DPMS Hunter G2 308 problem

[dtom]

i bought a DPMS Hunter G2 ar-308 rifle. I followed all the DPMS break in steps. I lubricated the heck out of the BCG. every other couple rounds it fails to feed to the next round. also, it will not lock back when magazine is empty. It seems that the BCG isn't traveling back far enough. it will lock if i charge it manually. i don't know if it is a gas issue or buffer and spring issue..

i use magpul mags, and i use PMC bronze and federal brass ammo 150 gr.

any ideas?? thanks in advance

[shepp]

Welcome to the forum, feel free to post in the intro section 

[COBrien]

First of all, welcome to the forum!

Secondly, and more importantly, call DPMS. A brand new rifle shouldn't be having the issues you describe. Since yours is a G2, they should be willing to work on it and get it right.

[washguy]

Yeppers...sound it back     Wash

[dtom]

so i called DPMS, here is what the tech told me:

"do not use magpul mags"

"do not use anything less than 168gr bullet"

but he thinks my problem is the magazine. he said that magpul is garbage. he refered me to a brand called lancer..

i was under the impression that magpul is good stuff..

[shepp]

7 minutes ago, dtom said:

so i called DPMS, here is what the tech told me:

"do not use magpul mags"

"do not use anything less than 168gr bullet"

but he thinks my problem is the magazine. he said that magpul is garbage. he refered me to a brand called lancer..

i was under the impression that magpul is good stuff..

Magpul is good but these guns are finicky, there are a good amount of guys on here that really like the lancer mags. 

 

Can you put an empty mag in pull the charging handle back and get it to lock that way?

Edited August 22, 2016 by shepp

[washguy]

40 minutes ago, dtom said:

so i called DPMS, here is what the tech told me:

"do not use magpul mags"

"do not use anything less than 168gr bullet"

but he thinks my problem is the magazine. he said that magpul is garbage. he refered me to a brand called lancer..

i was under the impression that magpul is good stuff..

Dtom        Oh BS on that phone guy...you think DPMS and its gen2 stuff could get away with that to the general public?

Ive got a couple of hybrid ar308's that yes are damn finicky on mags,but the lancers work perfect in them BUT you didnt buy or assemble a weird rifle...you bought an off the shelf rifle that should work pretty damn good...although these 308's are finicky on break in...the nothing less than 168 grain is just a plain stoopid azz statement .....so okay lets us figure out what to do...you seem to have a handle on the problem...so you said no lockback with one round in mag ?

gotta start there... can be a couple of things causing that....I would get a different mag like a metal one just to check...you dont wanna spend nearly 50 bills on lancers......it can be a gas problem or a mag problem...I would think those nitwits would put the right spring and buffer in it from the factory...are you the first owner? and I would get some heavier grain bullets just to comply and also get that out of the equation....if it works with heavy grain than you can eliminate the mag...one change at a time though...        Wash

[COBrien]

Your rifle did come with a DPMS metal mag, didn't it? Try it with PMC and Federal and see how she runs.

I agree with shepp and washguy -- try some 168 gr ammo in both the DPMS mag and your PMags. If nothing else, you can tell the next DPMS "tech" that you already did that.

To take a quick detour...

As far as DPMS's customer service is concerned, I've had a bad experience myself. I called and asked them if it was safe to run .308 Win through my rifle (barrel is marked 7.62, lower is marked .308). One tech said "run what the barrel is marked," another said "run what the lower is marked," but when asked about chambers, their response was complete silence. They also gave me the spiel about 168+ grain bullets. I later called looking for a rifle-length handguard, and was advised they no longer produce, stock, or supply OEM parts for the G1 rifles because the G2s are out now. So those of us who have G1 rifles are SOL if we want G1-specific DPMS parts. No idea what they will do if a G1 comes in for warranty work...

[survivalshop]

  DPMS said that to you , geez , WTF , there are rifles that do not like Pmags , I have one that has feeding issues with the first Gen. Pmags , but the Gen. 3's works fine , they are a little different . The L7 Lancers are probably the best 308 AR Mag out there IMO , but they are expensive .

