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Posted: 3/6/2007 3:07:02 AM EDT
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I'm putting together an SPR and trying to do it on a budget. I usually go over budget to get 'teir one' parts, but was recently offered a DPMS built and warranted 18" SPR upper. I had a bad experience iwth DPMS with the last upper (and last DPMS product) I bought three years ago. There was a 'nub on the bolt carrier, that scratcheda canal on the inside of the upper - just a bad bc I'm sure, but horrible QC to boot. Am I too - for lack of a better word - hormonal about not wanting to go DPMS on a gun that I want to be realiable and accurate? Here's the upper in question for well under 700$ complete:  I figure for around 1K$ I can go to the next level - Comass Lake barrel, larue hg, PRI gas block etc - but just want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing first.... |
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It is my understanding that DPMS uses Wilson blanks for their SS NM barrels. I would imagine that one is probably the same. I have a DPMS 20" NM barrel, and it's very accurate. I will admit that my buddy's Rock River Arms NM barrel is slightly more accurate, but it is also the super-HBAR while my DPMS is tapered slightly. I also think that the last owner of my barrel might have over-tightened the flash suppressor, while my buddy's RRA FS was timed and red loc-tited into place without the use of crush washers etc. About the only drawback to the DPMS is that it is .223. Of course, that's only a drawback if you plan to use 5.56 in your SPR. All the accurate loads I've seen were .223. I've seriously considered sending mine to Randall at AR15barrels.com to turn into an SPR-lite with a .740-ish profile. You could also get excellent accuracy on a budget with one of ADCOs White Oak Armament SPR barrels... possibly moreso than this one. But then again, you might not. I say "give it a shot". If it's not as accurate as you need it to be, I'm sure you could get your money back. EDITED TO ADD: On second thought... After looking at your picture again, that upper has a YHM standard forend (very heavy) and YHM folding front sight. Both are budget pieces of decent quality, but I doubt you'll be happy with them given the quality parts I've seen on some of your ARs in the past. |
I concur.... looking into adco as usual.... 
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tempting as well...... Funny how with all these military producers starting commercial sales (LMT, SDI, etc), RRA is now almost a budget priced brand in comparison. Whooda seen that coming? I'm not a fan of the Troy/Samson/MI system of HG for this rifle (I have it and will ahve it on others!), but a stock SS 20" RRA A4 upper and a pri flip up and a DD lite rail is probably at or near my budget. never had a RRA 1:8 SS barrel... how do they rate? |
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According to Steve @ ADCO they will shoot with some of the bigger named barrels. In every thread that this topic comes up he has said the barrel will outshoot most shooters. I think a custom barrel will last longer but these barrels should shoot right along with them. Also RRA SS barrels get rave reviews from match shooters. I was going to do a SAM-R build with mine but the place where I got the upper from gave me too good of a deal to pass up on the Troy. So now it will be "MY" version of a SAM-R when I'm done. |
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I have three options in my head now. a) I can go with a std RRA 20" A4 SS 1:8 upper (500), replace the A2 with my SEI brake, repalce the gas block with either a PRI flip up (180?) or railed gas block(30) and replace the handguards with a DD lite rail (400) or jp VTAC HG (300) and be done with it at around 800-1000$ b) an SPR (900$) or SDM (1000$) upper compelte from steve@adco... an 18" Midlength JPComp Upper from JTAC for 900 a Mk12 Mod1 Upper (20") from JTAC for 1040 c) Or I can go completely over budget with a totaly custom build with a premium barrel like denny's new SPR-M FOR 400$, ADCO'S sprR barrel for 255 (that's the one I really want) or the sprM barrel from JTAC for 265 or I can get the sabre 1/8 18"fluted tackdriver I had before for 400$. Then I'd have to get it built into an upper and I'd probably go to 1100$ for the upper.... |
I got another HUUUUGE problem now. I've never gotten into Larue products other than an optic mount once and I relaly do want to get into Larue gear. Jsut spoke to them regarding their stealth-based complete uppers... got this info from them almsot instantaneously...
from the website..........
Expensive? yes. but I'm considering it for the kewl factor :-) talk about overkill 
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I will tell you that, from my experience, the RRA 20" barrels are as accurate as I have ever seen a barrel shoot with my own eyes. My shooting buddy (soonerjlc) has one, and it is just amazing. He can shoot 1/4" groups with 62gr-64gr ammo, while me and the DPMS barrel can't do much less than 3/4". Sooner's never fired mine, but I've shot his RRA and have had similar results. It truly is an amazing barrel. The big drawback to it is the weight. It is straight profile from chamber to just behind the gas block with no taper. If you're going to build an SPR, you'd need to include the $50 it would cost to have it reprofiled, and another $40 if you have it shortened and rethreaded. For that price, you're back to the ADCO/WOA SPRr barrels, which are $255, and pretty much the same barrel as the Rock River except for the 1:7 twist and the significant extra barrel diameter. |
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I have the same upper as you, but with the round handguard, and it will work just fine. I have been working on a custom load for 77gr to mirror the MK262-Mod0 with SMK. I found putting $$$ into a JP trigger did more for me than a more expensive barrel than the DPMS unit. That, and looking into new glass. |
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