Daniel Defense M4A1
- Category
- Rifle
- Barrel
- 368 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.06 kg
- Introduced
- 2013
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Daniel Defense M4A1 is a semi-automatic rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Daniel Defense since 2013. This American-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 14.5-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3057g (107.8 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The aluminum alloy frame achieves a notable weight reduction compared to all-steel construction while maintaining the structural rigidity required for safe, reliable operation. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
Daniel Defense began in 2000 when founder Marty Daniel built a better AR-15 rail system in his garage. The company's RIS II (Rail Interface System II) handguard was selected for the U.S. Special Operations Command SOPMOD Block II program, making it the standard rail system for elite American special operators worldwide.
Overall length varies from 31.5 to 34.75 inches depending on stock position; the 31.5-inch (800mm) collapsed measurement is listed. The 14.5-inch barrel has a permanently pinned and welded Daniel Defense flash suppressor to meet the 16-inch NFA minimum. Daniel Defense supplies the RIS II rail system to USSOCOM for the SOPMOD Block II program. The civilian M4A1 is semi-automatic only. The RIII variant replaces the quad rail with a slimmer M-LOK handguard. Uses an H buffer for reliable cycling. Weight of 6.74 lbs (3057g) is without magazine.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Daniel Defense
- Category
- Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2013
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 368 mm
- Overall length
- 800 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.06 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Anodized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 905 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1640 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 3600 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Direct impingement gas system
Rotating bolt
Cold hammer forged barrel
Chrome lined barrel
M4 feed ramps
Ris ii handguard
Picatinny quad rail
Ambidextrous charging handle
Pinned low profile gas block
Daniel defense flash suppressor
Flared magazine well
Qd sling points
Mil spec heavy phosphate coating
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 84 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 3.06 kg | 3.08 kg | Near the median |
| Overall lengthAmong 77 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 800 mm | 900 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 368 mm | 406 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Daniel Defense M4A1
How much does the Daniel Defense M4A1 weigh?
The Daniel Defense M4A1 weighs 3.06 kg (6.74 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Daniel Defense M4A1?
The Daniel Defense M4A1 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Daniel Defense M4A1 hold?
The Daniel Defense M4A1 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Daniel Defense M4A1?
The Daniel Defense M4A1 is 800 mm (31.5 in) long overall, with a 368 mm (14.5 in) barrel.
Who makes the Daniel Defense M4A1?
The Daniel Defense M4A1 is made by Daniel Defense (United States). It was designed by Marty Daniel.
When was the Daniel Defense M4A1 introduced?
The Daniel Defense M4A1 was introduced in 2013.
How does the Daniel Defense M4A1 operate?
The Daniel Defense M4A1 uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- United States Special Operations Command
- 2005
- United States Civilian Market
- 2013
Provenance
Confidence in this record
83%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/daniel-defense-m4a1' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "daniel-defense-m4a1", "name": "Daniel Defense M4A1", "manufacturer": { "id": "daniel-defense", "name": "Daniel Defense", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 2000, "website": "https://www.danieldefense.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:46", "version": "6d10d3d98b28a078568620c53754ace8fc3c89156db0b437cd09a8e82678df77" }, "category": { "id": "rifle", "name": "Rifle", "description": "Long-barreled firearms designed for accurate shooting" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2013, "barrel_length_mm": 368, "weight_empty_g": 3057, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}