DDM4 300S vs Seekins SBR8

[107driver]

I'm looking for a 300 SBR for fun out to 200 yards, the occasional class and match, and possibly home defense. In all cases I would plan on shooting it suppressed, a mix of subs and supers. I currently have a Dead Air Nomad-L and a TBAC Ultra-7, though the flow-through designs are intriguing.

I have had good experience with both Daniel Defense and Seekins, so I've focused on them, though open to others. As I see it the main differences are 10" vs 8", 1:8 vs 1:7, the stock, and of course the extended handguard on the Seekins--looks like the Nomad would just barely squeeze in. I'm not savvy enough to understand the implications of the adjustable gas block on the Seekins.

Considering both are DI guns from established houses, are there any factors that would push you to one over the other?

Thank you in advance.

DDM4®300 S (Factory SBR)

To purchase this firearm, contact your local Daniel Defense Dealer.The DDM4 300S AR15 style rifle is designed for those demanding a high-performance, short-barrel rifle chambered in the versatile 300 Blackout cartridge. Built around a 10.3 inch barrel, the 300S uses standard 5.56 bolts and...

danieldefense.com

SBR8

The SBR8 is ideal for quiet and quick sport shooting, short range competitions, and home defense. The lower receiver offers ambidextrous controls maximizing efficient manipulation of the weapon from either side. The SBR8 is NOW AVAIBLE in 7 head-turning,

seekinsprecision.com

 

[Coffee_and_Pipes]

Bump to see if anyone has experience with either of these — especially the Seekins.

 

[RUTGERS95]

well DD is a easy pass for me so the choice would be seekins

 

[107driver]

What dontcha like about DD?

 

[Clint H]

I don't have either, but I just dipped my toe into 300blk a couple months ago and researched way more than I should.

Both the DD and the Seekins will be pretty similar but here's what I see that sets them apart:

A) Adjustable gas block - having shot subs and super now, I can see where it's important to have some means of tuning the gas/recoil system. DD does this by including a separate buffer spring if you run subs, Seekins does it with the gas block. Either work, just up to you which method you like better.

B) Ambi controls - Seekins has an ambi bolt release, while the DD is old-school non-ambi. Again, up to you if that's important or not.

C) Handguard over supressor - the positives are more rail space with such a short barrel, the negatives are depending on the diameter of the supressor, it can really heat up your rail to the point you have to wear gloves or have some type of cover to hold onto it. Again, I don't have any experience with the Seekins, but something to be aware of.

 

[Clint H]

Oh, also, just realized you're looking at the 10" DD. I'd check out the DD PDW in 300blk for a more equal comparison. I think that’s a 7" barrel.

DDM4® PDW (300 Blackout)

Compact and easy to transport, the DDM4 PDW is the kind of AR15 style pistol you can rely on for home and personal defense...plus it's a ton of fun to shoot. The 7 inch 300 Blackout Cold Hammer Forged barrel keeps subsonic loads subsonic and provides great ballistics for a shorter barrel. The...

danieldefense.com

 

[Schanen51]

I have neither the DD or the Seekins, however I do have an 8" 300blk with both an adjustable gas block and a tunable buffer spring setup. The gas block is substantially easier to adjust quickly, however you do need a tool. So plan to bring that along with you when you shoot if you plan on swapping between subs and supers. I would also argue that the gas block gives you a little bit more adjustability, but I'm saying that knowing nothing about how much adjustability the DD setup provides.

 

[stonestorm]

If you’re down with the Daniel and you can find one, it won’t let you down. Cycles everything right out the gate according to anything I’ve ever read about it.

 

[RUTGERS95]

What dontcha like about DD?

they supported universal background check till the uproar and then backed off. simply won't support companies that restrict my rights with plenty of other options that exceed the DD product

even in New Jermany, we had a whole department ditch their DD rifles and bought a 2a friendly company

just one mans' view is all

for the op, would go Seekins here

 

[ut755ln]

I'm looking for a 300 SBR for fun out to 200 yards, the occasional class and match, and possibly home defense. In all cases I would plan on shooting it suppressed, a mix of subs and supers. I currently have a Dead Air Nomad-L and a TBAC Ultra-7, though the flow-through designs are intriguing.

I have had good experience with both Daniel Defense and Seekins, so I've focused on them, though open to others. As I see it the main differences are 10" vs 8", 1:8 vs 1:7, the stock, and of course the extended handguard on the Seekins--looks like the Nomad would just barely squeeze in. I'm not savvy enough to understand the implications of the adjustable gas block on the Seekins.

Considering both are DI guns from established houses, are there any factors that would push you to one over the other?

Thank you in advance.

DDM4®300 S (Factory SBR)

To purchase this firearm, contact your local Daniel Defense Dealer.The DDM4 300S AR15 style rifle is designed for those demanding a high-performance, short-barrel rifle chambered in the versatile 300 Blackout cartridge. Built around a 10.3 inch barrel, the 300S uses standard 5.56 bolts and...

danieldefense.com

SBR8

The SBR8 is ideal for quiet and quick sport shooting, short range competitions, and home defense. The lower receiver offers ambidextrous controls maximizing efficient manipulation of the weapon from either side. The SBR8 is NOW AVAIBLE in 7 head-turning,

seekinsprecision.com

I have not shot the Seekins, I have shot the DD with no problems. I have a MK 18 from DD with more than 20k rounds and it has been a rock in terms of reliability. In my head, I always think of Seekins as chasing accuracy and I think of DD as more milspec and focused on reliability.

