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Posted: 3/6/2011 8:24:18 PM EDT
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Hello,
I am NEW to the AR and have been coveting a 450 Bushmaster for a long time. I am bidding on one in Gun Broker as i write this. Anyway, I picked up a minty DPMS AR from a guy at work. The question I have is that it does not have a forward assist or a dust cover. The model on the side is: Mod.A-15. It has a flat top, and a 16" barrel. I got the rifle, case, 3 mags, 17 boxes of new Remington ammo,a cheap BSA scope and mount all for $400.00 I was hesitant because of no forward assist or dust cover, as I did not know if this was a cheaper model. My question Is this something to keep, and put some money into? Or should I sell it and buy a Spikes? The trigger is the worst I have ever felt on a firearm by the way. Thanks in advance, Paul |
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Sounds like you got a Sportical. For a good price.
If i was you I would keep it just like it is... and shoot the shit out of it until something breaks. Then replace whatever it is and keep shooting. Then as you get into it for awhile and see what upgrades you want just start buying parts... and slowly build another rifle. No sense upgrading anything on the DPMS because honestly that is like a bottom of the barrel truck gun. Nothing on it except the lower is top of the line. If you upgraded it you would end up replacing everything.. so might as well use it as a beater while building an "end all, be all" type of rifle. Despite what some will tell you, that DPMS you have is FINE for what it is. Accept it for what it is and put your money towards something else while enjoying the DPMS. btw... pics or it never happened. ETA... dont worry about the dustcover and FA... neither are needed. |
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Quoted:
Sounds like you got a Sportical. For a good price. If i was you I would keep it just like it is... and shoot the shit out of it until something breaks. Then replace whatever it is and keep shooting. Then as you get into it for awhile and see what upgrades you want just start buying parts... and slowly build another rifle. No sense upgrading anything on the DPMS because honestly that is like a bottom of the barrel truck gun. Nothing on it except the lower is top of the line. If you upgraded it you would end up replacing everything.. so might as well use it as a beater while building an "end all, be all" type of rifle. Despite what some will tell you, that DPMS you have is FINE for what it is. Accept it for what it is and put your money towards something else while enjoying the DPMS. btw... pics or it never happened. ETA... dont worry about the dustcover and FA... neither are needed. Thanks for answering my questions so quickly. I will try and post some pictures, is there instructions on how to accomplish this on the site? Thanks again, Paul |
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The walls on the slick-sided uppers are actual thicker than a normal upper. This makes this a bit stiffer and IMO, more accurate. I had two of them and they were the most accurate ARs that I have had to date. I sold both of them thinking I was "upgrading" only to find out that they were actually great guns. Should not have sold them.
I would keep it and use it. You got a good deal. How's the accuracy? |
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That was a HELL of a deal! Even if it was just the rifle, two mags and a cleaning kit, it would still be one heck of a deal. He must of been pretty desperate to sell that low. I bought one for my wife a couple of years ago because she wanted something light and I paid double what you paid. Thanks a lot, now I feel like I got took on mine! Probably didn't help that she finally wanted an AR...right in the middle of the black gun "shortage".
The standard factory DPMS trigger is VERY rough - at least the ones I've dealt with. I found a simple fix for mine. I put in a RRA hammer and it made a huge improvement right away without any polsihing whatsoever. Still could be better, but it helped a lot. If you don't like the lack of a dust cover or a forward assist, you can always put on a different upper that has all of that. If you're just using this for target practice or home defense, it's not critical. I switched out the upper on this one, but not for those reasons. I have BAD levers on all my AR's and you can't put one on a slick-sided upper because the bolt catch is in a recessed area that doesn't allow the BAD lever to be attached to the bolt catch/release. Besides...I needed a project since I was between builds. :) I also put a quad-rail on so that the wife could use a vertical grip and a light. The best part is that now that I made all the changes to it, she says that she doesn't know which one is hers anymore and that she wants to build one the way SHE wants...so guess who just got another AR?!!! 
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I'll buy it up off you for $450...  Seriously, you got a good deal and should do as others suggested here and shoot the hell out of it. A Sportical upper alone runs about $400. Buy the Spike's as well, but I'd keep the Sportical for fun use and as a backup AR. Have fun!
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It all depends on what you want to do with the rifle. If it's just going to be a range plinker, then you should just go shoot it. Alot.
However, if it's something you'd be using for home defense/SHTF, I'd sell it and get the Spikes. You can probably sell it for 600$. Another 175$ and you can have a Spikes middy carbine (when you use the coupon code "ARFCOM"). |
| Why are people always knocking DPMS. I have a couple of them, and except for not coming with chrome lined barrels, I can't find much to criticize. The company reps that I've spoken with where polite and professional, my guns are quite accurate, and no parts have broken. |
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Quoted:
If i was you I would keep it just like it is... and shoot the shit out of it until something breaks. Then replace whatever it is and keep shooting. This should be shouted from the rooftops. Anyway, the DPMS lower I had was fine. Non DPMS parts fit in with no problems. Upgrade when neccessary. Go forth and multiply, so on and etc. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I agree; you got a great deal! I had one of those for a while and it was wicked accurate with handloads. I sold it to a good friend of mine that was looking for a hunting rig for his 11 year old. Looking back, I wish I still had that rifle but I was kind of excited about helping to get another kid in the woods.
Those DPMS Sporticals and Oracles are worth every penny you pay for them. |
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