The Official Why My DPMS, Del-Ton, Oly Arms, Etc. Is Better Than Anything Else Thread

[Iraqgunz]

I guess I should clarify the whole TDP thing. I am talking about important stuff like proper grades of steel for the bolt, small parts, barrel, etc...

I used a Mega Machine billet lower to build my wifes carbine. Everything fit 100% and I had no issues with it at all.

I would even use BM lowers to build a rifle/carbine if I had to. I agree that it is more or less a "low stress" part. I know that there have been pics posted of some lowers that have cracked or broken at the rear where the lower receiver extension meets up. How and why is unknown.

Responding to just this point just with respect to the lower receiver:

My understanding is that the lower receiver is a low stress part, so a billet lower will work just fine, as long as the dimensions are correct (pins fit, mag drops free, fits with milspec upper, etc.).

What I like about a billet lower is the larger diameter finger hole that is integral to the receiver rather than a separate part pinned in place. That is just a personal preference based on aesthetics, not function. Also, I do like the look of some billet lowers.

If I have misunderstood and there are times when the greater strength of a forging rather than billet are necessary, please tell me. Or if there is some other point that I overlooked, please set me straight. Thanks.

I will repeat here what I have posted several times in other threads. Over about 10 years I have gone through lots of ARs, many of them custom builds. Some were just good deals. Some were guns that I thought would be fun, etc. Brands included Bushmaster, Olympic Arms, DPMS, Rock River, CMMG, etc. (I know I am missing a couple but I am drawing a blank at the moment). They were shitty guns. I thought they were average guns when I bought them, but I learned. In other words, I am not as stupid now as I was then.

I have gotten rid of most of those shitty AR-15s (still trying to sell some - send a PM if interested ) in lieu of the half dozen that are at or very, very close to the TDP. In some cases I had to sell 2 shitty AR-15s to generate the money to pay for one good AR-15. In other cases I only had to add $200 to the selling price of a shitty AR-15 to get a good one. So it was not painful at all. Now I have to get rid of my shitty M1As from SA and get one good one from Fulton Armory.

About 15 years ago I went the same route on optics. I was absolutely DONE with Bushnell, Bausch & Lomb, Redfield, Weaver, Tasco, etc. So I threw some of those crap optics in the trash and sold others, and implemented a policy that nothing crappier than a Leupold could go in the safe. And I live by that policy. I have not purchased a Leupold in 10 years, sticking to better quality options.

[stifled]

Good idea for a thread, given the recent preponderance of posters espousing the superiority of their poor to mediocre guns.

Since it's the purpose of this thread, I'll share the experience I have had with my first AR, a Stag Arms A3. I still own it, but keep it mostly as a range toy now that I don't feel quite comfortable trusting my life to it.

Background: I'm a citizen with a strong belief in personal responsibility which extends to self defense and am fascinated with mechanical things, so guns are a natural fit for me. I enjoy running drills to make myself better, and see myself as proficient especially with some automatic pistols and I'm getting there with ARs.


On to my Stag...
I bought my Stag merely 18 months ago. Since then I have put around 2500 rounds through it, mostly doing drills. I've had exactly one stoppage from this gun, a double feed, about a month after I bought it. Other than that the only issue I've had with it is a cracked buffer retaining pin. I noticed it cracked during an inspection after a range trip. I am not sure what caused it--I'm thinking maybe just that it has a carbine length gas system while having a carbine buffer in it from the factory before I knew better.

That said, the barrel didn't go through MPI or a HPT. Neither did the bolt, nor was it shot peened. It's also not made of the correct steel. The bolt carrier isn't chrome lined. It doesn't have M4 feed ramps... I think I've listed enough.

So while it has been a good gun that has treated me right, I now know that not all AR-15s are created equal and buy accordingly.