DPMS vs. Bushmaster

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Gunner45

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A good friend of mine is looking to get a AR-15, and has narrowed it down to a Bushmaster and a DPMS. He asked what I thought as far a quality goes between one and the other. I told him that Bushmaster is very well thought of, but I hadn't heard much about DPMS.

What do you all think? I thought the fit and finnish on the DPMS that we looked at was every bit as good as the Bushy.

Are DPMS barrels crome lined?

Thanks guys

Gunner45
 
I don't think any DPMS barrels are chrome lined. DPMS is a less expensive, less refined gun. They have a reputation for accuracy but that's about it. Bushmaster beats them in most other areas.

There is one intangible thing that should push you toward Bushmaster... Bushmaster is being sued for the theft of one of their guns from a gun store and subsequent murder of a bunch of people. Defending this retarded suit will take money. Send business their way to keep this company from falling victim to the ambulance chasers.
 
DPMS gets very good reviews. I haven't compared but i would assume that there is a significant cost savings as well from going with DPMS. I would probably consider one if i was in the market for another postban gun. And i believe that they have started using chrome bores/chambers but you should verify that with them.
 
I have owned both the Bushmaster and the DPMS brand of ar-15's, and after shooting them both, sold the Bushmaster and kept the DPMS..........they are a smaller manufacturer and make a very good product......who cares about a chrome lined barrel anyway?........it doesn't make them any more accurate......none of the long range competitors I know use a chrome lined barrel, and I doubt if any normal owner will ever shoot out a barrel, unless you are a prairie dog shooter and shoot thousands of rounds each year, and even then it would take a long time to shoot one out...................shoot them both, and then decide for yourself.....
 
The chrome lned barrel is absolutely imperative!!

Both are, quality, well made guns. IF the DPMS can now be had with chrome, it should be considered. If not, get the Bushmaster. I would never even give a second look to an AR without chrome.

The lack of chrome lined barrels and chambers ws the primary cause of all the troubles the early M-16 rifles experienced in Viet Nam.
 
cheygriz,
With all due respect i disagree that chrom e is imperative, in some cases it may be detrimental.

The problems in Viet Nam were due to several factors including the swith to ball powder and the lack of cleaning kits. Chrome was added later as an additional preventative measure. Unless you live deep in the bayous of LA and are planning for the end of civilization i think you would be served just fine with no chrome.

If you are planning on varmint hunting or benchrest shooting you may prefer not to use chrome as the slight irregularities will affect long range accuracy as well as other issues.

That being said my 2 social ARs both have chrome and my benchrest AR with Blackstar barrel does not.
 
Chrome lined barrels also protected the bore from corrosive ammo. ;) Again, (hopefully) not something your friend would worry about.

But me, I still vote Bushmaster. :D

Correct me if I'm wrong, but all the DPMS I've seen have the greyish-black finish, while my Bushmaster is solid-black. Even the DPMS stock I used to own had a lighter sort of "powder-coated black" color than the Bushmaster's flat black. But all of this was 8 - 10 years ago so they may not be that way any more.
Does color matter? Not really... unless you mate a DPMS upper to a Bushy or Rock River lower.
 
The finish on a DPMS is a solid black. In addition to anodizing the aluminum they then give give it a baked on black teflon coating. Many people have gotten Bushy's that have a purplish look to them. Chrome lined bore doesn't matter to me. If I was firing full auto, then it would make a difference. Fit and finish on my DPMS is second to none. Either way you get a great rifle. For my DPMS Classic Sixteen, I paid $675 in November 2002.
 
Unless you live in a very humid environment with no ability to control the conditions in your home and/or you are incredibly negligent in the storage of your weapons, I don't think chrome lining is that big of a deal. Just clean the gun after every trip to the range. I've never had any problem with any of my rifles without chrome lining as long as I did my part.

I haven't noticed any functional differences between my DPMSs and Bushmaster. I wouldn't hesitate buying from either manufacturers in the future if the impulse ever overtakes me again. (In fact, I'm considering DPMS's .22 lr upper right now.)
 
DPMS gets a wobbly thumb side-ways frome me. There quality control can be spotty at times but if the right guy makes the rifle your in good. I don't remember the guys name but the one who makes all there NM rifles knows his stuff(Zetter?) but you can tell most of there sales staff to pound sand- there just trying to get your money.
 
Maybe barrel longevity isn't an issue, but if it is, then you'll get several thousand more rounds through a chrome-lined barrel than you will with a non-chrome-lined barrel. Some accuracy is sacrificed by the use of chrome-lining, however.
 
I fail to find a single problem with the fit or finish of my DPMS.

And I continue to be amazed at the "imperative" remarks attached to chrome-lined barrel.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; there have been countless thousands if not MILLIONS of rifles produced in the last 100 years - without chrome-lined barrels :eek: -that have somehow survived the ravages of world wars and minor conflicts and are still great shooters. Chrome is no substitute for proper maintenance and cleaning.

stellarpod
 
I can't speak of the DPMS. I have recently purchased a Bushmaster 16" shorty and it is a quality piece of work. I love mine. Mil-spec, so it does 5.56 Nato and the chamber and barrel are chrome lined. Of course, it cost's more. You get what you pay for.
 
My flattop DPMS 16" heavy barrel carbine is an example of a top quality firearm. The barrel and chamber is not chromed but the carrier and bolt are. It makes for easy cleaning.
 
I have a DPMS Panther Bull 24 Special and love the rifle. The DPMS can out shoot any other rifle I own. I also own a Colt 6601 and the when I reach in the safe to pull out an AR, I usually end up taking the DPMS.
 
Also, where mil-spec allows for certain parts to be plastic, DPMS uses aluminum. Another note on the chrome lining issue.
 
Pick up where I left off with chrome lining. DSA Inc. uses 4140 heat treated chrome moly steel barrels just like DPMS. You dont see anyone knocking their rifles.
 
When I went to the DPMS website I saw cast receivers, teflon coating, and 4140 barrel steel. I'll stick with Bushmaster.
 
As far as I know, the DPMS Panther Lite and the Lo Pro use cast lowers and forged uppers. All other rifles use forged uppers and lowers. The Panther Lite and Lo Pro are their "value" line so to speak. Nothing wrong with 4140 barrel steel, many others use it. Choose what you like, thats why it is good there so many gun manufacturers.
 
DPMS makes a 308 now, and am waiting for the 308 uppers to go on sale probably next year..........they also make the 7.62x39MM......I guess Bushmaster knows its limitations......I have a left-handed 20" stainless bull barrel, and I would not trade it for anything bushmaster makes...........not saying the bushy isn't a good ar15, but, for me, the DPMS is no.1.......
 
By the way, if anyone is looking for a scope mount for a flat top ar15, take a look at the Wilson website for the one piece mount and ring set-up that they have........I put one on my ar15, and it is really a good setup, very solid, and the right height........
 
Thanks for the feed back guys. He's more than likely going to get the DPMS as localy it's quite a bit cheaper. He's looking at spending $629 on the DPMS M4 look a like. I held it and the finnish was a nice Mil spec black, not grayish at all. I was impressed. I just wish I had the money to get one too. :(

Gunner45
 
one other thing about crome lining barrels is that in most cases the crome lining is not a uniform thickness through out causing accuracy problems in some extreme cases.
 
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