  Now that thats out of the way , if you put one round in the Mag. & fire that one round & it will not lock back the BCG on last round , more then likely its not the Mag. , but to make sure , try a DPMS steel mag or an early original  C-Products Mag. if you can find one . The DPMS should be available .

 If that rifle will not function with M 80 Ball ammo , something is wrong with it . You don't need 168 gr. loaded ammo , it should fire anything M80 ( 147-149 gr. Loads ) & above , with out issues .

  Plenty of manufacturers out there making components for the larger frame DPMS 308AR's & I don't think its specified as a G1 , like the smaller frame GII.

  

[shepp]

1 hour ago, COBrien said:

Your rifle did come with a DPMS metal mag, didn't it? 

Right?!? Totally forgot about that?!?

[COBrien]

1 hour ago, shepp said:

Right?!? Totally forgot about that?!?

...haven't been around long enough to know if that's serious or sarcasm...

Lol!

[shepp]

7 minutes ago, COBrien said:

...haven't been around long enough to know if that's serious or sarcasm...

Lol!

I'm Serious lol, my dpms came with two metal dpms mags.

[Quentin]

Welcome, dtom!

I'm sorry you're having problems with your G2 and that the tech you talked to blew you off by trying to shift the blame on you, your ammo and your PMAGs.. Sadly that happens way too often, and of course not just with DPMS. I've read that S&W CS also has blamed magazines and 147-150 grain ammo when a customer complains of their M&P10 short stroking. Either way, the tech just wants to end the call not solve the problem. He reads his script then sends you off to try a few things while he closes the call or ticket. (Like the computer tech that tells you to reboot the computer then call back if the problem persists!) Fortunately not all techs are like that, the ones who know something and care about their customers will actually try to help you. It is important not to give up, don't get discouraged, try calling back multiple times to get a better tech. Sometimes better techs handle the email questions and even chat if that's available. If you play the game well you will win. Be sure to get his name and use it often during the conversation, that really does help. He knows you will remember his name.

I think you got good advice here about testing the original DPMS magazine that came with the rifle and trying hotter 168 grain ammo. And the function tests mentioned. Of course no matter what that tech said the rifle should function with M80 and it should work with PMAGs as most factory built 308 ARs do. Lancer makes great magazines and I have quite a few for my AR-15s but $50+ for 308 mags is pretty steep. You shouldn't be expected to use Lancers only and hot ammo only. One of the driving reasons many of us buy a 308 AR is to use PMAGs and low cost M80 ammo. In fact many factory 308 ARs come with PMAGs, mine did. Don't give up, they will take care of you if you squeak enough!

Edited August 23, 2016 by Quentin

[dtom]

16 hours ago, shepp said:

Magpul is good but these guns are finicky, there are a good amount of guys on here that really like the lancer mags. 

 

Can you put an empty mag in pull the charging handle back and get it to lock that way?

here is what i did.

i went to the gunshop and bought 308 snap caps. I was nervous to try it with a live round...

so i loaded a pmag and the steel one that came with the rifle. i started to manually eject the snap caps and yes it did lock on the last one.. so does this mean it has gas issue?

[dtom]

14 hours ago, survivalshop said:

  DPMS said that to you , geez , WTF , there are rifles that do not like Pmags , I have one that has feeding issues with the first Gen. Pmags , but the Gen. 3's works fine , they are a little different . The L7 Lancers are probably the best 308 AR Mag out there IMO , but they are expensive .

  Now that thats out of the way , if you put one round in the Mag. & fire that one round & it will not lock back the BCG on last round , more then likely its not the Mag. , but to make sure , try a DPMS steel mag or an early original  C-Products Mag. if you can find one . The DPMS should be available .

 If that rifle will not function with M 80 Ball ammo , something is wrong with it . You don't need 168 gr. loaded ammo , it should fire anything M80 ( 147-149 gr. Loads ) & above , with out issues .

