Loose Gas Key Gets Past QC!

[Disabled1]

Yesterday, my son and I , along with a cousin and his friend did some stress relief; we went and shot our AR's!
It has been awhile since I had put A LOT of rounds through my Sport 1 and thought that the awesome 1:8 5R barrel needed some massaging! BTW, I left the AR-556 in the truck. I'm sure it got lonely.
Anyway, my cousin picked up his new optics ready DPMS Oracle AR-15 Friday. He had not even unboxed it yet, until yesterday. He paid $563 OTD, which IMO, is not bad with today's AR prices.
He field stripped it on the bench and lubed all the needed lube spots and was ready to let 'er rip! We set up several targets at various points (in my cousins 125 acre soybean field) and was having a good time........until my cousins new AR started to FTF & FTE. I gave him some of my PMAGS and aluminum mags to try. Still, the same problem. He field stripped it and we started inspecting the BCG. Then, we found it; a loose gas key! The stake job from the factory was HORRIFIC! The bolts were so loose we could hand loosen/tighten them! Luckily, I had my spare BCG from my AR-556 (I replaced it with an PSA Premium BCG) in my field bag and let him use it. He finished the day shooting almost 500 rounds.

 

[TAC]

With DPMS being one of the least expensive AR15's on the market, how much QC do you expect? This is why it's a good idea to do a field strip, cleaning and inspection of any new firearm, as well as the ones you own, and shoot often.

It's a very common problem with numerous manufactures. Even S&W had that problem early on. The gas key is under tremendous stress, and temperature changes. It's bound to happen now and then.

It's a simple, inexpensive fix.

 

[SWMP15Pks]

With DPMS being one of the least expensive AR15's on the market, how much QC do you expect? This is why it's a good idea to do a field strip, cleaning and inspection of any new firearm, as well as the ones you own, and shoot often.

It's a very common problem with numerous manufactures. Even S&W had that problem early on. The gas key is under tremendous stress, and temperature changes..

1. I expect any Rifle I buy NIB to work correctly when brought to its first range session, regardless of the amount paid. To say that a cheap rifle should be any less functional sets a very bad precedent.

2. If I'm not mistaken I believe the OP stated that in his post. Field stripped on the bench.

3. Any firearm manufacturer should be aware of a weapons design enough to understand that its gas key is under such stress, and assemble their BCGs accordingly. This is again a reasonable presumption IMHO.

I'm glad there was an extra BCG on hand, the trip home would have been less energetic, and would have been disappointing.