![\"DPMS-GII-AP4-F\"](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DPMS-GII-AP4-F.jpg\")
\nIf you thought you\u2019d seen everything in a semi-automatic 7.62x51mm Tactical Carbine, well, don\u2019t feel bad, as I was in the same boat.\u00a0 Then I attended a pre-SHOT Show look at new firearms from Freedom Group at Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona, in December 2013, and everything changed.<\/p>\n
Among a host of new firearms for 2014 was a DPMS 7.62x51mm (.308 caliber) AR platform rifle, which stood out from the rest.\u00a0 Called the GII AP4, this model amounts to a highly refined M4 type carbine designed around the .308 Winchester cartridge.\u00a0 Since that description is just as highly simplified, let\u2019s take a close look at this unique rifle.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/ThePre-productionGIIAP4.jpg\")
The pre-production GII AP4 introduced at Gunsite rests hot and dirty on a table at Gunsite\u2019s Shot Quad Range. It never malfunctioned.<\/p><\/div>\n
Based closely on an AR-15 size platform, the GII AP4 uses the same 25.4mm diameter bolt carrier rather than the larger LR-10 size carrier found in DPMS and other .308 caliber rifles of this type.\u00a0 The reduction in weight of this carrier translates to less weight bottoming out when the carrier group stops against the rear of the rifle, transmitting that force the shoulder.\u00a0 The 25.4mm carrier also helps to reduce the overall weight of the GII AP4 to just 3.3 kg.\u00a0 Being of monolithic design, the bolt carrier uses an integral gas key tower and a removable gas key extension for easy maintenance.<\/p>\n
![\"Featuring](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DPMSGIIAP4bolt-piece-2@2x.jpg\")
Featuring contoured lugs and dual ejectors, the GII\u2019s .308 size bolt also has a new extractor and enhanced gas rings.<\/p><\/div>\n
The GII\u2019s 7.62x51mm bolt is larger than that for a 5.56x45mm cartridge, but is geometrically designed to allow a smaller diameter barrel extension for added weight reduction.\u00a0 Using seven radiused locking lugs, the bolt face contains not one, but two ejectors.\u00a0 The rifle\u2019s extractor design is also optimized for strength and Instead of a coil spring, uses a synthetic piece, which DPMS calls an \u201celastomer,\u201d which has proven to last much longer without fatigue.<\/p>\n
![\"With](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DPMSGIIAP4bolt-carrier-back1_zps333847b2.jpg\")
With changes in the GII\u2019s bolt group obvious, the monolithic gas key stands out.<\/p><\/div>\n
While the upper and lower receivers of the GII are generally the same size and are close to the same weight of those used in 5.56x45mm AR platforms, they are 12.7mm longer.\u00a0 This added length accommodates the .308 length magazine well and the upper receiver\u2019s longer ejection port and bolt group travel.\u00a0 Being necessarily wider, the magazine well also has an unusually large flared mouth for fast magazine insertion, as well as a handy platform for those who like to hold the front of the magazine well with the support hand.\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, the GII\u2019s case deflector has been completely redesigned around the 7.62x51mm casing, but the receiver groups are otherwise AR-15 size, even accepting all the same fire control parts, A2 pistol grip, recoil spring tube and etc.<\/p>\n
The pre-production GII AP4 DPMS brought to Gunsite was equipped with a simple \u201cissue\u201d sliding buttstock, and A2 pistol grip and an M4 type \u201cGlacier\u201d handguard, which was slightly larger than that found on 5.56x45mm carbines.\u00a0 The rifle also comes with Magpul MBUS flip-up sights. Standard 20-shot DPMS LR-308 magazines were furnished with the sample rifle.\u00a0 These magazines are interchangeable with SR-25 magazines, as well as Magpul 10- and 20- shot Pmag\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Light As A Feather<\/strong><\/p>\n Picking up the GII AP4 in the Gunsite classroom was almost shocking, knowing I was holding a 7.62x51mm AR type rifle.\u00a0 Contributing much to the rifle\u2019s ultra lightweight is its 1-in-254mm 406.4mm barrel.\u00a0 Unique in several ways, this already slim barrel is even slimmer forward of the gas block where it becomes truly a \u201cpensile\u201d barrel.\u00a0 At the muzzle is an equally unique combination flash hider\/muzzle brake.\u00a0 Called the Cancellation brake, this device amounts to a cylinder into which the gas temporarily is collected after leaving the muzzle.\u00a0 Restricted on the front end, the brake (and gun) is pushed forward, as some of the gas vents through eight small holes, two at 12-, 3-, 6- and 9 o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n DPMS\u2019 new GII AP4 is a featherweight .308 on an AR-15 size chassis!<\/p><\/div>\n Inserting the first 20-shot magazine of Remington (10.8-gram) 7.62x51mm Match ammunition into the GII AP4 carbine on Gunsite\u2019s Shot Quad Range added only about a pound to the weapon.\u00a0 At the first shot I hesitated, as the lack of expected felt recoil was that surprising.\u00a0 Unleashing the remaining nineteen rounds rapid fire, I was just as surprised at the ease with which the carbine\u2019s sights stayed close to the target.\u00a0 Although the rifle stayed on my shoulder throughout the rapid fire, a non-slip butt would have been appreciated.<\/p>\n Firing three more 20-shot magazines brought me to magazine #5, which I decided to shoot for point of aim\/point of impact.\u00a0 Since we didn\u2019t have any bullseye targets, I decided to shoot at the silver dollar size rocks in the dirt bank 25m away.\u00a0 I either hit these, causing them to disintegrate, or moved them a foot or so.