  Plenty of manufacturers out there making components for the larger frame DPMS 308AR's & I don't think its specified as a G1 , like the smaller frame GII.

  

yes it does lock back.

[dtom]

thank you all for the help... I will keep posting follow ups and updates. I am gonna gather all the your advice and try to narrow down the problem. i never owned an ar before. thats my first. all i own is a shotgun and a 10/22 ruger lol.

on the other side of the coin, my local indoor range told me that i can no longer shoot anything higher than a 223 otherwise i was heading over there tonight after work. new policy as of last weekend. people who shoot pistol complained apparently about heavy calibers. whatever, i am gonna check out this outdoor range this weekend and i will post a follow up. thanks again for all your advice and help..

[dtom]

11 hours ago, Quentin said:

Welcome, dtom!

I'm sorry you're having problems with your G2 and that the tech you talked to blew you off by trying to shift the blame on you, your ammo and your PMAGs.. Sadly that happens way too often, and of course not just with DPMS. I've read that S&W CS also has blamed magazines and 147-150 grain ammo when a customer complains of their M&P10 short stroking. Either way, the tech just wants to end the call not solve the problem. He reads his script then sends you off to try a few things while he closes the call or ticket. (Like the computer tech that tells you to reboot the computer then call back if the problem persists!) Fortunately not all techs are like that, the ones who know something and care about their customers will actually try to help you. It is important not to give up, don't get discouraged, try calling back multiple times to get a better tech. Sometimes better techs handle the email questions and even chat if that's available. If you play the game well you will win. Be sure to get his name and use it often during the conversation, that really does help. He knows you will remember his name.

I think you got good advice here about testing the original DPMS magazine that came with the rifle and trying hotter 168 grain ammo. And the function tests mentioned. Of course no matter what that tech said the rifle should function with M80 and it should work with PMAGs as most factory built 308 ARs do. Lancer makes great magazines and I have quite a few for my AR-15s but $50+ for 308 mags is pretty steep. You shouldn't be expected to use Lancers only and hot ammo only. One of the driving reasons many of us buy a 308 AR is to use PMAGs and low cost M80 ammo. In fact many factory 308 ARs come with PMAGs, mine did. Don't give up, they will take care of you if you squeak enough!

i won't let it discourage me instead i will use it as a learning experience. i doubt i will be buying any lancers (maybe i will buy just one lol). and i agree about CS that tech wanted nothing to do with me. i am gonna keep calling until i get a better tech and i will keep posting updates. thanks

[dtom]

16 hours ago, washguy said:

Dtom        Oh BS on that phone guy...you think DPMS and its gen2 stuff could get away with that to the general public?

Ive got a couple of hybrid ar308's that yes are damn finicky on mags,but the lancers work perfect in them BUT you didnt buy or assemble a weird rifle...you bought an off the shelf rifle that should work pretty damn good...although these 308's are finicky on break in...the nothing less than 168 grain is just a plain stoopid azz statement .....so okay lets us figure out what to do...you seem to have a handle on the problem...so you said no lockback with one round in mag ?

gotta start there... can be a couple of things causing that....I would get a different mag like a metal one just to check...you dont wanna spend nearly 50 bills on lancers......it can be a gas problem or a mag problem...I would think those nitwits would put the right spring and buffer in it from the factory...are you the first owner? and I would get some heavier grain bullets just to comply and also get that out of the equation....if it works with heavy grain than you can eliminate the mag...one change at a time though...        Wash

do you think it would be a good idea if i buy the carbine buffer (the smaller one) because it would be lighter and hopefully the bcg will travel far enough? would i damage anything by doing so?

[survivalshop]

    The locking back of the BCG with last round fired is with actually firing the rifle with live rounds . Just using Snap caps tells you the Bolt Stop is working . You have to do live fire with live ammo to test the gas system . 

 Load one round in Mag. load it into the Chamber & fire the rifle & if it locks back on empty mag , last round fired , the gas system is OK , well to some extent any way . Even then , if that works , I load two rounds in the mag & see if you get the same results , then three rounds with the same results & then try different brand of ammo , the same way.

