DR-200 (K2)

The Daewoo DR-200 is the post-ban version of the standard Daewoo AR-100.  What's the difference?  The AR-100 was imported into the United States before the ban on assault rifles in 1986.  It was an untouched South Korean import.  The DR-200 was imported after this ban and had to have certain features altered to be legal.  The DR-200 rifle in this review, however, has been legally converted back to pre-ban configuration.  Aside from the small differences created by the ban, the DR200 is the exact same rifle as the AR-100.  It still accepts AR-15 magazines, and, on this particular model, still retained the rail mounts.

The SIG SAUER "AimPoint clone" red dot sight works very well on the DR-200 when using the B-Square mount.  The owner of the rifle who converted it back to pre-ban used an ACE fixed stock.  Unfortunately, this sat too high for the user to be able to use the iron sights.  The solution?  A B-Square mount and this red dot.  The height the mount offers offsets the height of the stock.  They match perfectly with one another.  Yet another reason this rifle is good with a red dot is the front sight ring.  On Daewoo rifles, the front sight ring features a "bump" on the top.  I'm not sure why this bump is there, but upon using this mount/optic combination, I may have found a new use for it:  the "dot" sits perfectly on top of this bump and makes aiming a bit easier.  The following photograph mostly shows this as I managed to move the camera when taking the photo.  Thus, the dot and sight are not completely lined up properly (but this will not effect point of impact).

The ACE fixed stock that has been installed on this rifle is of great quality.  When shouldered, it isn't quite as natural as the original pre-ban stock, but it is still quite comfortable nonetheless.  The stock is very rugged and has zero movement to it.  I would not hesitate it to use it as a melee item if necessary (plowing your way through brush and saplings, for example), unlike the original, plastic stock.  Black electrical tape has been added to the sides of the recoil pad as to eliminate friction between it and clothing, so it is quite easy to shoulder.  The only flaw to this stock is that it sits too high to use the standard iron sights unless dropped lower in the ACE adapter, positioning it below the line of the barrel (not ideal for recoil control).  As mentioned, however, the mount and red dot remedy this problem.

Another change made in the DR200 from the AR-100 is the front sight block.  As to comply with the ban, the bayonet lug has been removed.  Like the Colt AR-15A2 that has been reviewed, this one appears to have been cut off (and very cleanly).  The finish is still perfect in this area of the rifle.  There is a tiny hole in the bottom of it, but I'm not sure what purpose it serves.  I haven't fired the rifle in any dusty environment, so I do not know if it directs gases downwards similar to how the gas return tube features holes in the 4 and 8 o'clock positions.

The last part of the rifle I would like to point out is the gas adjustment valve.  The DR200 features a very visible yellow arrow on the front sight that points straight down.  The medium "M" setting also features a smaller version of this arrow pointing towards the firer.  This is the default setting; yellow-to-yellow.  The valve adjustment on this rifle, as compared to the AR-100 I handled, is far easier to move.  However, that point is not too important as I've never heard of (or experienced) the need to move the valve off of the "M" setting while firing for anyone.

As a whole, the DR200 (in the converted form I fired it in) is an amazing rifle.  It is on-par with the pre-ban AR-100 in most every way.  The recoil is minimal, the ergonomics are very nice, and it's just an amazingly reliable system.  These rifles are always an amazing investment, and though spare parts are expensive and somewhat rare, you shouldn't be too afraid to fire them as long as you don't purposefully abuse them.  These rifles will handle anything that comes at them and keep firing.  There are only two cons to this rifle: parts and price.