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Posted: 7/28/2004 3:42:40 PM EDT
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Are DPMS lower receivers as good as Bushmaster? Are they forged or cast? Do they have sear block? Thanks. |
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They make both forged and cast. Since the forged are only about $5 more, get the forged. If you're just considering a stripped lower, they're as utilitarian as the Bushnaster, and a lot less money. If you're considering a complete rifle or built up lower, I wouldn't buy one that I hadn't checked over very carefully first---and I DO mean carefully. I bought a complete lower of theirs last year, and when I unpacked it, found it had a gouge in the side of the butt stock, a bolt release that was totally out of spec and gouged the side of the upper I mounted before I realized how off spec it was, and a mag release button that, while functional, was so ugly I couldn't stand to look at it, so replaced it. DPMS gets their internal parts from different subcontracters. Some are good, and apparently some aren't so good. 
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| I am planning a buy of 5 stripped lowers come Sept and DPMS look like they can be had for $100 each. So would you say as a stripped lower they are OK? I have previously built a RRA and a Bushy, only prob with the RRA was the take down detent hole was not milled out all the way but that was an easy fix. |
| I had good luck with the stripped, forged DPMS lower that I assembled. The finish is a little lighter than my Bushy upper, but I think it looks kinda cool. I stay away from the DPMS upper parts. Make your upper eith a Busy, Colt, or LMT. Chrome lining all the way. Well, maybe not for some Colts. |
Stag is a good choice, they are manufactured by Continental Machine out of CT. From what I have been told by numerous sources, Continental makes the receivers for RRA and Bushy as well. I have built 5 AR's using Stag lowers and not a single problem yet. 
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I call B.S. I picked up a DPMS upper for my DPMS pre 94 project and put the two together with great results.  My lower is even cast.I have over 3,000 through it usually in large spurts with not one malfunction. I liked it so much I had the carrier group hard chromed, I wouldn't want it to wear out. Either I am lucky or the product performs. I don't understand it, but I refuse to question it. |
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My only experience with DPMS is the .308 I have...it's a fine rifle, equal in fit and finish to anything I've seen. I also got a DPMS AR15 upper, and it was flawless. I think their teflon coating looks really nice, personally. The rifles I've seen at shows all looked well made. I've heard many positive comments about DPMS rifles from folks who have them...and a few disparaging ones from folks who don't mention whether they've ever owned one or not. |
Referring to toons like this guy.
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I wouldn't hesitate to buy a forged DPMS stripped lower if the price was right. That being said I generally stick to RRA or Colt for my builds. My prior experience with a DPMS factory rifles was less than stellar. I had extraction issues until I stopped using milspec 5.56 in favor of 223. I also had a couple of bolts fracture at the cam pin hole, but that was a few years ago. I'd like to think that DPMS has sorted those problems out by now. People either love em or hate em-your mileage, of course, may vary. Here is a frank and open discussion of the pros and cons of various mainstream AR brands: AR15 Deficiencies |
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