Professionals - knowledge request

[kcphoenix]

Gentlemen: I acquired this weapon last night in a trade and don't know much about it. Knowing you all are the experts, I thought this would be the best place to go for an education. I know it is missing a cap of some kind on the scope mount, but not sure what kind belongs there to replace it. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate any input. Thanks in advance!

Kassie

[mojaveman]

What kind of scope is it? Looks like you lost your side focus or BDC knob. You could try contacting the manufacturer and getting another one. If it's a cheap scope though I'd just trash it and buy a better one.

[kcphoenix]

I'm not honestly sure what kind of scope it is. There doesn't appear to be any brand name on it, just the 3-9x50 AO Red/Green Mil Dot markings.

[J8127]

I'm not a QP, just a budding gun nerd.

I can't help you with the scope but DPMS isn't an extremely high quality arms manufacturer and you are going to want to inspect your new rifle. Specifically you want to check that the gas key has been properly staked on your bolt carrier.

Here is a good read about staking, the same idea is generally applied to the Castle Nut on carbines, not an issue on your fixed stock, just FYI.

Notice the difference between how the Colt is staked and the DPMS.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread....gas+key+staked

I don't know every single little issue that DPMS/RRA/Bushmaster rifles have. You may not have a correctly tested bolt, properly staked gas key, etc... M4Carbine.net is a great website that will square you away on all things AR15, in addition to the guys on this site.

Don't be discouraged about your rifle, theres just a few minor changes you may want to consider if you are going to give it some serious use is all.

Heres a link to a thread full of other good threads,

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=7009

[Buffalobob]

What kind of scope is it? Looks like you lost your side focus or BDC knob. You could try contacting the manufacturer and getting another one. If it's a cheap scope I'd just trash it and buy a better one.

That's good advice if it is cheap. Scopes are hard to identify by shape so if it has no name on it then it is probably cheap

First thing to do is to take it outside and see if it will focus/adjust and then one should see if it will hold adjustment and zero. Next run a tracking test on it to see if it will return to zero.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Buffalobob

That's good advice if it is cheap. Scopes are hard to identify by shape so if it has no name on it then it is probably cheap

First thing to do is to take it outside and see if it will focus/adjust and then one should see if it will hold adjustment and zero. Next run a tracking test on it to see if it will return to zero.

That's the best advice you'll get.

[SF0]

Looks like a 50 dollar China special to me:


http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/7...wholesale.html

[rdret1]

Originally Posted by J8127

I'm not a QP, just a budding gun nerd.

I can't help you with the scope but DPMS isn't an extremely high quality arms manufacturer and you are going to want to inspect your new rifle. Specifically you want to check that the gas key has been properly staked on your bolt carrier.


http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=7009

Is this based on personal experience or just opinion? I haven't seen too many problems with DPMS/RRA or Bushmaster that are not endemic to any AR style rifle. Personaly, I love my RRA. Accurate, dependable and probably the sweetest trigger on an AR I have ever seen.

[Iraqgunz]

DPMS is pretty much bottom bin. Hopefully you aren't too deep into it. The DPMS you have pictured more than likely has a barrel made from 4140 chrome moly and the chamber is more than likely going to be tight (i.e. .223 and not 5.56).

The barrel and bolt are not HP/MPI tested and inspected. The bolt carrier is more than likely a neutered semi auto one. The carrier key screws should be checked as well as the castle nut.

They are ok for plinking, but above that I wouldn't depend on them. As for the scope it's too difficult to identify but it is more than likely some eBay special.

[kcphoenix]

Originally Posted by Iraqgunz

Hopefully you aren't too deep into it.

Not to deep I don't think [hope]...traded for something worth $50...figured some part of it had to be worth that at least?

I'll try to find time to get it up to a gun shop in town and see if they can check it over for safety and such.

I appreciate all the information!

[J8127]

Originally Posted by rdret1

Is this based on personal experience or just opinion? I haven't seen too many problems with DPMS/RRA or Bushmaster that are not endemic to any AR style rifle. Personaly, I love my RRA. Accurate, dependable and probably the sweetest trigger on an AR I have ever seen.

No experience with them, just second hand from a lot of knowledgeable people like IraqGunz and such. My AR is a Daniel Defense.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by J8127

I'm not a QP, just a budding gun nerd.

