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Posted: 11/28/2004 4:32:56 AM EDT
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I haven't got my metal DPMS mags yet, so I really can't give you any further info...I can tell you what I'd do if I had it all to do over again though. The DPMS is a great platform, and is freakishly accurate. If you're looking for a benchrest/competition gun, it ROCKS! I plink in the backyard, and while it's cool to be able to put 10 shots into a 1/2" at 100 yds, that's not the type of shooting I do. I wound up selling the 24" upper, buying a 16" upper and setting it up like a large CQB rig....but it had enough reliability problems at the beginning (all worked out now, but trust is hard to regain) that I wouldn't grab it first if the need ever arises. I've heard a lot of good things about the Bushmaster, but you'll get into a lot of the same problems with these as you will with the DPMS...there just aren't a whole lot of sources out there for aftermarket goodies. If I had it all to do over again, I would probably just buy an AR10. DPMS is a great rifle, and now that I have the bugs worked out of mine, it runs great, it's accurate, and I'm slowly getting it to look like I think it should...but it hasn't been on the market long enough for the accessories guys to jump on the bandwagon. Just my unsolicited .02 Colt |
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The AR10 has had more FTF problems with so many differant people that it would not be my first or second choice in a .308 platform. I was looking for a really good shooter and the DPMS was the gun for that. cheaper then the others even when you bought metal mags form KA at 90 bucks a pop I haven't heard enough about the BM to pass judgement but the price kept me away |
Believe me...I'm NOT a guy to jump to Armalite's defense, and that was part of my reasoning when I bought the DPMS. Price was #1, apparant reliability was #2. What I found out was that every manufacturer puts out a lemon or 2. You don't usually hear about the good ones. My 24" DPMS was 100% right out of the box. My 16" was a whole 'nother story. It went back to the factory twice to make it run. When you consider that all the aftermarket stuff (mags and railed tubes) IF you can find them usually cost more than they do for the stuff made to fit Armalite. It boils down to this. I bought my DPMS for a little over $900. I paid $100 ea for 5 SR25 mags, and I had to search to find anyone who actually had them in stock. I have $1400 tied up in the rifle, not counting telestock, railed tube, ect., but those would be additional charges for the AR-10 also. I'll stick with $1400 for a comparison base. An AR-10 in the same configuration will run about $1400. 5 mags will cost me about $50 ea, so I'd be into the AR-10 for $1550. (Nope, my math works...AR-10 comes with one good mag. Can't say the same about DPMS--the plastic crap mags they shipped with my rifle should have embarrassed them) I spent $150 more on basically the same rifle, right? Wrong. The DPMS doesn't have a brass deflector. The DPMS isn't available with chrome lining. The DPMS uses a proprietary bolt nut, so I can't just pick up a YHM or KAC railed tube for it. (Until SWS came along with their tube, there weren't ANY railed tubes available for DPMS 308s.) The DPMS also doesn't come with a lifetime warranty. The AR-10 does, so if it doesn't run when you first buy it, send it back. If it EVER breaks, Armalite stands by their product, and it doesn't matter if you're the original owner or the 3rd. I bought my DPMS because it fit what I was looking for at the time, and I LOVE my DPMS, but now that I completely understand the differences; especially the ease of customizing each platform, I stand by my original statement...I would prefer an AR-10. |
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