Highlights from an inspection of a new DPMS carbine. This was a courtesy inspection of a friend’s gun.
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Manufacturer: DPMS
Type: Carbine
Model: “Panther Lo-Pro Classic”, p/n RFA2-LPC
Serial Number: F163***
Lower Receiver:
Standard GI-type single stage semi-automatic fire control group. Disconnector has excess unmachined material and uneven machining along top at rear, function unimpaired. Mil dim trigger, hammer, pivot, and takedown pins. Drain hole in magazine fence. Slotted grip screw. Standard A2-type pistol grip. Plastic GI-type trigger guard. Minimal mold/seam/material artifacts. Balance unremarkable.
Buttstock Group:
Standard A2-type fixed buttstock group. Standard rifle buffer, correct weight. Installed with A2-type buttstock screw with drain hole. Balance unremarkable.
Upper Receiver:
Upper receiver is DPMS “Lo-Pro” type, heavy in weight and large profiled. Upper overhangs lower when mounted. Receiver is 6066-T6 extruded aluminum. Railed upper receiver, rail slots are not addressed. No case deflector, forward assist, or ejection port cover. Extended feedramps cut post-anonidizing, and remain unfinished. Cuts are even and were machined. No OEM supplied sights. Customer supplied Magpul MBUS rear sight, and armorer supplied LMT BUIS and LT BUIS mount correctly. Balance unremarkable.
Bolt Carrier Group:
Bolt unmarked. Extractor spring assembly includes 4-coil spring with black insert. Carrier key bears indents for staking with some material intrusion on carrier key screws. Amount of intrusion exceeds the norm usually seen with this brand. Key screws were removed with some resistance. Bolt carrier includes shrouded firing pin and semi-auto rear tang. Semi-auto firing pin. Balance unremarkable.
Barrel Assembly:
16” barrel. Marked “DPMS 5.56 1-9” on the bottom of the barrel forward of the gas block. Barrel is 4140 chrome-moly, unlined, and heavy in profile (~0.936) along its full length. Barrel has recessed crown and no muzzle device. Barrel includes a gas block assembly manufactured of aluminum, retained by two small set screws into machined recessed on the underside of the barrel. Screws were removed without resistance, and no evidence of thread locking compound was found. Barrel is parkerized under the gas block. Gas block includes a railed surface along its top. Manufacturer information states rail is standard 1913 picatinny rail, but rail was found to be wider than standard and would not mount any of several known-good sights or accessories attempted. No provision on barrel or gas block for sling installation. No bayonet lug. Carbine-length gas system (~7”). Handguards are OEM “GlacierGuards”, full M4-dim, two-piece plastic, with intregal plastic baffles inside, no heat shields. Balance unremarkable.
Gauging:
Passes pertinent gauges. Chamber checked with Michiguns Ltd “.223/5.56?” gauge. Gauge spins freely and removes without resistance. Mark-up shows first contact on gauge shoulder. Balance unremarkable.
Other:
None
Function Testing / Live Fire:
Owner reports ~300 rounds of Black Hills Ammunition 55gr FMJ (Remanufactured) successfully fired in slow-fire exercises without stoppage. Verification of compatibility with other ammunition was not performed or requested.
Required corrections:
None - Courtesy inspection only.
Recommendations:
Return carbine to manufacturer to correct out of spec gas block. Reinstall OEM unit with thread locking compound and stake screws in place. -or- Replace gas block with known-good unit manufactured of steel, and pin in place.
Carrier key was removed, reinstalled, and restaked with MOACKS.
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