What's up with DPMS?

[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.

[FJ540]

No one I know from St Cloud will buy one of their guns, so that might tell you something - that's coming from people who used to work for their suppliers who say that.

[Pezhead]

I saw a chart listing the quality of the different one. Colt's was toward the top DPMS was towards the bottom(if I remember). But I also read if I remember correctly the chart was biased. I do like a few of the DPMS models, wish I had bought the one at Streicher's a few years ago. The Lewis Machine ones I need to check out. I like them. I know sort of what I'm looking for so many options now.
I really have no clue what my next one will be. The AR class I took had various ones, just can't remember all the brands taht people had.

[forcefed]

I like my DPMS rifle. I think for the little money I spent on it it is a reliable gun. I have shot at least 1k rounds through it in the last year, and have never had any problems. If someone is looking to build an AR on a budget, I wouldn't leave out DPMS.

As far as J&S goes, I wont ever buy anything in there. I have gone in a handful of times, and have never, not once, been asked if I need help or want to look at something. I usually get this everywhere I go because I am young (22) and look even younger (15). Its one thing that really really irks me when I go in somewhere and have to ask for assistance. I think the employees should be waiting on the customer hand and foot. Maybe thats just my thoughts

[FJ540]

The "chart" was compiled by a no-experience corporate desk jockey Rob "tactical yellow visor" (idiot). The features which made one better and one worse had no relevance to longevity or real world functionality - just what someone with an ego and a perception of quality chose to rate them as based on interweb rumors and conceptions (accurate or not).

That chart is also several years old now, certain makers on it no longer use their former vendors (S&W is now making their guns in-house for instance), and as such it's not exactly all that accurate for what it was (if it ever was accurate for anything but a features list).

[Pezhead]

Thank you FJ540. That's what I thought about the chart. It didn't seem to be relavant.

[Hmac]

The chart may or may not be relevant anymore. What does remain true in the real world is that DPMS rifles are still at the opposite end of the quality and reliability scale from Colt/LMT/

Now, does everybody NEED a top quality mil spec weapon? No, me included. But personally, throughout my weapons buying history, I have always made it a point to buy the best quality rifles and pistols I can afford. DPMS isn't even a consideration. For the same or a little more money, I can have a MUCH better rifle.

[forcefed]

For the same or a little more money, I can have a MUCH better rifle.

I would like to know where you shop so I can buy a $600 LMT. I dont know what the same or a little more money is to you, but LMT's aren't the cheapest of rifles.

[Bessy]

The chart may or may not be relevant anymore. What does remain true in the real world is that DPMS rifles are still at the opposite end of the quality and reliability scale from Colt/LMT/

Now, does everybody NEED a top quality mil spec weapon? No, me included. But personally, throughout my weapons buying history, I have always made it a point to buy the best quality rifles and pistols I can afford. DPMS isn't even a consideration. For the same or a little more money, I can have a MUCH better rifle.

Quality with regards to what? I've rarely heard people complain, about the reliability of the dpms rifles. In terms of accuracy goes, mine have all been superb. I'm with fj on this one. The chart people keep relating to, listed what I considered many features that I wouldn't pay extra money for.

Here is the "chart"

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... utput=html

Half of this crap doesn't even matter, finish under the fsb?, when was the last time you saw an ar that was corroded to hell under the fsb. Ak's were never finished of the fsb, some of those have been around for over 60 years shooting corrosive ammo, with no issues. Most of this other stuff is equally stupid. "Improperly stacked gas key"? first of all that's not the case with any of my dpms guns. Secondly if it was, I could fix it in about 4 seconds, not worth paying 300 dollars for. Also they list **** that are options for dpms guns like chrome lined barrels and then mark it no. There are a few things like MPI bolt I can see some folks paying more for... but most of the "Chart" is utter ar-15 fanboy operator hype.

[Stradawhovious]

Buy whatever you want, just remember that opinions aren't always fact, regardless of how important some people think theirs is.

Do your homework, look at some of the professional reviews, and make up your own mind about what you need. Personally I would be happy to buy another DPMS, but then again I'm not a tactical operator that needs to rely on my weapon to save my life every waking moment of every day. I'm just some guy on the internet.

[Hmac]

For the same or a little more money, I can have a MUCH better rifle.

I would like to know where you shop so I can buy a $600 LMT. I dont know what the same or a little more money is to you, but LMT's aren't the cheapest of rifles.

Bravo Company or Spikes are far better rifles than DPMS. It would be more realistic for you to start there rather than at the very top of the scale. I'm sayin' you can do better than starting at the very bottom.

[Hmac]

....... but then again I'm not a tactical operator that needs to rely on my weapon to save my life every waking moment of every day. I'm just some guy on the internet.

I understand. I'll put you in the DPMS column, since, as you say, you don't need anything better. Me, I prefer to buy the best quality firearms I can afford, no matter what my occupation. If I can afford a DPMS, I can afford a Spikes.

[hammAR]

....... but then again I'm not a tactical operator that needs to rely on my weapon to save my life every waking moment of every day. I'm just some guy on the internet.

This coming from a guy that spends inordinate time and money on handguns of a higher order......

[forcefed]

For the same or a little more money, I can have a MUCH better rifle.

I would like to know where you shop so I can buy a $600 LMT. I dont know what the same or a little more money is to you, but LMT's aren't the cheapest of rifles.

Bravo Company or Spikes are far better rifles than DPMS. It would be more realistic for you to start there rather than at the very top of the scale. I'm sayin' you can do better than starting at the very bottom.

What is it that you dont like about DPMS? Barrels? Lowers? Uppers? Everything? I am curious if you have had a bad experience with their product or just dont like them just because...

[Bessy]

....... but then again I'm not a tactical operator that needs to rely on my weapon to save my life every waking moment of every day. I'm just some guy on the internet.

This coming from a guy that spends inordinate time and money on handguns of a higher order......

Tactical operators rarely favor revo's in 45acp... but maybe he's so tactical he's gone all the way around the spectrum. He's so tactical, that he's gone past the custom nighthawk 1911's and and back into revovler land..... I think we may have found new operator messiah...