I finally finished my AR-15 build. This rifle is 100% DPMS with the exception of the red dot sight, pistol grip, and trigger guard. The lower was a standard DPMS stripped lower, with a DPMS LPK and DPMS M4 style 6-pos. stock. The upper is a DPMS 5.56 AP4 direct impingement A3 flat-top upper with a chrome-moly barrel with M203 mount cut, A2 birdcage flash hider, A2 front sight/ gas block w/ bayonet lug, forward assist, dust-cover, and brass deflector. The rear sight is a DPMS detachable A2 sight. The optic is a Tasco Pro-Point Red/ Green dot 1X42mm co-witnessed with both sights. The trigger guard is a MagPul enhanced and the pistol grip is Hogue. This was my first AR build, and I really didn't save any money doing it myself. The entire build cost about $800, but was well worth it to me. I hope you guys like it!
Well, I finished it!
- Thread starter Nick5182
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Z-Michigan
Member
Enjoy!
It was much easier to save money just 1-2 years ago. Also, saving money generally involves mixing and matching various brands to get the best values (quality and price).
It was much easier to save money just 1-2 years ago. Also, saving money generally involves mixing and matching various brands to get the best values (quality and price).
againstthagrane
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- Apr 8, 2008
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Great rifle, but one quick tip. Check and make sure that you have the black extractor spring insert and not the blue one. The almighty chart says that dpms uses the blue insert even though mine came with the black. If you have the blue one I think it's $6 to upgrade from bravo co.
Thanks Z, I will. Even though I didn't save too much (if anything) I got to pay for it at my leisure which was great.
Hey againstthagrane, my extractor spring insert is black, so I won't have to swap it. Is there a difference between to the two?
Hey againstthagrane, my extractor spring insert is black, so I won't have to swap it. Is there a difference between to the two?
my advice would be to read TACOM MAINTENANCE ADVISORY MESSAGE MAM-04-024
and then understand that what's important is how much resistance is provided by some combination of the insert, spring and possibly o-ring. there are at least two mil specs for the inserts which have different hardness (i forget the technical term...), and are identified by color (blue/black).
HOWEVER, no sane, rational person with more than 15 minutes experience in this industry would from that assume any of the following are necessarily true:
1. commercial vendors know the specs
2. commercial vendors would follow the specs given a choice
that is not a value judgment. maybe your vendor supplies an insert that is harder than the mil-spec. maybe they supply an insert that is softer. maybe they offer both buffers that are to spec, but color both the hard and soft one black.
as far as 'the chart' is concerned, rob_s has published repeatedly how to contact him to for updates. i'm going to go out on a limb and say he hasn't purchased a DPMS lately and if they've changed, won't know until someone tells him.
and then understand that what's important is how much resistance is provided by some combination of the insert, spring and possibly o-ring. there are at least two mil specs for the inserts which have different hardness (i forget the technical term...), and are identified by color (blue/black).
HOWEVER, no sane, rational person with more than 15 minutes experience in this industry would from that assume any of the following are necessarily true:
1. commercial vendors know the specs
2. commercial vendors would follow the specs given a choice
that is not a value judgment. maybe your vendor supplies an insert that is harder than the mil-spec. maybe they supply an insert that is softer. maybe they offer both buffers that are to spec, but color both the hard and soft one black.
as far as 'the chart' is concerned, rob_s has published repeatedly how to contact him to for updates. i'm going to go out on a limb and say he hasn't purchased a DPMS lately and if they've changed, won't know until someone tells him.
Quentin
Member
Nice rifle Nick. And you probably did save a little money if you had the stripped lower receiver placed on a separate order by itself. That way the federal excise tax of about 11% is applied only to it and not to the parts on other orders. When you buy a complete rifle or ALL parts on one order the tax is applied to the entire order.
Like Z-Michigan said it's more likely to save by mix'n'matching parts. I did that a year ago and came in at $800 by supplementing quality new parts with some good used parts. With today's prices it would have come in a little cheaper. Even though everything was name brand I ended up with a "FrankenAR" and you have a DPMS so it all depends on what's important to you (or whoever is building).
Like Z-Michigan said it's more likely to save by mix'n'matching parts. I did that a year ago and came in at $800 by supplementing quality new parts with some good used parts. With today's prices it would have come in a little cheaper. Even though everything was name brand I ended up with a "FrankenAR" and you have a DPMS so it all depends on what's important to you (or whoever is building).
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againstthagrane
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yeah...i definitely don't care enough to do that.
from what i have read, the blue insert is softer and can have problems grasping and extracting cases if your chamber gets really dirty and hot or if you're using steel cased ammo.
i actually just received a BCM bolt with the crane o-ring. i'm keeping my DPMS bolt as a spare. i guess all of the internet bashing finally scared me enough to upgrade even though it has been 100% so far. I figured since it's now my "night stand" weapon it should have higher quality internals and it's always good to have a spare.
did you buy the upper fully assembled or did you piece it together yourself?
i'm currently looking for a new barrel to build an upper around.
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