dpms three gun rifle what do you think?

Glockman85 · Jun 7, 2012

Hey guys
Saw a DPMS Panther 3G1 "three gun" rifle 18" barrel online priced at 1169.00? Wondered if anyone has any experience with this rifle and your thoughts on it? Magpul, JP, and VTAC equipped. Would this be a good entry level rifle to a new three gunner or one to stay away from? Your thoughts?

Matt1911 · Jun 7, 2012

My thoughts would be Loki 3 gun rifle with lmos kit.

nikatkimber · Jun 7, 2012

Found one for $1099 here.

But for $270 more, you could get this:

Glockman85 · Jun 7, 2012

Agree I would pay 300 bucks more! Might as well buy what i would like to have the first time around . Thanks guys checked out the Loki sight Very nice!

Wall · Jun 7, 2012

Good choice, for the money you'll spend on the DPMS, I'd add a couple more bucks to go with the Loki as well

technetium-99m · Jun 7, 2012

The DPMS rifle is a good deal for what you get.

The Loki has a nicer barrel, I personally dislike carbon fiber handguards. Loki will put on whatever you want though.

If its gonna come down to $300 out of your scope/mount budget though I'd get the DPMS and not look back.

nikatkimber · Jun 7, 2012

technetium-99m said:
The DPMS rifle is a good deal for what you get.

The Loki has a nicer barrel, I personally dislike carbon fiber handguards. Loki will put on whatever you want though.

If its gonna come down to $300 out of your scope/mount budget though I'd get the DPMS and not look back.

The standard Loki 14.5" alum is $80 less. So it's just a $190 difference. Also, that's with the CTR stock. If you want to save a $$, you can go with the A2, and knock off another $40.

The weight and quality difference in the barrel is the factor there. So deciding whether you have the $150 to spare is up to you.

If budget is really tight, watch for deals on used uppers, then scavenge for the rest of the parts. I figure I'm less than $800 into mine.

Chambers · Jun 7, 2012

technetium-99m said:
I personally dislike carbon fiber handguards.

You must be high.

DoctorJJ · Jun 7, 2012

Chambers said:
You must be high.

Exactly. What is to dislike?

technetium-99m · Jun 7, 2012

They just don't feel right in the hand to me when shooting. And I really don't see the need for the weight savings, AR's feel better to me when they have just a bit of heft to them.

After much examining of others' stuff I'm putting Troy hand guards on my rifles. They feel very right.

jtischauser · Jun 7, 2012

The DPMS 3G, Stag Arms 3G, Loki 3G, double star 3G, JP15 are all great 3 gun rifles.

DoctorJJ · Jun 7, 2012

technetium-99m said:
They just don't feel right in the hand to me when shooting. And I really don't see the need for the weight savings, AR's feel better to me when they have just a bit of heft to them.

After much examining of others' stuff I'm putting Troy hand guards on my rifles. They feel very right.

It's about the balance more than overall weight. With a ACE skeleton or UL stock and a typical 18 or 20" barrel, the light carbon fibers feel very balanced.

You should try my Lancer octagonal carbon fiber handguard. It feels great in the hand.

technetium-99m · Jun 7, 2012

Brent Akin said:
The standard Loki 14.5" alum is $80 less. So it's just a $190 difference. Also, that's with the CTR stock. If you want to save a $$, you can go with the A2, and knock off another $40.

The weight and quality difference in the barrel is the factor there. So deciding whether you have the $150 to spare is up to you.

If budget is really tight, watch for deals on used uppers, then scavenge for the rest of the parts. I figure I'm less than $800 into mine.

When I look at the DPMS and Loki rifles side by side I see the ability to add a complete low mass operating system with the cost savings at the expense of a little bit of accuracy.

Just the way I look at things though. Every AR I own is the very definition of a parts gun.

I still don't like the way carbon fiber hand guards feel though.

nikatkimber · Jun 7, 2012

technetium-99m said:
When I look at the DPMS and Loki rifles side by side I see the ability to add a complete low mass operating system with the cost savings at the expense of a little bit of accuracy.

Just the way I look at things though. Every AR I own is the very definition of a parts gun.

I still don't like the way carbon fiber hand guards feel though.

All three of the AR's I've owned have been builds. But where are you finding a LMOS for less than $200?

nikatkimber · Jun 7, 2012

Jesse Tischauser said:
The DPMS 3G, Stag Arms 3G, Loki 3G, double star 3G, JP15 are all great 3 gun rifles.

I've not heard of the Double Star 3G before. Any info?

technetium-99m · Jun 7, 2012

DoctorJJ said:
It's about the balance more than overall weight. With a ACE skeleton or UL stock and a typical 18 or 20" barrel, the light carbon fibers feel very balanced.

You should try my Lancer octagonal carbon fiber handguard. It feels great in the hand.

That's just it though, AR's need a bit of heft in the nose for me. You move that balance point back into the magwell and the gun becomes no bueno. Don't even get me started about what I've discovered about how great they handle without a pound of scope on top of them.

technetium-99m · Jun 7, 2012

Brent Akin said:
All three of the AR's I've owned have been builds. But where are you finding a LMOS for less than $200?

The rifle posted above is $270 more than the DPMS offering. Easily enough to get a JP carrier and an adjustable gas block from multiple sources.

If you drop down to the aluminum hand guard you save $80 in which case you can still get 95% of your low mass carrier.

nikatkimber · Jun 7, 2012

Found something...

Clicky

462471_455021591178541_160410807306289_1882515_786973614_o.jpg

technetium-99m said:
The rifle posted above is $270 more than the DPMS offering. Easily enough to get a JP carrier and an adjustable gas block from multiple sources.

If you drop down to the aluminum hand guard you save $80 in which case you can still get 95% of your low mass carrier.

Gotcha.

Matt1911 · Jun 7, 2012

Definite +1 on the Troy handguards. Love the TRX extreme I have on mine.

Corey · Jun 7, 2012

DoctorJJ said:
It's about the balance more than overall weight. With a ACE skeleton or UL stock and a typical 18 or 20" barrel, the light carbon fibers feel very balanced.

You should try my Lancer octagonal carbon fiber handguard. It feels great in the hand.

I agree about balance I run the A2 stock with the 20" Loki fluted barrel XL aluminum handguards& rolling thunder comp to me it feels balanced. If iI change lowers the rifle feels front heavy with ace stock.
Rifles with double fluted barrels & carbon fiber HG balance well with ace stock. Just my opinion