Bushmaster vs Colt
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All commercial AR barrel manufacturing has been committed to the US military and barrels for civilians is depleting quickly. Don't think about it too much, because you may not see the rifle you want till spring.
Bushmaster is a better company, higher quality and largest selection! Colt
!
Bushmaster is a better company, higher quality and largest selection! Colt
!Unquestionably Colt has produced some fine ARs, but current Bushmasters are made with better materials and have better customer service. If you buy a Colt today all you're getting is an acceptable level gun, that you hope won't need customer service contact for, with the picture of a pony stamped in the side. I don't see spending a hundred bucks more for that - I'm not into engravings on my ARs.
USMCsilver
New member
Colt's QC has really gone downhill in the past few years. Not to mention, prices are still through the roof and cutomer service cannot compare to BM's.
With that said, buy a Bushy and be happy. You will get a better rifle for a whole lot less money, and if for some odd chance it does malfunction, BM will take care of it with a smile. They are GREAT people to deal with!
With that said, buy a Bushy and be happy. You will get a better rifle for a whole lot less money, and if for some odd chance it does malfunction, BM will take care of it with a smile. They are GREAT people to deal with!
I love my old Oly, haven't tried the new ones. DPMS is also good. Avoid Hesse.
NEW Colts are not standard parts---you cannot interchange any mil or standard AR parts into one. (Well, some, but not many.)
The takedown and pivot pins are proprietary, so you can never out a non-Colt upper on (without buying adapters or machinework. Either way, $$$ and trouble). The receiver is filled in even more than other post bans (which does make it stronger, but if TSHTF you can't make it select fire). It won't take a standard bolt carrier that I'm aware of, either that or they milled theirs down to silly specs.
Yup. Saw 3 at the last show come by my table. "Hey, this is a REAL Colt! Only $1400 used!"
Which I can't do a damn thing with. No thank you.
NEW Colts are not standard parts---you cannot interchange any mil or standard AR parts into one. (Well, some, but not many.)
The takedown and pivot pins are proprietary, so you can never out a non-Colt upper on (without buying adapters or machinework. Either way, $$$ and trouble). The receiver is filled in even more than other post bans (which does make it stronger, but if TSHTF you can't make it select fire). It won't take a standard bolt carrier that I'm aware of, either that or they milled theirs down to silly specs.
Yup. Saw 3 at the last show come by my table. "Hey, this is a REAL Colt! Only $1400 used!"
Which I can't do a damn thing with. No thank you.
Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
In my personal experiences of comparing Bushmaster and Colt a couple of things come to mind:
1) Bushmaster is closest to mil-spec. Colt no longer chrome-lines their bores.
2) Bushmaster is more likely to have a minor QC problem than Colts (overtorqued barrel, parts with a purple tint)
3) In my limited experience, Colt's have been less likely to have QC problems but the one problem I did have (gas port not drilled out) was a doozy.
4) Colt's QC has been getting worse rather than improving. Bushmaster's has improved slightly; but they still miss things that have been a common complaint (overtorqued barrels) for a couple of years now. (in fact, since they went from Colt to Colt's I haven't been impressed)
5) Bushmaster has great customer service. Colt's customer service not only gives you the impression that they don't care whether you live or die, it makes you feel as though they are actively hoping for the latter so you will just go away without them having to do anything. Turn around times are long enough that they can be measured in sedimentary build-up.
6) Colt's use proprietary pivot pins and screwy fire control in the lower receiver that make them incompatible with most other AR parts.
Other than that, both manufacturers produce quality, dependable rifles better than 90% of the time. I wouldn't turn my nose up at either; but I don't think that Colt's rifles are worth the increased price compared to Bushmaster.
1) Bushmaster is closest to mil-spec. Colt no longer chrome-lines their bores.
2) Bushmaster is more likely to have a minor QC problem than Colts (overtorqued barrel, parts with a purple tint)
3) In my limited experience, Colt's have been less likely to have QC problems but the one problem I did have (gas port not drilled out) was a doozy.
4) Colt's QC has been getting worse rather than improving. Bushmaster's has improved slightly; but they still miss things that have been a common complaint (overtorqued barrels) for a couple of years now. (in fact, since they went from Colt to Colt's I haven't been impressed)
5) Bushmaster has great customer service. Colt's customer service not only gives you the impression that they don't care whether you live or die, it makes you feel as though they are actively hoping for the latter so you will just go away without them having to do anything. Turn around times are long enough that they can be measured in sedimentary build-up.
6) Colt's use proprietary pivot pins and screwy fire control in the lower receiver that make them incompatible with most other AR parts.
Other than that, both manufacturers produce quality, dependable rifles better than 90% of the time. I wouldn't turn my nose up at either; but I don't think that Colt's rifles are worth the increased price compared to Bushmaster.
I have a love affair with Armalite, very nice quality rifle with good fit and finish, pretty much astounding customer service(in my experience), and ofcourse they've got that lifetime warranty on their Armalite rifles(Eagles are a different warranty, more value based intent). Bout the only drawbacks I see with Armalites are the price of the rifle, a slightly limited selection of rifles, and if you're plum crazy to get a rifle as close to mil-spec as possible than Armalite doesn't match Bushmaster in that respect.
I also like Bushmaster quite a bit, they are a darned decent value for what you're getting. As close to mil-spec as you're gonna get in an civilian AR15 without it being an M16. Price is certainly pretty fair on the Bushmasters when you consider you're paying the price on quality like which can happen with say ASA or Hesse, hopefully everyone has learned to shy away from ASA and Hesse by now! Bushmaster also has a fine selection of rifles all based around the chrome lined barrels and most recently they've come out with their Varminter with a more match type barrel geared more for accuracy.
While I don't own one I've heard very good things about Rock River Arms, I believe the reports I've heard about them and take it for what it's worth, they're good stuff and likely as good a value as Bushmaster.
Those are my top 3 choices for AR15s if you're in the market for a pretty basic AR15 and nothing too out of the ordinary.
I also like Bushmaster quite a bit, they are a darned decent value for what you're getting. As close to mil-spec as you're gonna get in an civilian AR15 without it being an M16. Price is certainly pretty fair on the Bushmasters when you consider you're paying the price on quality like which can happen with say ASA or Hesse, hopefully everyone has learned to shy away from ASA and Hesse by now! Bushmaster also has a fine selection of rifles all based around the chrome lined barrels and most recently they've come out with their Varminter with a more match type barrel geared more for accuracy.
While I don't own one I've heard very good things about Rock River Arms, I believe the reports I've heard about them and take it for what it's worth, they're good stuff and likely as good a value as Bushmaster.
Those are my top 3 choices for AR15s if you're in the market for a pretty basic AR15 and nothing too out of the ordinary.
Quick question on the Rock River Arms ARs, if the listed retail price on their website is roughly $950 for whatever model you want, how much could that be had for in a local shop? For those of you that didn't get the group purchase on AR-15.com, what did you spend on your RRA AR-15 and what configuration?