A few years ago, Palmetto State Armory purchased rights to the DPMS name.
DPMS Panther Arms was a respected maker with a good reputation. There were reports of times when quality slipped. I have not personally tested a poor DPMS rifle. DPMS AR-15 rifles were a fixture in American shops for decades.
Defense Procurements Manufacturing Services produced a wide range of military gear. The rifles were once part of Freedom Group and are now owned by PSA. So, will PSA push the brand and offer other variations? Time will tell. PSA offers a wide range of rifles and pistols and is a huge supporter of our gun rights.
PSA offers affordable rifles, often offering combinations of an AR and a 9mm pistol at fair prices. They also offer good quality, higher-end rifles. You get what you pay for, and you may purchase an entry-level rifle or a far more capable rifle. The PSA PA-15 is currently available for $399.95. Upgrades with sights are priced at $499.95 and above.
In my experience, PSA offers a wide range of rifles, and while the entry-level rifles are usually the same- no sights, a base forend- others may be offered with different combinations, such as good sights and an MLOK forend.
The DPMS rifles are similar to the entry-level PA-15. The DPMS line would seem to mimic the original DPMS Oracle rifle. The rifle illustrated features basic sights and forend and a standard AR adjustable butt stock. The finish is credible, and the bolt carrier keys are properly staked, the first thing I check in an economy rifle.
The rifle demonstrates attention to detail in its assembly, which is all we can ask for. The trigger action is consistent but not light and crisp. It is a typical entry-level AR-15, weighing in at 7.5 pounds. The rifle was thoroughly checked in the workroom, and several PMAGs were loaded for range practice.
The load used in the initial evaluation was the Black Hills Ammunition 55-grain FMJ. Firing was undertaken at 25 yards. The rifle sailed through 100 rounds without any type of malfunction. The rifle runs well- it is difficult to mess up an AR 15- and function is good. Groups were tight as expected at this modest range. I was able to fire a magazine at 50 yards, connecting with various dirt clods and range debris.
For casual shooters and home defense, the entry-level PSA and DPMS rifles are useful as issued.
As the AR-15 is made to be upgraded, I took a couple of steps to improve the DPMS rifle. I added a Timney RED AR trigger.
This trigger, like all Timney triggers, is well-made and finished. The fit of the components is simply excellent. A stretch to fit a trigger upgrade to an affordable rifle? Not at all. Improvement in function is always worthwhile. The Timney trigger, like all modern-type triggers, is easily installed. A few pins pressed out, and there you go.
Once installed, I checked the action. The break is consistent at 3.5 pounds and clean. I took the rifle to the range again and fired at a distance of 25 yards. Speed was much better. Both a crisp trigger press and rapid reset added up to better shooting. Combat groups were excellent. The trigger was one part of the upgrade.
Next, I mounted a Riton ARD red dot sight. The Series 1 TACTIX ARD is affordable, priced under $200, yet it offers good functionality. The ARD was sighted in handily, set to fire low at 25 yards. I anticipated testing the rifle at 50 yards and would make minor adjustments later.
On the Range
I liked the setup, but continued to test the rifle with my favorite loads. I looked at Black Hills Ammunition’s line and tested several in the DPMS rifle. One was the 36-grain Varmint Grenade.
Despite a short bearing surface, this load is usually accurate enough for long-range varmint shooting in the right rifle. Recoil impulse isn’t always enough for an AR carbine especially in a dirty rifle with some types of lightweight projectiles. Black Hills has put together an exception. The DPMS rifle sailed through a half magazine without any problem. A 3500 fps load gets to the 100-yard berm quickly!
My all-time favorite Black Hills Ammunition load for accuracy work is the 52-grain Match.
From a 50-yard benchrest with the dot turned down to the lowest setting, this 3000 fps load put three shots into just less than two inches. At a long 100 yards, I was able to maintain a three-inch group. I was acclimating to the trigger and getting better results. With the red dot and from a rock-solid firing position over a shooting rest, I counted this a good performance.
I also tested the Barnes 50-grain TSX load from Black Hills Ammunition. At just under 3,000 fps, this load delivered good accuracy, on par with the 52-grain MATCH load, which is 0.1 inch larger.
My favorite service and defense load in the AR has been the Black Hills Ammunition 60-grain JSP for many years. This load achieved a velocity of 2,900 fps.
The 69-grain Sierra MatchKing is probably the most accurate combination from Black Hills Ammunition, but you need a more accurate rifle with a longer barrel and better optics to demonstrate this accuracy. At 2650 fps, the MatchKing offers excellent reliability.
The 77-grain OTM from Black Hills Ammunition has secured military contracts and proven effective during the War on Terror. I fired a single group and was rewarded with a 1.8-inch spread at 100 yards.
My 20-inch barrel rifle, equipped with a fairly expensive tactical scope, will sometimes produce a .5-inch group and consistently achieve an .8-inch group with this load. The DPMS is accurate enough for a 16-inch barrel carbine.
Final Thoughts
The DPMS rifle is more than accurate enough for most uses, including hunting deer-sized game out to 150 yards, and at personal defense ranges, it will put all the bullets in the same hole.
The rifle never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. My round count is 320 rounds in this rifle, not a huge pile of brass, but a helpful test.
The DPMS name lives on, and the new rifles are nothing to be ashamed of.
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