DPMS LRPK...do they all suck or I get a bad one?

Flatlander.54

Flatlander.54

New member
Stopped by my local gun shop today with my boys just lookin around and happened to notice a DPMS lower parts kit hanging on the rack. So, I picked it up for the stripped lower I got on Thursday. Took it home and began installing everything, soon found out that an action block and vise would have made things a whole lot easier.
wink.gif

Anyway, goteverything installed and tested it out...man, that is the absolute worst trigger pull I have ever felt on any firearm...period. It has to be close to 10 pounds, very gritty (even after polishing the bearing surfaces with a cloth wheel and polishing compund) and has about 10 miles of creep to it.
If I had known it was going to be so bad I would have saved the money and put it towards a better trigger assembly. Did I just get a bad one, or do all DPMS LRPK's have such horrible triggers??
 
I use DPMS parts as well as RRA and others. I have had good and bad ones from all the manufactures. I always replace the springs with the reduced power springs from JP Rifles and use their trigger prep compound on the bearing surfaces. Makes most of them quite good!
 
All the dpms lpk ive installed were rough, but not nearly like yours, most were running about 5-6lbs in triggers.
IMO just about all lpks are the same. After putting cmmg, dpms, stag lpks in ARs they were all pretty much the same in the end.
 
You got burned. I used a DPMS LPK in the lower I just built, and the trigger has creep, but it's not heavy. It's actually one of the better stock triggers I've shot.

It still needs to be replaced as soon as possible, if I want to shoot small groups, though. I'm thinking of sending it to Bill Springfield, he gets great reviews and the price is very reasonable.
 
Most milspec triggers will have 6-8 pd pull weights. I always figure on replacing with after market trigger. White Oak armory used to sell a LPK minus trigger for about $20.00 less. Not much but worth it if you are sure to go aftermarket anyway.
 
Stock AR triggers are notoriously horrible. I use the springs from KNS. They claim 3lb, but I would guess it's closer to 4-4 1/2 without any polishing. You can take up the creep by running a set screw up in front of the butt-stock screw (as long as the threads go all the way through into the trigger well) to where it just pushes the trigger up a hair, but not too far or you'll get double-taps, then lock-titeing it in. You'll need a shorter butt-stock screw too.

I have used quite a few DPMS LPK's, but just used a Rock River on a new Spikes lower and I like the RR kit better. They seem to be a little better on the finished side and the safety has a nice slot cut in the off side so you can tell where the safety is easily from either side.
 
Well, I have been sittin here playin around with it and I swear its actualy getting worse. Thought maybe if I just sit and work it a bit it might smooth up little.
Something has to be wrong, think Im gonna pull the hammer and trigger back out and clean it up, maybe theres some grit or a burr I didnt see earlier.
 
Well, its a little better now, but very little. Pull is long and heavy, but at least its smoother now. Felt like 2 pieces of 100 grit paper rubbing together before.
Ive seen others post about Bill Springfield, what exactly is it he does? Im under the impression that the trigger and hammers are surface hardened only...so that would mean removing material (stoning/honing) would be a no-no, or correct me if I am wrong on that one. Common sense tells me that lightening the hammer spring would decrease resistance on the sear engagement, but then you might not get dependable ignition of the primers...so what am I over looking?
 
The standard triggers in ARs range from pretty bad to really horrible however they are as reliable as a rock and serve their intended purpose well. Fortunately as the AR is becoming more popular in many of the shooting sports there are a lot of good options for triggers as well as many other parts. I don't know anything about the trigger work by Springfield but I have heard nothing but good. I use the RRA 2 stage and like them.
 
Originally Posted By: BBsteelIs this your first build and/or first AR?

Yes it is. I had been thinking of starting a build sometime ago, but the prices of good upper receiver/barrel asemblies were too cost prohibitive for me. Then, I found and made a really good trade on here for a DPMS Hi-Rider upper w/24" fluted barrel in .204 Ruger. So, having traded for that, I ordered a complete Del-Ton Inc. lower w/ collapsible stock via my local FFL dealer. (Have not got it yet).
Long story short...I also have a stripped upper on the way, a stripped lower on hand that I just put a DPMS LPK in today, so this sickness has already evolved into two builds actually. The .204 build is going to be my coyote rig, the other will be a .223, maybe with a 16" barrel, not sure yet. And it all your guys' fault...I was kinda normal before I found PM and the AR forum!
w00t.gif
 
That's kind of what I thought and I applaud you for beginning. All standard triggers in the AR platform are not the best. To label one manufacturer as having a “sucky” trigger or getting an unlucky "sucky" trigger from them may be incorrect as they pretty much all do and can vary from 6 – 14 pound breaks.

Like others have stated, check out Bill Springfield trigger jobs. For $50 and your trigger kit, he’ll send you a re-worked trigger that is crisp and breaks at 3lbs. I have 4 of Bill’s and 2 Timney 3lb triggers. I can’t tell a difference and a buddy of mine preferred Bill’s!

Good luck and be prepared to build more than just the 2 you have now!!
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top