My father is looking for a reasonably priced AR rifle, and ran across a gun store here in Abilene that's selling the Oracle for $659. I've heard their customer service is lacking and will try to get out of replacing parts that break during routine maintenance...like trying to push pins out and breaking off the dog ear flanges. I just wanted to get some opinions of people who don't have a stake in a gun sell. What are your opinions of the DPMS brand as a whole, and specifically the Oracle model? Is their customer service really that bad? Thanks guys.

What are your opinions of the DPMS brand as a whole, and specifically the Oracle model?

As a whole they are about as close to the bottom end of manufacturers out there. The oracle is their bottom of the line if I'm not mistaken. Spend a little more and get a better gun. I'm sure there will be others to post how great their dpms is and have never had an issue. It is a cheap hobby gun, if that meets your requirements have at it. They make a good 308 though.

Their meh... I would stay away from their products personally. For a little bit more you can find a better quality used rifle or a basic Wyndham or Bushmaster(non polymer lower) or even a Palmetto State.

This is a good kit and has everything but a lower, which can be had for about $120 more dollars. This is a lot better than the dpms IMO. http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/featured/16-m4-cmv-chrome-lined-premium-rifle-kit.html

I would not get one when you can spend just a little more and get a better quality gun.

I like mine. I did have a trigger put in it. Mine doesn't have the forward assist or dust cover. It will shoot moa with 60 gr v-max hand loads. It has shot every thing I have run through it.

Opinions are worth about what you pay for them. There are two types of posts on here: those who have owned and comment on the weapon systems we have owned and used, and those who repeat what they read or just type from their arse. I have a lr-308 Recon and it is an excellent rifle. I had an Armalite ar10 previously and prefer the DPMS in every way.... Fit and finish are top notch and it is sub moa out of the box. I have also owned an Oracle and a sportical. Both ran well, but I got the upgrade bug. How many people bashing DPMS would be willing to stand down range with yhe hope they will fail?

Well Oklahomans and their fans like DPMS.

Wow. The man said he wanted an opinion not an emotionally charged rant about a sub par rifle.

I owned a oracle in 556 and one of there early ar10's in 308 , The 556 was a fair rifle no real complaints with it , shot good enough. I just wasn't uber impressed traded it off . That being said the 308 was a dog most inaccurate problematic ar I have had my pincer's on wouldn't feed and stove piped regularly . There warranty wasn't horrible but took several calls and some finesse i got it fixed and traded it off quick. There are better new rifle deals out there imo for a few bucks more you can get a whole lot more rifle.

I see very little difference between most major brand names. There are so many parts shared by all the big names and receivers are little more than a name plate. Customer service might be another issue but ar's are so easy to tune or fix on your own.

DPMS is fine. Its not the best and not the worst. Most people that dog them are just repeating what theyve heard and not based on actual experience. Ive had actual experience with dpms and never had any issues. I now run the the top tier AR manufacturers but wouldnt hesitate with a dpms.

I have owned DPMS rifles with no issues. I still have a one Oracle in 556 and a Recon in 308. None with any issues to date.

DPMS makes a fine rifle for the money. There are reasons others are more expensive, but you shouldn't have any major issues with a DPMS. Quality and reliability are very good, accuracy is adequate.

I bet you were shopping at the "shootin shop"

The rifle in my sig is a dpms lower and that lower has seen three different uppers and has fired over 1000 rounds. That was after I bought it used. I've got nothing against dpms, but the oracle model they make is a scratch to the head. Why would they build such a rifle and ruin their reputation...

Oh yeah you can't forget they put out the SASS

Yep, an old freind of my father has a son who is friends with the owner and passed the sale info to my dad. I own an M&P15, but don't know much about the other brands. I've actually found the Oracles for as low as $619, instead of the "sale" price of $659 at the Shootin' Shop. I think he's looking at the Core15 brand now because of the lifetime warranty they offer, as well as the standard mil-spec stainless barrel, machined billet lower, and front sight.

When you go for the cheapest price, you get what you pay for.
Brand doesn't matter much when you go cheap.
Pencil barrels with standard hand guards aren't good for accuracy.

What do you want to do with the gun?
If the answer is just spray ammo, go for price.
If the answer is hunt and hit stuff reliably, spend a little more for better barrel/hand guards and be sure to get a flattop receiver so you can mount better optics.
You could go cheap and upgrade the barrel and add a floating handguard but you will probably come out cheaper doing this up front in the purchase.

Since ARs are Tinkertoys, Legos and Erector Sets rolled into one for big kids....well, you get the idea...LOL!

I think he's just looking for an AR now that the prices have come down, and is afraid they'll go back up if some recently proposed legislation gets passed or if another incident drives the prices back up. Basically, it's going to be his "what if" gun. I doubt it will be shot more than a few times as my dad isn't a hunter or sport shooter. The last time my dad picked up an M16, he was firing it at the NVA and Vietcong. Back then(mid-late '60's) they jammed like crazy and there wasn't a selection of aftermarket parts to choose from, so he was overwhelmed when he started looking into them. All he remembered of his use of them was the problems they had with them and was paranoid that they still had the same issues.

^^ this. no issues so far

Those with no issues, what is the round count?

Taken any carbine classes with them, any sustained fire?

I have a Sportical, I know I've put at least 500 rnds through it. I shoot all kinds of cheap ammo, Tula, Wolf and Monarch with no issues other than a couple of Monarchs didn't pop (had the same issue with their 308 and 380... learned to stay away from it).

I've cleaned it "maybe" 3 times and never have cleaned the gas tube... so far runs great.

Would I rather have a La Rue? Sure but instead for the same $$$ I bought a DPMS and a M&P and quite a bit of ammo!

Those are some good questions I actually didn't keep my two DPMS 5.56 models long enough to really torture test them, and both were trades/used. The Oracle had about 200 rounds fired by me, and whatever the previous owner fired. I only ever did one mag dump and didn't have issues at all. The Sportacle probably never shot 100 rounds. Both of those have been replaced with Billet lowers and a PSA and Spikes uppers, but just because I wanted to.

The Recon .308 is a different breed. It has milled billet upper and lower receivers, stainless barrel, and Magpul furniture. Being that 308 is a little costly, I won't be doing any carbine classes with this rifle. I haven't mag dumped, and ran about 50 rounds through it the first time out. Of note, the trigger is pretty bad. Enough so that it will be replaced as soon as possible.

I never took any classes with mine. Round count was probably a few thousand when I sold it.