Daniel Defense
Daniel Defense 18" 5.56 S2W Rifle-Length CHF Barrel
18" rifle-gas 5.56 barrel in Daniel Defense's S2W heavy profile, the DMR-length CHF barrel in the AR-15 line.
Quick Specs
- Price
- $394
- Weight
- 2 lb 13 oz
- Brand
- Daniel Defense
- Category
- barrel
Features
- •18" length, S2W heavy profile
- •Rifle length 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
Compatibility Tags
Overview
The 18" S2W is Daniel Defense's precision-leaning AR-15 barrel. S2W stands for Strength to Weight, the company's own heavy contour, and at 2.81 lbs stripped it is roughly a pound heavier than the 14.5" Government barrel. That mass is the point: it resists heat and stays consistent through longer strings than a lightweight contour.
Rifle length gas is the other half of the equation. The longer dwell drops port pressure and bolt velocity, which is why an 18" rifle-gas 5.56 is the softest shooting configuration in the AR-15 family and the one most tolerant of a suppressor. The bore is cold hammer forged 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium, chrome lined, and mil-spec heavy phosphate coated outside, with a .750" gas journal, 1/2x28 muzzle threads, and an A4 extension.
At 18 inches the finished rifle needs no NFA paperwork, and the extra length over a 16" carbine is worth roughly a hundred feet per second with most 5.56 loads. Pair it with a rifle-length handguard and a 1-6x or 1-8x optic and it is the standard recipe for a general-purpose or DMR-style AR-15.
Key Features
- S2W (Strength to Weight) heavy profile for heat and string consistency
- Rifle length gas system for the softest impulse in the AR-15 line
- 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
- Available stripped or with a low-profile gas block
- 1/2x28 threaded muzzle, .750" gas journal, A4 barrel extension
Pros
- +No NFA paperwork at 18 inches
- +Rifle length gas is the softest and most suppressor-tolerant AR-15 gas configuration
- +Heavy S2W contour holds zero and point of impact through longer strings
- +Roughly 100 fps more velocity than a 16-inch barrel with common 5.56 loads
- +Chrome lined CHF bore lasts longer than button-rifled alternatives under sustained fire
Cons
- −2.81 lbs stripped is nearly a pound over the 14.5-inch Government barrel
- −18 inches is unwieldy indoors and in vehicles compared to a carbine
- −Rifle length gas needs a rifle length handguard, which adds cost to the build
- −Chrome lined bore caps absolute precision below match-grade stainless
Detailed Specifications
- Length
- 18"
- profile
- S2W (Daniel Defense heavy barrel)
- 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
- Rifle length
- gasJournal
- .750"
- muzzleThreads
- 1/2x28
- barrelExtension
- A4
- weight
- 2.81 lbs stripped, 2.89 lbs with low-profile gas block
- sku
- 07-116-05042-018
Compatible Platforms
+232 more
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Build Your Custom Configuration
Add the Daniel Defense 18" 5.56 S2W Rifle-Length CHF Barrel to your build and see how it enhances your platform.