D9Firearms

Shown above is not Dennis’s rifle but similar.  This is an DPMS AP4 w/Miculek and Koelbel gas block.  The only difference is the barrel contour.  The “T” has a straight heavy barrel. 

Several weeks ago I received a call from Dennis a big time deer hunter over in North Carolina looking for a DPMS LR rifle for deer hunting. He stated he had limited experience with AR style, but had an idea of what he was looking for.

Dennis described the problem they are having out in NC with an over burgeoning deer population. He stated it wasn’t uncommon to see 50 head of deer come out into a field at one time. Additionally, he indicated he takes about 20 a year and the state is basically saying take as many as you can.

So after getting the run down, Dennis was thinking about a LR-308L w/18” heavy barrel, which would be an excellent choice, if we could get one. One of his concerns was weight of the rifle compared to his 243 bolt gun he’s currently using, weighing in around 6 – 7lbs. I offered up the option of the LR-308T & LR-308AP4, which we have outfitted deer hunters with before, but have the 16” barrel.

Dennis wasn’t quiet buying it and had concerns of accuracy, recoil, and weight. Since he was primarily shooting in the 0 – 250yd range (brush & open field) and free hand shots were common, I felt the 308T or AP4 would be an excellent choice and given the shorter barrel length would be excellent for the brush as well. Additionally, having a collapsible stock on the rifle made packing it a lot easier.

I addressed the recoil issue with a Miculek compensator. Naturally this adds decibels to the shooter especially in a confined area but in the open is less noticeable and the recoil reduction in my view is worth it.

Dennis still had reservations with the accuracy statements I had made about this rifle being able to deliver sub-MOA. It’s a struggle to believe a semi-auto gun will deliver sub-MOA accuracy but I offered him several examples of feedback from clients that supported my claims. Additionally, I mentioned that a trigger job would definitely enhance his accuracy as well.

Well Dennis decided to go with the LR-308T and we got it set up and shipped out to him. I asked him to let me know how it goes after he gets it out. Dennis forwarded an email to me and also called me as soon as he had left the range after test firing the gun.

(I paraphrased some of Dennis’s comments for consolidation purposes.)

Darrel-

I just got back from the range, man I could not believe how well that DPMS LR-308T shot. I was using Federal 150 grn soft point bullets (the cheap ones) shooting at a target 105yds out, 2 bullets touching, the 3^rd was only 3/8” away. I also tried Winchester 150grn and Remington 150grn soft points and neither one would group. I also tried Winchester Supreme 168grn soft point and it held under an 1” at 105yd in about 10mph and light rain.

“The money quote” Best trigger pull on any rifle I have ever shot. My gun out shot a Remington 700 308 w/bull barrel, man that dude was pissed when my semi-auto shot better then his bolt. I gave him your website so you may expect a call. (That or a nasty letter.)

Everybody was impressed with my gun and I let everybody shoot and we learned quick not to stand to close to it from the percussion from the compensator was right tight. I can’t wait to try your hunting load in it and as you said in one of your emails that this gun would be a deer processing machine.

The gun cycled flawlessly and the recoil was nothing and the muzzle jump was barely noticeable. Our gun club kills over 200 deer a year and now I have a gun that should increase that number. I can’t wait to try it on a heard of deer as they come out of the swamp and hit the corn fields with 20 hounds on their butts that DPMS will be smoking.

If you have any questions about a DPMS LR-308T or AP4 deer slaying machine contact us here at D9Firearms. If you have any questions about culling deer in NC, we will forward your name on to Dennis. If you are some kind of limp wristed, sissified, tofu eating, tree hugging nut bag, I’ll have Dennis’s 20 hounds contact you.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 12:33 pm and is filed under All. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.