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Posted: 12/13/2004 2:30:29 PM EDT
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I see some DPMS bashing on here sometimes, why? What about them is of inferior quality? |
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I don’t really care for DPMS weapons as I have not had a good experience with them. In fact my experience with their product is by far the worst of any firearm related product I have had to date. I’ll give you a brief overview and ask you to remember this is just my experience and opinion. I used to work at a local sporting goods store; a friend and I had seen an article in an industry magazine about DPMS rifles and how great they were so we decided to buy two identical rifles. The two rifles were ordered with the hi-rider upper, 20-inch cryoed stainless barrel and vented floating hand guards. First off I was told that the hi rider had a shell deflector, being left handed this is a requirement on an AR. The hi-rider upper does not have a shell deflector or a forward assist. It appears much thicker and heavier (investment cast) than a standard A1, A2 or M4 upper, just doesn’t look right to me and it ejects the empties right into my face. The upper and lower do not mate together very well; the acuwedge is a requirement. The receivers are also not hard coat anodized as Colt, Bushmaster and Armalite as well as most other reputable manufactures; this may have changed. With soft coat anodizing any scratch will got right through the finish into the aluminum; when a scope is installed the steel clamps from the scope rings gouge right into the aluminum rail; I have not had this happen to any of my Colt or Bushmaster rifles. Both of the DPMS rifles leak gas at the gas block. The gas block appears to have roll pins mashed down like rivets to secure it. Others like the ABC companies use solid tapered pins to secure the front sight/gas block. The front sight/gas block is a slip fitting and is never going to be 100% but the DPMS rifle leaks quite a bit. There is always a black mess to clean up on the barrel around the gas block. DPMS uses the Sporter style bolt carrier with the AR-15 style exposed firing pin. These firing pins are supposed to be hard chromed and this is especially needed with the exposed firing pin. The DPMS firing pin looked as if it was hard chromed, but was easily chewed up to the point where it was sharp enough to cut me (couldn’t have been hard chromed). The bolt that came with my rifle had to be replaced and was with a Colt bolt. The hole in the DPMS bolt for the extractor pin was drilled too far inboard; the extractor didn’t have enough room to pivot, thus it could not clamp onto the round it is stripping out of the magazine. The rifle could not be fired from day one! DPMS is really the bottom of the barrel when it comes to rifle as far as I’m concerned. I’ve read of some folks having their rifles that have not given them problems, but everybody gets lucky once in a while, even DPMS. I’d tell you to stay as far away as possible, and get something worth having like one of the ABC brands. |
| I own a DPMS CAR15 HBAR. Damn good rifle. Accurate as hell!!!! The only thing I've found is that it doesn't like Winchester white box stuff or PMC. Shoots the hell out of UMC,American Eagle, Lake City and Sellar and Bellot. It is just like any gun, you find what ammo it shoots best and stick with it. |
No pun intended lol |
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I have three DPMS complete rifles and all function perfectly. Not to say I didnt get lucky, but the odds of getting three out of three that work, if they did put out a crap product, must be very high. Read through the site, you will find complaints on every brand on the market. |
Actually, last week I wouldn't even recommend the lowers, since the one I had has a crappy finish, came w/a gouged butt stock, a totally out of spec bolt hold open, and very crappy looking trigger guard and mag release button. Worst of all, the cutout for the front lugs is off center, so the upper stays slightly tilted to the left when assembled. But I went to the show on Saturday to find a stripped lower for a Colt Air Force surp M16 upper. And all I could find were one DPMS lower and three Olys. Now I've been boycotting Oly for 15 years, so that left me only w/the DPMS Surprise, surprise. It's well finished. It fits the upper perfectly. and the price was only $5 higher than the bargain basement Rock Rivers out there right now.  So DPMS can make a good lower, and I do have an A2 upper by them that's always been just fine. My take on DPMS is not that they can't put out good stuff. They do------but they also let crap out the door that should never have made it past the inspectors. Only it doesn't appear that they have any inspectors.  |
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I was told that the hi-rider had a shell deflector.
These two rifles were definitely NOT hard-coat anodized, and there was no teflon coating either.
I’ve got a couple different photographs of the rifles, but no close-ups.
That may indeed be the case, I’m not sure, it was my understanding that the hard chroming is to prevent just such a thing happening, either way the firing pin was chewed up pretty good, hadn’t seen this happen with any other AR type rifle, and shouldn’t have happened here.
I was told the same thing. I was also told that because it was a custom order DPMS would not exchange the bolt, but I could buy another one from them. |
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| I just got a DPMS carbine about a month ago, I had some issues at first, short stroking and not locking the bolt open on the last shot, I was useing winchester ammo, I switched to Federal XM193 and never had a problem since. The rifle is extremely accurate and the fit and finish is flawless, I couldn't be happier. |
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I think something is funny. The same few people complaining on this thread of DPMS quality are they same few people that complain about DPMS on every DPMS quality thread with exactly the same story. I haven't had any issues with the DPMS stuff. Really good CS. I will tell you one thing. At my local gun store they have a couple Colts and a couple DPMS M4s. I looked at both; when you compare the fit and finish of a Colt to a DPMS it was really amazing. DPMS punishes Colt in this area. The Colt handguards were not tight, the upper lower fit was the shittiest I have seen on any AR, and the finish even after being fully scrubbed and wiped off with CLP was still shitty. The DPMS fit was one of the tightest I have seen on an AR and the finish was clean, even, and rich. The poor fit/finish was on 3 Colts. The amazing fit/finsh was on 4 DPMS M4s. 
