DPM Recoil Reduction System Review Pt. 2

[susan28]

about a month ago i posted my review of the DPM recoil rod, which i stated was an improvement over the stock G20 rod in both felt recoil and muzzle flip. that rod employs a non-captured steel FLGR and total of 3 springs, and dials on progressive resistance up to a final weight of 28lbs, slightly less with the lighter outer spring which is supplied so that you may tune your weapon for different loads.

but DPM's rods - though very functional on their own - are designed with the complete system in mind, which adds a rail-mounted magnet that contacts the front of the slide and delays unlocking as well as adding some muzzle weight, but this portion of the system wasn't yet available for the G20 when i bought the rod.

today i had the *extreme* pleasure of testing a prototype of the upcoming "magnetomechanical" system for the G20, and the results were amazing.

the rod alone does help significantly, and as i said i did go with it over the stock rod, but the magnet in combination with the rod qualifies as "night and day". it was still snappy - more like a .40sw than a 10mm - but the big difference was in the muzzle rise: down to about 2 o'clock (maybe even 2:30!) from the stock setup's 1 o'clock or so (in my hands). and no more consciously hauling the muzzle back down after each shot: the combination of extra muzzle weight and higher spring rate makes re-acquisition much more natural and the progressive resistance keeps it all under control.

after the first mag i got an audience. after the second mag, an NRA
instructor came up to compliment me on my groups and asked me if i was law enforcement or a professional and was even more impressed to find i was just an average girl who shot a few times a month and didn't compete, especially as i was emptying entire magazines of 165gr DoubleTap *really* fast. the groups themselves were just ok by "ultimate" standards - maybe 2-3" at 10 yards - but the speed at which they were happening was the thing.. that's what drew the attention.. i still can't get the grin off my face ;f

there was one FTF, but after about 100 rounds i was getting pretty giddy, squeezing off quintuple-taps and *still* grouping, but technique had taken a back seat to some *serious* fun so a limpie wouldn't be at all surprising. a quick slingshot chambered it.

also, the magnet contains its own rail, so using it won't prevent you from using your fave accessories (but you must have a rail on your gun to mount the magnet).

the rod used with the magnetic system is the same as the stand-alone rod; the only difference is the addition of the magnet.

for more information on the DPM Magneto-mechanical recoil reduction system go to www.glockuser.com (http://www.glockuser.com)

(edited to remove comment about possible scratch caused by DPM spring. further research has determined that this was not the case and that what i noticed was infact a steel reinforcement added to some late-model G20 frames. see the thread "scratch from recoil rod?" http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=460963 on this forum for detailed discussion.)

28

[MusingDaddy]

Hello Susan28,

Great review.

While I envision bulkiness, it looks like there is a option rail on the system for mounting additional doo-dads, like a light. I looked at the FAQ and didn't see anything about this, but wondering if you can confirm.

Thanks!

[susan28]

hey MusingDaddy,

yes it contains its own rail so you don't lose options and will drop your light down about 1/4". not too bad, and it's made of plastic so it's not real heavy in terms of overall weight. it's more of a balance thing.

[TRESCOCOS]

I just tested out my new dpm system on 19c and was very surprised. susan is not exxagerating at all!
the one thing i could feel right off the bat was a big rubbery recoil as the slide dosent wack the frame anymore. I have a full auto select switch and can honestly say my groups halved in size firing 10 rd bursts due to reduced muzzle flip. I am not sure if it is my imagination or not but i think the dpm slows down the cycle rate a bit.
great product so far...will see how it holds up. I am not sure why this mod is not the latest 'rave' w/ glock users.

