assemble components together to create your "own" AR. That makes the difference. Now, for the first time, they are presenting their own bolt-action rifle, which is probably attributable to the fact that the long-range market is booming in the USA and modern precision bolt-action rifles are in big demand. And here, too, Daniel Defense goes its own way, because the model Delta 5 is not just another Remington 700 cheap imitation.
The innovative quick change barrel system of the Delta 5
The carbon fiber-reinforced polymer stock houses a mini light alloy chassis with integral recoil lug instead of a pinned one. The action features three bolt lugs on a floating bolt head and a Sako style extractor. The cold-hammer forged barrel features a barrel extension and a barrel lock nut, similar to Savage’s one. The Delta 5 bolt-action has a quick change barrel system, whereby the barrel can be swapped by the shooter. Due to the design, the barrel nut sets headspace and no gauges are needed. The barrel length in .308 Winchester is 20 in / 508 mm (1:10" twist) as well as in 6.5 Creedmoor and 7 mm-08 Remington 24 in / 610 mm (with 1: 8" twist in 6.5 mm and 1: 9" twist in 7 mm). Under the action sits the new, adjustable Timney Elite Hunter match trigger, coupled to a two-position safety. The Delta 5 rifle is fed from AICS (Accuracy International Chassis System) magazines with a capacity of 5 cartridges. A Magpul PMAG 5 7.62 AC magazine is included. A total of 14 M-LOK mounting points allow for easy attachment of additional equipment. There are also three M-LOK attachment points for QD sling mounts.
Daniel Defense Delta 5: technical data
| Manufacturer | Daniel Defense |
| Model: | Delta 5 |
| Caliber: | .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Rem. |
| Barrel length: | 20" / 508 mm - 24" / 610 mm |
| Twist: | 1:10" (.308 Win.), 1:8" (6,5 Creedmoor), 1:9" (7mm-08 Rem.) |
| Length: | 40" / 1016 mm in .308 Win., 44" / 1118 in 6,5 Creedmoor and 7mm-08 Rem. |
| Weight: | 142.5 oz / 4.037 g (.308 Win.) - 152 oz / 4309 g (6,5 Creedmoor and 7mm-08 Rem.) |
| Magazine capacity: | 5 |
| Price: | 2199 USD (approx 1942 euro) |
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