Is DPMS as bad as I read?

[DJDace]

I'm not sure of the quality of the Model 1 barrels, but I have heard nothing bu good things about Randall. BTW, his barrels are not chrome lined, if you want a chrome lined one. You may also be on a waiting list. I was thinking of buying one of his barrels but he is not taking new barrel orders to catch up with his current orders. Well at least that is what the order form says.

I say build your own. It is not that difficult if you follow the instructions at ar15.net. Use a stainless steel barrel from adco firearms (unless you have to have chrome lined) and get the other parts from were ever you find the best deal. I can vouch for Adco. I have bought 2 of there RRA Wilson barrels, they are stainless steel and I went with a 1-8 twist. They both perform great and look very good. I have both a 16" middy and a 16" carbine.

The thing is I know nothing about assembling an Upper. I have been told time and again that putting together the lower is very easy and rewarding, not to mention it gives you insight into the operation of your AR-15.

I wanted to get at least a 20" if not 24" barrelled Upper, preferably fluted and threaded (not bull barrelled). If I can get a barrel like that attached to a stripped Upper I can install the guts myself (I don't imagine putting a bolt and carrier assembly into an empty Upper receiver/Barrel combo would be too tough). I don't think I would have the tools or knowledge needed to successfully mount my own barrel properly to an upper which is why I wanted to buy an Upper with the barrel already installed.

Maybe I should just suck it up and wait until I find a complete Upper I like, I am just worried that could take forever with what I am looking for.

[Prc329]

20" threaded will not be a problem to get. I may be wrong but for a 24" you will probably have to get it threaded. Rock River Arms makes from really nice varmint uppers but they are really back ordered right now. I can not recommend model 1 sales. i hear more bad then good. I do not own one so I can not say threw personal experience. I can say DPMS and Stag arms uppers are very good. I also own a bushmaster upper (well it has been heavily modded) and it worked very well before and after I altered it.

This is a major purchase so take your time and get it right the first time. Go with quality and have fun shooting. Quality does not mean you have to break the bank either. From everything I have heard and read stay away from Model 1 sales. Again I do not know personally but I keep hearing much more bad then good.

[JPN6336]

I'm not sure of the quality of the Model 1 barrels, but I have heard nothing bu good things about Randall. BTW, his barrels are not chrome lined, if you want a chrome lined one. You may also be on a waiting list. I was thinking of buying one of his barrels but he is not taking new barrel orders to catch up with his current orders. Well at least that is what the order form says.

Randall is running way behind. I managed to get a hold of him (no easy task) a few weeks ago and he said he was working on orders from last April. My 6.8 project is on hold awaiting a barrel from him so I'm looking into an A2 in the meantime.

[Technical Ted]

Randall is running way behind. I managed to get a hold of him (no easy task) a few weeks ago and he said he was working on orders from last April. My 6.8 project is on hold awaiting a barrel from him so I'm looking into an A2 in the meantime.

It'll be worth the wait.

[JPN6336]

It'll be worth the wait.

I have no doubt that it will, I guess my comment boils down to "order from Randall if you already have other AR toys to play with or can afford concurrent projects."

[DJDace]

Randall is running way behind. I managed to get a hold of him (no easy task) a few weeks ago and he said he was working on orders from last April. My 6.8 project is on hold awaiting a barrel from him so I'm looking into an A2 in the meantime.

See this is what I am concerned about. I WILL take my time and do this project right, but I can't see myself waiting a year for an Upper. If I have to I will buy an Upper that is close to what I want then modify it myself (handguard removal to put on rails etc). I wish I had the ability to build my own Upper, but with headspacing issues etc I am just too worried I will screw it up.

[Prc329]

If you buy a good barrel (White Oak, Wilson, etc) you will not have to worry about headspacing. If I remember correctly the headspacing is taken care of when the barrel extension is installed.

http://groups.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite/maintenacefaq.msnw

[DJDace]

If you buy a good barrel (White Oak, Wilson, etc) you will not have to worry about headspacing. If I remember correctly the headspacing is taken care of when the barrel extension is installed.

http://groups.msn.com/TheMarylandAR1...tenacefaq.msnw

Well if that is the case, screw it, I will go the full 9 yards here and build this puppy part by part custom chosen from the ground up! I am sure if need be there will be some people in my area who would be willing to help me put it together if I get stuck somewhere

I am really looking forward to this build, my MagPul PRS Stock just came in today and as soon as my CA State ID arrives I will be heading out to buy my OLL at a local shop.

Thank you for the advice, I'll shop around piece by piece and pick exactly all the parts I want.