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Posted: 11/1/2008 3:59:19 PM EDT
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Hey guys,
What is the overall reputation of DPMS? I'm specifically interested in the LR-308 SP4. I read on DPMS website that the upper and lower are made of aluminum. This is obviously good for weight reduction but does that significantly reduce the strength of the action? I hear they have relatively good accuracy so I'm all set with that one. Just trying to figure out if they make a quality product relative to other manufacturers. Also one last thing I hear that the AR platform isn't well suited for the .308. I sort of disagree with that. Any idea why I might have heard that? Don't really know much about AR-10's so any info you can provide would greatly assist me. Thanks Tom |
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Quoted:
Hey guys, What is the overall reputation of DPMS? I'm specifically interested in the LR-308 SP4. I read on DPMS website that the upper and lower are made of aluminum. This is obviously good for weight reduction but does that significantly reduce the strength of the action? I hear they have relatively good accuracy so I'm all set with that one. Just trying to figure out if they make a quality product relative to other manufacturers. Also one last thing I hear that the AR platform isn't well suited for the .308. I sort of disagree with that. Any idea why I might have heard that? Don't really know much about AR-10's so any info you can provide would greatly assist me. Thanks Tom Can't answer 'em all, but I can do a few: Aluminum is no problem. The AR bolt locks into the barrel extension, so all of the pressure of firing is contained within the barrel/bolt. All the receiver does is provide a "frame" to hang all of the parts off of. This is in contrast to rifles such as the M1 Garand/M14, or especially the FAL. In the FAL, the bolt locks to the locking shoulder about 1/2 way down the receiver. A company called Williams tried building FAL receivers out of aluminum, and some of the KABOOMED. Not a problem with the AR. As far as the AR platform not being suitable for .308, the "original" Stoner military rifle was the AR10, and it was chambered for 7.62 NATO. These saw use in some African countries, in Portugal, I believe, and with the IRA in Ireland. The AR15/M16 is mainly just a "downsized" AR10. As far as where you heard that the AR is unsuited for .308 - you probably heard it in a gunshop. 99% of what you hear in a gunshop is pontification from mall-ninja internet commandos, or from a salesman trying to sell you something that they have in stock instead of what you came in looking for. |
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To answer the reputation question, DPMS had rep problems a few years ago. They ran into quality control problems. I've heard of problems with gas keys not being staked and other quality control issues. They are also one of the least expensive of the black gun makers. (Not the least expensive) so there is an element of you get what you paid for. I have 3 DPMS ARs. 2 M4's and the .308 SASS. I also have 2 stripped lowers I haven’t built yet. I can say that I have shot the shit out of one of my M4's. I have taken it to 4 day courses and shoot at least 300-600 rounds per week. I run it so wet my glasses get splattered and I have never had a failure of parts. I also reload and have worked up some beefy max rounds and it just keeps on eating. When I have gone to courses and classes I have seen lots of other guns fail. Not any brand specifically but I took my DPMS out with about 14 other Colts. Those were all fresh out of the box, cleaned, broke in, and still had problems. I have nothing bad to say about Colts. I have a 6920 as well and it has never failed. I will say the DPMS has a bit better fit and finish and looks better than most. So I would say buy one. For the money you can't go wrong. I would certainly use mine if my life depended on it but then again, if my life depended on it I will use any gun that's in my hand.
Remember....."Greet everyone with a smile, and have a plan to kill them." |
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I had an LR-308 and hated it. I sold it 2 weeks later. Was not happy with the service from DPMS. They blamed everything on my ammo. Issue was not my ammo, as was getting sub 1/4" groupls from other rifles with the same ammo.
I just bough a new rifle and went with a CMMG M4LEP. I will never buy a DPMS again. |
| I have never owned a DPMS so take what I say with a grain of salt but ome people I've talked with don't care for their barrels saying their chambers are too tight. The lowers are GTG as I havn't heard anything bad about them. Actually, I was all set to buy some DPMS lowers until I came across Spikes. Also everything I've heard is in relation to their 5.56 models, haven't heard much about their .308s. |
| With $1000 there is no better choice then the DPMS for a 308. I have the 24" version and have been very pleased. If you are planning on shooting crap ammo and lots of it, then a FAL would be better. but if shooting decent ammo and wanting accuracy then go with the DPMS |
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Quoted:
Hey guys, What is the overall reputation of DPMS? I'm specifically interested in the LR-308 SP4. Their .308s have a quite a following - check out the threads in the Variants section. I read on DPMS website that the upper and lower are made of aluminum. This is obviously good for weight reduction but does that significantly reduce the strength of the action?
No it doesn't reduce the strength of the action as the bolt locks up in the barrel extension (steel on steel). Very little stress is placed on the receivers themselvesl. Just trying to figure out if they make a quality product relative to other manufacturers.
For a .308 AR type rifle is a good deal. Also one last thing I hear that the AR platform isn't well suited for the .308. I sort of disagree with that. Any idea why I might have heard that?[/quote]
The .308 ARs have never proven to be as reliable as the 5.56 ARs. Part of that is due to the fact the 5.56 ARs have had over 40 years of continouse development, with the AR-10 platform there was a big gap in there for 20-30 years. |
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