Del-Ton AR-15
08-06-2015, 06:08 AM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,186
Del-Ton AR-15
It looks like the prices of AR-15's are dropping, maybe the confiscation scare is losing steam. I seen a few of these Del-Ton rifles at the LGS for $499. I have always wanted an AR-15, but not bad enough to pay skyrocketed prices. This looks like good deal to me. Of course I want to ask all you fellow gun enthusiasts because I never heard of this brand before. Maybe someone here is familiar with this company or has some advice on buying an entry level AR-15.
08-06-2015, 06:06 PM
#5
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 282
My first AR was a Del-Ton. Still have it, and it's had a lot of rounds through it. I've built a handful of them using Del-Ton stripped uppers and lowers. They make a pretty good product. Even if you wanted to go with a basic model, it would be easy to upgrade it later.
Just to be fair, DPMS is another good brand. They make a model called the Sportical. I think you can still find them on sale for $499. They're nothin fancy, but throw a nice trigger in one, and they'll shoot with the best of 'em.
Just to be fair, DPMS is another good brand. They make a model called the Sportical. I think you can still find them on sale for $499. They're nothin fancy, but throw a nice trigger in one, and they'll shoot with the best of 'em.
08-08-2015, 09:04 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 3,902
Del-Ton kits have been around a long time, heck, they've been around before most of these other folks got into the AR-15 game. I wanna say that it was somewhere around 2002 that I bought my first del-ton kit. They're not great, just mil-spec rifles, but if you want a cheap rifle that will run (what AR-15 won't?), then they're not a bad choice - but I wouldn't buy one.
The problem, however, is that you can buy a DPMS or Bushmaster carbine for the same price during sales, or $100 more at regular price, either of which will be a better finished rifle that will better hold resale value.
All in all, I wouldn't buy another Del-ton rifle or kit. There are better rifles at better values and at the same price out there.
The problem, however, is that you can buy a DPMS or Bushmaster carbine for the same price during sales, or $100 more at regular price, either of which will be a better finished rifle that will better hold resale value.
All in all, I wouldn't buy another Del-ton rifle or kit. There are better rifles at better values and at the same price out there.
08-08-2015, 08:19 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 3,902
08-08-2015, 10:50 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,695
While I'm not as "up on" AR's as Mercy (little doubt that many are really, dang kid is a genius with them) from a business standpoint on assessing value to a product, DPMS and Bushmaster would hold a higher value since they make their own parts while Del-Ton is merely an assembly plant. Also, in my own lightly educated opinion, DPMS and Bushmaster both have a finer finishing than the Del-Tons I looked at when getting my first AR. And I looked at, shouldered, test fired, and went over quite a few different brands from Del-Ton, DPMS, Bushmaster, LaRue, Novesky, Daniel Defense, just to name a few that I tried out.
08-09-2015, 01:19 AM
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 282
Not hardly. In today's used AR market, the imaginary lines between DPMS, Del-Ton, Bushmaster, Windham, and dozens of other "bottom tier" AR manufacturers are totally blurred. There is nothing objective or empirical about this so-called "fit and finish" factor you guys keep touting that make any of the other manufacturers "better" than Del-Ton.