Bushmaster - DPMS - or other???

M

mic007tfp

New member
I was almost set on getting a Bushmaster, and then I took a look over at the DPMS page. They have a cool looking rifle with some goodies, and a priceline running close to Bushmaster.

Does anyone have experience with DPMS? PRO's or CONS.. I'm looking for something accurate out of the box that I won't have to spend a lot of money to make better.
 
I've got a southpaw DPMS, an EA (bought out by DPMS) and a spare DPMS upper. Don't do any accuracy shooting though. Have ambi safeties and a Norgon Ambi-Catch ambi mag release on one.I do mainly quick acquisition on clay birds at around 30 - 40 yards or so. Keep it lightly lubed and it does it's part if I do mine. I like my DPMS.
 
the dpms is a non chomelined bore
it requires a bit more maintainence & shooting in but should be a bit more accurate

dZ
 
While I have no direct experience with DPMS stuff, when I asked my gunsmith(a full-time AR specialist) about which receivers to buy, he recommended Bushmaster over DPMS. I have a dealer-friend who at the time had 4 DPMS lowers for sale, which is why I was considering them. My gunsmith told me that he'd seen some problems with the DPMS lowers having their trigger/hammer pin holes a little out of position, which affects sear/hammer geometry. It's second-hand info, but my gunsmith is a pretty honest guy.
 
One gunsmith who I trust told me that Bushmaster is about the best when it comes to mil-spec on their lowers. It is crucial to have the holes drilled correctly and the geometry of the trigger and hammer are affected by worn jigs or careless workmanship. Don't have any DPMS lowers myself though I wouldn't hesitate to buy their blackened stainless steel lower. The last shipment they got they rejected because the foundry didn't make it to their spec.

Like fal308, I have a DPMS southpaw upper and I love it. Apart from being southpaw, I can't discern any difference in workmanship between it and a Colt. If you're strictly into target shooting, DPMS has a slick sided upper (no ejection port cover, shell deflector or forward assist) with a raised rib. The unit is extruded and appears to be twice as thick as a forged upper. DPMS made it that way to support their heavy barrels (1 1/8" thick at the muzzle). My uncle has such a unit and by golly, you can really beat a person to death with it. Unless you're accustomed to carrying axle shafts on a daily basis, never mind carrying it in the field.

The only bad thing I've got to say about Bushmaster is the wait, and the wait, and the wait and the wait. They are producing about 5k units a month and aren't slowing down. In some cases, it has affected their quality but to be fair to BM, they are known to put things right if it is brought to their attention.

Oh, dz's comment about chrome lined bores. I tend to agree with dz. It's really tough to ensure that the coating is even. Pick up this month's copy (July 99) of the American Rifleman and they mention the same thing.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
Yes... I'm seriously considering DPMS now. I know the whole deal with the cast vs forged lower, and personally I don't care as long as the gun doesn't fall apart on me. I like the look of DPMS, hear the wilson barrels shoot well, and valuewise, I would get more with a DPMS than a BM of the same price.

Only damn problem is that I can't find a friggin' AR anywhere!!! If anyone knows who has DPMS in stock PLMK! If not, I might be FORCED to blow $1700 on one of them nifty JP Grade II rifles.. they're soooo wicked ;)



[This message has been edited by mic007tfp (edited June 24, 1999).]
 
BTW, DPMS aluminum lowers are casted by a very reputable firm: Ruger. Don't know who casts their stainless steel lowers though.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
 
I also have a DPMS Southpaw Upper, but on a Bushmaster Lower. Great Product! Good Quality. Good customer service. Never had any problems.

4V50Gary and fal308, I guess we need to form a DPMS Southpaw club!
 
Whew, I went and got a Bushmaster Lower today for $300 out the door with the buttstock. I think that was a little high, but lowers are so hard to find right now. I'm still debating what upper to put on it. I'm starting at that DPMS 24' Bull or perhaps one of them nifty JP's.
 
mic007tfp: $300 doesn't sound so bad - did you get the lower with the 2-stage trigger already installed? I paid $330 for one with the CLE/Bushmaster trigger late last summer. I'm very happy with my Service Rifle built on BM lower/upper receivers.
 
Actually, no, the lower didn't come with a 2 stage trigger. It would have been nice if it did. I paid the high price to avoid a lengthy factory wait and possible price hikes by dealers. I however plan to install a JP single stage, or compass lake 2 stage trigger later.

I'm still shopping for an upper.. anyone have suggestions for a really accurate upper? ($1000 or less)
 
Yes Dz, I have seen those JP Uppers (drool, drool). I am seriously considering one. Have you or anyone else out there shot a gun from JP Enterprises?
 
mic007tfp,

I have a DPMS Panther Bull 16, I ordered it directly from the company, I asked them not to sand blast the barrel and leave it shiny. DPMS will configure you a weapon anyway you want it... only problem is ordering directly from them now, you'd be lucky to get it by Christmas.

The black teflon finish on DPMS rifles is like no other, its pretty slick looking. As for accuracy, mine shot 1" groups at 100 yards right out of the box.

Any other DPMS owners do this?
Another bonus for DPMS, (I havent been able to confirm with other DPMS owners), is that these rifles rock and roll! When I hold my rifle at the hip loosely and pull the rifle forward into my trigger finger (only triger finger and thumb support the stock, dont grip the pistol grip), my rifle fires full auto! I'm just using the recoil of the rifle to make it rock, you dont need one of those piece-o-crap hellfire or tac trigger jobs.

Just my .223 worth,

Mark
 
kraMrD
Done correctly this can be accomplished with just about any semi-auto. Only the pressure required on holding the weapon may be different. It's a great way to make noise if you don't need to target anything in particular.
 
fal308,

I tried this method with my buddies bushmaster and couldnt get his rifle to rock more than a few short bursts... I have held several colts and bushmasters and dry fired them... they have a distinct "crisp" quality to them. My DPMS has a very smooth pull that almost feels loose (no parts are loose).

I havent held any other DPMS rifles other than my own. DPMS sent me another disconnector to try, and I still get FA fire, I can completely empty a 30 round clip in less than 5 seconds...

Its just particularly easy to get FA fire on my rifle... I was wondering if other DPMS owners have noted the same "malfunction" (like this is a bad thing :))

Mark
 
It's not a malf, it's just recoil & rebound being used against a more-or-less fixed trigger finger.

Not legally full-auto because it's a separate pull of the trigger for each shot.

There is an almost-obscure 2- or 3-piece modification to the M1911 involving a pin and a steel plate. The plate stuck up just behind the slide and forced the trigger finger forward during recoil as the slide traveled back. Just as the slide went forward the last 1/4-inch, the plate would be free from being pressed down, and the trigger finger would then be able to go back and press the trigger IF the shooter kept rearward pressure on. Acted like FA, as long as the shooter didn't mash the trigger too hard and drag the slide into a malf.

Today, the BATF would probably rule that to be one pull of the trigger [finger] and forbid it.

Noise can be fun!
 
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