Posted: 8/19/2011 4:43:31 PM EDT
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does DPMS have a bad name?
do their LPKs have a bad name? just saw where a guy on outdoorstrader is looking for anything but a DPMS LPK i would ask him, but i am not registered |
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Several years ago I picked up about a dozen DPMS LPK's from one of my suppliers. Every kit had at least one or two out of spec part. I had to replace 8 out of the 12 bolt catches. they wouldn't fit into any receiver I had.
I can't say what they are like now. I have not used them since then. |
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They (DPMS) have a reputation of not being "top tier" parts. I've used some of their parts without issues and I think they've gotten better in recent years. I can tell you first hand their parts like barrel extensions are not anywhere near the quality of something like a BAT Machine.
I think some people really blow out of proportion the potential issues with the LPK stuff though. I see a lot of guys post stuff like the guy you saw without even really having a clue WHY they are posting it other than they read it on the internet. 
Mark |
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Quoted:
Several years ago I picked up about a dozen DPMS LPK's from one of my suppliers. Every kit had at least one or two out of spec part. I had to replace 8 out of the 12 bolt catches. they wouldn't fit into any receiver I had. I can't say what they are like now. I have not used them since then. Yep. I agree with Chris. That is EXACTLY the kind of problem you can find with some DPMS stuff. Again, the more recent stuff doesn't seem to be much of an issue. People quickly forget the purple Bushmasters, the RRA "new mil-spec Piccatiny" uppers , the terrible concentric thread issues of LMT barrels and other small bumps in the quality road most companies experience at some point. But the "DPMS sucks" label seems to have stuck with their LPK.
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| Personally, and I've only handled a few dpms lpk, and dpms rifles, but the parts kits all worked...just gritty triggers, tighter than normal split pins, ect., and the rifles worked. At one point in time they had a less than par quality control. My money goes elsewhere, you get what you pay for and I'd rather have higher quality parts. |
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Bought a DPMS 24" .308 fairly recently. Ive only put 80 rounds thru it so far - so far so good - but only time will tell.
Im using it for the Basic Precision rifle class on Sunday, Shep says he's never had one in his class before... probably a reason for that, but I'll see what I can (and/or cant) do with it. 
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| I've got a DPMS Oracle that I've had about two years now with about 2k rounds through it. Other than having to keep it really wet with lube the first 500 or so rounds I've never had a problem with it. I ran it in a carbine class with Erik and Tod with zero issues and plan to run it in another class of theirs next month as well. I'm not worried. HTH |
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i personally think for range guns DPMS works great, i have seen many over the years shoot without issues.
on the LPK issue, the LPK's are garbage, at least the ones i've seen, missing parts out of the kit, which in all fairness DPMS made right and shipped free. the triggers are horrible, the roll pins suck, good luck getting a bolt catch that fits. to me, there are much better quality kits for a little more cash. J&T has had very good kits over the years, Stag/CMT has always been very good and Daniel Defense makes a very nice LPK. other than LPK's, i think DPMS gets hammered because of the internet and 3rd hand info, YMMV |
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wow, didn't know they were that bad! I will say I have used 2 LPKs and not had any problems. these were both very resent LPKs. their triggers were on par with other stocks triggers I have felt (which are not nearly as many as the others who have posted in this thread)
maybe I just got lucky or their newer stuff is just getting better? who knows. YMMV |
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Quoted:
wow, didn't know they were that bad! I will say I have used 2 LPKs and not had any problems. these were both very resent LPKs. their triggers were on par with other stocks triggers I have felt (which are not nearly as many as the others who have posted in this thread) maybe I just got lucky or their newer stuff is just getting better? who knows. YMMV I've had very good luck with the DPMS lpk's. A RRA lpk I used once had a horrible trigger though. |
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Quoted: Palmetto State Armory FTW in regards to LPKs.... Used 3 so far... no issues WHATSOEVER.... and... the price is very reasonable....  I just finished build #2. I'll get back to this shortly. My first AR-15 was a DPMS that I bought about a year ago. I only used it for the range, but I never had any issues out of it at all. My first build was around last Christmas and I used a DPMS LPK. I had a hell of a time with the roll pins (didn't have any point of reference, I just know I made an idiot mark or two getting them in) and the hammer was missing from the kit. Once that issue was taken care off, the LPK was fine. I have since spoiled myself with Geiselle triggers. I put an SSA-E in my first build. For my 2nd build, I just wanted the cheapest LPK I could find because I was going to (and did) put in a SD3G trigger. I bought the PSA LPK without the FCG and everything went in much easier than the DPMS LPK. I figured that the LPK is really only used to hold parts in place and I couldn't be happier with a $29.99 LPK. |
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I have a factory-built DPMS rifle, and I've built a few lowers with their LPKs and I haven't had a single problem. As a matter of fact, out of the LPKs that I've used (J&T, RRA, DPMS, and Bushmaster), the DPMS fall right in the middle of the pack with the RRA having the worst trigger and oversized roll pins and the Bushmater having the smoothest trigger and decent pins, but weak springs. I have a spare DPMS LPK sitting in my parts box and wouldn't hesitate to buy another one when/if I needed one.
One thing I have notived about DPMS LPKs, though, is that the finish can vary from one batch to the next. Also, the finish on the parts from the big blister packs doesn't match the ones from the bagged parts kits. The blister pack parts I've used have all been black (like RRA kits) while the bagged stuff has had a grey/green finish. I bought most of my parts direct from DPMS, so I know their not sandwich bagged gun-show specials with DPMS labels. |
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Quoted:
I have a factory-built DPMS rifle, and I've built a few lowers with their LPKs and I haven't had a single problem. As a matter of fact, out of the LPKs that I've used (J&T, RRA, DPMS, and Bushmaster), the DPMS fall right in the middle of the pack with the RRA having the worst trigger and oversized roll pins and the Bushmater having the smoothest trigger and decent pins, but weak springs. I have a spare DPMS LPK sitting in my parts box and wouldn't hesitate to buy another one when/if I needed one.. i've seen one Rock River trigger that was absolutely terrible, luckily i had ordered a Rock River 2 stage with the LPK. as much as i liked Anvil Arms, they had the worst LPK i've ever used, hands down, other than a Spikes LPK(BGCoop can vouche for that LPK). i was down right embarassed with the rifle when finished. that's the way i found the Rock River trigger being a POS, i actually took out a Stag/CMT trigger out of one on my rifles and installed it in the said rifle. to fair to DPMS, lots of guys here on ARFCOM go on and on, about how good the LPK's are, i honestly wish i had you guys kind of luck, i guess i just don't  i've just gotten to the place i use what's been a proven performer, time after time. i do think J&T is the best keep secret in the industry, they through in extra detents and springs, have spirial coiled roll pins, small parts that fit, and so far have had very nice crisp triggers and no polishing has needed to be done. i'm sure Chris from Semper Fi can way in on this, he has seen many more than i have. the DPMS question will be debated on ARFCOM from here to eternity, they always have a 50/50 love, hate following. like i said before i've seen DPMS rifles work fine at the range and as truck guns. to me they are a very good option as a starter rifle for the black rifle fan.
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