I'm I the only one here who's DPMS reciever broke?

[wideym]

Sunday I was changing the trigger guard on one of my DPMS M4s and the right side of the trigger guard mount broke right off. It was properly braced and I used the approriate punch, but on the second tap, it snapped right off. This isn't my first time either, I've built ARs from parts kits, repaired them, and changed parts for over ten years on over 40 ARs.

When I called DPMS about it, expecting a new or referbished reciever in exchange for the broken one, they said "installing or removing the trigger guard voids the warrenty" and that they would reweld it for $75. The reciever only cost me $105 out the door, now they expect me to pay $75+shipping on what could turn out to be an iffy job. I complained that I wasn't some beginer, pounding on it with a sledgehammer and the customer service guy said he would talk to "the man in charge of returns" and call me back. This was at 0945 and I waited all day with no call back.

Until this happened I recommended DPMS to everybody looking for a great all-round AR for price, availablity, and reliablity. Now even Bushmaster is suspect to me since the same company owns both manufactures.

The customer service guy gave me the impression that this is a fairly common occurance, but this is the first time I have ever seen or heard of this happening let alone to me. Has this happened to anyone else out there and if you had it rewelded how did it look and was it durable?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

It is common...on any AR. (Well...common may not be the right word....but it does happen)

Go to m4carbine forum...there are easy ways to fix this yourself.

 

[nicholst55]

Stuff happens. While this has never happened to me personally, I have heard of it several times before. In fact, if you surf AR-15.com, you'll see posts about this fairly often.

I personally wouldn't expect DPMS to give me a freebie on this one, regardless of how experienced I were - and I've been working on M16s and AR-15s for 35 years. As far as it costing you $75 plus shipping, well, that's the breaks. The way I see it, you either pay and have it fixed so you can use it, or waste your time trying to fond someone locally to weld it up and hopefully do as good a job as DPMS will.

Unfortunately, you're caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. I'd pony up the cash, and get it done with. FWIW, I'd send the trigger guard and pin along with the lower, and have THEM install it while they have it there!

 

[Phelptwan]

That is why I use the vise-grip method to install pins on lowers.

 

[Nikdfish]

There are various low temperature (600-750 degree) aluminium welding/brazing materials for the do-it-yourselfer that can be used with a regular propane or Mapp torch. I think AlumiWeld goes for $30 for a lb of rods at an on-line site (although you'd only need 1 rod). You might find a local source for smaller quantities.

You heat the site til the rod leaves a trace when rubbed on it, build up the location (maybe using a piece of steel as a temp backing to get a flat inside surface), let it cool, file to desired profile & redrill or maybe go to a Magpul MAID grip with integrated trigger guard. FWIW, this stuff is is generally harder than mild steel once cooled.

You could also just leave it broken off & use the Magpul MAID grip with the integrated trigger guard ...


Nick

 

[Mot45acp]

You could also just leave it broken off & use the Magpul MAID grip with the integrated trigger guard ...

That gets my vote.
Most cost effective without jury rigging.

 

[Aka Zero]

Instead of repairing, I would buy another lower. At the price they want you could get another lower, and have a "spare?"

A slightly damage lower is still a registered "gun" which means in case of ban, you have an extra.

 

[strat81]

I wouldn't expect a warranty repair either.

+1 on the MIAD.

Sorry, bro.

 

[Kenneth Lew]

If you have a $10k M-16, I would reweld it. If your receiver only cost $105, I will chunk it or chop it and buy another one. I've seen experienced people break that section off many times.

 

[Gary G23]

This is why I have my gunsmith change my trigger guards.

 

[innerpiece]

yeah.. sorry, but if you do work that voids warrenty, ya cant really expect the warrenty to cover it..

It sounds like yer quite competent, but sometime s**t happens. hopefully you can get it fixed up nice, or nab a nother one for cheap.

good luck!

 

[wideym]

What really angers me is how can you sell a stripped reciever and say installing or removing the trigger guard voids the warrenty?

Thanks for the Magpul MAID grip suggestion. I had forgotten about the trigger guard being part of the grip.

 

[TexasRifleman]

What really angers me is how can you sell a stripped reciever and say installing or removing the trigger guard voids the warrenty?

Most companies warranties are void if you try do-it-yourself repair or modification work. That's very common in guns and everything else.

You can't expect a company to be responsible for how you assemble the thing. Yes you probably know what you're doing and yes it sucks but for every one of you there are 50 goofballs doing this same assembly with tire tools or sledgehammers.

Just one of the risks you assume with a stripped lower.

If you bought an engine block from Summit and you stripped out the block putting the heads on would you expect Summit to give you another engine block?

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I own one DPMS receiver and it has been fine for me.

That said, I have helped build probably at least a dozen AR15's specifically on DPMS lower receivers and none have had any issues.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.