View Full Version : Who makes DSA's AR receivers????
Anyone know who makes DSA's AR receivers??? Inquireing minds want to know...
How is their fit and finish???
Thanks
Buck
RAM Engineer
03-17-08, 06:25
I bought some stripped DSA lowers about 4 years ago that were advertised as being manufactured by LMT. This was at Denny's/Global Tactical.
They seem to work fine, as far a function checks and dropping mags free. The screw hole for the grip was drilled a little off, but this was around the time I was hearing of that same problem from LMT-branded lowers. That has caused me no problems.
OldNavyGuy
03-17-08, 09:56
in reality, which companies makes all the lower receivers for all the different brand names, i thought i read somewhere a few months/years ago there were only 2 or 3 forges doing so and only 4 or 5 finishers.., anyone got the low down on this ??
How is their fit and finish???
Motion to REVOKE Buck's moderator status!!!
I bought some stripped DSA lowers about 4 years ago that were advertised as being manufactured by LMT. This was at Denny's/Global Tactical.
They seem to work fine, as far a function checks and dropping mags free. The screw hole for the grip was drilled a little off, but this was around the time I was hearing of that same problem from LMT-branded lowers. That has caused me no problems.
Ok, I will follow up on that...
in reality, which companies makes all the lower receivers for all the different brand names, i thought i read somewhere a few months/years ago there were only 2 or 3 forges doing so and only 4 or 5 finishers.., anyone got the low down on this ??
The list does exist, but DSA is not on it... :mad:
Motion to REVOKE Buck's moderator status!!!
I know it would be great if all moderators, knew all things, at all times, but alas I am only a minor imp of the black rifle gods and I have never actually held a DSA lower in my hot little hands... I was offered one in a trade here on the nerd net and since it is a OLL, its good to go here in CA...
Buck
It's not the "not knowing" part of your question. It's just that the phrase "fit and finish" is way uncool within the internut commando, high speed, super tactical, "I just finished Pat Roger's Carbine class" types!
:p
(for what it's worth, I'm equally bothered by "fit and finish". I counted it like 6 or 7 times in last years book of the AR15.)
It's not the "not knowing" part of your question. It's just that the phrase "fit and finish" is way uncool within the internut commando, high speed, super tactical, "I just finished Pat Roger's Carbine class" types!
:p
(for what it's worth, I'm equally bothered by "fit and finish". I counted it like 6 or 7 times in last years book of the AR15.)
:confused:
Well ok... How about looking at it this way... If you compare an Olympic Arms and LMT lower... There is a significant difference in their fit and finish... Would you be disappointed if you ordered a LMT and got an Olympic???
An out of spec, poorly fitted and finished AR lower serves much better as a paperweight that firearm...
Just my .02
Buck
Well ok... How about looking at it this way... If you compare an Olympic Arms and LMT lower... There is a significant difference in their fit and finish... Would you be disappointed if you ordered a LMT and got an Olympic???
(we're getting too off track here, and I really do understand what you're getting at) I'm just giving you a little crap is all...
Anyway.. that's just the thing!! People who are completely convinced that an olympic arms guns is just as good as anything else out there are usually using the fit and finish guideline for their assessment!
Thus, that is the reason that some of us black rifle junkies who know just enough to be dangerous get annoyed by that expression.
I believe it is an engineering term and not specific to ARs; However, is there a concise expression that you like better that expresses the over all attention to detail used by a manufacturer in the completion of an intricately processed item???
Perhaps finish & fit???
I believe it is an engineering term and not specific to ARs
Could be. But not in the context that I've read it over the years.
People will equate the quality of an AR with how well the upper and lower fit together. (which has nothing to do with function) And then they'll look over the finish/finish match. (which also has nothing to do with real function).
So what I've seen over the years is that guys will select a painted on finish from someone like OLY over a slightly mismatched or mildly off colored/blemished finish from a better manufacturor. In other words, fit and finish has sold a lot of bad guns to unsuspecting shooters.
tiger seven
03-17-08, 12:43
I think the problem is that there is a functional aspect to "fit & finish" and a purely cosmetic one.