I use a Dead Air Sandman with my 300 Blackout. I am not sure if it works with the Nomad but I added the Dead Air E-Brake to the end of my can. It effectively makes the can like a quasi flow through and it noticeably reduces back pressure and gas to the face.

 

[Clint H]

Just thought of one other difference: stocks and buffer systems.

The Seekins and DD PDW (7") use a "CQB" stock (Odin Works on the Seekins, Maxim Defense on the DD PDW). Those both use pistol length buffers/tubes and will be ~1.5"-2" shorter than the 10" DD when collapsed. Recoil impulse will be a bit harsher and it can be harder to find heavy pistol buffers if you need to adjust. Also, the metal cheek piece on both will slap your face like a jilted lover every time you shoot, so I'd suggest adding a foam pad if that's not something you're into.

The 10" DD uses a standard carbine-length buffer and tube, so you can put whatever stock/brace/buffer system you like on it after you make the ATF happy.

 

[mattman215]

I would go Seekins all day. I have a Seekins sp10 and it’s a lazer. They also have great customer service.
I had a DD ar platform that I sold. From day one it was one issue after another. DD had very poor customer service as well, I was very disappointed. I will never buy a DD again based off my experience with the rifle itself, lack of features, all its issues, less that stellar accuracy, poor customer service, and a price tag that really demands a much higher level quality than delivered.

 

[Mattig]

Late to the party here, and nothing authoritative to add, but I just used an SBR8 upper to build my first AR and I am very impressed. Super soft shooting, perfectly gassed out of the box, and impeccable fit/finish.
One note on the Ultra 7. It's definitely not a tight fit under the hand guard, but unless you grind off the ends up the screws, the typical m-lok screw will hit the can.

 

[db2000]

I’ve owned an SP8 since they came out. I’m on my second one now for past 4-5 years. I like the shorter barrel and how the can fits under the hand guard. I keep a dedicated can on it.
I get 1815 fps from Hornady 150 ILSP and 21.5 A1680. 1.25-1.5 MOA. Subs group well too.
I haven’t shot the DD so can’t compare but highly recommend Seekins in general.

 

[jljames81]

I've been looking at doing something similar. I had a shorty 300 blackout years ago and have the itch again. I'm pretty set on building it myself around the 8.5 inch centurion barrel.

https://centurionarms.com/cold-hammer-forged/8-5-300blk/

 

[faylix]

Best 300 BLK sub gun I ever ran was a mcx tacops with a chimera suppressor.

That gun was like clicking your tongue.

I don't think I ever cleaned it the whole 2 years I ran it and it never even hiccuped.

 

[wvfarrier]

I have always felt seekins were better quality than DD. That bring said you can build one just as nice for less $$

 

[LRRPF52]

I thought the Maxim Defense PDW brace would feel uncomfortable, but it honestly didn’t feel that much different than a SOPMOD to me. Way more comfortable than I ever expected, forgot about it quickly when shooting. I made a Coyote Tan elastic strap for it to replace the black one. The stiff action spring feels great when cycling actually, like this is how the AR-15 was meant to be with 90gr TNT. Really slick little set-up.

I like the SB Tactical HBPDW Brace though for compactness/aesthetics and 3 position vs the Q Honey Badger Stock or brace.

This one has a MC Cordura appliqué I made for it and the other parts are painted. I replaced the black strap with another home-made strap that isn’t black. This is a 10.5” Grendel PDW:

 

[LRRPF52]

I would look at the Noveske N4 PDW as well:

 

[faylix]

I think all DI guns should be excluded from consideration.

Too much gas back in your face.

Though that n4 looks amazing - maybe with a piston kit.

 

[Mcgivro]

DD quality is exceptional and about as good as you can get. I know first-hand that their tolerances are very low and QC standards are extremely high. Incredible customer service, too. I find some of the replies in here questionable.

Full disclosure: I have a handful of DD rifles, including the 7.5” PDW 300 SBR with the Maxim. If you’re getting it for range use, get the longer version with the rifle stock, as @Clint H alluded to. The short one isn’t terribly fun to shoot, but I bought it to keep under my bed (suppressed, of course).

 

[JR1200W3]

I have the DD 300PDW. It's...okay. It's definitely overpriced for what it is. If I were doing all this over, I would just build one. The DD is sensitive to some subsonic loads. It's obviously gassed to try to balance both subs and supers. But it's obnoxious as fuck with supers, even suppressed. And will only function with certain subs that produce enough port pressure. And that's with high back pressure cans. If you were using a low BP can it would be even worse. Trigger sucked, I replaced it. The handguard attachment is overly complex but if you never plan on disassembling it then you wont notice. It is reasonably accurate. I can group 190gr subs into a 6" bull at 100 with a red dot. 200yds would probably yield you"plinking accuracy" with subs.

An 8" 300BO pistol just isn't a complicated beast. The hardest thing is gassing it. Accuracy is never going to be a factor. So otherwise you're just looking at component features. Therefore you can build one super ham and eggs style or buy a $3000 Noveske . It's just consumerism at that point.