LWRCI-DI 556

The rugged Trijicon (trijicon.com) 1-6x24mm Accupoint scope—mounted in an ADM (americandefensemanufacturing.com) QD mount were used throughout testing.
The rugged Trijicon (trijicon.com) 1-6x24mm Accupoint scope—mounted in an ADM (americandefensemanufacturing.com) QD mount were used throughout testing.

Backup iron sights are mandatory for me on any rifle used for duty or self defense. Folding sights won’t interfere with your optics but require you to activate them, presumably under the stress of sighting through a now broken or obstructed optic. That means removing your optic, flipping up both sights, then reacquiring the threat. Offset sights eliminate all that. Properly timed to your barrel they operate like standard A2 sights. Turn the rifle to about 11:00 and go to work. With nothing to flip up or remove the transition is all but instant. Dueck Defense rapid transition sights are among the best and are available with tritium inserts. I have accurately engaged targets to 300 meters with these, so they are truly backup sights not just CQB stop gaps. Surefire’s scout light was attached to the hand guard using their RM45 offset mount.

Range Time

The DI’s 1:7 twist, cold-hammer forged, spiral-fluted and Nicorr-treated barrel is manufactured in house to exacting tolerances, and fitted with a birdcage flash hider.
The DI’s 1:7 twist, cold-hammer forged, spiral-fluted and Nicorr-treated barrel is manufactured in house to exacting tolerances, and fitted with a birdcage flash hider.

I produced groups under an inch, with the best measuring just over .60 inches using Barnes 70-grain TSX. Trijicon’s Accupoint made it pretty easy to stay at or around an inch with everything. LWRCI barrels are among the best in the industry and are capable of excellent accuracy. Anything at or under an inch is excellent, especially for a carbine designed for combat not bench rest competition. With a 1:7” twist barrel it handled all the 77-grain projectiles with ease. Everything was pretty accurate, with all of the 62- to 64-grain ammunition consistently so. All of the 52- to 55-grain ammunition worked well and the Barnes AR 52-grain was very accurate.

The proprietary, nickel-coated LWRC I direct-impingement bolt carrier group. Yes, it runs as good as it looks.
The proprietary, nickel-coated LWRC I direct-impingement bolt carrier group. Yes, it runs as good as it looks.

Over the course of a couple sessions using both my vehicle and some 3-gun obstacles for cover, the DI 556 performed well. Well balanced, it rested easily on barricades and other obstacles. Several new BCM Mil-Spec Teflon Coated 30 round magazines were set up with CTT Solutions magazine caps and put to the test. Nestled in an Esstac Trim Boar chest rig provided plenty of ammo for most any realistic operation without all the weight. Dropped on concrete, gravel and dirt, the CTT magazine caps stayed put. Operation was flawless during several drills.

LWRCI was one of the first companies to employ fully ambidextrous controls, and these are very intuitive. Much of my practice of late has been off hand. This rifle was even used in an LE training session entirely from my left side. Once my brain got dialed in, in reloads and manual operation were as fast as my strong side. Unlike some you can lock the bolt open with either side making malfunction drills faster. Coupled with their compact stock it was one the most maneuverable and workable ARs out there. For those of us with short arms, or when a plate carrier is used, it is excellent.

Attached to the monoforge upper receiver is a modular, free-float handguard, wearing a handstop and angled foregrip/Q.D. sling mount from the factory.
Attached to the monoforge upper receiver is a modular, free-float handguard, wearing a handstop and angled foregrip/Q.D. sling mount from the factory.

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