I do a lot of shopping at a store that deals in 3types of firearms
New guns
Surplus weapons and ammo like Mausers, Nagants. Along with Century AKs, FALs, Uzis…
Police trade in guns and police impound guns.
I often buy Police guns from them such as Glocks and S&W steel autos along with my Colt A3. It’s a nice way to get quality arms at much cheaper prices. Anyhow, I walk in today to pick up some ammo and of course take a look around. They got in about 6 ARs, all DPMS’s A3’s and all have the “restricted law enforcement use only” stamped into the lower. All looked to have heavy barrels. What gives? I fact just from looking at them they looked like Colt A3. Does DPMS really undercut Colts prices that much that it’s worth for the leo dpt to buy them instead of Colts? Or are these DPMS different (quality) from what they sell to the public?
They read my post on here a few weeks ago about how if Colt loses contracts with LEO agencies because of their old “SP” decision then DPMS would step up with LE markings to get said contracts.
I doubt they’re superior quality to anything else in their product line. I think AR rifles generally nowadays are all decent for the most part. The DPMS rifles are cheaper because they don’t conform to the TDP. I would imagine thats why they were purchased for the LEO.They’re not terrible rifles.
My brother, you are not on the mark here. [i]All are decent?[i] The search button is your friend. Conforming, or exceeding, the TDP is what starts to make a Tier 1 rifle. DPMS does not qualify.
Oh no don’t get me wrong, I understand DPMS are not a great rifle. But they are not terrible. Most rifles will run, you just have a higher chance of some type of failure. What usually fails first is the bolt right?
Were they new, or used? During the ban, AR manufacturers selling SAWs all marked their guns as required, and some of their commercial production.
Does DPMS really undercut Colts prices that much that it’s worth for the leo dpt to buy them instead of Colts?
They typically have a lower price point, though there’s less difference now than in the past. That price difference doesn’t matter much in single unit quantities, but if you’re buying dozens to hundreds of guns at a time it will.
Value is the measure to use in purchasing rather than price, though few understand the difference.
Or are these DPMS different (quality) from what they sell to the public?
No. Unless building to specific contract specs, DPMS builds sport/hobby grade guns across the board.
They were police trade in so they were used. Lots of scratches, handling marks. I didn’t really check them out, didn’t even pick one up just kinda looked them over while they were sitting on the rack. I was more interested in a Yugo Mauser a few other surplus stuff and the crate of ammo I originally came in for. What’s funny is that I paid about the same price for my Colt police trade A3.
They are pieces of shit. The upside is that the departments save money and the bean counters are happy. The downside is that weapon is unpredictable and could fail just when an officer needs it.
He then gets killed because of it. Ask yourself then how prudent the choice was.
Unfortunately a lot of small departments end up buying DPMS crap because of the huge cost difference. The department I work for and past ones as well issued DPMS guns. I have had to go over them and replace certain parts and send some guns back to get them to run to a barely acceptable manner. I carry all personally owned weapons.
Pat
They are TERRIBLE rifles. I can tell you this from first hand experience of seeing them fail time and time again in training. They are cheaper because DPMS cuts corners on quality control, materials and workmanship.
Pat
I think any weapon can fail. But for the needs of LEO yes, its necessary that they are issued higher tier weapons. I never suggested that it was prudent for them to carry DPMS, just that in general they’re not a horrible rifle. A POS in my mind is an OLY rifle. Yet thats only because I have personal experience with that manufacturer. But seriously I was just bored today and felt like chiming in. I’m positive theres basis for the opinions and bias that I’m not privy to.
I know any weapon can fail. I have seen Colts fail, I have seen Glocks eat shit and the same with the vaunted AK.
What some of you people don’t seem to understand is that with some it happens more (alot more) than others. This is the true difference. Then you start to take into account why xxx weapon is cheaper and the reasons become very clear.
When a company like Oly, DPMS, BM, etc… can’t even do the most basic of shit right (staking, QA/QC and the like) that should tell you all you need to know.
This is 2012. The world is going to end this December and people are still trying to debate the merits of piece of shit, cost cutting crap AR’s. Really?
HA HA! Dec 22nd… You know I bought an RRA before I knew better, but everything I’ve read about them is not meshing with the mileage I’ve gotten. My key was staked proper, it hasn’t malfed or exploded. I want that BCM don’t get me wrong. But I think a lot of people here are just tagging along with this mantra of “its low tier its automatically crap”.
