American Defense Manufacturing (ADM) makes multiple lines of AR-15s and AR-10s. They recently sent me a Universal Improved Carbine (UIC) ADM4 Mod 2 to review. I did not get 5-10k rounds through it, but I did get approximately 750 rounds to get a good feel for the rifle. This testing was done both during dry practice, square range practice and a Small Team CQB class with Forge Tactical. During the review, I added an Aimpoint Micro T2 on an ADM Aimpoint Micro NVG height mount. I also added a two point Centrifuge Training Sling.

The (UIC) ADM4 Mod 2 retails for $1,850. It is nice to see a company not try to reinvent the wheel, but to come out with a good mixture of parts they are good at producing mixed with parts from other industry leaders. Often when buying an AR, the initial purchase is just that. The initial purchase provides the foundation of the rifle. However, many parts are later purchased to upgrade to the user’s wants or needs. This results in drawers of parts the shooter does not need and useless expense. While user needs can fluctuate, most of the commonly upgraded features are already high-end parts on the ADM4 Mod 2.

The ambidextrous lower comes standard with Radian 45 degree safety that feels very deliberate while reducing the motion needed to engage and disengage the safety. Geissele triggers also come standard and take this rifle to the next level. The bolt release is enlarged along with the mag releases.

A flared Magwell built into the lower is not obtrusive and allows more room for error during a reload. This provided a good balance in size and reload speed.

The big difference between this lower and many other high-end AR lowers is the capability to not only release the bolt but lock the bolt back by a right-handed shooter with their fire control hand. This is a great feature that I am surprised more rifles do not currently have by 2019. When deliberately testing how well this feature functioned it functioned 50 out of 50 times. However, there were a couple times throughout the review process when despite pushing up on this lever, the bolt did not lock back.

When I took the upper off for a closer look I saw how the lever functioned. It is a simple design, however, it all relies on a small metal post. I did not experience any issues with the design and it felt well made, but I could not help but wonder how much force it would take to break this post and what might happen as a result.

During the course of testing, I did not experience any malfunctions such as failure to extract, double feeds, etc. The only issue I experienced was the failure of the bolt to lock back when using the lever with the fire control hand as stated previously. I tested to see how often it would fail by locking the bolt back with the fire control hand lever and it worked 50 out of 50 times I tested specifically to test this issue. I did lube the rifle before testing.

Wolf Gold 55 grain .223 and 3 different 5.56 loads in various weights were shot with no issues out of PMAGs, Lancer, Tango Down and HK steel mags with no noticeable preference towards magazine type.

ADM chose a host of Magpul accessories for use with this rifle. The Magpul pistol grip and stock come standard on the lower. Other Magpul accessories included with the rifle are a PMAG and a Magpul Mag-Pod base plate. They also added Magpul PRO BUIS, a nice choice for foldable backup sights on the rifle upper.

The upper comes with a 13.5” MLOK handguard and a 16”, 1:8 twist, .223 Wylde, 4150 CMV Criterion Barrel. The handguard is thin and light, allowing it to point quickly. The mid-length gas system paired with a Battlecomp makes the recoil very controllable.

During the zeroing process, I used Wolf Gold .223 55-grain ball ammunition. At 25 yards the grouping was an inch with a 3.5” grouping at 100 yards. The 100-yard group included a pulled shot, which when not included brought the shot group down to 1.5″ for the other 4 shots at 100 yards. Both were 5 round groups.

So is the juice worth the squeeze? At $1,850 this is not a cheap rifle and there are other quality rifles in the same budget category. For an individual user wanting a “buy once” option, I think this rifle makes a lot of sense. With a Geissele trigger, Magpul PRO BUIS, Radian safety and charging handle, Battlecomp, and Magpul furniture I see little I would want or need to change after getting the rifle from the factory. Obviously different people have different needs but the parts chosen make a quality rifle in a compatible package. Optics and slings are very personal pieces of gear and I prefer to buy those separately. This allows me the opportunity to select the correct sling, light, mount and optic for my needs. During this testing process, I did use a mount that does not allow for the use of the included back up iron sights (BUIS). However, the mount does include a quick release feature. For those wanting the same height mount along with the ability to use BUIS in standard configuration, look at a Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) Skyscraper Mount.

The only “malfunction” I experienced was the bolt not locking back rarely when using the fire control hand lever. This was not common and I saw as a minor issue compared to the usefulness of having that lever available. The accuracy on the rifle was respectable at both 25 and 100 yards. It was easy to complete a modified Navy qual hitting a 2/3 silhouette steel from standing, kneeling and prone at 100 yards with reloads between each shooting position. This (UIC) ADM4 Mod 2 is very capable and definitely worth checking out. Find out more information on this rifle and others at www.americandefensemanufacturing.com.

---

---

We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works.