Colt Enhanced Patrol Rifle II PRO: Full Review

In the history of Colt firearm production, 60 years seems like a short period of time. But for over six decades, Colt has been manufacturing AR-15 rifles. Just a year after the U.S. military adopted the AR-15/M16 rifle in 1962 Colt was awarded the contract to build those rifles, and a year later the company began offering the AR-15 civilian version.

In one sense, it’s quite remarkable how well Stoner’s original AR design has held up. Military rifles come and go, but the AR’s longevity is a testament to its innovative and forward-thinking design. On the other hand, today’s AR-15 rifles have evolved substantially since the first M16 found its way into the hands of a U.S. soldier. Though the overall concept remains largely unchanged, most modern AR rifles look quite different than they did in the 1960s.

That’s what makes the Enhanced Patrol Rifle II PRO so appealing. It’s a Colt, and seeing that name on the side of the gun seems only natural, but the EPR II PRO 5.56 is a thoroughly modern gun and it demonstrates that while Colt respects the past and the brand’s relationship with this rifle platform the company also knows how to build a high-quality AR that appeals to modern shooters.

Tough Crowd

One of the beautiful features of the AR design is that with so many interchangeable parts and so much aftermarket support you can build your own rifle if you’d like. For Colt’s EPR II PRO to be successful, the company understood that its rifle had to appeal to more than a sense of nostalgia and brand loyalty—the EPR II PRO had to be a rifle that was built to perform right out of the box.

The gun’s feature list is impressive. EPR II rifles come with MIL-SPEC forged 7075-T6 receivers and include a rugged MIL-SPEC matte black type III hard coat anodized finish. The MIL-SPEC Colt bolt carrier group is chrome-lined and features a manganese phosphate finish. Chrome helps reduce friction and wear while the phosphate finish improves corrosion resistance. The bolts are also high pressure and magnetic particle inspection tested, which effectively means that the bolts are evaluated for weakness or flaws and cracks. HP/MPI testing ensures that the bolt is able to withstand hard use without failure, so you can be certain that the BCG on the EPR II rifle will last.

The EPR II’s bolt and barrel extension are also HP/MPI tested to guarantee structural integrity. EPR II rifles are available with either 16 or 11.5-inch chromoly vanadium steel barrels, and both come with 1:7 twist rates and six-groove chrome-lined bores. The barrel features a rugged manganese phosphate finish that—like everything else on this rifle—is built for battle.

Both the 11.5 and 16-inch versions of the EPR II come with carbine-length gas systems. Though you can argue the virtues of the carbine versus mid-length gas systems on AR rifles, I believe the carbine-length system makes sense here and is a good choice for the EPR II. Carbine-length systems are renowned for their reliability even when fired at high volumes, and these systems are also more compact.

Colt’s EPR II rifles come with upgraded furniture and controls. All EPR rifles feature ambidextrous controls so they work well for both right and left-handed shooters. Standard EPR II rifles come equipped with Magpul MBUS III flip-up sights while the EPR II PRO receives MBUS PRO flip-up sights standard. A full-length top Picatinny rail offers lots of space for mounting optics, whether that’s an LPVO, red dot, thermal, or any other sighting system you like.

EPR II rifles are equipped with MIL-SPEC charging handles, while PRO rifles include upgraded Radian Raptor ambidextrous charging handles. Standard EPR II models come with an A2-style pistol grip, but the PRO version features a Magpul MOE K2 grip. All EPR II rifles (standard and PRO) come with Magpul MOE SL six-position adjustable stocks and Colt free-floated aluminum M-LOK handguards with steel QD sockets (a 10.5-inch handguard for the SBR and 15-inch version for the rifle). PRO models also include a QD swing swivel socket on the end plate.

All EPR II rifles ship with one Magpul PMAG 30-Round. With its stubby barrel the SBR weighs in at just 6.0 pounds and measures 28.5 to 31.7 inches long. The 16-inch version weighs 6.7 pounds and measures from 33 to 36.2 inches. All four versions of the EPR II rifle come with a Colt muzzle device, and the muzzle are threaded ½ x 28.

The EPR II is priced at $1,449 to $1,699, depending on the model you choose. That’s certainly competitive, especially for a Colt AR rifle with such a long list of standard features. But does the EPR II live up to the hype?

Testing the EPR II PRO

The EPR was a great rifle, but the new second-generation variant is better. Ambidextrous controls make sense, and EPR II models have the same finish as original EPR models. In fact, the small improvements throughout the platform, like the chrome-lined bore, make the EPR II perhaps the best out-of-the-box duty gun in its price category.

Everything that Colt has added to this rifle seems to work, a clear indicator that serious users had input on the design of this rifle. When you’re popping woodchucks and coyotes at 200 yards with your AR or spending a few hours at the range most black guns hold up. When you begin putting in more hours behind the gun and fire hundreds of rounds in unforgiving environments, the weak points in a rifle quickly show. Good rifles, on the other hand, really begin to shine under hard use.

I won’t say that I approached the EPR II PRO’s limits with the testing that I did, but when you shoot several hundred rounds through a rifle you quickly begin to learn about its character. What I learned about the EPR II PRO is that it’s always ready for action. The Magpul stock is easy to adjust quickly because the controls are intuitive and the quality construction allows for consistent performance. The sights deploy quickly, and Magpul pistol grip is properly angled.

One of the features I like most is the well-laid-out QD attachment points. I prefer QD slings and run them on both my rifles and bolt guns. I don’t really want to waste time adding QD cups into my M-LOK slots, but you don’t need to because the sockets are already arranged properly. The PRO version that I tested came with a rear QD slot as well, adding to the rifle's versatility.

I removed the muzzle device and replaced it with a Banish Backcountry .30-caliber suppressor. The carbine-length gas system operated fine, and the rifle wasn’t finicky about loads. In fact, it ran reliably with everything I fed it, from 77-grain target bullets to 55-grain FMJ and varmint loads, The EPR II PRO is a solid rifle that performs well under any conditions. Trigger pull is consistent and reliable, and with a Trijicon MRO in place this is a smooth-shooting, accurate rifle.

The Colt name immediately perks the ears of AR owners, but the EPR II PRO is a very good rifle. It’s impossible to please every AR owner, but this rifle does an excellent job. Everything about this gun is built properly and designed to last, and that’s why it’s an AR worthy of the Colt name.

Colt EPR II PRO 16”

• Action: Direct impingement semiauto
• Chambering: 5.56/.223
• Gas system: Carbine-length
• Capacity: 30+1
• Receiver: Forged 7075-T6
• Barrel: 16.1 in., Chromoly vanadium, 1:7 twist/6 grooves
• Sights: MBUS Pro flip-up
• Stock: Magpul MOE-SL 6 position
• Pistol grip: Magpul MOE K2    
• Charging Handle: Radian Raptor
• Handguard: Aluminum, 15”, M-LOK slots
• Receiver Finish: MIL-SPEC matte black type III hard coat anodized
• Safety selector: Ambidextrous
• Trigger: Single stage
• MSRP: $1,699