DPMS .308 AP4 16" bull barrel, am I crazy?

hartzpad · Jul 19, 2005

I've been all over the place when it comes to what I want to buy next, from Yugo AK's to C&R bolt actions to MBR's. I feel that I am 95% sure that I NEED a DPMS .308 16" barrel AP4. I've been debating between the 16" and 18" heavy barrels and I feel that because the 16" rifle is 1.2 lbs. lighter, has a flash surpressor, sights, etc., it is worth losing 100-200 fps. I talked to a guy that has a 16" barrel .308 Bushmaster IIRC, and he says that he is able to compete in 300-500 yard matches w/o any trouble and he loves how compact his rifle is. I will be using this rifle about 50% for 200-400 yard shooting and about 50% fun plinking at less than 100 yards. So after much thought I feel that the 16" AP4 will be a better rifle for me than the 18" LR. Only things that make me still want the 18" is the greater velocity and the fact that it is generally $100 cheaper than the AP4. Owning the 16" will likely keep me from considering this rifle a bench rest baby. I've found this rifle for $960 NIB. Does it sound like I'm making a wise move? Any opinions out there?

Here is a pic I found of one for sale.

epijunkie67 · Jul 20, 2005

Sounds like you've already covered most of the issues yourself. Realize that a 16" barrel will have a lower velocity, more muzzle flash and more noise. Expect more bullet drop at distance. However if you're willing to do your part then there's nothing wrong with a 16" barrel. If there was I doubt Springfield would have all those SOCOM 16s flying off the shelves.

Grayrider · Jul 20, 2005

That is a neat looking carbine. Please post a review if you get one. I have a SOCOM and love it. It does have a bit more blast, but other than that feels like shooting my Standard. .308 is pretty neat in a small package.

GR

Redlg155 · Jul 20, 2005

Sweet looking guns.

Too bad they don't adopt the Bushmaster mag system and that lets it use FAL magazines.

Good Shooting
REd

Onslaught · Jul 20, 2005

Personally, I'd go for the 18"... with the extra $100 I saved, I'd have the barrel re-contoured to medium profile (.750-ish).

Why? Only because I already have a couple of 16" AR carbines, and I want something different

But I see nothing WRONG with the 16" either. If I didn't have any, I'd probably want BOTH.

Beren · Jul 20, 2005

I want to see someone else fire a 7.62mm AR-10 with a 7.5" barrel. (From a distance, and no thank you, I'll pass on firing it myself.

) That said, a 7.62mm AR is on my Future Buy List. But it's going to be awhile....

TimW · Jul 21, 2005

I have a FAL with an 18" barrel and an Armalite AR-10A4 carbine w/16" barrel.

Assuming your choices have the same profile of barrel, I'd opt for the 18" if I had a choice, for several of the same reasons listed above:

slightly higher muzzle velocity
lower flash signature

However, for that price, it's great...assuming DPMS .308's are good...I have no knowledge about them.

As for Bushmasters and FAL mags, I've heard (but not seen or confirmed) that they can be finnicky with FAL mags...to which I replied, "yeah, but for $250.00, you can test 50 of them, and even with a 50% failure rate, that leaves you with 25 usable mags. How many AR-10 mags can you get for $250?"

Dionysusigma · Jul 21, 2005

DPMS .308 AP4 16" bull barrel, am I crazy?

Yes, you are crazy. But the gun is pretty slick.

One thing, tho--I personally wouldn't like a 16" .308 with the M203-capable profile. :scrutiny:

Seems overly impractical to me. :uhoh:

DPMS .308 AP4 16" bull barrel, am I crazy?

hartzpad

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