DPMS G2: A Better AR for Hunting

Field and Stream ^ | January 16, 2014 | The Editors

[RC one]

When DPMS was founded, one of the core principals was getting ARs into hunters' hands. While the original AR design wasn't ideal for most hunting scenarios, the DPMS G2 is certainly another step in the right direction. Chambered in .308, this gun is light and should handle extremely well. The gun features a carbon fiber handguard, a plunger ejector on the bolt, and will retail for about $1,699.

Video at link

[RC one]

I'm taking a small break from the politics to discuss a rifle I bought recently-the DPMS Gen II Recon. I bought this rifle at Buds Guns for about $1,300 plus a small transfer fee. I was looking for a rifle that could fill the role of several different 7.62 NATO SA rifles I have laying around( DSA FAL, Armalite AR10T, PTR-91 pdw) in order to have "the one gun I'd grab if I could only grab one". I'm looking for dependability, ruggedness, accuracy, portability, and handling in no particular order. I figured I'm not the only person looking for that one rifle to grab if they could only grab one so I thought I would share my experiences with this rifle thus far.

I have found that this rifle seems to like the same load my Armalite AR10t likes: 40.8 grains of varget behind a 168 grain projectile. The Armalite retails for around $1,700-$1,800. It shoots well. With its optic attached, and its 24" heavy barrel it's a heavy rifle. I would not want to carry it all day long. With the aforementioned load, it shoots sub-MOA but barely. within 1,000 rounds, the Armalite's bolt catch release button broke in half and needed replaced.

The DPMS Recon, with its 16" barrel, collapsible stock, and Leupold AR MOD1 3x9x40 appears to shoot as good, if not better than the Armalite target rifle with a 2.5-10 Nikon monarch tactical. I should mention that within 300-400 rounds, the Recon's hammer broke (-1 point for durability) and needed replaced. I replaced it with a Hipertouch EDT3 purchased at Joe Bob outfitters for $99.00. Which installed easily and was the trigger used to shoot the groups in the picture below. Hopefully there are no more durability issues.

as far as portability, this rifle weighs 8.5 lbs without the scope and mount. The Scope weighs 12.4 oz and the mount weighs 8.3 oz. Total unloaded weight: 9.8 lbs.

So we have a 9.8 lb 7.62 NATO sub-moa carbine that handles like a light weight carbine and shoots as good as, if not better than, an Armalite AR10t with a 24" barrel. I will add this caveat, the AR10t gains around 300 fps of muzzle velocity thanks to its 24" barrel so you're giving that up with the carbine that shoots this moderate 7.62 NATO load at around 2,250 fps.

So, in conclusion.

The bad: the hammer broke in around 300 rounds but it was -10 degrees (with wind chill) outside which I think might/could have had something to do with it. I replaced the hammer and will be shooting this rifle all winter long in harsh conditions to ensure it is in fact durable. also worth mentioning, the 20 round magazine only holds 19 rounds and these magazines ain't cheap at $45/each. from DPMS. I'm not sure about PMAG compatibility at this time. magpul lists their $19.95 PMAG as being compatible with the DPMS LR308 but doesn't specify anything about Gen II rifles. I need to call them clearly.

The Good: it's a sub-MOA 7.62 NATO chambered carbine that weighs 9.8 lbs with a scope and mount. It comes with flip up adjustable sights in case your scope goes down. It has picatinny rails everywhere you could possible want them. It's flash hider is a AAC 51T suppressor attachment point and is specifically designed to accommodate the AAC SDN6 series of suppressors (which I'll review in a couple of months hopefully). IKt has a convenient little storage space in the pistol grip that is perfect for extra pins and springs and the hex key for the scope turrets.

Final conclusion: this is the one gun I would grab if I had to grab a gun and I could only grab one gun however I will put it through its paces this winter and ensure that anything that might break, does break and gets replaced with something that won't break and I will keep spare pins and springs in the convenient little pistol grip storage area for sure.

Here's some pics taken from my most recent trip to the range which lasted less than an hour. Conditions were cold, windy, wet and muddy with light snow coming down. perfect weather for training iow.

DPMS gen II Recon w/ Leupold AR MOD 1 3x9-40mm MRAD on Burris PEPR mount

Best group shot: .483" at 100 yards using 40.8 grains of Varget behind a 168 grain Sierra matchking HPBT seated at 2.800".

.717" at 100 yards. Not as good but still sub-moa from a carbine length semi-auto .308 AR.

Mag dumps at 100 yards. Finally adjusted the scope on the one clustered in the orange dot. Both orange dots are 2" dia. This was one shot every second or so from a bench rest.

I had one round left and shot to make it count. The dot is 1" dia. On the edge but it's a hit. My opinion is that groups are nice but what really matters is that the first round you earnestly send down range hits what you're aiming at. That's a 1" dot. I can't be unsatisfied with that-not from a carbine with a collapsible stock and a 16" barrel.

[onona]

Very cool, thanks for sharing !

[davetex]

Nice, I’ve wanted one for a while. Pmags should run fine in a DPMS.

[T-Bird45]

Hmmmm...your “one gun to grab” turned into a 10# club in less than 400 rounds and you’re “hoping for no more reliability issues”...hmmmm

It likes the same load as the AR10T, produces 750 less FPM, 8” less barrel length = flame thrower of unused gasses and unburned powder.

[T-Bird45]

FPM should have been FPS...hate when I do that !!

[RC one]

I’m going to call Magpul to verify this week. The DPMS magazine is very well made and quite robust but 45 bucks a piece is too much for a magazine. The broken hammer is the big issue. The rifle itself isn’t junk but that trigger sure was. If it didn’t shoot as well as it does, I would be accurizing my FN FAL and it would be my go to gun. I’m going to shoot the hell out of this rifle this winter. If there are any other weak points, I’ll find them.

