Diplopoint is a South African company known in the market for their ammo making skills, and they have recently been assembling and producing the DM4 semi-auto rifle which can be purchased in a variety of calibers. Since the release of the DM4, many have considered this particular rifle largely due to its attractive price. Unfortunately finding good solid information on the rifle system seems to be a bit of a challenge, even when making direct contact with the company itself. In many cases, this uncertainty turns AR enthusiasts attention towards other brands that they are more familiar with.
In December 2015, we were in the market for a new AR15. With a budget of around R20k, we opted for the DM4 .223cal with a 14.5" barrel and free-floating Keymod forend. The rifle set us back at just under R19k, which left us with a few bucks to spare. This was spent on a Daniel Defence buttstock and pistol grip (as seen above).
The barrel is locally manufactured by Musgrave with a 6 groove, 1:9inch right hand twist. This twist rate is common to most civilian AR15's. It has a direct impingement gas system with a free floating forend and a non-adjustable carbine length gas block. The receivers are manufactured by Aero Precision, and the rifle is chambered for the .223 Remington cartridge. The rifle does not come with a forward assist as this has been removed during the design phase.
On the downside, Diplopoint has put little effort into product packaging. Our DM4 came in a brown box which contained the rifle and two 30-round magazines. There was a couple of scratches on the lower receiver, and our first impression was rather disappointing. We cannot congratulate Diplopoint on their product packaging, nor on their customer service. The rifle itself however has left us with entirely different feelings altogether.
The build and quality exceeded our expectations. The rifle is exceptionally comfortable, and high quality smooth operation comes standard. Having fired close to 2000 rounds through our barrel, we are yet to have any issues. Although the rifle states that it is specifically chambered for the .223 Remington cartridge, we have fired numerous 5.56x45mm cartridges without any problems. The Daniel Defence buttstock and pistol grip adds extra comfort and gives our rifle a unique look of its own. We have fitted a Vortex Spitfire 3x Prism scope with the EBR-556B reticle, and only have good things to say about this optic. The standard mil-spec trigger is set at around 8lbs and is one of the stiffest triggers I have felt to date. We will at some point be replacing this with an aftermarket trigger. Overall, we are exceptionally happy with our decision to go with the DM4 locally assembled rifle.
At 100m, firing in the prone unsupported position, we achieved consistent 5 shot groupings of 35mm using Hornady FMJ-BT bullets that we reload ourselves. Our shooting range takes us out to 500m across a valley which often experiences strong crosswinds, and the rifle's performance has failed to disappoint. Our 450mm x 700mm targets can be placed at various ranges which are verified by a high quality laser range finder. Leupold spotting scopes are used to verify hits, and all shots are recorded in our Shooting Record book designed by Overwatch Tactical.
All in all, we have nothing negative to say about this spectacular rifle. We must point out that a strict maintenance and cleaning regime is required to keep the rifle as good as new. If your budget takes you into the next league of AR15's at around R30k, you can expect improved features such as a chrome-lined barrel, forward assist, adjustable gas block, and upgraded trigger. But compared to other AR15's in the same price bracket, your onto a winner with the DM4. Feel free to contact us for more information. Tacdivision.com
Below: 100m, Prone Unsupported, 5-Shots, 35mm Grouping, A4 Target.
