Author Topic: UPDATE - First Impressions: DPMS lightweight Oracle upper (Read 2800 times)

Shortmag · « **on:** August 30, 2010, 10:08:20 PM »

After only 14 rounds:

it took a lot of effort to even get the carrier out of the upper let alone what i went through to get the bolt out of the carrier.

and on top of all of that, the front sight pin is all the way up (like about to fall out) and rear is all the way down and it still shoots high! (Magpul MBUS front and bushmaster carry handle rear)

not impressed at this point.

awaiting word from DPMS...

SM

agunforeachhand · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2010, 10:15:18 PM »

SM that sucks. I hope they make it right for you.

luckypunk · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2010, 10:51:38 PM »

is that a Mcfarland ring? crazy it could fail like that. Did it lockup in battery?

ajc281509 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:01:04 PM »

Out of curiousity, what ammo were you shooting?

Shortmag · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2010, 10:20:38 AM »

Quote from: luckypunk on August 30, 2010, 10:51:38 PM

is that a Mcfarland ring? crazy it could fail like that. Did it lockup in battery?

not a mcfarland, just the stock rings that came with the upper. the only thing i did to this upper was add sights and pin it to my built DPMS lower and went shooting.

SM

Shortmag · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2010, 10:22:37 AM »

Quote from: ajc281509 on August 30, 2010, 11:01:04 PM

Out of curiousity, what ammo were you shooting?

Q3131A

SM

Beamncoke · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2010, 10:50:49 AM »

If it didn't mess up your carrier I have a spare bolt you could use.

Shortmag · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2010, 11:00:48 AM »

Quote from: Beamncoke on August 31, 2010, 10:50:49 AM

If it didn't mess up your carrier I have a spare bolt you could use.

It actally did this TWICE. so i actually messed up two gas rings. the second time was with my bolt from my 20". (luckily i did have a mcfarland to stick back into my 20") so i'm not thinking it's the bolt. when i finally got the bolt(s) out and cleaned them up and tried to reinstall, they feel like they are hanging up on something, but to the best of my abilities, i can't figure out what.

i don't want to do much other then look in case DPMS wants this thing back.

SM

Jeff · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2010, 11:22:19 AM »

Is it under warranty? Seems like the carrier would be the culprit. But it could be the bolt too.

Shortmag · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2010, 11:38:17 AM »

Quote from: Jeff on August 31, 2010, 11:22:19 AM

Is it under warranty? Seems like the carrier would be the culprit. But it could be the bolt too.

just bought it from MidwayUSA on the 18th. so if nothing else, i'm within the 90-day return policy from midway and the lady i called yesterday told me i could return/exchange it. problem is, they are out of stock so a replacement might be out of the question. (back order may be an option)

so i e-mailed dpms and explained what happened to them and sent them more pics. so i'm waiting to see if i get a response. if not, it's going back to midway.

i'm leaning twards carrier. i swapped the bolts between this upper and my 20" and the new bolt worked fine in my 20" but the other bolt from my 20" came out just like the one in the pics above.

hopefully dpms will get back to me...

SM

Shortmag · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2010, 03:16:04 PM »

Ok, just heard back from DPMS:

We are sorry to hear about the issue that you are having with the carrier assembly. If you can please send us the complete bolt/ carrier assembly we will inspect and repair as needed.
The address to send the bolt carrier assembly back to is:
DPMS Firearms, LLC
3312 12th St SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304

Please include a letter describing the problem, your contact information, and your return shipping address.

The detachable front sight needs to be for a gas block, the reason is that they are typically a few thousands taller to make up for the difference in the height of the gas block to the upper receiver rail.
One option is to go with an extended front sight post FS-08. This post is .030" taller then the standard sight post.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our sales team.

