Draconian gun control laws in some states have led the gun industry to provide innovative firearms for the folks residing in those jurisdictions. Boonville, Missouri’s CMMG is one of those companies, and the Dissent Br4 rifle is one of those firearms. The Br4 is specifically designed for people who cannot legally buy an AR-15. CMMG is quite open about the rifle’s purpose, but don’t let the marketing fool you. The Dissent Br4 is cool in its own right, with some very nice features and options that make it very versatile.

I recently got my hands on a Dissent Br4 5.56 and have several hundred rounds through it. I think I have a good handle on what this rifle is and what it isn’t. CMMG provided this rifle for testing and evaluation. I don’t get to keep it.

CMMG Dissent Br4 Rifle

The Dissent Br4 is available with 16.1-inch barrels and 14.5-inch barrels with pinned and welded muzzle brakes. CMMG offers seven different Cerakote finishes. The rifle also comes in multiple calibers:

5.56 NATO
.300 Blackout
.350 Legend
.22 ARC
6mm ARC
6.5 Grendel
9mm Luger (CMMG Conversion Magazines required)

My test rifle has a 16.1-inch barrel and is chambered for 5.56 NATO. The following paragraphs deal specifically with that rifle.

Dissent Br4 Features

The entire Br4 concept revolves around the proprietary Dissent upper receiver. The important part of that is the CMMG Compact Action, whose bolt carrier includes two recoil springs, eliminating the need for a buffer spring in the rifle’s stock. That, in turn, allows for the Br4’s Remington 870-compatible Magpul SGA stock, which provides good ergonomics while eliminating the need for a pistol grip. Remember that the Br4 is purpose-built for restricted states. The rifle can accept other 870-compatible stocks should you want something different. But CMMG includes a higher cheek riser to make the ergonomics work with optics, so keep that in mind.

The stock makes the Br4’s length of pull feel different from an AR-15. At first glance, the Br4 looks several inches longer than my ARs. But the stock has removable shims to shorten it. Use the shims to set the length of pull where you like it. Shortening the stock lets you use that AR-15-style C-clamp grip and the stance that goes with it. Or you can leave them in for a more traditional bladed stance like a hunting rifle.

The Dissent upper allows for the more traditional stock, but that stock necessitates an updated lower with the trigger group moved back so the shooter can reach it. The Br4’s trigger is a collaboration between CMMG and Rise Armament based on CMMG’s Zeroed Drop-in Trigger.

The barrel comes equipped with CMMG’s Zeroed muzzle device, and the 15-inch Dissent handguard has a full-length Picatinny rail up top and M-LOK slots all around. Because of its target market, the rifle ships with two 10-round Magpul magazines, but is compatible with all standard AR-style 5.56 mags. All Br4 rifles feature an adjustable direct-impingement mid-length gas system except the 9mm version. Those are roller-delayed blowback guns.

The author tested the rifle topped with a Vortex optic.

Dissent Br4 Controls

The Br4 is AR-15-like, but it isn’t just a reconfigured version of that rifle. The controls are significantly different. The most noticeable is the reversible, non-reciprocating side charging handle. I love this feature since I’ve always found the AR-15’s rear handle very awkward.

The safety also differs from the familiar AR-15 select switch. The Br4 features a cross bolt safety just above the trigger, reminiscent of many lever action rifles. The safety is reversible for easier use by left-handed shooters.

The magazine release seems familiar, but its relationship to the rearward-set trigger changes things. Dropping a spent AR-15 mag is as simple as reaching forward with your trigger finger, never changing your grip. Reaching the Br4’s mag release with your trigger finger is impossible without breaking your grip. The mag release button is ambidextrous, however, meaning you can hit it from either side, which we found the most efficient. I’ll cover that below.

The single-stage CMMG/Rise Armament Zeroed trigger is very nice and is better than a standard mil-spec AR-15 trigger. The bolt release is operated by the support hand’s thumb, just like an AR-15’s.

The Br4’s basic disassembly is very AR-like, with two pins holding the upper and lower together. Removing the bolt carrier requires pulling the charging handle, as with an AR. It’s just that the charging handle is in a different place. No big deal. Reinserting the bolt carrier is easier than an AR since you don’t have to line up the charging handle too. Just slide it in and press it into place. Very simple.

