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Posted: 11/8/2016 1:10:13 PM EDT
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Hello Everyone,
I inherited what looks to be an early model DPMS A-15 with a 20" barrel with serial # 1170. I can't really find much info on the rifle but what I do know is the receiver is cast aluminum and is too early of a model for DPMS to date for me. I emailed them asking for some help and they sent a one line email basically saying "kick rocks"! 
Anyways I was hoping someone could shed some light on this rifle and tell me more about it. Does it look original? Does it look to be in good shape (I think it looks as close to unfired as you can get)? What is something like this worth? Can I fire this? Should I be cautious of the Cast Aluminum Receiver? And any other info you can think of. I had this posted in the DPMS section but haven't had much luck there. Maybe this is the more appropriate section for an older gun. Thanks, http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah301/Docmaster14/Safe/image.jpg1_zpsd1r6mofk.jpg?t=1478539656 http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah301/Docmaster14/Safe/image.jpg14_zpskvovzopl.jpg?t=1478539742 http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah301/Docmaster14/Safe/image.jpg13_zpsvtn90wst.jpg?t=1478539742 http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah301/Docmaster14/Safe/image.jpg7_zpsegamhuus.jpg?t=1478539742 http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah301/Docmaster14/Safe/image.jpg6_zpshqyeijy8.jpg?t=1478539815 http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah301/Docmaster14/Safe/image.jpg11_zpstt5dwo4r.jpg?t=1478539741 |
| I would guess that is a home built rifle due to the color differences in the upper/lower. I have never seen a dpms lower that old. If you can determine if it was made before 1994, the lower would have good value as a pre-ban lower. But if dpms can't help you with that, I wouldn't know where to look next for that info. As far as being safe to shoot, just give it a once over for obvious fatigue signs like cracks, bulges, etc. That is an A2 variant, so maybe post this in the A2 section for those guys to check out, you might get lucky. Good luck with it. |
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You have an early preban DPMS
Serial below 10300 - Pre-Ban That lower may look like an essential arms cast lower b/c Essential Arms sold their tooling to DPMS who used it for a few years until they starting doing the standard forged lower. You can find cast lowers that are postban as well. |
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Quoted:
Hello Everyone, I inherited what looks to be an early model DPMS A-15 with a 20" barrel with serial # 1170. I can't really find much info on the rifle but what I do know is the receiver is cast aluminum and is too early of a model for DPMS to date for me. I emailed them asking for some help and they sent a one line email basically saying "kick rocks"!
Anyways I was hoping someone could shed some light on this rifle and tell me more about it. Does it look original? Does it look to be in good shape (I think it looks as close to unfired as you can get)? What is something like this worth? Can I fire this? Should I be cautious of the Cast Aluminum Receiver? And any other info you can think of. I had this posted in the DPMS section but haven't had much luck there. Maybe this is the more appropriate section for an older gun. Thanks, 
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Op post it on here for reference.cool rifle.
https://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_123/674981_.html |
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Hello Magalops, thanks for the reply.
I thought it was a home build too at first.... but I was actually able to track down another one of these same rifles for sale on Armslist.com and then I reached out to the guy selling it and apparently he was having the same problems I was. There is not much info out there...But his rifle was ser # 47XX (mine is 1170)..... His rifle also looked "two tone" as well. But in other pictures my rifle doesn't look "green" like it does in the above pictures. It seems like if the flash is on it makes the upper look different. I also was able to find (after I posted here) a guy selling the same A-15 lower only with all the internals (no stock) with ser # 8,890 on Gunbroker.com with a current bid of $985.00. I am going to keep my eye on it and see what happens. Other than that I cant find anyone or any other info on this rifle. When I emailed DPMS they said any gun made before Remington bought them has no record and therefore they cannot "date" my gun. So DPMS is no help! Any ways thanks for the help! I am also going to post in the A2 Section. |
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Let me synthesize some of the info for you. That is very safely assumed to be a pre-94 lower. It was VERY likely a kit build. Given the era, look for evidence of being a surplus M16 upper. Yes, sometimes the color tint was whacky on replacement uppers. The cast lowers are "less desirable" but because it is pre-94, it's still worth a lot to some states. You are easily looking at $1200 for the gun, possibly up to $1400 depending on wind direction. Now, I know that doesn't seem like a hit-the-lotto moment, but considering that is TWICE what a budget AR costs right now, I'd say you're doing fine. It is safe to fire. People have been beating those up for twenty years. The only major concerns are egging out of the trigger/hammer holes (you won't do that), egging out of the buffer retaining spring hole, and dropping the lower so hard it cracks (rare, but has happened to cast lowers). Personally, I'd toss it in the EE for $1400, lower the price $100 per week that it doesn't sell. If it has a Colt surplus barrel, start it at $1500. Use the money to build a pimp-ass rifle. If you're sitting on $1200-1500, you're looking at a brand new Colt with optics. Again, the value is in the lower, and only to people in MA and CT. The rest is 1990s mystery parts. Also, put a photo in your ad with a handwritten note next to the gun that says something like "Arfcom, posted 11/16" You don't have any feedback and you're a new account. People will think you could be a scammer that stole photos. |
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