Home AR-15 Cheap M4/AR15 Option: the DSArms Shooting Review

Cheap M4/AR15 Option: the DSArms Shooting Review

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Come along as we test the accuracy and build quality of the DSArms ZM4, 5.56 upper. Shooting at close range from the bench and out to 400 meters with iron sights (without a spotter so not the best) This AR upper assembly comes assembled minus the bolt charging handle, lower, and rear sight for $275! The fit and finish is decent, the nitride coating is okay but can be scratched, seems to function great with steel case and handloads, and will even run flawlessly with a 22lr conversion. DSArms is known primarily for their FAL rifles but this AR15 upper proves reliable and accurate. Remember its been a while since I sat down at the bench and tried to print out tight groups; I think this gun will shoot better than I showed but plenty good for combat accuracy. This is an excellent option for an entry level AR at an outstand price point.

www.dsarms.com

Music “Heavy interlude”, “Gearhead”, Kevin Macloud (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution 3.0”

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47 COMMENTS

  1. meeeh….actually its can be beat. Palmetto State Arms- $269 for chrome lined 1/7 twist, CMV barrel , individually tested( MPI,HPT). with blemished lower at $69 complete LPK ($129), BUIS $39-59, and you have a functional tier 2 AR-15 carbine for $526.00 ( before taxes).

    compare that to a store bought S&W M&P 15 sport bare bones at $599 or a low quality unlined 1/9 DPMS.

    your DS Arms is "okay"in comparison to the above Smith and Wesson or the DPMS, but I doubt you put it together for less than $550 with better quality like the PSA

  2. did you zero the rear sight on the day light aperture (small peep sight)? the larger aperture is for low light and 0m-200m thats why its marked 0-2. all in all good shooting i'm in the process of building mine and i order the same upper more or less.

  3. I have a complete ds arms m4 i love it have fired about 1200 rounds through it so far has eaten anything from steel cased russian to cheap brass 223 to lake city 5.56 with no issues at all. Its pretty accurate too even with the cheap tulammo

  4. Hey bro, getting ready to build an AR and Im going to use a completed DSA upper, was wondering when you got yours, did you need to do any pre checks on it? what i mean is did you have to check the head space, things like that?

  5. ….well if we were out in the woods trying to get food on the fire, WE know NOT let you behind the trigger!!! Hahahahahha-you,sir will be ARMED with the fishing gear! Glad you got a decent AR put together without breaking the bank. Keep it non mall ninja simple and be happy

  6. if that first group was at 25 yards/meters, your suppose to be low, because your point of aim and point of impact are the same at 25, youll over shoot at 100, and the further you go the higher itll be, i was tought you want point of aim and point of impact to be 2 ins apart at 25 yards on your target

  7. if you leave your sight on the larger circle hole that is for CQB or shooting at night not long range so that is why you were having a hard time hitting your target. Use the small hole for daytime shooting and you will see a big change in your accuracy.

  8. None that I can think of. They should both be mil-spec. I could be wrong but the only thing that could be different from gun to gun should be the buffer tube (either mil-spec or commercial) but that wouldn't make a difference in mating an upper to a lower I don't think.

  9. I haven't run into the canted FSB, but that's good to know on them not being F marked. 0.04" doesn't sound like much but it can require a decent amount of adjustment in the front sight to compensate if you're running a flattop. I think I ran into this on my High Standard. I was shooting pretty high and had to raise the post quite a bit to bring the POI back down. Thanks.

  10. @Jdrum09

    I don't think it is, but I'm not positive. You would have to call dsa to find out I haven't seen it listed on there sight. But I can tell you I'm still pumping rounds through it and it runs like a champ, we have two in testing one has a dsa bolt the other is a mil spec bolt.

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