Stainless steel DPMS lower?

[coltpython123]

Does anyone now any useful information about these i took one in on trade and not sure what to build with it or even what these are worth pre panic wise. any information would be helpful.

[shooter115]

Looking at it, my money says it's not stainless. Now I'm not a die hard expert on the subject, but from what I've seen SS doesn't cast very well. If someone where to build a SS lower it would have to be machined from a billet. It's possible I'm wrong, it happened once before, but I'm pretty sure what you have is a standard aluminum lower.

Edit...it looks like they did make them at one point.....I'll be damned. Never seen one before.

[coltpython123]

its stainless im positive called dpms and the seril number matches there stainless line its way to heavy to be aluminum

[shooter115]

Looks like they made them back in about 1994 from what I've seen. Investment cast then milled stainless, I couldn't find the grade of stainless used. About the only thing I could see ever really wanting one for (other than the uniqueness of it) is if you were going to put a .50 BMG upper on it. Looks like they went for good money when they were new. As far as value goes now it's really hard to tell. The guy that's out there specifically looking for one might pay $500, but to me it's worth less than an aluminum one.

[solidgun]

I remember one of these selling for around $280-$300 once, but cannot recall which site. This was several years back (about 4 -5 years ago).

One issue with these lowers people pointed out was that it will wear out on the upper prematurely along with other connecting parts made of aluminum. Other than that, I do not recall too much.

[Rip Van Winkle]

I remember when DPMS offered those. IIRC they retailed for around $300. They must not have sold very well as I remember a friend picking one up on closeout for around $100.

[FJ540]

Why would it wear anything out on an upper? Aluminum oxide (anodizing) is harder than stainless.

[The Lance]

thats interesting I thought stainless steel was always too hard to be milled without expensive tooling.


but it is a unique piece

[coltpython123]

thanks for all the info i appreciate the inside knowledge its heavy withe the stock and the lpk id say close to 4 pounds but looks nice if that matters

[Hoot]

thanks for all the info i appreciate the inside knowledge its heavy withe the stock and the lpk id say close to 4 pounds but looks nice if that matters

It would be a perfect candidate for a larger caliber build, where both the strength and weight would both be assets. I came close to buying one to put my 300 OSSM upper on. I hesitated and missed the opportunity though. The 300 stretched the limits of both the upper and lower. Really turned heads at the range when it barked. Has no trouble pushing a 150gr HotCor to just over 3k fps. The only AR caliber I ever shot that really benefited from a muzzle brake. I sold it to a gentleman in SD as I had trouble getting it to reliably shoot sub MOA. He loved it. After about 700 rounds through it, I had to go to +1 pins in my RRA lower to get rid of lateral play and that's why I was considering one of those DPMS SS ones.

Hoot

[AFTERMATH]

I seem to recall their catalog had both uppers and lowers in stainless, back in the day...
What you do with it? Find the stainless upper - Get both polished up nicely build with stainless barrel and walnut furniture and have the finest looking black rifle ever - 'Till I make one outta bronze and walnut, but don't worry that'll be a while.

[greenfarmer]

You can actually get a 50 BMG upper for one of these AR lowers? I guess i wasn't aware of that. Where can you get one?

[FJ540]

It's a single shot bolt action upper. Much the same as the crossbow upper. (both are dumb IMO)

[Greg]

It's a single shot bolt action upper. Much the same as the crossbow upper. (both are dumb IMO)

Not at all!

Those things are a barrel of FUN!!

I built mine on a DPMS single shot (California) lower and put a single shot Ultralite 50 (now Tactilite http://www.tactilite.com/ ) upper on it with a 18.5 inch barrel and Yankee Hill Machine AR type open sights. It was loads of fun to shoot and about 1/3 of the 250 rounds or so I put through it were fired by other folks at the range.

When I first put it together it only weighed 14.5 lbs and had that hard rubber serrated butt plate, that was a bit abusive. Later I added 2 lbs of lead shot to the cleaning kit hole and installed a Limbsaver butt pad, then it was a pussycat!

I don't think I ever shot it past 200 yards or put a scope on it but it was a blast to shoot. Also it didn't hurt the lower a bit!

I sold both my 50s a couple of weeks ago at the Fairgrounds show. Thus the ammo I have for sale.

The flash makes it look two tone but it was all black!

Sorry for the thread Hi-Jack!

Greg

[WolfTrack]

Once upon a time ago, whenst I worked for a gunsmith, I did lay my hands upon 2 of those DPMS Stainless lowers.
The reason they each came into the shop was that the receiver extension (buffer tube) threads was off just enough to cause the bolt carriers to bind in the tube. Thus requiring the rifles to be disassembled to free them up.
As others have mentioned, if'n I had one, I'd reserve it for a .50 or other single-shot upper myself.
YMMV