[agtman]

Very thorough review. Thanks, Susan. :)

[susan28]

you're welcome agtman! i've gained so much valuable knowledge about 10mm and guns in general from this board (and 10mm talk, and Pistolsmith), it's the least i can do to pay it forward when i discover something this cool..

i thought of another possible reason for the increased accuracy (even with single shots) of this system, which is that the magnet delays unlocking and might perhaps result in the barrel being more correctly aligned when the bullet leaves it. it really does rock.

i just heard from Dimitrios at DPM and he's sending me a heavier-duty version of the rod with a final resistance of 34# which i'll post on when i get it. i told him about the 165gr DT that we all love so much and he said this rod should match it perfectly so this should be something to see. stay tuned!

[G33]

Thanks S28!!!
;f

[nickE10mm]

Thanks for the review Susan, sounds cool. ;c

[susan28]

cheers Nick ;c

it's my pleasure. BTW i'm in no way associated with DPM and have paid full retail for the gear i tested, and got the magnet prototype by lots of begging! (i'm a very squeaky wheel :))

availability-wise, the 28# G20 rod is listed on their site, and the magnet is coming soon. the 34# rod i have on the way isn't listed yet either, but i was told that if anyone was interested in the magnet or the "hotter" rod, they could contact DPM at glockuser.com and Neal and Dimitrios would try to accommodate them.

very customer-oriented outfit and a pleasure to deal with.

[ret_marine2003]

I looked at the link and I think the idea is interesting, however; it looks to me like it would require perminant modification of the pistol.
Does it?

The price doesnt look bad, but I am not sure if I am up to chopping up my Glocks.
;P

[susan28]

nope, the rod drops right in and the magnet slides right onto the accessory rail. if you don't have a rail you can't use the magnet, BUT the magnet mount has an integral rail so you can still use other accessories. the mounting portion of the magnet only drops the rail down about 1/4" if that, so a light won't hang down inordinately low.

use of the magnet will require a custom holster, though, but Neal or Dimtrios might be able to refer you to someone who produces them at a reasonable price, since the magnetic system is in use by a growing number of police and military units. mine's a nightstand gun so i haven't priced holsters.

[MusingDaddy]

Hiya Susan28,

Question for you again.

Does the magnet system come with its own recoil rod, or is that 2 seperate purcases for the complete system?

Could not exactly tell from the website...

Thanks,
MusingDaddy

[susan28]

the magnetic system comes with the rod, and the rod used for a given calibre is the same as the rod used in the non-magnetic system for the same calibre. the "mechanical" system is simply the "magnetomechanical" system sans magnet.

as the magnetomechanical system is not yet available for the G20, i purchased the rod-only system and Dimitrios, the system's inventor, was so encouraged by my positive feedback that he sent me a prototype of the upcoming G20 magnet attachment (requesting that i send $20 to DeadBang so as not to deprive them of a potential sale, which i thought showed very good faith toward his distributor and further earned my respect).

so i was able to buy the magnet separately, which doesn't appear to be possible thru the site, and have just purchased a new heavier-duty 34# rod for the G20 directly from DPM. however, as i said, Dimitrios (DPM) and Neal Seaman (DeadBang Guns) are both super-cool and eager to please, and i was told that if anyone wanted either the magnetic system or the heavier 34# G20 rod (standard DPM G20 rod is 28#) to have them email thru the website with an enquiry and they'd try to hook it up.

my new rod came today but i have to order more 165gr DT to wring it out since this rod is made exclusively for hot loads, but i'll also try it with the 180gr practice ammo to see how it cycles that.

[TRESCOCOS]

i tested my mod 19 with dpm system against a stock sig 239. shot them both 30 times at the same time ( 2 guns two hands)...and then switched guns so shot both with dominant hand.
my friend did the same thing.
conclusion: recoil and muzzle rise pretty much equal in both guns.

I am going to try same experiment with a friend who has a stock mod 19 when have time next week.

starting to make me wonder??

[susan28]

you think it's all power of suggestion?

sure feels like a difference to me, though not as much without the magnet as with. a same-gun test without having to field-strip between magazines would definitely be best. a friend down here suggested the same thing with his G20 but we haven't set a date yet.

it might also be interesting to try the stock rod with the magnet clipped on but i think the DPM rod/magnet combo is a winner.

