My new DPMS...

[billt]

Originally Posted by mvician

Sure your DPMS [or insert other name here] may be as dependable and shoot just as well, but is it built to the same standards and testing that "higher" priced "brand names" are

The parts are all interchangable so they have to be built to the exact same tolerances. I've swapped out bolt carrier groups from my Colts to my Bushmasters, and they both run the exact same. They should because the bolts on both are stamped "CMT", and were made by the same company under the same roof. My LWRC weapons are of a gas piston design, so their parts are, of course different. In that regard they cannot be compared.

Continental Machine Tool Company, Inc.

[Shaniac]

When it comes to the AR-15, I have learned that some members on this forum actually know what they are talking about and mvician is one that I have come to respect when he offers up his infinite wisdom concerning the AR-15...he knows what he is talking about

I believe what he is talking about is (correct me if I am wrong), have the parts been manufactured using the correct materials, per Mil-Spec and were they properly tested for structural strength...
Some manufacturers don't run MP Testing (magnetic particle testing)on their BCG's and barrels while some of the higher dollar manufacturers do run this test...this is only one instance....

Going back to my earlier post...

A lot of people will get caught up into the name brand game to the point that they will not be satisfied with an inexpensive AR and will save up for that more expensive AR...there is nothing wrong with that and you will get what you pay for. Are the high dollar AR's better than the less expensive ones? more than likely the answer to this is yes due to the strict tolerances and testing that the manufacturer runs their rifles through to ensure their durability and reliability—on top of the fact that the entire rifle is built on all Mil-Spec (and I use the term lightly) parts.

The problem is that there are some individuals out there that want to purchase an AR-15 and you will have other individuals that will make it seem that the inexpensive brand that the individual is looking at is a piece of crap and discourage them. I know this from experience as I had a lot of people tell me my Del-Ton was a POC and that I should spend over 1K to get a decent AR-15. I finally ignored those people, purchased my $800 Del-Ton and I was completely happy (even though it had rifle feed ramps, non-chrome lined barrel, commercial buffer tube and the FSB was not "F" marked). I have not had any issues with it whatsoever and I zeroed my Trijicon ACOG on it and hit a golf ball at 90 yards or so...(twice in three shots).
Of course since then I decided to build my second AR and I put a lot of money into this one and made sure that everything I invested in was 100% Mil-Spec good quality parts (with the exception of a few parts...they are excellent quality but not Mil-Spec). I still have my inexpensive Del-Ton and would never dream of parting with it.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't educate newbies to the differences between a top notch quality AR over one that is less than top notch...just be considerate since some (and I am speaking for myself...at the time) may not be able to afford an AR over 1K....

[mvician]

Originally Posted by billt

The parts are all interchangable so they have to be built to the exact same tolerances. I've swapped out bolt carrier groups from my Colts to my Bushmasters, and they both run the exact same. They should because the bolts on both are stamped "CMT", and were made by the same company under the same roof. My LWRC weapons are of a gas piston design, so their parts are, of course different. In that regard they cannot be compared.

Continental Machine Tool Company, Inc.

Wow, just because 2 parts look the same, and are based off of the same print, doesn't mean they are equal. CMT makes TONS of stuff....and it is built to the customers spec. Does every customer follow the same specs?

Are you going to tell me that for instance a Vulcan Arms V15 is the equal to a Colt 6920?

I have many different "brand" parts, and I know that parts aren't parts.

Wendy's Commercial - Parts is Parts - YouTube

Wendy's Commercial - Parts is Parts - YouTube

[Medic738]

I have a DPMS oracle upper on my RRA lower and only had issues until I learned to lube it correctly oops

[Davidjlittle]

Love my DPMS Oracle. i only have 200 rounds through it with no issues. she does like to run a little wet, but hey for the money i am super happy with it

[billt]

Originally Posted by mvician

Wow, just because 2 parts look the same, and are based off of the same print, doesn't mean they are equal. CMT makes TONS of stuff....and it is built to the customers spec. Does every customer follow the same specs?

I'm telling you that you don't know what those specifications are. So how can you judge? CMT makes bolts for Bushmaster, Colt, and Stag Arms. I'm sure there are others as well. Why would they make them different? They would go broke because they would not be able to charge enough to cover all of the handling and paperwork. The tolerances are all the same because they have to be. The parts are completely interchangeable.

You don't know where a lot of these parts are manufactured. You do not have any knowledge what material they are manufactured from. You don't know what heat treatment or coating process they have received, if any. You possess zero knowledge of any tolerances they were manufactured to. You do know they all are completely interchangeable. And yet you can distinguish which parts are better than others? All while actually knowing nothing what so ever about their content or manufacture. How?

As I said I've swapped out bolt carrier groups from my Colt's to my Bushmasters. They both ran the same. Now, can you tell me which one will break first and when?

[Davidjlittle]

+1 billt. i have got a buddy who wants to buy his first AR, and everyone he talks to (other than me) tells him he needs to spend around 1500 to get a quality rifle. i told him its crap. he doesn't have to get a DPMS which i think is the best deal, but there are a ton of other brands of rifles that are under 1k that will serve him just fine. Just because it says COLT, Bushmaster, or whatever on the side doesn't automatically make it a tier above everything else because "COLT" on the side.

[mvician]

Believe if you want that ALL parts are the same Bill, just because they are interchangeable.
There is no sense in trying to tell you and others who believe the same as you that there is a difference, you'd rather continue to live with you head in the sand.

[mbquimby]

I've had my DPMS going on 5 years and it has A LOT of rounds through it. I have had zero malfunctions, zero breaks and it is more accurate than I am in any fluid situation.

There are better quality rifles but I think technology has reached a point that the extra quality is almost unusable to the average person.

An example of this would be comparing a 185 bhp 1000cc liter bike to a 150 bhp 600cc bike. They are both devistatingly fast sports bikes. There are plenty of race situations where the 1000cc bike would shine brighter than the 600cc version. That being said, as daily drivers the extra 35 bhp is almost exclusively for bragging rights. Did I still buy the ZX10R instead of the ZX6R? Yes. The bragging rights where worth the added cost in sticker price, insurance and gas. That doesn't mean the statistics or quality of the 1000cc bike rendered the 600cc bike worthless or of poor quality.

Your DPMS is of substantial quality and will serve you well in any situation you will find yourself in. Mine has:

[Shaniac]

Originally Posted by mbquimby

I've had my DPMS going on 5 years and it has A LOT of rounds through it. I have had zero malfunctions, zero breaks and it is more accurate than I am in any fluid situation.

There are better quality rifles but I think technology has reached a point that the extra quality is almost unusable to the average person.

An example of this would be comparing a 185 bhp liter bike to a 150 bhp 600cc bike. They are both devistatingly fast sports bikes. There are plenty of race situations where the 1000cc bike would shine brighter than the 600cc version. That being said, as daily drivers the extra 35 bhp is almost exclusively for bragging rights. Did I still buy the ZX10R instead of the ZX6R? Yes. The bragging rights where worth the added cost in sticker price, insurance and gas. That doesn't mean the statistics or quality of the 1000cc bike rendered the 600cc bike worthless or of poor quality.

Your DPMS is of substantial quality and will serve you well in any situation you will find yourself in. Mine has:

Love the Kukri, I own a cheap Cold Steel version but I literally beat the thing to death and it has held up pretty well.
What brand is the one you have pictured above?