DS Arms / Wise Lite Semi-Auto RPD Review Part 1

This is a short review of the new DS Arms / Wise Lite RPD. Unfortunately the rifle was delivered to me non-functional so a full review will be forth coming once I give DS Arms a chance to make things right.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• dsa
• ds
• arms
• review
• rpd
• semi-auto
• rifle
• belt
• fed
• gun
• 7.62x39
• russian
• lmg
• semi
• auto
• shooting
• failure

[dsainc]

Thank you for the kind impartial review. Yes, the first model was somewhat finicky, but we have addressed this fully. We improved our design significantly to match the quality DSArms is known for. We have also matched the reliability the original RPD was known for; buy with confidence.

[Sturmgewehre]

@dsainc

Very good to hear! You guys are the best to do business with for sure. I was bummed that my rifle didn't work out, but it's my fault for losing patience, but I will say you guys worked with me very hard throughout the process. Now I miss the rifle.

[silleywilley]

Sturm- Are they taking care of this for you? Hope so!

[Sturmgewehre]

@silleywilley

They are working with me to get it resolved. I hope this next trip to the range has all of my problems solved.

[silleywilley]

wise lite sucks. My M53(MG42) from wise lite fired 2 rounds before it exploded in my face. Literally. I was lucky to be alive.

[Sturmgewehre]

@silleywilley

I've heard many similar stories. Guns not being test fired from the factory (mine obviously wasn't), malfunctions, and even stories such as yours. Unfortunately I hadn't read many of these reports until after I had placed my order with DS Arms. I figured since DSA was putting their name on it, it had to be good. Hopefully DSA does the repairs and checks things out.

[stuntmanmike37]

I can't believe that the bolt has no tight spring pressure holding it in battery.  As a machine gun, it probably fires from an open bolt position. I find it hard to believe that the company did not engineer the gun better when they built a semi auto version.

[alhews8]

I never thought about it before but I suppose you could bump fire this gun?

[xJaliscoKid]

I live 20min away from the shop ^_^ That RPD sounds great on semi auto!

[DieWolfen]

How much does a new RPD cost?

[ItsMayorBee]

HAHAHAAHAAA!!!!!! "Wolf Ball rounds"

[alhews8]

How did you like this gun, I'm thiking of getting one

[xoticgunnut]

Mopar or nocar, I have that same hat LOL

[Hefenator]

Every box of Wolf I have ever shot has had a hard primer or two in there. It takes a really hard strike to ignite. I shy away from the Wolf. Did you ever get it up and running with different ammo or was it the weapon?

[crocop195]

its a shame that it is a semi

[dsainc]

Well it was a struggle to make a professionally built semi auto conversion of a Belt Feed open bolt design; to a closed bolt. Much spring design and engineering. This was the easy part the hard part was to raise the durability of these springs to meet the great reputation of the RPD. The old design could work fine but problems could show up later; beyond the 50 rounds of test fire we do. We will support this system just like we have the FAL for many years.