AR-15 question

[Jerry Johnson]

I am in the market to buy an AR-15. I a currently looking at a DPMS A2 or Panther Lite. I was seriously considering a Bushmaster but the price of the DPMS has my attention $699.



First question. Does anybody have any first hand experience with DPMS AR-15s?



Second question. What are your guys opinions about DPMS vs. Bushmaster vs. Armalite vs. Rock River?



Thanks,

Jerry

 

[CobraXP]

You won't go wrong with the DPMS. I have a DPMS lower, and my AR-10 is built off a DPMS. I also have a Bushmaster and 3 Rock River lowers and have not had any fitment problems.



For what AR's are going for, $699 isn't bad. What setup is it?



AR's are an animal all to their own because for the normal average everyday Joe, if the stamps were not on the side of the lower, they would never know what 'brand' they were holding. They are all made to mainly the same identical specs so that they can be interchanged and work with any other brand also.



They are also addicting... Once you get one, you wil start modding it the way you would a vehicle. The first one I bought was a Bushy 20". Then I started toying with all the accessories, rails, optics, etc, etc. It was the only one of my AR's I have bought that came as a full gun. All the rest I bought the parts and put them together myself in the configuration and setup I wanted and liked. I have now bought a few 80% lowers and am building my own lowers with my brand to really personalize them...



Welcome to BRD...



Black Rifle Disease

 

[Woppy V]

AR-15 is the best rifle I've ever shot. But I've only shot it once because it didn't belong to me. Happy hunting though!

 

[Jeremy Gilmore 2]

I am carrying a Bushmaster. I have it basically setup just like my M4. I mainly use it for home protection and when ever my local SWAT Team wants me to embarrass them (happens a lot, thank god they are all my friends).

 

[Mike Dziubina]

im building a rock river right now! 699 for a complete rifle is a great price btw.

 

[Bill Barber]

Stock up on ammo while you still can, real cheap on gunbroker these days.

 

[Robert Poole]

Also check www.ar15.com



I have had an AR since the early 90's(preban) My experience as an armorer in the Army does come helpful. The parts are pretty much interchangable, most are what is called *GI Specs*, that means that it will inerchange with all other AR's. There is a platora of spare parts and upgrades out there. Get ammo while you can, you may wish to consider handloading.



Have a good one and welcome to the world of the mousegun.





Bob

 

[Carey Frennier]

I've had two of them.



A Colt Match Target H-Bar and a Bushmaster XM15. The Colt was a POS! It constantly jammed and bent bolts. I think this gun was $750 way back in the late 90s.



The Bushmaster was awesome. It never jammed and it was a lot more fun. It was a compact version with a collapsing stock. It felt better balanced than the Colt H-Bar. The Bushmaster was around $950 in the late 90s- early 2000s.



I used the same Harris bipod on both guns.



I had flirted with a Calico 9mm w/ 100 shot cylinder drum but it wasn't as cool as the Bushmaster XM15 and it was terribly off balance.



The most fun gun I ever owned was the Reminginton 870 12ga with the "Law Enforcement Pkg". I loved that gun. Had it pimped out with a folding stock and a short. smooth barrel.

 

[Carey Frennier]

If I remember correctly, Armalite was the original manufacturer of the AR15A1 and then Colt picked it up and brought it into the current AR15A2? After that many licenses were issued so that a slew of other manufacturers could produce it.



I've seem some really decent looking versions at Dicks and Gander Mountain.



Imo Bushmaster > All

 

[Don Pertz]

Look in my library. double click images.

 

[Jerry Johnson]

Thanks for your inputs. I'm leaning toward the DPMS Panther Lite. The price seems to be to good to let go. This is just another reason why I love this site. Don P. Cool guns.



Thanks,

Jerry

 

[brian lawton]

My vote for an AR15 would go to Rock River, all the way! They won the DEA contract based on some unbelievable torture tests, the Rock River was the best performer of all the AR type rifles. I have a flat top entry carbine w/ EO Tech optic, it has functioned flawlessly. From what I know of DPMS they are a bit sloppy with the machine work, I would spend some more and get a RRA or Armalite, just my 2 cents.

 

[Dave King 2]

Jerry, go to www.dpmsinc.com. You will find a lot of info on the company and all their products.

 

[Rob T]

My vote goes to Rock River as well for quality and reliability.



If you are buying based on price you must look at Del-Ton. I would put them at the top of the list on the low price market.

 

[Clay Campbell]

I kinda wanna see pictures of all these guns we are talking about here