The D.D. Ross Company, founded in 1991 by Dan Ross, specializes in Law Enforcement Accuracy rifles, particularly focusing on the Remington 700/M40 rifle platforms. They gained notable recognition for their work with the Marine Corps RTE/PWS shops in the early 1990s, contributing significantly to the development of the M40A3 rifle. Key components developed by D.D. Ross for the M40A3 include the USMC Optical Platform, USMC Recoil Lug, and the Ross M1 Triggerguard. In 2000, D.D. Ross was awarded a parts procurement contract by MARCORSYSCOM for the M40A3 Sniper rifle. Their products are renowned for their accuracy and durable service life, used by various Law Enforcement and Military organizations worldwide.
Dedication to Design and Quality Manufacturing
Dan Ross has a dedication to making designs that work, and the correct materials for the job. Throught his career, he has been asking to make products faster and out of less expensive material, and he will not do it. One of his keystone products is the bottom metal, or trigger guard for the Remington 700 used on the M40A3 rifle. The Remington 700 had a factory trigger guard similar to what Ross designed for decades, but he ways to improve the design and the manufacturing, which one him a contract with the US Marine Corp. Something as simple as the lug in the rifle is source of pride for Ross. When asked what was special about his lug, he stated, "the Ross lug is precision ground to tollerances of 0.0002", and I know that lug will be true." His machining skills were developed in the Marine Corp but stem from an understanding of the tollerances needed for nuclear power engineering. That trigger guard, as you will read, was later replaced with an aluminum trigger guard made by Badger Ordanance on the M40A5 with a slightly different design.
The M40A3
The M40A3, which replaced the M40A1 in 1999 and was used by the Marines until 2009, is characterized by a heavy barrel, lug slotted optical platform, and a McMillan A4 stock. The rifle underwent a mid-life upgrade in 2007, during which the D.D. Ross hinged floorplate system was replaced with a Badger M5 detachable magazine system. Dan Ross, who is a former USMC 2112 and current owner of D.D. Ross, was instrumental in designing mounts for the Marines and suggested steps like bedding the optical platform with steel bed epoxy on the first M40A3s.
The McMillan A4 Stock for the USMC M40A3 Sniper Rifle with DD Ross trigger guard is made specifically for the M40A3 rifle, anticipating the use of the Remington 700 SA and D.D. Ross Company internal magazine trigger guard. The stock is designed to be 100% clone correct and features adjustments and specifications as required by the Marines, such as adjustable length-of-pull and cheek piece. The M40A3 rifles are based on a McMillan A4 stock and a Remington 700 Short Action, often trued by 2112 Marine Corps armorers. The original bottom metal for the M40A3 was the DD Ross steel bottom metal and trigger guard, which in 2007 started to be replaced by the Badger M5 setup.
User Feedback
A user on the Sniper's Hide Forum shared their experience with an M40A3 built by Dan Ross at D.D. Ross Company. They highlighted the action clip slotting with his rail, the DDross recoil lug, his bolt knob, and the side bolt release, praising the beauty of his metal work. The gun, featuring a Shneider S7 contour barrel and a McMillan A4 stock, exhibited exceptional accuracy.