[RC one]

Like I just said, if it wasn't shooting as well as it does, I would be accurizing the FN FAL and that would be my go to gun. I can accept that defective parts make it out of factories and get put into rifles. It happens. MY AR10 broke. MY PTR91 needed to be sent back to the factory before it would run. I'm going to find out if there are any other parts like that in this rifle this winter. And as I also said, it was -10 degrees outside. Metal can become brittle at low temperatures. I don't know that that is what happened but it's possible. I agree its an issue though.

But the fact remians, it's a 9.8 lb (w/scope)carbine that shoots sub-MOA groups so the point it loses for durability, it makes up for with accuracy and portability.

and yeah, it's going to burn some powder outside of the barrel and give up some velocity but it has a good flash suppressor which, as I noted, is also a dedicated sound suppressor attachment point so there's a trade off. there's always a trade off.

I suppose I could buy a SCAR17 but that's a $3,000 investment. The Recon was $1,3000 and cost matters in my world too.

[davetex]

I’m betting it will be fine. DPMS makes a good rifle and they’ve been doing so for a long time. The hammer issue was probably a one off, as that is a very rare occurrence.

The single best upgrade I made on my AR10 was a CMC drop in trigger, so you might have replaced it anyway. Here is another good trigger option...........

http://www.groundzeroprecision.com/collections/featured/products/rise-armament-black-fallout-ra-140-precision-drop-in-ar-trigger?variant=7912176705

[RC one]

I figured. It gave up about 300 fps incidentally. The AR10t has a 24" barrel which actually gives it substantially more muzzle velocity than most AR10s that typically come with 20" barrels (or shorter). I would anticipate shooting at less than 500 yards most all of the time with this rifle (and less than 300 more often than not). The decreased MV shouldn't be a huge issue inside 500 meters. The compact nature of the rifle makes it better suited for CQB type scenarios as well.

if you can only grab one rifle-it has to versatile.

[RC one]

That does look like a robust trigger. I had good luck with the hiperfire hypertouch 24C which I installed in a stag model 8 so I went with the hiperfire EDT3 which someone on the internet described as "beats mode" trigger.

I agree about that hammer. I think I won the lottery there. I'm not saying I'm going to abuse this rifle but I'm going to find out if there are any other weak points.

[RC one]

beast mode not beat mode. LOL

[Dusty Road]

I’ve got a DPMS LR-308 and an Oracle in 223/5.56.

I got them both to carry in the truck while on the ranch. First of the both come with junk triggers and had to be replaced which isn’t a problem but shouldn’t need to be done especially considering the price of the LR. When I say truck gun we’re talking about a rifle that’s going to spend all it’s time riding shotgun for quick access for coyotes and feral hog’s. The LR is a beast in weight and the 19 round mag hangs up on everything. I got some 10 rd P-Mags for the Oracle and that made a huge difference in handling and quickly getting it out the window of the truck. The little Oracle is the hands down winner when it comes to being more user friendly so far. With the lightweight model I might give the new DPMS another look but only with a 10rd mag and not in 308, I’ve never liked that round, 243 or 260 would be a much better round for hunting purposes.

[The KG9 Kid]

DPMS trigger group components are all MIM parts.

If I were you, I’d trash the entire trigger group and replace it with a unified component otherwise that hammer problem you have is just going to happen again. Maybe look into a Timney group.

[RC one]

I had read about that MIM when I was researching the failure. I have replaced the trigger group with a hipertouch EDT3 which seemed to work fine. I still have to wonder if the cold weather might have contributed. I also considered the possibility that my reloads were too hot but I don’t see any signs of excessive pressure. Spent cases land about 7-10 feet away in a nice little pile. Primers aren’t flattened and muzzle velocity is right where it ought to be when I checked them on a chrony. I think DPMS put together a good rifle but gave it a junk trigger.

[RC one]

The collapsible Recon might be pretty handy at getting out the window but I don’t think it comes in anything other than .308 so you would have to customize it if you wanted that. This is definitely my truck gun but I’m not riding around with it next to me on the front seat ready to go. Ohio state patrol frowns on that. LOL.

[Man from Oz]

I use PMAGS in both of my DPMS rifles.

[Ouderkirk]

I’ve had an Armalite AR-10 for 10+years and never had a lick or trouble with it. It has been an excellent weapon for anything I have asked of it. Accuracy is as good as can be expected w/ a 20” barrel. Typically 3/4” to 1” groups with Remington brand .308 Win at 100 yds. Good enough for me.

I have often wondered about the reliability of the other(s) who have entered the .308 AR market. I appreciate you sharing comments and specifically your experiences with both brands.

My only complaint with the Armalite is that it only accepts Armalite mags, and the upper can only be an Armalite or Noveske (which is an Armalite anyway). Beyond that, I have been very pleased with my AR-10.

[RC one]

I have no complaints for my Armalite other than the weight. I wanted a lighter rifle that could shoot as good and the Recon seems to do that. I guess I have one other complaint about my Armalite, it doesn’t have a forward assist and I wanted one. I really just wanted an accurate, durable, dependable, light weight .308 rifle. The fact that I can attach a suppressor without any modifications is a bonus. Should have the suppressor any week now (assuming I haven’t found my way onto any conservative watch lists). the rails and flip sights are nice too.

[RC one]

are either of them Gen II rifles?

[Man from Oz]

The .308 is a SASS Sniper. The other one is a .223. I don’t believe it matters.