Home AR-15 High End Factory vs. Home Budget Build AR15 Accuracy Test

High End Factory vs. Home Budget Build AR15 Accuracy Test

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Daniel Defense MK12 vs Parts Build AR15 Accuracy Test. We took two AR15s and shot 3 different loads through them. The DD was purchased for $1,600 about 2 years ago, while the Parts Build was put together for about half that a few months ago.

Daniel Defense is stock with BCM stock/grip and a Harris Bipod.

Parts Build:
Midwest Industries Lower
Yankee Hill upper
AIM Surplus EXO BCG
LaRue 2 stage
Odin Works 15″ handguard
Odin Works 18″ DMR .223 Wylde Barrel, rifle length gas system
Spikes Tactical Buffer Tube
Magpul Grip
Strike Industries dust cover and J-Comp
MFT stock

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13 COMMENTS

  1. I’d take the DD any day of the week. It has the Daniel defense handgaurd, bcg, and a chrome lined 556 barrel. My rifles are all setup for SHTF #1 and target practice #2. If it can get me close to a MOA on a 556 rifle I’m cool with it, that’s 7” at 700 yards. Plenty acceptable accuracy at the furthest range I’d shoot a 556 with good ammo. Though the $800 gun may be appealing I’d take a factory Daniel defense over just about any parts gun but I try not to worry about cost as much when selecting a firearm and more about quality and long term durability. Buy once cry once or buy twice.

  2. First an observation, I wouldn't consider the DD as a High-End Factory… More a Middle of The Road factory… My opinion.
    Now a stupid question… Did you zero in the DD properly?
    Another observation, those scopes should be Vector 1/6… In an AR15 you always want the option for no amplification.
    Also, your friends "Odin", let's call it that, with that furniture, that barrel, and that guard, cost only $800? Strange.
    You also forgot, or I missed it, to tell us what triggers are on each rifle,
    Cheers.

  3. In short, just roll your own.

    Because unless you just want that peace of mind that you can send it back and bitch and complain to somebody when it goes wrong for you, or you haven't a clue as to how to do it right, you usually come out a lot cheaper putting one together on your own. You can choose what you want to go on it, and take your time to do it. And have your local gunsmith to check it over for you, when you're done, if you can't do it yourself.

    As long as you buy from reputable companies, most parts adhere to Mil Spec tolerances, and equivalent or better quality, that there shouldn't be an issue with tolerance stacking or performance. Can it happen? Yes, but the likelihood of it doing so is pretty low these days.

    It's also a good learning experience. There's plenty of Internet Commandos out there that don't know how to install their own trigger group…unless it's a drop in, of course.

  4. Something to consider…
    The Daniel Defense has a cold hammer forged chrome lined barrel with a standard 556 chamber. The odin works barrel is a stainless steel non lined barrel with a .223 wylde chamber. This is an apples to oranges situation.
    The DD's 556 chamber is going to be slightly larger to offer more reliability when the rifle is dirty after prolonged use, when dirty ammunition is being run through the rifle and/or it is being fed ammunition that has cases that may not have consistent tolerances. DD's CHF chrome lined barrel is also going to long out last the round count of an odin works stainless barrel especially with faster firing situations where the barrel becomes hot. The trade off for these more reliable looser tolerances is going to be accuracy… with that being said the DD rifles are still some incredibly accurate rifles. Were talking between 6-10" at 600 yards with the right ammunition and the right hands. (600 yds generally being 556/223 max effective range)
    On the other hand we odin works runs a stainless .223 wylde chamber. A well made stainless barrel in theory should out perform a chrome lined barrel any day of the week when it comes to accuracy, (there will always be exceptions) On top of this we have the .223 wylde chamber which offers much tighter tolerances and a much shorter distance from the seated bullet to the lands of the rifle. These factors will lend to a more accurate rifle assuming it is free floated and the other basics of an accurate rifle are covered. In theory the trade off of corse is going to be reliability, The odin works is still a very reliable barrel and the DD is still an accurate gun, but these rifles were really designed to fill two different purposes. The DD being a pretty accurate battle rifle that will take take torture and ask for more. The odin build that can pretty reliably produce a sub MOA group on paper for one hell of an excellent price though it may or may not stand up to the test of battle. The barrel is really the heart of the AR and ultimately can define the purpose of that particular AR.

    Dan G. you are right on the money as far a the rifles relation to cost. (No pun intended)

    Great video Tactical Accountants! Thanks!

  5. When you buy a gun from a reputable company like Daniel Defense, LaRue, or JP Enterprises, what you are paying extra for is the time they took to test the compatibility of different parts and ironing out any issues they may have found during their testing due to a low-quality part or incompatibility of certain parts. 
    You are also paying to have an individual that has put together many AR-15's and knows all the tricks of the trade and what to check when it comes to fit finish after final assembly, also they have the high dollar professional tools that do not mar the finish on parts or break on you when assembling the gun unlike the cheap multi function armor wrenches and other cheaply made specialty tools that most do it yourself builders buy to save a few bucks. 
    But these companies are not doing anything magical that anyone else at home couldn't do. As long as someone is willing to put in the time to do some research, has a certain level of mechanical expertise and previous experience assembling items, and is willing spend the money to buy good quality parts and tools and is willing to swap out a few parts if they find they are not made very well or do not work well with other parts, then there is no reason they couldn't build a gun that performs just as good as the top manufacturers.

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