Range Time
Given its designation as a “precision rifle” it needed to be accurate, and it was. As accurate as any AR10 I’ve tested in a long time, even some custom builds. Having a Geissele trigger is a huge help, as none are better for this task, especially if you are going to get it hot and dirty. The SSA Enhanced is crisp, predictable and as reliable as an AR trigger gets, allowing for solid precision. LWRCI barrels have been recognized as some of the finest cold-hammer-forged barrels you can get, and the one on this rifle was no exception.
Best accuracy came from some Nosler 168-grain BTHP, but the rifle put everything into somewhere between .50 and .75 inches. One of the softest shooting, and possibly the perfect round for this rifle came from Corbon. Using a 125-grain TMK it makes 3,100 FPS out of a 24-inch barrel. It’s still leaving the muzzle of this 16-inch barrel at over 2,900 FPS, and is a laser at longer ranges. Especially for a self-defense or patrol rifle, there is nothing this bullet won’t do without the recoil and over penetration issues of the others. Sierra’s 125-grain TMK may not be “designed” as a hunting bullet, but it has been used to great effect since its introduction for just that. I have used this same round in three other rifles to date and Corbon’s load is incredibly accurate.
Moving out to 400 yards using the Corbon it was pretty much a point and shoot event. Put the dot a bit higher on target at 400 yards and hitting the 4-inch wide target was a regular event. Moving to 500 yards with the same round and RDS, I was able to get six out of ten rounds on a 12-inch steel plate once dialed in for my holds. Using the Nightforce ATACR scope’s T3 reticle and Surefire suppressor to engage targets from 100 to 700 yards, I was able to use the “12 inch drill” to great effect. Only one miss at 700 for wind; otherwise it was pretty simple: range, hold and press.
Since this rifle has a 20-position gas block it was possible to “tune” it to ammunition when unsuppressed. Turning it a notch or two did not make a huge difference, but I was able to tune for ejection pattern based on the load. It also kept it from being over gassed for less junk out of the piston and a softer and cooler running rifle. Moving to the suppressor it was mostly an all the way in proposition, or close, but it did make a substantial difference when it came to excess gas from the suppressor and a less harsh feel. Using the Surefire Mini Socom 7.62, it was on the edge of hearing safe, but it ran smooth without being harsh. Attaching the Surefire SPS 300 it was very quiet, but back pressure was more intense.
The Surefire brake without the can was as loud as one might expect, bright at low light with noticeable recoil mitigation. I would not want to be next to it in a fight, but for the shooter it’s not so bad. Moving to a Surefire WARCOMP was much better. It remains one of the best solutions to this dilemma. Works great in a fight with just a bit more recoil and excellent flash mitigation given proper ammunition. If it were to stick around the WARCOMP would stay attached.
Other Considerations
My only real criticism is the lack of a provided means to attach a sling. This is clearly a working rifle and needs a way to attach a sling right out of the box. Since the rail uses proprietary accessories, you will need to get them from LWRCI (or a dealer). My long term use of LWRCI rifles meant most accessories were in house, but you will need to spend some change to get your REPR MKII ready, like a rail or two and a sling adapter. Their rail covers are nice and bolt directly to the hand guard. Even if you dedicate this rifle to prone use you will need a rail for the Bi-pod. Make sure you factor that into the cost.
Unlike some of its competitors in this contract, the REPR MKII uses SR25 patterned magazines. Not a big deal to me as a rule, but it is very nice to use commercially available magazines. It comes with a PMAG and it ran all of mine without issue.
It also ran and held open with the Larue Tactical 7.62 magazine along with a my DPMS steel versions. Magazines are supposed to be disposable—fine if you’re on the governments dime, I guess—but tossing a magazine that costs you around a hundred bucks is painful, and rebuild kits cost more than a PMAG as a rule. No worries here, it runs with them all.
Designed to be used suppressed, it worked great, but my preference would be a Surefire WARCOMP alone. They won’t smack you like the standard brakes do, suppress flash very well, and keep this already light rifle well suited to work in the real world. You can also fine tune the rifle to your ammunition for a very soft shooter. Suppressors work well, but don’t hesitate to run this as a patrol or self-defense rifle without a suppressor.