\u00a0 Magazine #6 was used to make head shots on the camouflaged torso targets we were using.\u00a0 These were also done rapid fire and these twenty rounds went into abut 4 inches and a tiny bit left.\u00a0 It was time to let another on the rifle.<\/p>\n A GII Family<\/strong><\/p>\n As I watched several others shoot this GII AP4 I was aware that I barely felt as if I\u2019d fired a rifle at all.\u00a0 After some five hundred rounds downrange, I saw no malfunctions and did not hear of any with this rifle.\u00a0 I was impressed with the package, but I soon learned that this is just one of a family of GII 7.62x51mm rifles from DPMS.<\/p>\n Amounting to a GII AP4 upgrade, the GII MOE comes with Magpul accessories for only $100 more.<\/p><\/div>\n Consisting of six models, in addition to the AP4, the GII list includes the MOE, Recon, SASS, Hunter and Bull Barrel, but the GII MOE is the only other member that is basically identical to the ultra lightweight GII AP4.\u00a0 The difference is that the GII MOE comes standard with a Magpul MOE Handguard, MOE pistol grip and an MOE butt stock.\u00a0 The GII MOE is the same weight as the AP4, but has an MSRP of $100.00 more. High marks came from the more than a dozen shooters who got behind the new GII AP4 .308 carbine and all agreed that it had surprisingly low recoil.<\/p><\/div>\n You see, as good as the standard Magpul MOE pistol grip is, it cannot (in my opinion) compare with the MOE+ pistol grip with its sure grip surface.\u00a0 Otherwise identical to the more Spartan MOE grip, the MOE+ is the best AR pistol grip I have ever used!\u00a0 However, for one who is satisfied with the Magpul Original Equipment furnished GII MOE, he or she will get great value for the additional hundred bucks.<\/p>\n For those desiring a light, accurate self-loading carbine to handle the more efficient 7.62x51mm cartridge without spending a few thousand \u201ccustom\u201d dollars, the new DPMS GII AP4 is a bargain at $1,400.00 MSRP.<\/p>\n The DPMS logo is prominent on the left side of the GII AP4\u2019s receiver, as is its large magazine well mouth.<\/p><\/div>\n Specifications:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 DPMS GII AP4 httpvh:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=k4jg9VRa7fE<\/p>\n Fore more information, visit: dpms-gii.com<\/a><\/p>\n About the author:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you thought you\u2019d seen everything in a semi-automatic 7.62x51mm Tactical Carbine, well, don\u2019t feel bad, as I was in the same boat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":28353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1,1894],"tags":[2157,3327],"class_list":["post-28260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-gary-paul-johnston","tag-dpms","tag-dpms-gii-ap4"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28260"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28260\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"DPMS\u2019](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DPMSGIIAP4configurations-ap4@2x.jpg\")
![\"Amounting](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DPMSGIIAP4configurations-moe@2x.jpg\")
\nSince the DPMS GII welcomes many aftermarket free-float handguard systems, the AP4 model might appeal to those who want to upgrade it with the buttstock, handguard and pistol grip of their choice.\u00a0 For example, I like the MOE buttstock, but would probably opt for a free-float handguard on which a wide variety of rail choices were available, and I would definitely replace the MOE pistol grip.<\/p>\n![\"High](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DPMSGIIAP4IMG9860.jpg\")
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/DPMSGIIAP4IMG9869.jpg\")
\nCaliber:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7.62x51mm.
\nMuzzle Velocity:\u00a0 822 m\/s.
\nOperation:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Direct gas, semi-automatic.
\nBarrel Length:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 406.4mm.
\nOverall Length:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 870mm to 895mm,
\nRate of Twist:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1-in-254mm RHT.
\nWeight:\u00a0 (gun alone)\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a03.3 kg.
\nMagazine:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 10- or 20-shot SR-25 or Pmag.
\nSafety:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Positive selector safety.
\nSights:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Magpul MBUS.
\nStock Furniture: Black synthetic.
\nFinish:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hard anodize and phosphate.<\/p>\n![\"GaryPaulJohnstonbio\"](\"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/GaryPaulJohnstonbio.jpg\")
Having fired his first shot at the age of 5 by killing a pig his uncle was going to butcher, Gary Paul Johnston began a lifelong interest in firearms, hunting and shooting. Beginning a 28-year in law enforcement in 1963, Gary worked every division, always favoring uniformed patrol where the action was. He began writing in 1976 with nearly 2,000 articles on firearms published to date, along with two books, Custer’s Horses<\/a> and co-authoring The World’s Assault Rifles<\/a>. Having attended more schools on shooting and tactics than he can count, Gary is still learning, He says that if he can pass on even a little to others of what he <\/em>has learned he will have achieved a worthy goal. Gary and his wife, Nancy, also a retired police officer, live in Colorado, are both Life Members of the NRA and strong 2nd Amendment advocates. Gary is also featured on MidwayUSA’s Gun Stories<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"