DPMS AR .22 Bull Barrel

[shadow65]

I received the DPMS Upper today for T & E.

I have not had a chance to shoot it. Nasty day here.
My initial impression is it appears to be a well built, solid upper.
It is totally different from the Atchison bolt system. This is a very simple, straight forward bolt system.
The upper receiver is designed for this bolt. It is not a standard AR upper receiver. Outward appearance does look like a standard receiver with the exception of a smaller ejection port.

The forward assist is a dummy plug, but is there.
The bolt will lock back manually using the existing bolt catch.
The bolt looks to be solid with a rod and spring leading to the rear bolt block.

When the upper is opened, the rear block will drop to the point where the actual bolt catches on the charging handle.
The lug on the top of the bolt keeps it from clearing the charging handle and falling out.
The charging handle has to be released to remove the bolt.
The rear block is also beveled so the upper and lower close easily without having to push the BCG in.

I really like the simplicity of the bolt system. The feed ramp is part of the barrel chamber. So it can't move which should aid in reliability.
The bolt itself reminds me of a 10/22 bolt.

Here are some quick pictures. Poor quality but I'll have time to get better ones when I do the review.
Upper as it came:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_008.JPG
Bolt:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_006.JPG
Ejection Port:
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_007.JPG
Rifle as I will test it
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/014159.JPG

Dave N

[NAPOTS]

That looks realy tempting. Does it fit on a standard AR lower?

If you don't mind me asking, how much for the upper?

[shadow65]

Fits any mil spec lower.
DPMS has it listed at $399
M4 version is listed at $425

[Schuetzenman]

Looks really nice. I will be interested to see how it prints on paper.

[shadow65]

LOL. Me too. Apparently, they sent me a proto type instead of a production model. It doesn't have all the features of the production model so we are getting that figured out today.
Hard to do an evaluation and review on a weapon when you don't have the current production model.
Dave

[shadow65]

As suspected the upper ran flawlessly.http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_big.gif
It was cold so I'm sure on a warmer day I could get better results. I also tried a different optic than usual. So, to be fair, I'll mount the optic I always test with and hit the range later in the week.
The rifle ran great!. I used the supplied BDM mag, a CMMG 1st gen mag, a CMMG Gen ll mag and a BDM X mag with steel feed lips. All mags ran 100 %
I shot several types of ammo:
Fed Champion
Fed 550 Bulk
Fed Auto Match
Winchester 555
Wolf MT
Here is the range and the rifle on a CMMG lower with Mid Length Free Float
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_001.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_002.JPG

Here are some targets using a 3-9 optic with adjustable AO
Wolf MT @ 25 yards 10 shots
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_009.JPG

Wolf MT @ 50 yards 10 shots
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_0071.JPG

Winchester 555 @ 25 yards
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_010.JPG
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_0041.JPG

Winchester 555 @ 50 yards
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/DPMS_22_005.JPG

As you can see, the groups opened up at 50 yards. But as I said, it was cold and I did not have my usual scope.
I was pretty happy with the fact that the rifle would shoot the Winchester bulk as well as match ammo, at least at 25 yards.