What's up with DPMS?

[CaseyK]

Anyone want to fill me in? I asked the guys at J&S Custom Guns in Lakeville if they delt with DPMS and the response was " not if I can help it ". I have a DPMS A-15 that has always been good to me, seems like a great gun, and it was only $630.00 back in the early 2000's. I have had several people make negative comments about DPMS- Whats the deal? Are these things bad or something? If so who makes a good one? I am wanting a shorter, more tactical AR-15 and was looking to buy another DPMS- my current one has ( I believe ) a 24" barrel with a full float tube and a harris bipod for sniping prairie dogs in South Dakota, a plan which has yet to be realized, and is quite heavy. I don't really want to spend $2000 either- anyone have insight?

[xd9]

Your first mistake was asking the guys at J&S Custom Guns in Lakeville....

No seriously, I have heard good things about DPMS. I don't own one. But never much bad rep really.

[Stradawhovious]

I have heard good things and had great experiences with DPMS. Alternately I have heard terrible things and had terrible experiences with J&S.

YMMV

My varmint rig is all DPMS (BULL 20 Upper and stock lower and LPK)and has run flawlessly for me, and is much more accurate than I am. also, I hope your $2,000 figure includes one hell of a piece of glass, since I think sans glass mine was less than $1,000.

[1911fan]

J&S wants to be elitist, and unless you have the latest and tacticoolest etching on your lower, you are a heathen rube. DPMS is very good, I know or knew a few of the guys who were there and had nothing but the best results from them.

[RobD]

Your first mistake was asking the guys at J&S Custom Guns in Lakeville....

I was literally typing that as you were...

I was going to continue on by saying your second mistake was expecting them to be helpful.

DPMS is good stuff, good customer service, and a local company.

J&S on the other hand is full of jerkoffs that take advantage of naive customers, ignore paying customers at the counter, and act like you asked them to chop off their left nut for checking a price on the phone....

Plenty of other places to do business with.

[CaseyK]

Lol, thanks guys!I feel much more confident in my DPMS purchase now. I always love keeping my money in state too.
Honestly I had always thought I had been delt with ok at J&S Custom guns- but that was all a long, long time ago, and never for anything that expensive. I will say that the trigger job they did for my dad's old Smith and Wesson model 57 .41 mag is a thing of beauty, however that was also in like 1986.

[Hmac]

DPMS is likely adequate as a range toy that will only see a few hundred rounds a year. It is not a weapon you'd want to bet your life on, but as a recreational device it will likely perform acceptably if not pushed too hard. Rifles like Bravo Company and Spike's Tactical would be better choices in terms of $$ for quality. DPMS' glory days are behind it. It is not highly regarded by people or agencies that need such a rifle as a reliable tool.

[hammAR]

DPMS is good stuff.........

Maybe, but I won't buy one.........and agree with Hmac.........

...............and a local company..

Not any more, you really need to keep up..............

[mitchx3]

Didn't you read the chart? The chart says that DPMS is for civilian sheep. Real operators only buy spikes tactical. It's name is 50% tactical and 50% hardcore. Sorry, if this was real life you'd be dead.

[CaseyK]

Well, whats the point of owning a weapon you wouldn't bet your life on?
I keep an AR-15 and at least a thousand rounds because I believe every American should own two things:
1. A Copy of the good book of his or her choice.
2. An AR-15 he or she would bet their life on.

I thank God I have that right.

That's the truest **** I ever wrote, lol.

[hammAR]

Didn't you read the chart?

You know that I can't even see the chart.............

[Hmac]

Didn't you read the chart? The chart says that DPMS is for civilian sheep. Real operators only buy spikes tactical. It's name is 50% tactical and 50% hardcore. Sorry, if this was real life you'd be dead.

All "The Chart" says is that DPMS only looks like a real Army rifle and is built like a range toy.

[JustinPo]

Bravo Company Manf or Colt for me. While I do not think DPMS is a horrific brand I think for the money there is better.

[45usp45]

I've been to J&S twice both times I tried to buy a gun and failed.
The first time about 25 years ago I tried to buy a Freedom arms 454 Casull,price was fine no dickering I just wanted him to order me some brass 454 if reasonable or 45 Colt(no one else in the store)he wouldn't do it. I left with no gun.
The second time was earlier this year I was in the area with friend who had never been in a gun store so we stopped in.
While looking around I saw a Fnar that needed a new home. I waited around for 45 mins trying to buy this gun.There were 2 people behind the counter and 3 others on the customers side they were all entranced with the pistol between them.I made my intentions known but they were too busy with their conversation,so I left.

As for the DPMS..I have one I think they made and one with their lower..They have worked so far...maybe if I don't tell them they are bad they can continue to work.

[1911fan]

J&S was started some time ago by Jeff and his wife, when they got divorced (so the story goes) he sold part of it to pay her off, and then sold the rest, when he left, and the new owner who (again, so the story goes) bought it as an entertainment, not as his life's business, things went downhill fast.

Years ago, Jeff was an accomplished 1911 plumber and did very good work, I had a comp gun he build that was dead reliable and had all the bells and whistles (circa 1988 or so) done right. Last time I was in, they had 4 knives of the pattern I EDC and they have been discontinued. I asked to see all four, and the guy said "Why, are you gonna buy them all" and I said, yeah, probably, and he put them back and called me a wise ass. Thats the last time I will shop there until I hear they have new ownership and I will give them a try.