DPMS Panther Arms A-15

[Ettubrutesbro]

Hey, I was kinda wondering about this gun, seems cheap and from the reviews I've read (mainly the 2 on Airsoft Retreat), it seems good. Any owners of this gun out there and if so, can they share their opinions here? Also, I've read about the barrel wobble issue, is that easily fixed by an airsoft noob? Or is it advanced users only need apply? (For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, look here: http://www.airsoftretreat.com/dpmsa-15.asp) Thanks.

[SnakeEyes0001]

I hear this gun performs really good, but it's made completly of plastic and it's not very durable. It breaks pretty easily I guess.

[Grey Fox]

I bought a DPMS A15 from Airsoft atlanta.. nice lil gun, looks good out of the box. it is ~ 5 pounds., mostly plastic construction with metal parts here and there. The reciever and, well, most of the gun is a matte black, while the trigger, magazine release, the guide for the collapsable stock (I can't spell..) and the front sling mount are metal with a gloss black (painted) finish. The front flashhider is a bright orange plastic, which I covered with electrical tape.. a flat black acrylic would probably do a better job.
In as far as being fragile, the front handguard isn't as secure as I would like.. I could fix it with superglue, but then you wouldn't be able to remove it. The rest of the rifle (At least in my opinion) feels VERY solid.
The bb's that come out of the box, as well as the instructions, are worthless..
The magazine requires a loading tool which is included and works very well.
if you have any questions, feel free to ask!
-HJ

{edit, added Image} Image is of DPMS A 15 with TM Glock 17 (for scale) on marine corp issue all weather coat. A15 has been modified from stock with electrical tape on Flash hider, otherwise, stock.}

[Ettubrutesbro]

Thanks a bunch for the reply! Um, I was wondering how the gun performs compared to a stock GBB on HFC22. Would you recommend it to a noob who's researched a lot but hasn't really made contact with the guns and stuff?

[Grey Fox]

I've not had a chance to try the gun with .25 gram bb's.. the crap ones it comes with are all I have at this point but I will be getting some (purely for testing purposes :-D). I'm about to do a poor mans chrono with a soda can if I can find one, lol. Brb;;;

Okay! the coke-can chrono is done! with ~.16 gram bb I'm penetrating the side of a coke can. to do this with a .20 gram bb would requiere somewhere in the range of 290-310 fps.. it left a hell of a ding in the bottom when I shot it but no penetration :( (I'll see if I can scrounge up a .20 grammer to be more accurate.. but from what I saw, if you got hit with that (good luck with *that* shot) it'd leave a mark.
as I have no experiance with a gas pistol, I can't make a comparison, but from what I've read, the pistol is semi-auto and this rifle is not, and the pistol has similar, if not more power.. less range due to a shorter barrel however.. I personally got the A 15 because it was a rifle.. I have a TM Glock and I need a battle rifle.
as for the noob question.. if you REALLY want a battle rifle and this is all you can afford, go for it, just make sure you have some decent .20 grammers around to use.. its a good gun, but its a springer.. an AEG if you can afford it (and need it..) would be a better investment. I don't skirmish much (not been an event yet I could attend..) but I like to plink, and I also plan to use it to deter squirrels from chewing up my grandmothers birdfeeder ( I Will of course be prone in full gear like my picture to do this lol ). so for me, this rifle is perfect.. just balance your needs and make a desision based on what you come up with.
I personally think it is a great Rifle, you may not.
-HJ