I can't help you with the scope but DPMS isn't an extremely high quality arms manufacturer and you are going to want to inspect your new rifle. Specifically you want to check that the gas key has been properly staked on your bolt carrier.

Here is a good read about staking, the same idea is generally applied to the Castle Nut on carbines, not an issue on your fixed stock, just FYI.

Notice the difference between how the Colt is staked and the DPMS.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread....gas+key+staked

I don't know every single little issue that DPMS/RRA/Bushmaster rifles have. You may not have a correctly tested bolt, properly staked gas key, etc... M4Carbine.net is a great website that will square you away on all things AR15, in addition to the guys on this site.

Don't be discouraged about your rifle, theres just a few minor changes you may want to consider if you are going to give it some serious use is all.

Heres a link to a thread full of other good threads,

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=7009

I also have a few RRA weapons, never had an issue and they are very accurate.

Please feel free to continue your love of gun nerds at forums such as the above. Your "professional weapons opinion" doesn't hold water here.

Just an FYI, most of the "gun writers" in/on those forums and "tactical weapons magazines" have zero experience in actually employing the weapons...... just like the idiot that owns tactical forums, he's never been in harms way.....

Now move out and draw fire.......

Team Sergeant

[J8127]

TS, did not intent to ruffle any RRA owning feathers. I didn't say they were giant pieces of shit, I said they were not extremely high quality. BM/DPMS/RRA are not on the same level as Colt/Daniel Defense/Noveske/BCM and it's worth noting and checking a few things. I did not pretend to be a professional or QP and said that first thing.

I'm glad your RRAs are treating you well, but OP's is a DPMS, and Iraqgunz or I not being QPs does not make,

The DPMS you have pictured more than likely has a barrel made from 4140 chrome moly and the chamber is more than likely going to be tight (i.e. .223 and not 5.56).

The barrel and bolt are not HP/MPI tested and inspected. The bolt carrier is more than likely a neutered semi auto one. The carrier key screws should be checked as well as the castle nut.

Any less true.

[rdret1]

Originally Posted by J8127

TS, did not intent to ruffle any RRA owning feathers. I didn't say they were giant pieces of shit, I said they were not extremely high quality. BM/DPMS/RRA are not on the same level as Colt/Daniel Defense/Noveske/BCM and it's worth noting and checking a few things. I did not pretend to be a professional or QP and said that first thing.

I'm glad your RRAs are treating you well, but OP's is a DPMS, and Iraqgunz or I not being QPs does not make,



Any less true.

I would rather have my RRA than any Colt. I have had Colt trigger assembly pins walk and go full auto among other things. I have never fired a Daniel Defense or Noveske so I have no opinion on them. I don't know where you are getting that RRA or Bushmaster are not extremely high quality firearms because you are wrong. If by "high quality" you mean custom built, no they are not. Custom built does not necessarily equate to "high quality." Just because someone pays $3000+ for a rifle does not mean it is that much better than someone else's $1500 rifle.

[Air.177]

Originally Posted by kcphoenix

Not to deep I don't think [hope]...traded for something worth $50...figured some part of it had to be worth that at least?

I'll try to find time to get it up to a gun shop in town and see if they can check it over for safety and such.

I appreciate all the information!

If you are in that rifle for $50, you did fine. With DPMS Receivers, if the SN ends with a "K" then it was sold as a stripped lower and assembled by someone else, so it could be a veritable grab bag of internals. DPMS doesn't have the best reputation for quality but if you are an informed consumer, you should be able to work around this and could very likely sell the rifle for $500 or better depending on the market.

All things that have been mentioned (carrier key staking, bolt, chamber, extractor, trigger pins) should be checked out by a qualified individual and probably replaced if you intend to shoot the rifle heavily.

That scope, and pretty much any others that have Red/Green illumination, is highly likely a cheap Chinese POS as has been said previously.


RE: other manufacturers, as with any other mass produced mechanical device, quality varies. In the hysteria following the sunset of the '94-'04 AWB, and again before and after the last Presidential elections, many manufacturers were unable to keep up with the volume of sales they were receiving and may have sourced components from other than ordinary suppliers. These and many other factors can contribute to widely varying quality/perception of quality. RRA is generally pretty decent for GP use, and they are widely used by a variety of LE agencies including FBI, DEA, etc. Things to remember about Federal contracts folks, the cheapest bidder who meets standards gets the contract....

HTH, YMMV.

Good times,
Blake