Charles Daly Defense D-M4LE
With a history dating back to the late 19th century, Charles Daly is a name renowned in the sporting firearm community. Branching out into a new category, the company recently launched a division called Charles Daly Defense and is offering the CDD-15 series of AR-pattern rifles. One of these, the D-M4LE, is reviewed here.
The Charles Daly D-M4LE’s carry handle is removable.
While AR-pattern rifles might seem an odd fit for a company best known for shotguns, Charles Daly Defense set about from the beginning to develop rifles that exhibit the qualities and features that knowledgeable enthusiasts demand. In particular, the D-M4LE is intended as a fully upgraded M4 Carbine-style semi-automatic rifle with a host of “mil-spec” features and details.
The core of the rifle—its upper and lower receivers—is made from 7075-T6 aluminum forgings that are machined and then hard-coat anodized and Teflon-coated.
The rifle’s front sight base features a 0.004” taller height that is better suited for a flat-top carbine.
The D-M4LE sports a 4150 chrome-moly vanadium barrel with a 5.56x45 mm NATO chamber. As compared to the more common 4140 steel barrel material, 4150 steel has greater theoretical strength at extreme temperatures and stresses. Another area where the D-M4LE’s barrel stands out is in its rate of twist. Whereas a 1:9" twist is more common, the D-M4LE features a faster 1:7" rate of twist that can stabilize a broader range of bullet weights. The barrel’s contour features the now-familiar M203 step and is topped off with an A2-style muzzle brake. The barrel, in addition to all the other steel parts of the carbine, features an evenly applied manganese phosphated gray/black finish.
To ensure reliable feeding of cartridges, the D-M4LE has what has become generally known as “M4 feed ramps.” Specifically, this is a set of feed ramps cut into the rear face of the barrel extension that mate with corresponding cuts-outs in the area of the receiver beneath the barrel extension.
