Sons of Liberty vs Daniel Defense: AR-15 brands compared
Daniel Defense leads in 4 of 7 categories.
Sons of Liberty for gas blocks. Daniel Defense for upper receivers, barrels and charging handles.
From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.
Our take
SOLGW makes duty style AR-15s in San Antonio and sells barrels, uppers, gas tubes and gas blocks on their own. SOCOM chose its MK1 for the Combat Assault Rifle program.
Lifetime warranty · SOCOM contract · Duty rifles
- Close to average prices
- Gas blocks, picked 5x as often
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
- Upper receivers, picked 4x as often
- Barrels, picked 10x as often
Many builders mix them: 34% of Sons of Liberty builds add Daniel Defense, most often the barrel.
Biggest differences
"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.
| Sons of Liberty | Daniel Defense | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price vs average | 19% cheaper | 39% pricier | Sons of Liberty cheaper |
| Share of builds | 5% | 17% | Daniel Defense 3x |
| Barrels picked | 1.2% | 11% | Daniel Defense 9x |
| Gas blocks picked | 9.1% | 1.7% | Sons of Liberty 5x |
| Uppers picked | 1.9% | 7.3% | Daniel Defense 4x |
| Muzzle devices picked | 5.7% | 4.1% | Sons of Liberty 1.4x |
| Parts listed | 562 | 517 |
Price: Sons of Liberty wins
For the same part, Sons of Liberty parts run 19% cheaper than average and Daniel Defense parts run 39% pricier than average.
Builder favorite: Daniel Defense wins
Sons of Liberty is in 5% 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 (4x) more often than Sons of Liberty. Sons of Liberty lower receivers are picked often, Daniel Defense's rarely.
Internals: Split
Builders pick Daniel Defense barrels (10x) and charging handles (6x) more often than Sons of Liberty. Builders pick Sons of Liberty gas blocks (5x) more often than Daniel Defense. Bolt carrier groups, muzzle devices and buffer tubes are about even. Sons of Liberty triggers are picked often, Daniel Defense's rarely.
Why Sons of Liberty: The M4-76 runs an A5 buffer system with a VLTOR A5-H2 buffer and a pinned and welded NOX muzzle device.
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 handguards (7x) more often than Sons of Liberty. Daniel Defense stocks and pistol grips are picked often, Sons of Liberty'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, Sons of Liberty rarely.
Most picked Sons of Liberty complete rifles
Rarely picked
Shopper clicks: Tie
Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 51% went to Sons of Liberty and 49% went to Daniel Defense.
The full record
Everything we track for Sons of Liberty vs Daniel Defense, from builds, store listings and daily prices.
| Sons of Liberty | Daniel Defense | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of builds | 5% | 17% |
| Price tier | Mid priced | Premium |
| Parts listed | 562 | 517 |
| Part types | 29 | 27 |
| Retailers carrying | 16 | 16 |
| In stock now | 25% | 68% |
| Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts | 6% higher | 3% higher |
| On sale now | None | None |
