Originally Posted by
Dvyant
With regard to the DM4...
From experience with mine, it is a fine weapon. I have fired just under 2000 rounds through it, still a relatively “young round count”. Bought at the end of 2018.
It is accurate, it shoots just under 1MOA with “cheap” factory S&B ammo and has cut 5 shot groups under 0.7MOA with reloads done on my progressive press, no fancy weighing brass and all that jazz. I have also never experienced any “ar-15 pattern” issues attributed to the gun or the steel “DM4” magazines I use with it, such as double feeds, ripped casings on extraction etc.
What I like about it:
The barrel is a heavy 3 step profile, albeit weightier, I have never been a fan of the government cut or pencil barrel profile. The hand guard nut is big and solid, acts as an efficient heat sink, I oil my barrel with Balistol, always, and never get that “fog” so many attribute to oiling a barrel before dumping some freedom.
The gas system is mid-length and based on the fact that I have not had any malfunctions with a multitude of different loads and new ammo brands, I would say that the gas port has been correctly specced to match the dwell time of an 18” barrel on a mid-length system. The recoil impulse is soft and I run a “lighter than normal” DPM buffer.
There is no play between the upper and lower, you cant just pop out your pins willy nilly you need to use a cartridge tip and force, no need for an “accuwedge”. This really “grates my carrot” considering the price of this pattern of rifle in SA, and I still have not played with a budget “American made” AR-clone that does not have this wobble present.
I like the fact that it came with furniture, free float rail (albeit keymod so pica-tinny strip to put your Magpul), decent clone grip, LP gas block which is removable and kept in place with grub screws and a great Aero lower receiver.
1:9 Twist suits my shooting as I don't often venture away from 55 grain bullets, it is laser beam accurate on a diet of these.
What I don’t like:
Barrel says .223 REM, upper receiver says 223 and 556. Which one...
I hate the wretched castle nut on the buffer tube, surely we have progressed beyond having to scuff your threads when removing this?? This could be me and is a very common castle nut.
The charging handle does not clear the clone stock when in position 1-3 on the tube extension, why?? I think my particular stock with the cheek comb was a copy of the Israeli one designed for the Galil ACE not an AR clone.
lastly, the negativity which surrounds this brand. Many many times I have felt the look of distain when handing over my license for ammo, shortly followed by the “we don't sell these cuz...” or “does it even work” etc.