LMT vs Daniel Defense: AR-15 brands compared
Daniel Defense leads in 6 of 7 categories.
Daniel Defense for stocks, upper receivers and barrels.
From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.
Our take
LMT, now LMT Defense, makes rifles for militaries around the world. On the parts side it's known for the MRP monolithic upper and the Enhanced Bolt.
Monolithic uppers · Military contractor · Berry compliant
- Close to average prices
Daniel Defense makes cold hammer forged barrels, SOCOM rails and complete AR rifles, with nearly every step done in house in Georgia.
Lifetime warranty · Cold hammer forged barrels · Family owned · In-house manufacturing
- Paying more: about 39% above average
- The more popular pick: in 17% of builds
- Stocks, picked 77x as often
- Upper receivers, picked 5x as often
Many builders mix them: 43% of LMT builds add Daniel Defense, most often the barrel.
Biggest differences
"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.
| LMT | Daniel Defense | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price vs average | 12% pricier | 39% pricier | LMT cheaper |
| Share of builds | 4% | 17% | Daniel Defense 4x |
| Stocks picked | 0.2% | 15% | Daniel Defense 76x |
| Barrels picked | 0.4% | 11% | Daniel Defense 28x |
| Uppers picked | 1.5% | 7.3% | Daniel Defense 5x |
| Parts listed | 154 | 517 | Daniel Defense 3x |
| Retailers carrying | 10 | 16 | Daniel Defense 1.6x |
Price: LMT wins
For the same part, LMT parts run 12% pricier than average and Daniel Defense parts run 39% pricier than average.
Builder favorite: Daniel Defense wins
LMT is in 4% of builds and Daniel Defense is in 17% of builds.
Why Daniel Defense: The lifetime warranty stays with the gun no matter how many owners it has had.
Receivers: Daniel Defense wins
Builders pick Daniel Defense upper receivers (5x) more often than LMT. LMT lower receivers are picked often, Daniel Defense's rarely.
Internals: Daniel Defense wins
Builders pick Daniel Defense barrels (25x), charging handles (1.5x) and buffer tubes (2.5x) more often than LMT. Bolt carrier groups are about even. Daniel Defense muzzle devices and gas blocks are picked often, LMT's rarely.
Why Daniel Defense: The 16 inch government profile barrel is cold hammer forged 4150 CMV steel, heavy phosphate coated and chrome lined.
Furniture: Daniel Defense wins
Builders pick Daniel Defense stocks (77x) more often than LMT. Daniel Defense handguards and pistol grips are picked often, LMT's rarely.
Why Daniel Defense: The RIS II rail was designed at SOCOM's request for SOPMOD Block II, and SOCOM has used it since 2005.
Complete rifles: Daniel Defense wins
Daniel Defense complete rifles picked often, LMT rarely.
Most picked LMT complete rifles
Rarely picked
Shopper clicks: Daniel Defense wins
Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 82% went to Daniel Defense and 18% went to LMT.
The full record
Everything we track for LMT vs Daniel Defense, from builds, store listings and daily prices.
| LMT | Daniel Defense | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of builds | 4% | 17% |
| Price tier | Mid priced | Premium |
| Parts listed | 154 | 517 |
| Part types | 21 | 27 |
| Retailers carrying | 10 | 16 |
| In stock now | 70% | 68% |
| Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts | Flat | 3% higher |
| On sale now | None | None |