[MusingDaddy]

Hiya Susan28,

Thanks for the info. I am in no particular hurry, so when the magneto reduction system is offered on the web I may check it out. I am super curious to see how it works with a G20C.

When you talk to the DPM folks again you might want to tell them their website should clarify the point that the magneto system has its own rod hardware.

Talk to ya latter!

[uz2bUSMC]

Susan,

What happens to be the main advantage of a progressive spring over a non-progressive. I know from your review that it seems to work better but dynamically what is the reason for this. Also, is it ssupposed to be able to function watered down ammo.

[susan28]

for the specific physics of it you should probably email DPM via the website (proud GlockTalk advertiser), but i think it makes it feel less "snappy" and more of a "push".

all the rods come with 2 outer springs, one lighter than the other, so you can use the lighter one for lighter loads. the standard DPM G20 rod comes with a 15# and a 16# outer, which results in 28# final resistance with the heavier one, not sure about the lighter one since i only shoot DoubleTap with it.

i'll say this though: when i told Dimitrios the specs of my ammo, he sold me a special "heavy duty" rod made just for scorching loads (review of that one coming soon), but this suggests to me that the standard DPM setups are made to function with "mainstream" 10mm loads, but will also work with hot ones, hence the extra outer spring. the HD rod isn't listed on the site yet but you can order one by request.

[JWP]

tks susan28, just emailed them about my [estimated] 900 ft-lb loads for the 6" g21/10mm longslide to see what might be available for that beast

[susan28]

cool deal JWP!! Neal and Dimitrios will treat you right. you can't use the magnet with the longslide since it clips onto the rail and sticks up infront of the slide, but the rod/spring setup alone helps alot, and will probably be smooth as silk combined with the longslide. definitely discuss the load with them because Dimitrios will make sure it's just right.

for those who are waiting, i'm indefinitely delayed in testing the 34# rod he sent me because the range i used to go to in the next county has closed and my county only lets you shoot range ammo and the local place still isn't stocking DT, though i gave them the info and they said it wasn't the only request lately (prolly other refugees from the other range).

sorry to everyone for that but i'll test it how and when i can, meanwhile i'm still having great success with the standard (28#) DPM 10mm setup, both with the 165gr DT and common range ammo. i think the standard DPM rod is made for average 10mm loads, but performs equally well with DT, whereas the custom rod he sent me was made with DT in mind.

[DavidinSA]

Any new info on the DPM system for the G20?

Thanks
David

[susan28]

i still haven't been able to test the heavier-duty rod Dimitrios made me for my DoubleTap due to really annoying new range restrictions where i live, and not sure if the magnet's out yet, but i knew he has prototypes and will probably be glad to sell you one.

the standard "mechanical" (the special rod/spring assembly sans magnet) is currently available, get while they're hot! the standard DPM G20 setup is variable-resistance from 16-28lbs and tames the DT like a *****cat with the magnet, so i might very well go with that over the "hotter" specialty rod/springs he sent me unless it's a huge difference just in the name of using as light a spring as will function well.

email Dimitrios at DPM and tell him susan 28 from GT sez hi and he'll do you right i promise. he's no longer represented by DeadBang, though, so just google DPM for his url. it's dpmtechnologies.com, i think. let me know if you can't find him.

[DavidinSA]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I have a email into:

Steve Paganis
Customer Service
The Shooters Box, LLC
http://www.theshootersbox.com
steve@theshootersbox.com
781-321-9899

They are apparently the seller in North America.
I told him I am even interested in prototype products and will pay for them.

Keep your fingers crossed that he comes through.

Thanks
David

[susan28]

good luck david, if that doesn't work DPM's domain is dpmsystems.com.

[DavidinSA]

Thanks.
I'll keep you informed.

David