 If this is a factory rifle & it has any issues , you should contact DPMS , again if you have to . 

[COBrien]

Did your rifle come with a metal DPMS magazine?

[COBrien]

Sorry, disregard my last post... I just went back and re-read, and it seems you did test the OEM mag.

DON'T BUY ANY PARTS YET. Take your rifle to the outdoor range and run the DPMS mag with the ammo you have and some 168s or 175s. If it's still not running right, call DPMS and insist on sending it in for work.

If the rifle runs right with the DPMS mag, then you have a mag compatibility issue which we can either help you with or someone here will buy your PMags to help you purchase some Lancers.

Edited August 23, 2016 by COBrien

[dtom]

14 minutes ago, COBrien said:

Sorry, disregard my last post... I just went back and re-read, and it seems you did test the OEM mag.

DON'T BUY ANY PARTS YET. Take your rifle to the outdoor range and run the DPMS mag with the ammo you have and some 168s or 175s. If it's still not running right, call DPMS and insist on sending it in for work.

If the rifle runs right with the DPMS mag, then you have a mag compatibility issue which we can either help you with or someone here will buy your PMags to help you purchase some Lancers.

i tell you what, i know i am jumping the gun but i hope it is not a magazine issue. the whole idea of owning an ar platform is the flexibility in using the pmags for the price and reliability. and also the amount of pmags i can own with the price of a lancer. by the way i appreciate you helping me sell the pmags to cut down on the cost..

it scares me you know, becasue why would the tech pin it on the pmag right off the bat. it is like he knew it. 

now if my issue turned out to be the pmag, i think i will sell it at a loss and buy an m&p 15 223 at that point. i hate to sound like this but lancers are a pretty penny and right from the get go all i was thinking about was the flexibility of the ar and the use of pmags.

i will find out this weekend iguess. I will pick up bunch of 168s and 175s and lubricate the heck out the bcg and see what happens...

i will post more this weekend thanks

[COBrien]

I'm willing to bet you DON'T have a magazine compatibility issue. FWIW, my G1 LR308 has functioned flawlessly with PMags -- I've never even loaded the DPMS mag.

The techs you speak with on the phone are not the guys who work on the rifles. They don't build them, they don't service them, they just answer the phones. They have a script. Essentially, their position is "anything other than DPMS parts and equipment can and will, eventually, cause your rifle not to function properly."

I understand their position, because so many coffee table "gunsmiths" foul up their own weapons on a daily basis when adding or changing parts, then blame the manufacturer.

Let's see how she runs with the DPMS mag, and we'll go from there.

EDIT: Where are you located? On the off chance that you're in Oklahoma, I'd be more than willing to meet up, go shoot, and see if we can figure this thing out.

Edited August 23, 2016 by COBrien

[dtom]

24 minutes ago, COBrien said:

I'm willing to bet you DON'T have a magazine compatibility issue. FWIW, my G1 LR308 has functioned flawlessly with PMags -- I've never even loaded the DPMS mag.

The techs you speak with on the phone are not the guys who work on the rifles. They don't build them, they don't service them, they just answer the phones. They have a script. Essentially, their position is "anything other than DPMS parts and equipment can and will, eventually, cause your rifle not to function properly."

I understand their position, because so many coffee table "gunsmiths" foul up their own weapons on a daily basis when adding or changing parts, then blame the manufacturer.

Let's see how she runs with the DPMS mag, and we'll go from there.

EDIT: Where are you located? On the off chance that you're in Oklahoma, I'd be more than willing to meet up, go shoot, and see if we can figure this thing out.

i agree with you and i already feel better. i will keep my fingers crossed for this weekend.

that would been a great offer thank you but i live in pesnsylvania. i will keep you posted..

[survivalshop]

  There will be , one some new rifles , a break in period & they may have issues for the first few mag's. .

 Also , if you haven't already , scrub the Chamber & Barrel bore with a good stiff brush & solvent .