AR Sponsor
Posted: 1/12/2007 2:21:03 PM EDT
| Give me the Good the bad the Ugly. |
|
I believe they had some issues with inconsistent quality control some years ago (what long-term AR manufacturer hasn't?). My impression is that they make a very good product these days. I have a DPMS lower, and I have used their parts in multiple AR builds, and have had zero problems. The lower and parts is as nice as the Bushmaster/Armalite/RRA/etc stuff that I have. Plus, the company goes out of its way to hire vets, so that another plus. |
| I have a DPMS M-4 style upper receiver, and it shoots great!!It came with a chrome-lined barrel, and cleaning it is extrteamely easy. Never had a FTF, and I can't complain. Plus, if your are military or LE, you get a 10% discount on their products. The only thing that I hated was the wait; it took them 6 weeks to get the upper, but I can't complain now. |
|
I have a 20" A2 model. It's nice. It has a 1:8 rifling twist (special order) and is chrome lined and chambered in 5.56x45mm, rather than .223. It's a bit looser than target rifles, but it also hasn't malfed once. They now use forged receivers rather than the cast ones they used to, and their website says all their "military" models are chrome lined and chambered for 5.56. I will say the finish is a little blotchy here and there, but it's worth the $250 I saved over another brand. |
+1. They hire vets, + they make a .308 cal LR rifle that won American Rifleman rifle of the year in 2005. Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services has been in business for 20+ years. Definitely a company to keep your eye on. They're doing something right, it seems. If you're new to the "black rifle disease," might as well buy one at the lowest price that still has a well-known name with a good reputation. Or for that matter if you're a competition shooter, buy one with a name that won rifle of the year.... my 2cents |
+What he said^ |
| I went with D.P.M.S. and this is what I got!http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m38/nintylx/DPMSnew.jpg |
| I "had" a DPMS a while back and got rid of the POS. It was one of the ones that did not have a chrome lined chamber. One day after shooting some suppossedly non-corrosive SA ammo my barrel started growing moss after a couple days. I'm not too anal about cleaning guns but this thing really shocked me. I gave it a good cleaning to get all of the rust shit out and imediately sold the damn thing and bought a Bushmaster M4. No problems with the Bushy, chrome lined chamber and it's tough as nails. I will never buy another DPMS. |
|
I like mine so far. Just picked it up back in December. Havent had a chance to shoot it yet though... The VFG that your asking about is a UTG brand UTG Grip Cant really go wrong for $12. 
|
So you shoot some possibly corrosive ammo in a non-chromed bore and get pissed that it rusted, and blame the rifle? Good logic there.  |
Wobble? How does it attach and stay put? Nathan |
Can't speak to their fully built rifles; but they STILL have problems w/their parts/subassembly quality control. I'll buy their springs, pins, etc at a show where I can examine the product first hand, but would never mail order any DPMS product. Some of their stuff is fine, but too much of it is garbage for me to buy it sight unseen. And what manufacturer hasn't had quality problems? Ummm--how about Colt? True; some Colt rifles have had less than perfect finishing, but the things work right out of the box. |
|
Two fo my ARs are fully built DPMS carbines. Both have been shot extensively and I have not had any problems. The newer of the two rifles has 9,000 rounds through it and I have only replaced gas rings, the firing pin retining pin and recently replaced the extractor spring. Both carbines function perfectly. I don't know what to expect from other ARs, but I am happy with their performance so far. |
All of the DPMS parts I've used have been mail-ordered, and they've worked perfectly - I've assembled at least three lowers with DPMS parts so far. Either I was lucky or you were unlucky, I guess.  Thanks for the info - I'm definitely going to look closer at small parts in the future and inspect them a little more closely before using them.
