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Posted: 1/19/2007 10:29:57 PM EDT
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I am thinking about getting a second AR15, this time a 20" version. I have a 16" Bushmaster and I've had great luck with it. However, I have considered DPMS because they seem to be a little less spendy. How do the two compare against one another for quality? How much should I be able to get a DPMS 20" Panther for (std A2 military configuration)? Thanks! |
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Bushmaster is a good name and DPMS is cheaper. I like Panther Arms so I went that route. i.e. cheaper. I built my DPMS right before Christmas. I will only shoot iron sights and probably never use a scope so I went with a fixed carry handle and the longer barrel. Overall it was a pretty basic rifle. The next one will be fancier with shorter barrel, picatinny hand guard, etc... It had 20" barrel with long hand guard fixed carry handle 4 position collapsible butt stock I brought the lower in through a local dealer. $105 delivered. $30 for transfer and background check The rest was a rifle kit from Coleman Tyler. Grand total! $650.00 There were the standard issues with the roll pins, but the machining quality of all the internal parts was very good looking. I'd go the DPMS route again. |
| I've had both guns. Personally I think the DPMS receivers are better than bushmaster. Bushmaster QC is lacking sometimes. I have a Bushmaster front sight that looks like it was machined off center so that one side is thicker than the other. Bushmaster barrels are hard to beat. |
I've had two DPMS lowers. The first had the cut for the front takedown pin cut off center and the finish was mottled. The second, while dimensionally accurate, had front and rear walls the looked like they'd been (non)trimmed by a drunken monkey. Only bought the thing because I was planning to reshape it to early M16 configuration, and just went ahead and smoothed out the horrible looking areas as I trimmed the A2 type areas. Maybe you got a decent looking piece, but I'll never buy a DPMS lower again. |
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My opinion is that there is no appreciable difference in inherent quality between these two brands. Find one you like, with the features you want, at the lowest price you can find. Both companies are capable of putting out a very high quality product, and both have had their share of really unbelievable duds. Brewer |
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I have one bushmaster factory assembled complete rifle, and three DPMS lowers. The trigger is better in the bushy, but as far as the stripped lowers, they are both perfect as far as I am concerned. The bushy has the plastic trigger guard, but I see no advantage to either. I have two lowers with DPMS parts kits, and the triggers are gritty as hell, but a dab of disc brake bearing grease, and dry firing a lot and adding another dab has made them equivalent to the bushy. I haven't had to add any grease since after the second time. Personally I would not hesitate to use anything from either manufacturer. The bushmaster costs at least $200 more, but much like a colt will always probably be worth that much more should you wish to sell it. I would love to have another bushmaster or colt, but for the money I have been buying DPMS parts and have been perfectly satisfied. |
theBUBBAMANcan, I'm fairly new to ARFCOM but I've already learned that you can't ask a 'comparative' question like this here. You'll pull in the haters from both sides of the fence. After everyone has finished bashing each other for their opinions and preferences, you'll be even more confused than you were before you asked the question. |
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I had two DPMSs and a Bushmaster as well as my current RRA. I admittedly had an older DPMS with a cast reciever, and a newer one (made in 1999). I feel as though the finish on the Bushmaster was much much better than the older DPMS, but the more recent one was about equal. I personally felt that the surface toughness on the upper reciever and the barrel steel were noticably softer on both the DPMS rifles than the Bushmaster. Chrome lining makes it easier to clean and theoretically more reliable, but I had no reliability problems with any of them. The DPMS did fail to extract twice in the first 20 rounds, but never had a problem after. I do personally feel as though the DPMS is of slightly lower quality than either RRA or Bushmaster. This may not be the rule, but I achieved far better accuracy with the Bushmaster, and am yet to shoot the RRA. In any case, buy one, and don't look back or you will second guess yourself until you buy the other, and so begins the disease. Good luck, Joe. |
 Am I the first to say, "GET BOTH!!" j/k I have a Bushmaster M4 that's been dropped on concrete, dragged thru mud and sand and knocked off the tailgate by the damn-cat, but has always served me faithfully. I can't tell about the others, don't hate them or love them, but the Bushmaster has lived up to its reputation. And it smells good. Like some kind of burning wood.  What is that? Oh wait, I see you already have one of em... heh, got carried away. |
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My DPMS has been great! Never once failed me in anyway, but I think that goes for any quality rifle that you take care of and feed decent ammo and use good mags. It was really a plain Jain at first, but I did some mods to make in unique. I stole the idea of coloring in the logo with white I saw here on the forum. Don't be mad guy who came up with that original idea. hy.gif Note the new Pardus stock!he http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j236/sksforever/AR15Shop024.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j236/sksforever/AR15Shop030.jpg |
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