Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles DPMS Gen II = GAMECHANGER

I ordered 2 of the DPMS Gen IIs for R&D and really think this might be the better mousetrap in the large frame AR game.

With a medium contoured 20 inch barrel,new MI tube, riser, rings and a 4.5-14 it weighs 9 3/4 lbs.

I only have 100rnds through it but discounting a few short stroke while getting the gas port sized right it has functioned perfectly.

Shoots pretty good to with factory Hor Match 168gr AMAX.





I never could like the full sized AR-10s but this gun handles really well and fits the .308 sized rounds much better. I have some 6.5 blanks rifled and plan on a 6.5 Creedmoor with a fluted 22 inch barrel.

The .338 Federal with a light 16 or 18 inch barrel would also be an interesting thumper.

Great news John! Thanks for your review. Was it the original DPMS barrel for that group?

Nice! I hope they produce them in 6.5 creedmor too!

same lousy triggers?

cheap pistol grips?

HUNTING ammo accuracy?

retail Price?

The trigger on the g2 I examined was very good.

Did they change the diameter of the firing pin hole? This paired with their lack of handguard options (not a MI fan) and short gas system length's is what I dont like.

Innovative? Yes.
A game changer? Not sure about that.

tell me about the firing pin hole!

Lots of DPMS and DPMS pattern bolts have a larger firing pin hole that allows the primer to flow creating excessive cratering. This is keeping some from loading to the rifles full potential. Even some factory loads may seem hot.

Remington makes the firing pin hole oversize on purpose, and DPMS is owned by the same people as Remington.

Google it.

I don't think anyone is arguing that.

They come with a barrel extension held on with setscrews?

that is correct, I spoke to DPMS and they claimed 3 years of tests.

I want a .243.

My little brother in-law just took possession of one of these. He got the "hunter" model that has an A2 stock and carbon fiber smooth tube forend. I got to fondle it but have not seen it shoot. He has reported to me that he's "hitting what [he's] aiming at," and I know that includes an 18" steel plate at 650 yds. Take that for what its worth. I did like the ergos as they felt familiar to me and it was waaay lighter than any AR-10 I've handled in the past.

If I learn more about how its reliability and accuracy are shaping up for him I'll report. I don't see him often as he lives waaaay out in the desert isolated and I am sadly stuck in the city.

I will say that at least this new platform has me thinking about the possibility of an AR in .308 again. Time and his beta testing will help though. One thing is this guy is not easy on gear. He hunts and shoots a lot of days of the year and goes hard at it. Plus, his environment is about as tough as any. He just doesn't know how to treat things nicely or with any TLC so if there is a chink in the armor he will expose it.

I always thought if they had originally made the AR type gun in 250 savage it would have been about perfect!

John, now that you've rebarrelled one, what do you think of the barrel extension setup?

Still using a 0.085 firing pin hole. Factory ammo has a nice primer crater. I don't think it will be an issue but I may have to bush it if it causes problems with handloads.

There will be lots of handguard options simply because of how easy it will be to modify existing AR-15 handguard for the Gen II. The barrel nut in the Gen II is the same outside diameter as the barrel nut in the AR-15. In fact the Gen II MI tube will install on the AR-15 MI barrel nut.

This gun really is going to be a game changer because of how well it handles. The average guy looking at large frame ARs in the LGS is going to choose the Gen II most of the time. Other manufactures are going to have to come out with a version or they will lose market share.

DPMS large frame ARs have always been pretty decent and they do know how to build them. The price point on the Gen II is also very attractive.

I have been using a lot of the newer Midwest Industries handguards for lighter weight guns and have really been impressed with the uptick in quality.



No. The barrel extension threads on to the barrel in the conventional manner but is smaller in diameter than the standard AR-10/SR-25/DPMS pattern guns.

There is a steel feed ramp insert in the upper that is held in with roll pins. The feed ramp is supported and there really does not appear to be any way it could come lose. The idea if using steel for the feed ramp instead of just machining the ramps into the aluminum of the upper looks to be more durable under hard use.




Eric,

I would say the design is really solid. By reducing the diameter of the barrel extension and the bolt carrier group DPMS has brought the feeding stack of cartridges 0.040 closer to the bore centerline.

This reduces the feed angle and this thing really does feed slick.

Add the dual ejectors and the elastomer extractor spring and I think the design is inherently more reliable than the old style.

A sub 10lbs .243 Gen II would make one heck of a coyote rifle.

I just have a hard time believing the big boys like KAC and LMT are going to jump on the DPMS bus and redesign their .308's to save a few ounces. I could be wrong though, won't be the first time.

Actually the weight reduction is 1.25 lbs.

Comparing both DPMS hunter models it isn't. Looks like average weight savings is about 6-8oz when configured the same way.