Daniel Defense 12.5" 5.56 Government CHF Barrel
Daniel Defense's 12.5" Government profile cold hammer forged 5.56 barrel on carbine gas, sold stripped or with a low-profile gas block or front sight base.
- Price
- $394
- Weight
- 1 lb 6.4 oz
- Brand
- Daniel Defense
- Category
- Barrels
Featured in
Features
- •12.5" length, Government profile
- •Carbine gas system
- •5.56 NATO chamber, 1:7 twist
- •4150 CMV CHF, chrome lined and phosphate
- •1/2x28 muzzle threads
- •.750" gas journal, A4 barrel extension
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Guides
Overview
The 12.5" Government profile barrel is the top of Daniel Defense's short-barrel range before the 14.5" mid-length. It is cold hammer forged from 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium steel, chrome lined, and finished in mil-spec heavy phosphate, the same process the company uses on its complete uppers.
Gas stays carbine length at this size, and the journal is .750" so any standard low-profile gas block fits. Daniel Defense lists three configurations: stripped at 1.40 lbs, with a low-profile gas block at 1.48 lbs, and with a front sight base at 1.71 lbs. The muzzle is 1/2x28 and the extension is A4.
12.5" is the length that gets the most out of 5.56 without going full carbine: it keeps velocity closer to a 14.5" than a 10.3" does, and it takes a 12" to 12.5" rail so a light and a laser both have room. Like every sub-16" barrel, it makes the finished rifle a short-barreled rifle unless it is built as a pistol.
Key Features
- Cold hammer forged 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium bore
- 1:7 twist for the common 5.56 NATO projectile range
- Chrome lined bore for service life and suppressed use
- Mil-spec heavy phosphate exterior finish
- Carbine length gas system with a .750" gas journal
- Available stripped, with a low-profile gas block, or with a front sight base
- 1/2x28 threaded muzzle
- A4 barrel extension
Pros
- +Keeps more 5.56 velocity than a 10.3" or 11.5" while staying compact
- +Factory Daniel Defense CHF quality without buying a complete upper
- +.750" journal accepts any standard low-profile gas block
- +Three factory configurations cover stripped, low-profile gas, and front sight base builds
- +Chrome lined bore holds up to sustained and suppressed fire
Cons
- −12.5" barrel requires SBR registration or a pistol configuration
- −Government profile is heavier than a pencil or hybrid contour
- −Carbine gas at 12.5" is still on the aggressive side when suppressed
- −Chrome lined bore caps absolute precision below match-grade stainless
Detailed Specifications
- Length
- 12.5"
- profile
- Government
- chamber
- 5.56mm NATO
- twist
- 1:7
- Material
- 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium
- construction
- Cold Hammer Forged
- Finish
- Chrome lined bore, mil-spec heavy phosphate exterior
- gasSystem
- Carbine length
- gasJournal
- .750"
- muzzleThreads
- 1/2x28
- barrelExtension
- A4
- weight
- 1.40 lbs stripped, 1.48 lbs with low-profile gas block, 1.71 lbs with front sight base
- sku
- 07-077-17022-018
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Build Your Custom Configuration
Add the Daniel Defense 12.5" 5.56 Government CHF Barrel to your build and see how it enhances your platform.