Daniel Defense M4A1 RIS II
DD's legacy M4A1 with the original RIS II quad rail. Same handguard the U.S. SOCOM SOPMOD Block II program adopted in 2005. Carbine-length gas, mil-spec lower with an ambidextrous safety selector and independently ambidextrous GRIP-N-RIP charging handle (bolt catch and magazine release are single-sided), 14.5" CHF barrel pinned and welded to 16.0" overall.
- Price
- $2,599
- Weight
- 6 lb 12 oz
- Calibers
- 5.56x45mm
- Rail
- picatinny
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Key Highlights
- •Original DD M4A1 with the RIS II quad rail used by U.S. SOCOM since 2005 (SOPMOD Block II)
- •Ambidextrous safety selector and GRIP-N-RIP charging handle on a mil-spec lower
- •Picatinny on all four sides means any 1990s-2000s SOPMOD accessory mounts directly without M-LOK adapters
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Overview
The Daniel Defense M4A1 RIS II is the original DD M4A1, built around the RIS II Picatinny quad rail handguard that DD developed and the U.S. SOCOM adopted for the SOPMOD Block II program in 2005. The same quad rail you see on issued M4A1s in deployment photos from 2005 onward is the rail on this rifle. The barrel is a 14.5-inch cold hammer-forged Chrome Moly Vanadium M4 profile pinned and welded to 16.0 inches overall, and the gas system is carbine-length to match the original M4A1 spec. The rifle uses a mil-spec lower with Daniel Defense furniture, an ambidextrous safety selector, and the DD GRIP-N-RIP ambidextrous charging handle; the bolt catch and magazine release stay single-sided, unlike the fully ambidextrous RIII lowers. The RIS II rail is heavier than the newer RIS III M-LOK system on the M4A1 RIII, but it remains the correct choice if you specifically want the original SOPMOD Block II handguard configuration, or if your existing accessory inventory is built around 1913 Picatinny rather than M-LOK.
Key Features
- 14.5" CHF chrome-lined Chrome Moly Vanadium barrel (16.0" OAL with pinned and welded flash suppressor)
- RIS II Picatinny quad rail handguard (the SOCOM SOPMOD Block II handguard since 2005)
- Carbine-length direct impingement gas system with pinned low-profile gas block
- Mil-spec lower with Daniel Defense controls and furniture
- Ambidextrous DD GRIP-N-RIP charging handle
- 7075-T6 aluminum upper and lower with Type III hard-coat anodizing
- Daniel Defense buttstock and pistol grip
- Includes RIS II rail panels and H-buffer; sights sold separately
Capability Profile
0-10 Scale Across 8 Axes
Pros
- +The actual SOCOM SOPMOD Block II handguard configuration
- +Picatinny on all four sides accepts any 1913 accessory directly (no M-LOK adapters)
- +Ambidextrous charging handle from the factory
- +Cheaper than the RIII version while keeping the same DD barrel quality
- +Carbine-length gas matches the original issued M4A1 spec
Cons
- −RIS II quad rail is significantly heavier than the M-LOK RIS III (6.74 lbs vs 6.39 lbs)
- −Quad rail without rail covers chews up your support hand fast
- −Pinned and welded flash suppressor rules out muzzle device swaps and most suppressor mounts
- −Carbine-length gas runs hotter and harder than the RIII's mid-length
- −Sights not included (RIII includes them)
Detailed Specifications
- caliber
- 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Length
- 14.5" (16.0" OAL with pinned and welded flash suppressor)
- Overall Length
- 31.5" - 34.75" with muzzle device
- weight
- 6.74 lbs
- Gas System
- Carbine
- Twist Rate
- 1:7 right-hand
- threadPitch
- 1/2x28 (flash suppressor pinned and welded)
- Muzzle Device
- Pinned and welded Daniel Defense Flash Suppressor, Extended
- barrelProfile
- M4
- handguard
- M4A1 Rail Interface System (RIS) II Picatinny quad rail with rail panels
- Handguard
- 12.25"
- stock
- Daniel Defense buttstock on mil-spec buffer tube with H-buffer
- trigger
- Mil-spec single-stage
- lower
- Mil-spec with enhanced flared magazine well and rear receiver QD
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