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Yep!!!! I know the man, it's an endorsement. If you ask him odds are he'll reccomend something else. The store his wife owns sells alot of DPMS and Olympic rifles. But they sell everything else too, only I have yet to see a Colt AR in their though. But of the 9 guns I own I bought 5 at clarks. |
You couldn't be happier that your rifle won't eat Winchester ammo? I'd get rid of my Bushy's if they couldn't eat ALL manufactured ammo. This is not an uncommon issue with DPMSs I've seen it before. Ammo that won't function a DPMS, runs just find in my Busy's. |
I don't mind at all. I have several rifles that perform better with certain ammo and not that good with others, I use what I know works and I stick with it. The little snake on the side was not worth anouther $200 to me. |
I can feel this one, had a LR308 with a chamber problem, after they were sent the brass from the weapon they had me send the gun to them and fixed the problem with about a 2 week turnaround. At least they have good service after the sale to back up any possible problems. Matt Carper |
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Well, the Houston crew will soon be able to attest to the lowers. I've got a group buy expiring tomorrow and we'll be getting something like 20 of em to build up. SC-Texas (aka Lord Vader) has two of them and built Ms. Vader a rifle with one of them...he might be able to comment. |
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I have owned 3 Different models of DPMS rifles from the M4 style, the Bull barrel, and the LR .308. I have found these very accurate rifles. and I called DPMS about the ammo on the lr .308 and they said to use the 168gr HPJBT if I want the best out of my rifle. I have seen a Bushy Jam firing ammo supplied by a police department. I also know an officer that actually had to take a Looney out with is Glock 21 because his partners Colt AR jammed in a gun fight here in Salt Lake City a few years back. I believe in DPMS rifles but, it's still your choice and if you kit one make sure that you know what you are getting into first. |
I had not seen anything to the contrary from their “literature.” I was dealing directly with DPMS and was told by them, over the phone, the hi-rider had a shell deflector.
100% sure it was not hard-coat anodized. I was working directly with DPMS and it was not a kit gun. According to them it was a custom order.
However it works out. So instead of a crappy hard chrome job, the firing pin was junk to start with? More DPMS QC.
Again, I was dealing directly with DPMS, I figured it would be them building the rifle. Apparently “custom” orders don’t get the warranty and don’t get test fired.
People keep asking the same question, I’ll keep giving the same answer, that’s all. |
| I recently bought a new DPMS and the fit and finish is superb, way better than any Colt or bushmaster I have owned or saw. I looked though the DPMS catalog for many years playing the should I or shouldn't I. Before I actually saw one with my own eyes, I too was weary of "Panther Arms." I guess the name does sound cheap. I don't know what it was about the "Panther," but the DPMS name just sounds better. Stag arms, Star arms, and a couple more have that in common with the Panther. As for the function and accuracy of my DPMS, I'll have to get back to you on that, I'm waiting on delivery of my scope before I shoot it. |
From their catalog: HI-RIDER FLATTOP FTT-HR $125.00 *Dust cover omitted for lightweight, smooth, snag-fee function *Rail height approximately 1 7/8" abover bore center line *State-of-the-art aluminium material *Picatinny rail *No forward assist or ejection cover Hi-rider on DPMS website
I'm 99.9% sure DPMS didn't manufacture the firing pin in question so how is it DPMS's fault that it wasn't hardened properly? If one of the Yokohama tires on my car is made of a softer compound than the rest and wears quicker does that make it Ford's fault? |
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I have experiance with Armalite, Bushmaster, Colt, DPMS,Olympic, and RRAs. Lets put it this way, I will never own a RRA, for part breakage reasons, and either shall I have a Bushmaster mush for the same reason and more. The rest of the ones on my list of experiance have given me no reason to complain.
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I ordered a dozen FP retaining clips. Way out of spec. Couldnt even hammer 'em in. ( I tried, bent every damn one of them) |
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+1 I'd also like some opinions of CMMG. Seems they use a lot of DMPS parts? |
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I have a 20" DPMS A3. It came with carry handle, removable front sight, and chrome bolt assy. Bought last year for $672 out the door. Honest assessment: Fit and finish is Outstanding. Accuracy on bench rest is Outstanding. Accuracy with me is Sat. Reliability is Average (it does leak around gas block). Some FTE's with various brands. Customer service is Outstanding. Value is Outstanding. Bottom line: Not all of us can afford the big 3's, nor do some desire them. Every company has good and bad and everyone has an opinion. I will never bash anyone or insinuate their rifle is junk. What matters is that you are happy with what you have. |
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I have one DPMS complete lower, it works fine but has a very hard trigger. The hammer retracts as the trigger is pulled, like a DA revolver. No other issues. I have bought a few small parts from DPMS, and half of them have been ut of spec for something. Flashed castings, burred edges, etc. I have had zero problems with Bushmaster parts. I have two Bushmaster uppers, no problems with them either. Ops |
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