To most of us here, the functional aspect is what matters. To me "fit & finish" refers to the holes being drilled properly, the lower being able to accept a quality lower parts kit without problems, the lower lining up with a quality upper without problems, the threads being in order, the whole lower or upper being dimensionally in-spec, properly anodized and so on.
To many others (thankfully not so much around here) the cosmetic aspects are far more important, and they comment on how Colts aren't worth the money because they have a "crappy finish" (flat gray anodzing) compared to how nice and smooth the black finish is on their RRA or DPMS, or how an AR that has a tight lockup between upper and lower is somehow (though unquantifiably) better than one with a bit of play.
The term has come to be associated mostly with the latter crowd, and so it draws a certain degree of ire from the former. ;)
On topic, it's my understanding (though I can't say with 100% certainty) that DSA's lowers are made by LMT. I have seen a few stripped DSA lowers and they look to be well made and have nice "fit & finish" of both kinds. :D
Hope that helps.
Derek
TheGhostRider
03-17-08, 16:27
I have a DSA ZM4 lower with a Colt M4 upper assembly attached.
It's my understanding that LMT is the maker of the DSA lower.
My lower is fine. If your into the "fit and finish" crap, the DSA will make you happy.
My DSA lower has met my expectations with NO problems as it performs to my expectations.
"pull trigger, makes noise accompanied by big smile".
OldNavyGuy
03-18-08, 09:14
ooopsie :D maybe i should have had my caps lock on, did anyone see this ??
in reality, which companies makes all the lower receivers for all the different brand names, i thought i read somewhere a few months/years ago there were only 2 or 3 forges doing so and only 4 or 5 finishers.., anyone got the low down on this ??
i really would like to know, and i am fairly certain many others would like to know also.
To most of us here, the functional aspect is what matters. To me "fit & finish" refers to the holes being drilled properly, the lower being able to accept a quality lower parts kit without problems, the lower lining up with a quality upper without problems, the threads being in order, the whole lower or upper being dimensionally in-spec, properly anodized and so on.
Me too... In the fin & finish department LMT = good... Olympic = horrid...
i really would like to know, and i am fairly certain many others would like to know also.
Well there was an interesting article in one of the Book of the AR15 magazines on Armalite's production. I think Armalite, as an example, would buy the forged platters and do the finish machining all in house.
Oly definitely does their own machining in house because they have a monopoly on the receivers with misaligned pin holes market! :p
Oly definitely does their own machining in house because they have a monopoly on the receivers with misaligned pin holes market! :p
So how would you rate their fit and finish??? ;)
So how would you rate their fit and finish??? ;)
According to OLY owners it's Great! :p
Its the Artisan water... Goes straight to their heads...
I still haven't figured out why OLY is the official AR of the South. I'd say 80 percent of the time when I'd see some knuckle head on TOS defending Oly as a legitimate AR brand, their location was somewhere in the South.
I'll never forget that pic on OLY's website years ago of some damned inbred showing of the aligator he had killed with his Oly out in the swamp!
TheGhostRider
03-18-08, 16:05
I still haven't figured out why OLY is the official AR of the South. I'd say 80 percent of the time when I'd see some knuckle head on TOS defending Oly as a legitimate AR brand, their location was somewhere in the South.
I'll never forget that pic on OLY's website years ago of some damned inbred showing of the alligator he had killed with his Oly out in the swamp!
Obviously the gator was killed with blunt force trauma do to being beat to death with the Oly.... cause when the trigger was pulled all the guy heard was........................................click.:p
Unless he borrowed the gun from a guy who put a burst fire control group in it! :eek:
Hey, my Oly "cast" plinker receivers have great finish ;) Bubbles, rough finishing, etc make them each unique.
ps: I only bought some of them since they were like $60 or $62 a piece and are put in my mess around pile for testing stuff with or in case of another ban etc... So far they have been sitting unused for like 4 years
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.