Thinking about a DSA RPD? You might want to watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smngsYQWR1E

I took my RPD to the range today. Needless to say, I'm more than a little disappointed.

I'll be returning it to DSA to see if they can get things working. I'll keep you guys posted as to the outcome.

After watching you video I went to check on the bolt on my vector rpd and there is noway you could move my bolt with your finger.Once it is cocked it is locked into position and does not move, so I think you have found your problem,

Thanks for taking the time to post the video. I, too, am interested in one, so keep us posted as to the outcome.

Any update?

Not yet. I sent it in Tuesday of last week and it arrived Wednesday. I figure I'll give it two weeks before I start to get concerned. I'll give them a call next Wednesday to get a status update.

you should have had project guns build you a rpd.if you can get a refund and call stan or jorge.they have built hundreds of rpds and they are the best.

I spoke to the gunsmith this week at DSA and he said I would have my gun back early next week. He said that the problem was something simple and said he had only seen one other gun with the issue. They're checking it out and test firing it for me. I trust that DSA will make things good.

I'll have a new video up next weekend I hope.

when the bolt closes you have a wing on each side of the bolt that opens up into a recess on each side of the receiver.
I would guess you have a weeak spring or you have too tight of tollereance for the locks.

I received my rifle back from DSA yesterday.

It looks outstanding. The issue I found in my video was the problem, the bolt wasn't going closed all the way. It seems the recoil spring tube was slightly bent (could have happened in the demilling process) and that was preventing the spring from applying full pressure to the bolt/carrier.

I'll shoot it this Sunday and post my results. But the rifle is beautiful and I'm sure it will shoot as good at it looks now. The guys at DSA were outstanding to work with and they even threw in a free DSA t-shirt for my troubles. If it works like I expect it to, I'll be quite pleased with the whole experience.

I'll post more later.

Have you had a chance to fire the rifle again? Really curious as I am considering purchasing one myself. I don't want to spend 2 grand on a rifle that won't shoot.

So you got an update?

Makes you wonder about QA of companies that send out non-working guns..

looks like this is part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0EguAyquvI damned shame.

not good for DSA, would think that they could do MUCH better than that. hope he sent copies of the vido. wonder how many more are going back to then from others?

He has an update on that vid. Apparently soft metal in the firing pin. They appear to be taking care of it with a tool steel for the pin.

Hey guys,

So I sent the rifle in twice and both times it came back with soft primer strike issues. The first time it was the firing pin being too soft. The second time it appears that the bolt not going completely closed during cycling was causing continued soft strikes, albeit much less frequently... About 3-4 soft strikes per 100 rounds.

DSA has agreed to swap the rifle with a new one. I'll have it next week so we will see if my gun was just a bad example.

I'll keep you posted.

Good luck...

so how many different Semi types are there? i know vector made one, now DSA... but who's doing the semi receiver is that wiselite in all cases?

So, several weeks later, did you get a new replacement gun and how does it shoot?

I'm getting a new rifle. They sent two out for pictures which they say are the most beautiful rifles they had in stock (wood, finish, etc.). They asked if I wanted one of the two picture guns and I said yes. So once they get them back from the photoshoot I'll have one sent to me.

I will update this thread when I get the replacement.

You're having to go thru a lot of crap over a $2,000+ gun. I'm glad DSA is working with you on this. But then they do have an excellant reputation for customer service.
I have one with a Wiselite receiver. I've only put one 100 round belt thru it, but had no problems with it. You talking about a soft firing pin issue makes me think that I need to wade thru the snow to put several more rounds thru it to see if any problems show theirself.
Good luck with your RPD.

I have a Wiselite built RPD also. It has quite a few rounds through it, and it runs like a watch. DSA should be able to match them I would think.

I should have the new rifle here this week. I'll get a review up with all of the details by this weekend, at least that's the plan as of right now.

I hope all goes well with the new rifle, and can't wait for some good videos.

I'm not trying to be a butt head but Please waight a short time befor you yank out the miss fires Please ! It might be a cook off!



O !! PS Good luck with your gun !!!

Any update?

doesn't work? did not test?

This was his reply on another site.


I waited over a month for a replacement rifle that was promised to be a unique rifle. They sent two rifles out for pictures, which I was told were exceptional. For my troubles of sending my gun back to them 3 times for various problems, they said I could have one of these rifles when they came back from having pictures taken. I expected a rifle that looked showroom new and had beautiful wood.

So when I got the call that it finally had arrived, I raced up to the gun store to see this one of a kind rifle.

When I opened the case, the first thing I saw was this front handguard.

The handguard was damaged!

It looked far worse than the rifle I had replaced. Perhaps I was being nit-picky but that just wasn't what I expected. After a month of patiently waiting for my one of a kind, absolutely beautiful RPD... I was let down.

I also noticed the rifle had the old striker which I already knew was problematic and had been redesigned. I knew that a few hundred rounds down the road I would be boxing it up again to send it off for the upgraded tool steel striker and firing pin.

So, I gave up. I never fired the gun and it may have ran like a top... I don't know. Matt (the gunsmith) did fire 200 rounds through it and said it ran fine, but the previous rifle had worked well for him on the test fires too... and after I put a couple hundred rounds down range I started having problems. I'm just not confident in the semi-auto conversion design and don't trust that it will be a long term shooter. My gut tells me it will be nothing but trouble going forward.

We have addressed all the early issues and advanced the RPD semi auto design to where it is now equal to the originals RPDs reliability, watch this video below.

DSArms

DSA Semi Auto RPD

They should just give you the rifle,and refund the cost of the rifle after all that trouble.
Doesn't sound like good customer service to me.
A free tshirt?

very interesting, thank you for taking the time and doing that.

That's great, if that is the case for all new guns, but I don't see why DSArms did not test the initial design so it would be 100% functional. Releasing flawed designs that works sometimes in some rifles does not strike me as a good idea. QA/reliability testing on new guns obviously was not done, such as putting a 50 round belt of ammo through each gun. Is it too much to ask in a 2K gun?

Look at semi PKMs, when they were released, they worked flawlessly from day 1, no recalls, no redesigns.

They acknowledged the problem and addressed it by fixing it. What more do you want?

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