Well, after yesterdays rain, my youngest and I headed for the range with his Finnish Mosin M39 and my new AP4. With sunshine and 54 degrees, it was pretty pleasant.

We set up on the pistol range with a target at 25m for the AP4. DPMS calls for the rifle to be cleaned after every shot for the first 20 rounds so, you might say every shot is a cold bore shot. The rear sight looked to be near center and the front sight was flush with the top of it's recess. First round cut paper 3 inches high and 1 inch to the right. Fired 2 more to get a quick group for adjustments. Couple of clicks left and four down, the next round was about 1 inch high and near dead on horizontal. Two more clicks down and that last 3 rounds stradled the "x" with one a bit low to the right. Called it close enough. The ammo was Winchester 7.62x51 NATO. This is not by any means close to match grade ammo.

Now on to the 200 and 300 yard range. The 200 yard range target is a steel about 10 inches by 12 inches. First shot with the front post on the center was high, passing just over the top of the plate. Compensated by holding under a bit and the next was dead center. Had the same results with the 300 yard gong, which is a 12 x 12 inch plate hung by a corner. Didn't want to crank on the front sight anymore, not having an adjustment tool other then the tip of a round.

Note that after the 20th round, my son and I started shooting pairs. We didn't have any problem with the rifle cycling and everything worked as it should. Bolt hold open after last round, magazine release and charging from an open bolt.

The rifle shoots well, only complaint is a heavy trigger. You need to make sure the rear sight is cranked down also. Mine did loosen after a few rounds. Other than that, I think it's a keeper.

I had fired the M16 and the M4 while on active duty but, had passed on buying an AR type rifle because I didn't want to add another caliber to the stockpile. After seeing the AP4 at a gun show I had started to do some reading. Mostly had to convince my son that we should get one. Up until this time, everything we shot had wood on it. M1A, Garand, SKS, Mosin 44, Finn 39, and Romy SAR-1 the only exception being an Arsenal SLR 107. Only the Romainian and the Arsenal sport optics.

Anyway, the AP4 was a welcome addition and we don't have to stock any other ammo. We did cut loose an Auto Ordnance 30 Carbine that was traded in on the AP4. That's another story and not much of a loss.

Pics that follow include: static photo of the rifle, zeroing, cleaning, target and one of my son with his M39.







Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
Mine came a little early.

Andy

Thank you for the write up. Glad you liked it.

sounds like you had fun.

Very nice. I knew you'd like it. Kinda makes me want a DPMS .308....


TS

I just purchased the same rifle (LR-308 AP4) and cannot wait to get on the range. Have read that the Black Hills 168gr BTHP are recommended. Do you know of other rounds that you are going to run through it?

Uknowit,

The Winchester 7.62x51 Nato ammo he was firing is most likely the standard 147 grain ball white box or surplus.

I am sure that the Black Hills 168gr BTHP you mention is incredibly accurate. Many like the 168 gr BTHP Federal or Lake City as well. Personally I am using 168 BTHP PRVI Partizan Match without any problems. I did have feeding and bolt locking back issues with one magazine but DPMS replaced that mag and I have not had any problem since. The PRVI Match is sightly more than half the cost of all the other 168 gr match.

I have fired some PRVI 147 gr ball and it was fine. The 147 grain ball is higher velocity changing the point of impact.

I plan to practice with the match / ball ammo and then hunt with TAP.

The Winchester was the white box Nato.

How do you like the Prvi?

I have a few hundred rounds of LC, almost 1K of POF, 1.4K of SA and a couple of hundred rounds of the white box left. I have only fired the white box in the AP4. The POF shot ok in my M1A but, I don't care to shoot it or the SA in the AP4.

I am new to this and do not have any stash of ammo so I am paying the current prices. I thought about buying Winchester white box but got PRVI Match for the same price ($130/200). I also bought 339 rounds of PRVI 147 gr ball and 100 rounds of American Eagle from a guy who had sold his 308. So far I have shot 80 rounds of the PRVI Match and 40 of the ball. It is atleast as clean as the Remington Core-Lokt 243 I used to hunt with and much cleaner than the Blazer Brass, American Eagle or UMC I have run through my 45. The brass looks good. I plan to keep using it. PRVI also makes Hot Shot ammo.

I should have bought more of the white box when Midway offered it for $99 a case. I plan on reloading it and the LC when it is shot up. The SA and POF are fire and forget unless you want to scrap out the brass.

Prvi and Lithuanian I think are both boxer primed and should be good to reload. I guess I'll find out when I break down and buy some.

All the ammo has gone up in price since my son and I have started into shooting. I would complain more but, I enjoy the time on the range with him. the next thing will be to teach him how to reload. We are slowly building up brass to where it will make it worth while.

The Prvi and Lithuanian both are boxer primed and reloadable. I have no idea which one is better. I bought Prvi purely to get the cheap match rounds.