advice for my first AR-15 Bushmaster vs. DPMS

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

wford

Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2012
Messages
62
Location
Madison, WI
Hi, i was about to buy a kel-tec plr 15 and was talked out of it, and now I have my eye on an AR. I have narrowed it down to two possibilities, and maybe you will know of others. I am looking to spend 700 dollars tops. The first option is the dpms oracle and the second is the bushmaster carbon 15. The oracle is 105 dollars less and made of metal, the bushmaster is a polymer which i have no problem with unless there is a reason I should. The Bushmaster comes with a red dot and 6 position stock, the dpms does not. The red dot will be replaced right away if I get the bushmaster, and if I get the dpms I will likely replace the stock soon after i buy the gun. What do you all think I should do?
 
it says it is a compliant ten round gun, does that mean anything other than the mags they supply are ten round mags?
 
The best choice in your price range is the PSA 16'' M4 Chrome-lined Carbine. PSA is temporarily out of stock but it would be worth waiting for. $600 buys a mil-spec carbine.
 
Either one will foot the bill IMO it sounds like your going to have to accessorize either one and they are both about the same quality. Buy the cheapest one and hang on it what ever you want. BTW I have seen those S&W's selling very reasonably right now.
 
Neither one is worth the money they want for them.
Do yourself a favor and so a bit more research. If you are dead set on getting a cheap AR at least look at the S&W Sporter.
 
We have 4 DPMS's in the family and they all work great, don't believe all the internet BS....
 
I wouldn't touch either one. I second the S&W Sport as a better option in that price range. Others that I would choose ahead of those are the DS Arms and the Del-Ton. The Palmetto is probably a good deal also but I'm having some issues with them right now regarding a defective part and I can't really recommend them until I get that resolved. Apart from that issue I have a complete upper from them that has worked perfectly.

For another $100 a lot of options open up.
 
Have a DPMS oracle, was in the same boat as you, dont need a top of the line AR just something to take to the range and play or pop a coyote. Have around 1000 rounds through mine with no issues, and it shoots black hills HP in about 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards.
 
I've been looking around, and while there are mixed reviews for a lot of brands in this price range, S&W seems to have a good rep. A S&W M&P15 Sport will be my first AR, once I have the funds for it.
 
Listen to the folks on here. It's not that Bushmaster & DPMS make terrible rifles, but if this is your first AR, then you might want to get the most VALUE for the same money spent. Right now prices are good on a lot of higher end hardware. Think "milspec" for less!

Better barrel on the Smith outlined above.

Also, look for an M16 bolt carrier group if you can, versus commercial version BCG on the dpms and others. Milspec diameter buffer tube, heavy buffer, crane spec, etc. All can be had for good prices right now. Who knows about later this year.

You may not NEED any of those things to have a good rifle, but if they can be had for the money, why not try.
 
Buy a PSA rifle. You'll thank me when you see the guys with DPMS/Bushmaster/RRA guns fumbling with the broken parts at the range.

You may not run the gun hard enough to notice the difference now, but you'll find they're fun to shoot, fun enough that down the road, you may consider a carbine class for self-defense and preparedness, as well as competition/fun reasons. So, better safe than sorry, so to speak. God forbid you ever have to bet your life on a firearm, the AR is one that you want to be built right and ready to go, guaranteed.
 
As others have said....

Check out Palmetto State Armory. It is a mil-spec carbine that is within the price range you want. I bought the Psa lower for 49.95 and bought a Hammer forged MOE M4A1 rifle kit for 589.99, after shipping it was 660.00 total. Not bad for a hammer forged, chromelined, mil-spec, MOE equipped AR. If you know how to use a hammer, punch, needle nose pliers, tape, and youtube....you can build a quality AR for cheap. This was my first and took a total of 20 minutes to build. Here's the link for the kits ...http://palmettostatearmory.com/AR-rifle-kits.php

The price of the stripped lowers goes up on the 8th.
 
You'll thank me when you see the guys with DPMS/Bushmaster/RRA guns fumbling with the broken parts at the range.
Click to expand...
Oh My!
How many instances of any of that have you seen?

Dang!
I swore off AR threads...
 
Why do people do this? Someone wants to buy an entry level gun to go have fun with and it turns into, "If you're going to bet your life on it..."
I've got a folder full of gun failure pictures, and it includes Colt's, Daniel Defense, BCM, Bushmaster, ect.
Guns will fail. The main thing you have to worry about is the gas key screws being staked.
 
Go to an intense carbine course and your prospective will change.
Click to expand...

maybe sometimes, but dont bet your lunch money on that.

ive got 2 identical models that are sternly frowned upon by sunday morning tactical operators they have been abused lately and ran harder than any carbine course can even come close to.

i will concede that the quality of the brand i own may have slipped from when mine were built 8-10 years ago. (from what ive read on internet gun forums)
 
Don't believe the Internet crap. DPMS and Bushmaster make great rifles. I have 6 Ar's. I have 2 Daniel Defense that I paid top dollar for as well as the cheaper DPMS and Bushmaster versions. The DPMS and the Busmasters are great. I also have an Olympic arms that has been a great rifle. I have a S&W M&P 15 OR Magpul that I like as well.
The people that bash DPMS, bushmaster and Olympic Arms are guys that have never had them and are looking to establish their higher priced rifles as superior. Unless you are shooting bad guys in the desert, you can't go wrong with any of the above listed.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

F
  • Locked
DPMS vs. Bushmaster?
Replies
11
Views
3K
vanfunk
V
G
  • Locked
DPMS vs. Bushmaster
2
Replies
31
Views
5K
WalkerTexasRanger
W
P
  • Locked
Bushmaster vs. DPMS
Replies
18
Views
6K
gun-fucious
G
O
  • Locked
Big AR-15 sale at Buds
Replies
4
Views
951
itsa pain
I
BP Hunter
  • Locked
Bushmaster or DPMS?
Replies
10
Views
932
PT1911
P
Back
Top