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Posted: 9/12/2007 10:19:41 AM EDT
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I have had the itch for a new rifle lately. I want a semi-auto .308 so in looking around I found a new DPMS AP4 with the rear sight for $1150.00 out the door. I also found a Polytech M14S for $825.00 out the door in very nice condition. Which would you choose and why? Both ain't gonna happen. |
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Shadrach, I have had an M1a (M14), but it was not a polytech it was a Springfield Armory rifle. I now own a DPMS AP4, also at one time had an LR308 and sold it during a weak moment. From what I have heard the poly's are pretty good but some have some issues with them. My self I prefer the AR style platform over the M1A (M14) platform. The AP4 is: Quicker Handling More accurate out of the box my personal experience is 1 moa with my match ammo and 1.5-2" with Surplus The AP4 is easier and cheaper to scope or hang any sort of optics on. There are more accessories available for the AP4 (if you are into that) It is more compact with the collapsable stock If you are familar with the AR platform you can field stip and repair the AP4, there will be a bit of learning curve with the M1a (M14) Now I am making some assumptions here and that is that the poly is probably a basic M1A (M14) and not been tricked out to national match level. Also that you like the AR platform to begin with, some folks just cannot stand them. Some of the AP4's are a bit finicky with ammo, although mine has not been, and the Poly would probably digest anything you feed it due to them taking a little more liberty in the M1A (M14) design with chamber tolerances. If I was in your position, knowing what I know today I would once again grab the AP4 without question. Just one old guys opinion  DonT |
| If the Poly doesn't have a G.I. bolt yet,you will need one sooner or later. The chinese bolts are soft and you will end up with excessive headspage from this problem. Mine went south after about 400 rds and I replaced it with a G.I. bolt (had to be fitted). Now I also have an AP4 LR and love it,it is more accurate with all types of ammo ( my Poly will shoot 1" groups but it is finicky,my DPMS shoots darn near everything 1" or better,especially match ammo). so if you think you will be saving a lot of $$ on the polytech,you will come out about the same price range ( M 14 parts have gotten expensive and the gunsmithing for the bolt). The one problem I did have with my DPMS was an occasional FTE, which was remedied by a extractor spring upgrade (about $2.00) from Bravo Company. I think you would be happier with the DPMS! |
DPMS by a landslide. Why on earth would you want to buy a US military type gun that is made in China? The Chinese have no business making guns or anything for that matter because they don't believe in QC. |
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We agree that the AR is the better platform, naturally. But oddly enough, the Polytech rifles are sorta interesting. We agree you'll be happier with a GI bolt and some other GI parts like sights and stainless gas system. But oddly enough, they're a far better rifle than often made out to be. Barrels are quite nice, and chromed. Receivers are machined from a forging years before such things were available in the US. Hardness of the receiver is correct. Mags were good. Extractors were machined instead of cast. Op rods were machined. Quality was better, part for part, than many of the non-GI parts put onto the market in the US. Boy, does that hurt. When they came into the country for under $300 retail and with GI parts available to trade out, they were especially interesting. Here's a bit of history from a Polytech official: Those rifles were first made off the Taiwanese pattern during the bad old days. They were evidently intended for use by SF guys, and were sold to "revolutionary groups". When peace and brotherhood broke out they were torn down and the parts were installed on new semiauto receivers. Bottom line is that it's wise to look into headspace, but they're more capable than some of the adverse PR would have you believe. Early specimens were really shoddy looking, but they kept getting better looking until Clinton halted all importations on human rights grounds (evidentally except for pre-1898 designs.) So they're interesting from a historic standpoint, but still nowhere as good as an ArmaLite. |
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