The Dissent Br4 on the Range

I first handled the Dissent Br4 at last year’s TriggrCon, where the CMMG rep explained its purpose and philosophy. I approached the rifle’s testing and evaluation process like it was replacing my AR-15. The gun came with a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x FFP LPVO already installed. That made my job easier since I run the exact same optic on my number one AR, a Grey Ghost Precision Mk II Light. After checking the zero, I ran the Br4 like I run my Grey Ghost. Or at least I tried to.

Handling Changes

Different controls mean you can’t run a Br4 exactly like an AR-15. I soon learned that my muscle memory for certain operations doesn’t translate to the Br4. That’s not a criticism. CMMG designed the Br4 for a specific purpose. If new AR-15s could be purchased in certain states, making a similar but different alternative wouldn’t be necessary. I don’t need to go into the cosmetic features that certain states outlaw since we all know what they are.

But different features require different operations. The most prominent differences here are the charging handle, safety and the mag release. The charging handle was great. I think it’s a clear upgrade over the AR and easier to use. The safety is also easy. I just had to get it in my mind. It wasn’t that difficult since I’m a big lever-gun enthusiast, though I prefer lever guns without the cross bolt safety.

Mag changes were different. Like everyone else, I’m used to dropping the mag with my trigger finger while my support hand reaches for the reload. I couldn’t do that with the Br4. My trigger finger can’t reach the mag release, forcing me to use my support hand’s thumb to drop the spent mag. Only then can I reach for the reload. It’s a significantly slower process, but practice trims down the time and makes it smoother. Certain sacrifices had to made to make the Br4 available in certain states. In this case, it was losing the AR-15 stock and standard pistol grip for something resembling a sporting stock. That necessitated moving the trigger further away from the mag release.

Working the CMMG Dissent Br4 rifle on the range.

Running the Br4

First, the Dissent Br4 was a pleasure to shoot. It’s comfortable, points well, the recoil was soft, and it was accurate. I’d heard good things about CMMG guns, and this rifle lived up to the company’s reputation. My co-tester and I ran 330 rounds of 55-grain Igman .223 FMJ and 150 rounds of 62-grain PMC X-Tac 5.56 Green Tips. Our friends at Global Ordnance provided the ammo, for which we thank them.

The Br4 was 100 percent reliable using the provided 10-round magazine and several of our own 30-round PMags. I wish I’d had some heavier 77-grain ammo to run through that 1:7 twist barrel, but alas. Still, I like the 1:7 twist rate because it can handle those heavier bullets effectively.

At 8 pounds, the Br4 is noticeably heavier than my AR-15s, though its muzzle rise was a bit less than the other rifles. The Zeroed brake probably contributes to that, along with the weight. We had no trouble staying on target in transition drills and the rifle was as accurate as our best ARs.

The Br4 was not, however, as quick. We got on target fine and follow-up shots were good, but the mag change operation is slower. As noted, we were forced to drop the mag with our support hand before reaching for the reload. We ran reload drills side-by-side, and the AR-15 shooter was a full second, sometimes a second and-a-half, faster, even after we got the process down. Again, that isn’t a criticism. It’s just how it is to get these rifles into the ban states. But the operations were smooth, and the controls ran like they’re supposed to with no malfunctions.

Rifle comparison for banned state restrictions.

Final Thoughts

Companies have tried to get modern rifles into the ban states for years. Some have been more successful than others. Time will tell how well CMMG does with the Br4. Based on my limited time with it, I think this is a very solid gun that should appeal to those unfortunate enough to have to try exercising their rights in those states.

But a big problem with ban state guns is that they don’t really appeal to shooters outside those states. Their compromises don’t make sense anywhere else. But I don’t see the Br4 that way at all. All things considered, I’d prefer an AR-15 to do AR-15 stuff. No surprise there. But the Br4 has some very nice features that I think work well in other roles. For instance, it all but screams “modern hunting rifle.” Just make sure you get the right caliber for your intended quarry.

CMMG notes that it would make a great ranch rifle. I’m no rancher but I expect they’re right. The 16-inch barrel, 10-round magazine, and no pistol grip would work very well in a horse-mounted rifle scabbard. And the caliber choices are there. Or perhaps you just want a modern, all-around rifle that doesn’t look quite so scary to the uninitiated.

The Br4 works for all those things and others. We like this gun a lot. It’s smooth, accurate, versatile, and reliable. It even looks cool, which is more important to some folks than you might think. I admit to being more susceptible to that than I probably should be. If you live in a ban state and want a capable rifle, you should probably give this one a hard look. I think it will do the job for you. And if not, you might want to look at it anyway.