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.
