Double Star AR's: opinions or experience?

[ArmedBear]

Look here: http://jtdistributing.net/store/more_k_16ds4car.html

Barrel options include 1:9, 1:7, chrome or no chrome, or 4150 1:7 with chrome lining, M4 ramps and an F-marked sight tower.

You can get the gun however you want.

Just because it isn't mil spec doesn't mean that its not great.

Exactly. Nobody uses a mil spec 1911 for a damn thing but as a collectible...

Call it good, call it bad, and explain your point, but "mil spec" doesn't equate to "best".

 

[Kenpo]

Depends on what your definition of 'good' is. If you want something reliable and shoots well, Double Star will work. If you want to impress people wearing Colt Tactical Panties™, you'll be disappointed.

Now that there is funny.

Question while we're on the subject; where can I get some Colt Tactical Panties for my wife? That would be hot.

 

[Kenpo]

I don't want to derail the thread, but since the source of contention regarding DS quality is focused on milspec or the lack there of, I think it fits;

It seems like this is a question that could be answered definitively. What milspec criteria is helpful and why? Which have no real value? Compiling a quick list from what Azizza and Gary listed, which of the following are actually worthwhile?

I put in parenthesis my understanding of the difference/purpose , but I am not in any way an expert, engineer, alchemist etc.

No chrome lining (Chrome lining extends bbl life? Corrosion resistance? Hardness? I hear it can hamper accuracy...)
No MPI testing (Quality control)
Non Shot peened bolts, (Shot peening increases fatigue strength, correct?)
Badly staked Gas key (Staking ensures they don’t back out, which obviously could cause problems)
No staking at all on the RE
1/9 instead of 1/7 barrel twist (Heavier grain bullet for combat use)
Standard instead of H buffer on the carbines. (?)

4140 barrel steel instead of 4150CMV (40% Carbon vs 50% Carbon. Addition of Chrome Moly Vanadium / only milspec if it complies with 11595 specs – Higher fatigue strength?)
6061 receiver extension instead of 7075T6 (Higher fatigues strength of alloy?)
8620 bolt instead of 158 Carpenter (?)
no M4 feed ramps (Feeding reliability?)

 

[longdayjake]

It seems like this is a question that could be answered definitively. What milspec criteria is helpful and why? Which have no real value? Compiling a quick list from what Azizza and Gary listed, which of the following are actually worthwhile?

Well, it has already been determined that you can order almost whatever you want from DS as they give you several options. There may be a few things that you can get from COLT that DS doesnt offer, but there are several options from DS that COLT does not offer. Colts are great rifles. But they are generic. Other manufacturers give more options and in many ways they can be better than COLTS.

 

[greyling22]

I bought one for my father in law for xmas. talked with DS before I did, got an actual person first try who knew the answers to my questions and didn't try to upsell me.

The gun ran flawlessly once I started running cheap monarch ammo (academy) in it instead of shady reloads I had been given by a redneck. the included magazine took 31 rounds and the last round did not feed (bolt locked open with one round in the mag). The magpul pmag worked flawlessly. I mounted a cheap truglo red dot on the gun on top of a leapers 1" riser and the thing was printing 5" low and right at 50 yds. easily fixed. the gun had a shiny black upper and lower instead of a matte finish. It matched the stock instead of the barrel. I'm not a huge AR guy, but it seemed to work fine for me. Seemed like the chevy of the AR world instead of the toyota or Jag, but that's all he needed. hard to beat for $649 delivered. +ffl, optic, riser for $700 flat.

 

[ArmedBear]

The gun ran flawlessly once I started running cheap monarch ammo (academy) in it instead of shady reloads I had been given by a redneck.

If your gun shoots better with cheap Monarch ammo than with your handloads, you just might be a redneck.

 

[greyling22]

they weren't mine, honest!

 

[Redemption]

Great guns/parts and great guys. I stop and talk to them at every Indy1500 and usually end up buying something they have. I have 2 of their M-4's and one M2 built on a RRA receiver-one of the old ones that just have the columnar rollmarks and all of the forge marks. The DS are sharp and tight.

 

[wojownik]

I have two J&T uppers, and am very pleased with sub MOA accuracy on both. One is moly, the other chrome, both have gas keys that are staked just fine, and 1/9 twist is the option I wanted on both. The mil-spec statistics are fine, if that is what you are looking to acquire. If you are looking for a solid and accurate upper that differs from mil spec in areas, then J&T may fit the bill.