I've written recently about utility ARs, most of which retail at 1k to 1.5k. I like plain-vanilla rifles, designed for serious Operators for serious use, and recommend them to most of my students. So long as they are operator-grade, and the manufacturer provides good customer service, I'm fine with most. I thus I have scant interest in tight, frail, temperamental, hobby-grade rifles, designed to appeal strictly to contest-shooters who are interested in seeing their names on the top of the leader-board, and in little else. I use the terms, "serious rifle" and "Operator-Grade" to describe the former.
Several premium manufacturers, most of whom I know personally, and for whom I have a great deal of personal and professional respect, offer premium-grade rifles, intended for serious use by sophisticated Operators who appreciate critical refinements, and are willing to pay for them.
Among the top of this List is Dave Lauck. Dave is a design geniuses, and is devoted to providing bona-fide Operators with guns that feature every genuine advantage currently known. I have copies of Dave's wares, and they are second to none, but they are expensive!
Dave's DLS/CQB is an extraordinarily solid car-gun. Short, slick, light, fast. It fairly defines a fighting rifle. Every sharp corner and edge is rounded-off, and the entire unit is treated with a high-tech finish that provides superior protection from the elements. Trigger is wonderful. It's a pleasure to carry and use. I carried and shot my copy all last week at an Urban Rifle Course here in CO, and I, along with everyone else who used it, loved it!
My copy is equipped with Leupold's Prismatic, zero-magnification, optic. Not much bigger than an Aimpoint T1, Leopuld's version features an AUG-style "doughnut of death," which has some real advantages. Works like a red-dot, and has a battery-module for low-light, but features an etched-glass reticle that is always there, even when batteries fail. I've learned to like it!
I'm proud to count Dave, and many others, among my friends, and I appreciate him tolerating me and patiently contributing to my continuing education.
When you're willing to pay for premium features on a superb fighting rifle, they are the ones to see!
John S. Farnam / Veteran Firearms Instructor |