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Posted: 10/14/2007 6:20:19 PM EDT
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I am about to purchase a DPMS lower and was looking for some advice. I have come across a few threads where people talk them down. Is there anything bad I should know about them? Or any other advice as to which uppers and so on are good for them. This is my 1st AR build since I am on the evil/dark side with the AK's. Thanks guys. |
It would be cool to hear some tips and tricks. BTW, the libary here is very cool. It has a lot of the military manuals even some owners manuals online for reference. I bought an assembled lower and will order an assembled upper on Friday. It's been close to 10 years since I've seen the inside of an AR so I want to have some comparison others before I try to do any building. |
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Aim Suplus has Stag lowers for $100. See the Industry page. Essential Arms has one for $77 which gets favorable reviews. Most likely will be my next purchase. Essential Arms |
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The quality of the DPMS lower parts kit is just not as good as RRA or Stag. Maybe they use their best parts in the complete lowers and guns, but the parts kits sold separately have a rougher finish, the parkerized roll pins are a pain in the ass, and the triggers are generally poor. In contrast, 50% of the RRA and Stag LPKs I've used actually have good triggers, though one RRA trigger was just terrible. The roll pins and other parts are correctly sized, well finished, and easy to install. If you're buying a complete lower, this is less of a concern, but given the small price difference between DPMS and other LPKs, you might want to upgrade if you're building a stripped lower. |
| I was looking into going with a complete lower because I have never built or worked on a lower before. I would not mind the Stag lower but I can not stand that logo they have on the side. It to me is a little over the top. But for $100 for a stripped lower that is a pretty good price. |
I highly recommend assembling your own from a stripped lower. It's easy, and you'll know exactly how everything works should you ever have a problem. |
| I have a DPMS lower and its not bad, while RRA looks better which I do have one of them too.... But I do like em both,, but do use a RRA lower parts kit, Myself and others believe they are alot better than DPMS but DPMS is good stuff and you can't go wrong with them, I just completed a all DPMS M-4 wannabe and it as so far shot 200 rnds without any issues except a F@@@@ Bushmast curved 20 rnd magazine, and it F@@@@@@p in a different rifle so I beat the hell out of it and I felt much better about my life after that and both my ar's worked and functioned great with a different magazine.......... |
The Essential Arms lowers for $77 are cast, spend the extra money and buy forged. I've duilt dozens (not all for me) using 100% DPMS parts, no problems. |
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there is nothing wrong with a DPMS stripped lower. It is great value for the money! I have two of them going strong with zero issues. The DPMS lower parts kits is also fine. I have used four sets with zero issues. I highly recommend DPMS lowers. ETA, yes the DPMS trigger was a little gritty.... at first, anfter I fired about 500 rounds it was smooth as a baby's bottom. |
It says FORGED on their website. What gives? |
The older ones were cast. They haven't made cast ones for a few years now. A buddy of mine has two of the Essentials. They are fine. A bit on the rough side in places but serviceable. DPMS lowers that I have seen seem to be fine too. |
LPKs are sooo easy that even a mechanical moron like myself can do them just fine. Just read the tutorials here and you will be OK. As for DMPS receivers and LPKs, I just built one on a DPMS lower. Since I picked up a DPMS upper at a show for a song, I figured what the heck and got the DPMS LPK to go with it. From all of the horror stories here I figured I was going to have a mess on my hands. The LPK was decent. It went together easily and the trigger is actually quite nice. Surprised the heck out of me after all the drama I had heard. Maybe I got lucky, you never know. The DPMS lower is fine. The fit to the upper is quite tight. Overall, I am very pleased. Time will tell though. |
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The finish on all the parts of the LPK is rougher. The takedown pins are one example. The selectors are probably the worst. The detent holes and channel on the selector are too deep with sharp edges, and the mark on the ejection side is never centered correctly. |
And essential arms has made lowers and parts for lots of the other arms manufacturers. You can't go wrong. Unless you have to have all the parts match, you know with the same name. |
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