There definitely are some people on this board that clearly associate finish with "quality", and so the worsening finish reported on Colt rifles over the past year would definitely be seen as a drop in quality by some (even if not by you and me). I guess it almost becomes semantic at some point, and people may quibble over the meaning of the word "quality" However, I've personally seen brand-new Colt ARs that didn't "work right out of the box" and had to be sent back to Colt before they could fire two shots without jamming. And, the least reliable firearm that I own by far (and I own many) is a Colt 1991A1. If I make it through one 7-round mag without a failure, I am surprised. I know you're talking about the Colt ARs, but if we're talking about the "quality" of Colt firearms in general, then I am not any more impressed with them than any other manufacturer. But basically, I agree with you - Colt does have outstanding quality. |
So you buy a non-chrome lined rifle (even though chrome is an option), shoot corrosive ammo thru it (even though the owners manual says not to), don't bother to clean it until it starts growing shit and this is somehow DPMS's fault? NintyLx, take note. The majority of folks who complain or talk trash about DPMS haven't owned one, owned one and failed to maintain it properly, or they've bought unknown ziplock bagged parts at a gunshow labled as DPMS and had problems. I'm not saying DPMS hasn't made their share of defective products, but I've never seen any in person. Mine has been great and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. 
|
|
Why spend money on guns/parts which have a higher failure (according to trainers like Pat Rogers, Randy Cain, James Yeager who see more rds. go downrange in a month than we do in a liftetime) rate when you can get Stag Arms for the same money? Its a no brainer for me. |
|
I love DPMS. I have built a lot of DPMS M4s and they all are awsome. Total tackdrivers http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j236/sksforever/AR15Shop024.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j236/sksforever/AR15Shop017.jpg |
|
I don't know exactly how help this will be but... my hunting buddy bought the DPMS AR in .308 and he loves the darn thing. He has shot many different brands of ammo with no FTF/FTE, etc. His only complaint is that the .308 mags are kind of pricey. I think we could be getting H&K mags for about the same price as the .308 mags. I went to buy a DPMS in .223 but at the gun shop I compared the DPMS to the RRA and liked the RRA better. So.... |
| I've bought 2 dpms lowers and their just as good as my stag lower (which has a issue with a cmmg upper being too tight, I had to take a dremel and remove some metal from the front pivot pin area to make it work)to tell the truth I have bare metal on my stag lower to mate to my cmmg upper and I have 2 dpms lowers that mate without any problems to my 2 retro uppers, with the finish being just as good as stag,IMO dpms lowers are awesome! |
|
just picked one up today, stripped DPMS lower that is, I own an Eagle Arms lower and have handled many BM rifles. The lower uses the same anodizing, metal and stuff as most other AR makers, the price is right, and im building the rifle myself. So I guess it depends whether you are planning on a build or complete rifle. If its a build, go ahead, if a rifle, Id go w an Armalite, BM, or Colt. |
|
Own a DPMS Low Pro one of the cheapest ARs made, it is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned. I added an Accurcy Speaks trigger that I won at the DPMS 3 gun match last year and it is increadable. Just installed a Briley carbon fibre FF tube on her and have yet to shoot her after the install. Looks really good with rifle length FF tube on big fat barrel. Steve |
| I have to stand up for what I believe in, DPMS rocks. They blow Stag and RRA out of the water and if you don'tlike it go take it up with the crazy Nam vets who put them together. The DPMS is next door the Nam VA hospital and they put those boys to work. You want those commies dead right, just keep putting together those rifles or we kill your families!! No that is Russia |
Is it Wednesday already?  I have several DPMS products (complete rifles, uppers, lowers, parts) and have had even more trough my hands over the years with no complaints (except for one with FTF issues right out of the box new that went away with a little break-in), BUT there are those here who have had legitimate problems with them at various times who are very vocal and (IMO) even more naysayers here who've never even held one. I like them a lot for build platforms and I am quite partial to their heavy-barreled varminters, but they would not be (and indeed are not) my first choice for a HD AR (not saying I wouldn't use one if it came to that, just that they aren't my first choice for that application). |
|
I will not use their LPKs- they suck ass. Got 1 LPK, look like the parts were from Vulcan- flashing and generally poor quality. Got a 2nd one, this time in a DPMS plastic packet- I thought I would try them again, fiqured I got screwed on the last LPK- same shit, different box. M16 hammer for my DIAS- thought the M16 Parts would be good. Nope the hammer milled incorrectly and will not work. I will only buy colt and/or stag for LPK from now on. DPMS= ass parts kit. Maybe the rest of the stuff is good, but I won't find out. |
|
This Christmas Santa brought me a DPMS. It's my first AR-15...and I love the way it shoots!!! http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a42/PaperPatch/DPMS.jpg |
AR Sponsor