Thanks,

Customer Service
DPMS Firearms, LLC
3312 12th St SE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
Phone: 1-800-578-3767
Fax: 1-320-345-9249
Freedom Group Family of Companies

Guess the carrier/bolt is going in the mail and we'll see what happens...

agunforeachhand · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2010, 03:37:13 PM »

Keep us update please

broncovan · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2010, 05:28:43 PM »

Wow, that's interesting. I've never seen a bolt do that before.. Obviously, it's gotta be something in the carrier.

From what I've found out, the Magpul MBUS' are meant to be mounted to a rail system. Supposedly, the materials used in the construction aren't meant to stand up to the heat generated at the gas block. By looking at the height difference between a standard railed gas block and the rail height gas block, I'm not too sure that the extended front site post would still be tall enough???

Shortmag · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2010, 06:32:22 PM »

Quote from: broncovan on August 31, 2010, 05:28:43 PM

From what I've found out, the Magpul MBUS' are meant to be mounted to a rail system. Supposedly, the materials used in the construction aren't meant to stand up to the heat generated at the gas block. By looking at the height difference between a standard railed gas block and the rail height gas block, I'm not too sure that the extended front site post would still be tall enough???

you are correct bronco,

In my infinite stupidity and wanting to go as lightweight as possible with this build, i just ordered the mbus thinking all sights are the same. had i done my research and actually looked at magpul's website, i'd have seen that they recommend not using them on gas blocks. live and learn i guess. maybe i'll toss it up for sale/trade in the swap meet...

SM

broncovan · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2010, 08:17:29 PM »

Or get a rail height gas block? Maybe the extra material of the taller gas block would be enough to dissapate the heat and not melt the MBUS.?

Shortmag · « **Reply #15 on:** September 01, 2010, 11:29:35 AM »

Just heard from DPMS again and i must say, their customer service has been very prompt and helpful so far:

i had asked them if i would need to pay the shipping to get them the bolt & carrier:
-they gave me their UPS acct# for me to use to cover ground shipping to their facility.

I also asked if it was going to cost me to have it repaired: (if they'd have said yes, i'd have shipped the whole thing back to midway)
-they said the repair/replacement will be at no charge to me as it's covered under warranty.

so, i guess i'll send them the carrier/bolt assembly and see what they find...

SM

HD-DVD · « **Reply #16 on:** September 02, 2010, 12:18:33 PM »

Good luck with DPMS Shortmag and thanks for sharing this info!

Shortmag · « **Reply #17 on:** September 27, 2010, 09:29:27 PM »

e-mailed DPMS today to get an update.

they responded saying that it was fixed and already on it's way back to me. should be here Wednesday.

they said they replaced the carrier.

we'll see, if i can find some time, I'll try to get out this weekend and try it.

SM

HD-DVD · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2010, 10:07:42 AM »

Any update on the new BCG, Shortmag? I'm also curious which gas block sight you go with. Unfortunately there's not a lot of choice with low-rail gas blocks. I got the ArmaLite that SawTac sells and have been pleased with it. Of course it's not a flip up but is very strong. At first I thought a flip up would be necessary with a scope but anything 3x and up seems to throw the FSB out of the picture.

Anyway, good luck with the new BCG!

Shortmag · « **Reply #19 on:** October 07, 2010, 02:29:50 PM »

i got the new carrier and the original bolt back from DPMS last week but have not had a chance to shoot it yet.

i hope to get out towards Emmett sunday to shoot it (providing i can get a sight) and sight in my hunting rifle as it's still set for about 1300 yards.

SM

Nomad · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2010, 10:36:25 PM »

Thanks for keep us posted on your development. Good news for all....

Shortmag · « **Reply #21 on:** October 11, 2010, 03:26:13 PM »

UPDATE:

took out the AR this weekend and shot it a bit while sighting in the hunting rifle and so far so good.

i only put a mag through it due to time constraints and needing the hunting rifle zeroed.

not one malfunction at all. was able to remove the upper and the bolt/carrier without issue as well.

it'll need to get "wrung out" a lot more before I'll trust it completely, but it looks good so far.

I'll keep u all posted as to how it goes.

SM