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Thread: Help on buying a "lightly-used" quality AR

  1. #1
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    Help on buying a "lightly-used" quality AR

    I searched but couldn't quickly find anything directly on point.

    Tomorrow night, I'm checking out (what the owner claims to be) a DDM4 v5 lw with only 100 rds through it. I'm fairly new to AR's, so I'd love some tips on how to look for issues like excessive wear and potentially replaced lpk's, bolt assemblies, etc.

    I know I should be looking for proper staking and the gas ring test, but beyond that I'm pretty clueless.

    Any pointers?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
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    If it is a DD factory rifle...you have nothing to worry about

    What I would do is get the serial number off the lower and get a build date

    If must check:

    barrel chamber
    upper for cam wear
    check rear of the lower receiver for unusual wear around where the buffer tube is

  3. #3
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    Check the bolt carrier group, people have been known to put cheap junk in high end guns.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by ryan View Post
    Check the bolt carrier group, people have been known to put cheap junk in high end guns.
    I figured, but how do I tell a DD bcg from another? I didn't see anything on their site and don't have a DD handy to compare.

  5. #5
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    Some have the "DD" logo on front of the divot on the carrier, my spare DD carrier does, kinda like BCM. That said I have a BCM carrier ordered directly from Bravo that doesn't have the logo but it was purchased sans bolt.

    I would check staking and make sure it's an FA carrier, pull the bolt and look for the HP MPI markings.
    Last edited by ryan; 03-17-13 at 21:50.

  6. #6
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    Thanks. Quick search reminded me of the differences between FA & SA bolt carriers.

    I'm trying to compile a list of simple things to notice when checking out a used, supposedly high-quality AR. Do the following make sense?

    FA bolt carrier, properly staked, with brand-correct markings (just being conservative on the markings);
    No sign of gas leakage rear of the gas block;
    No excessive wear on the bolt cam pin/corresponding spots in the upper;
    Wear around the buffer tube area in the rear of the lower;
    Gas key/gas tube fit.

    Any rules of thumb as to what a "near-new" chamber should look like?
    Last edited by MiamiAttorney; 03-17-13 at 22:10.

  7. #7
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    If it only has 100 rounds thru it, it should look brand new or very near new. You should see the matte grey of the chrome lining fairly easily. 100 rounds is nothing on a DD/BCM/LMT/COLT.

    Take a bore light or just a regular flashlight and shine it in the action look it over good muzzle to breach, any imperfection could be used as a bargaining chip for a lower price.

  8. #8
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    Since it's used, I would try to see if you can go somewhere to shoot it. Run a few rounds through checking to see if the bolt locks back after last round and overall fuction test.

  9. #9
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    You may also be able to tell how old it is by what rail it has. They switched to the new style sometime mid to late last year.

  10. #10
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    Good info. Can you tell me what the difference is between the new and old styles?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bigninja View Post
    You may also be able to tell how old it is by what rail it has. They switched to the new style sometime mid to late last year.

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