Del-Ton Echo 316
Del-Ton Incorporated · Carbine · Discontinued · 2008
Also known as: Del-Ton DTI Echo 316, Echo 316M, Del-Ton Sierra 316
Overview
The Del-Ton Echo 316 is a budget-friendly, direct-impingement AR-15 carbine chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, built by Del-Ton Incorporated of Elizabethtown, North Carolina. Introduced as part of Del-Ton's complete-rifle expansion around 2008, the Echo 316 paired a 16-inch barrel with a carbine-length gas system and a forged 7075-T6 aluminum flat-top upper and lower receiver. Later production variants migrated from the original A2-style handguard to a free-floating M-LOK rail and optic-ready upper. The base Echo 316 used a 16-inch barrel with a 1:9 twist suited to common 55 to 62 grain ammunition, an M4 6-position collapsible stock, an A2 flash hider, and a 30-round magazine. Backed by a lifetime warranty, the Echo series was for many shooters their first AR-15, delivering reliable function at an MSRP typically in the $600 to $700 range. The line was offered alongside the closely related Sierra 316 (free-float-rail focused) and the Alpha series.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2812 g (99.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 904 mm (35.59") |
| Folded Length | 819 mm (32.24") |
| Barrel Length | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Direct Impingement |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 914 m/s (2999 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1671 J (1232 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3600 m (3937 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 229 mm (9.02") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56x45mm NATO — also known as 5.56mm NATO, 5.56x45mm, .223 Remington
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Carbine Length Gas System, Flat Top Receiver, Picatinny Rail, M Lok Rail, Free Floating Handguard, Rotating Bolt, Forward Assist, Dust Cover, A2 Flash Hider, M4 Collapsible Stock, Optic Ready
Variants
- Del-Ton Echo 316M — Mid Contour Barrel
- Del-Ton Echo 316H — Heavy Barrel
- Del-Ton Echo 316L — Lightweight Barrel
- Del-Ton Sierra 316 — Free Float Rail Model
Service history
Operators
- Civilian Sport Shooters
Production
Production years: 2008-2025
Del-Ton produced over 15,000 firearms per year at its peak (circa 2013) across the Alpha, Echo, and Sierra lines
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 2025
Notes
Del-Ton offered the 316 family in several barrel profiles: the base Echo 316 (M4 profile), Echo 316M (mid-contour, 1:8), Echo 316H (heavy), Echo 316L (lightweight melonite), and the Sierra 316/316L with a free-float M-LOK rail. Specifications here reflect the standard 16-inch 5.56 Echo 316 with carbine gas system. Del-Ton ceased operations in 2025 after more than 25 years; remaining inventory was sold through distributors. Twist rate varies by variant (1:7, 1:8, or 1:9).
Background
Del-Ton began in 1998 in a garage outside Fayetteville, North Carolina near Fort Bragg, selling AR-15 parts and kits online before expanding into complete rifles. For over two decades the Echo and Sierra series were go-to recommendations for first-time AR-15 buyers seeking an affordable, lifetime-warrantied rifle. The company closed its doors for good in 2025.