Daniel Defense, industry leader in premium AR-based rifles, is launching their first-ever bolt-action rifle, the new Delta 5. The Delta 5 is more inspired by the Remington 700, with a completely redesigned action, bolt and barrel system.
Daniel Defense is taking advantage of modern manufacturing to build a precision bolt gun with user-interchangeable barrels and triggers. The barrels are cold hammer-forged on a mandrel to form not just the profile but also the chamber and rifling.
The barrels have a heavy Palma profile and are only machined at the muzzle and barrel extension to ensure that the steel isn’t warped or tempered after forging. As a result the hammer marks are still visible down the length of the barrel.
Daniel Defense uses a proprietary stainless steel alloy for their barrels that requires no break-in. The action is 17-4 stainless steel with wire-EDM-cut lugways and it’s lapped for the barrel extension. The action, bolt and bolt head are finished with a diamond-like carbon finish and the action comes fit with a 20-MOA rail for optics.
The action is all-new as well but is compatible with aftermarket Remington 700 triggers. Still, most shooters will be happy with the included Timney Elite Hunter. The Timney Elite Hunter was developed for precision rifles and is adjustable with a pull that can be set from 4 pounds down to just 1.5.
The Delta 5 is a 3-lug design with a 60-degree bolt throw. The bolt has a floating bolt head that can be swapped out for different cartridges. The bolt, bolt head and barrel assemblies are built to .001-inch tolerances and require no gunsmithing or headspacing to swap.
The rifle is set up with a completely in-house designed stock with a fully-adjustable cheekpiece that can be raised, lowered and shifted laterally to the right or left. The length of pull is adjustable with 1/4- and 1/2-inch spacers.
See Also: Daniel Defense Delta 5 Full Review
Daniel Defense uses a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer with a machined 6061 aluminum mini-chassis. The mini-chassis has integral pillars for the action and accepts AICS-pattern magazines. It has an ambidextrous magazine release as well.
Other stock features include forward and rear quick-detach sling swivels on both sides as well as M-Lok slots on the forend and all along the bottom of the stock.
Daniel Defense will be shipping the Delta 5 starting later is the first quarter of 2019 in 6.5mm Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington and .308 Winchester. In .308 the Delta 5 ships with a 20-inch barrel and in the other calibers it ships with a 24-inch barrel. All models ship with one 5-round Magpul AI PMag.
The suggested retail price is $2,199 which will hopefully work out to less than $2,000 in stores and online.
The article states that the action is Model 700 inspired but the description of the action sounds like a Savage 110.
That’s a whole lot of money for something that’s not going to do anything different than what any of my other rifles can do. Will it make me a better Hunter will I be a better Precision shooter I don’t know. Seems like a lot of money to do something simple hit paper or knock down deer.