Back in 1999, when I shopped for my first AR15, my choices were narrowed down to two: 20″ A2 and 16″ Dissipator. The purchasing decision was based on the legal restrictions against flash hiders — I ended up with the A2 (still in my safe) because it would have less muzzle flash than the 16″ rifle. But the Dissipator option was based on the expectation of using only iron sights. At the time, I couldn’t afford a good optic, and wasn’t sure how durable they were anyway.
Last week, I got to play with the updated 16″ Dissipator now made by Windham Weaponry. It uses mid-length gas system rather than the old rifle-length, mainly to get consistent back pressure for cycling. The sight radius is still the same as on conventional 20″ rifles, with the added flexibility of the removable carry handle. And, unlike my A2, it comes with a telescoping stock that I’ve come to appreciate for its adaptability to different shooting positions and shooter arm lengths.
I also found the other benefit of the full-length forend: the ability to grip it far forward for better recoil control during rapid fire. You can see it in these photos: Adam, a shooter new to AR platform, was able to run the rifle very fast and still keep it on target.
