Are any real difference between DPMS and Bushmaster.
Traditionally, DPMS was the “budget brand,” and Bushmaster was the more refined model. Ford and Lincoln. I built about a hundred and fifty or so AR’s on primarily Bushmaster parts, and have used several DPMS rifles over the years.
There are a lot of rumors about lower Bushmaster quality at the end of their AR run, but personally, I haven’t seen it. Customer service started falling off, as many models just weren’t supported any longer, and specific parts simply not available, but I can’t say the late model Bushy’s are any worse than any time in the last 20yrs. DPMS’s, on the other hand, did improve significantly over that span.
Other than FN barrels, there’s nothing special about the PSA rifle over a DPMS or Bushmaster. The forgings will have the same origin, as will a great deal of the small parts, the same as any carbines like them in the market.
I’ll admit, I’m biased towards Bushmaster branding over DPMS, but only from the reality of a couple decades ago when the Bushmaster was the “upgraded model” of the DPMS. Today, the gap is smaller, small enough to say there really isn’t a gap any longer. But after 20+ years, I like the looks of the Rattler on the side better than the Panther.