Colt vs Armalite vs Bushmaster
- Thread starter oktagon
- Start date
Caveat: I don't know much about ARs
Heh
I, too, am new to the AR scene. I got a sudden itch to have a shorty AR, and after watching my wife try to shoot my FAL, I decided she needed something a little smaller/lighter, too (hee hee!)... so, I did my research and came up with...
Rock River Arms
These guys have been getting good press lately, I've fondled and shot a few RRA rifles, and to my admittedly inexperienced eyes they are decent. Others with far more knowledge and experience have declared them sound as well. Kinda like getting Colt/Armalite/Bushmaster quality without the Colt/Armalite/Bushmaster pricetag.
YMMV
IANAL
IMHO
AATS (And All That Stuff)
One downside: they don't chrome their bores and chambers. Some people consider this a make-or-break feature, others don't. One side tells you that we've been shooting rifles for many moons without chromed bores, the other side will tell you that chroming an AR makes them much more reliable. I dunno. Ask me this time next year and I'll have an opinion.
Mike
Heh
I, too, am new to the AR scene. I got a sudden itch to have a shorty AR, and after watching my wife try to shoot my FAL, I decided she needed something a little smaller/lighter, too (hee hee!)... so, I did my research and came up with...
Rock River Arms
These guys have been getting good press lately, I've fondled and shot a few RRA rifles, and to my admittedly inexperienced eyes they are decent. Others with far more knowledge and experience have declared them sound as well. Kinda like getting Colt/Armalite/Bushmaster quality without the Colt/Armalite/Bushmaster pricetag.
YMMV
IANAL
IMHO
AATS (And All That Stuff)
One downside: they don't chrome their bores and chambers. Some people consider this a make-or-break feature, others don't. One side tells you that we've been shooting rifles for many moons without chromed bores, the other side will tell you that chroming an AR makes them much more reliable. I dunno. Ask me this time next year and I'll have an opinion.
Mike
Wild Romanian
Moderator
I currently own a match target Colt with a factory 24 inch stainless barrel. The gun currently has 8,400 rounds through it without a malfunction and it is still shooting 3/8 in. groups at 100 yards. Some of my friends shoot Armalites and they seem to have almose but not quite the same quality of the Colts. I do not recomend the Bushmaster. At our range we actually call them Bushcrappers. I have seen a lot of problems with them. The quality control just is not there. My first choice would be the Colt with Armalite running a close second. W.R.
Ist off,
DZ that link was great and I do hope a few more read throught the list.
Now as to the orginal question...Oktangon you have picked the top 3 as in ABC.
A= Armalite
B= Bushmaster
C=Colt
Of these I have 3 and they a BM, 2 post and soon 1 Pre Ban because the quality, fit and finish on all are great. They are also the lesser priced and chambered for 5.56 and NOT .223.
This is a point should you be looking at other AR offering....do you want to run the risk of having to buy commercial ammo rather than Mil Surplus
Yes they are Chrome but to me that is a moot point...I clean may weapons and take care of them.
I have another AR that is not Chrome but it is 5.56 and that is my Stoner M4, but you are pushing $1400 plus when you can find then. I figure they only make about 2000 pre year, if that.
This is what or were I would start, Bushmaster A2 Hbar with a 16 inch barrel or the BM Dissapator and start thinking red dots sites and mounts later.
IMHO that way, for $700-800 you will have a carbine you will never have to replace.
They will shot all day and hold good groups out to 200 yards.
For your second, third or forth AR look us up.
Next is optic and all the toys, we will be here for you s a support group and hopefully sway you away from the bad
Just me
Karsten
DZ that link was great and I do hope a few more read throught the list.
Now as to the orginal question...Oktangon you have picked the top 3 as in ABC.
A= Armalite
B= Bushmaster
C=Colt
Of these I have 3 and they a BM, 2 post and soon 1 Pre Ban because the quality, fit and finish on all are great. They are also the lesser priced and chambered for 5.56 and NOT .223.
This is a point should you be looking at other AR offering....do you want to run the risk of having to buy commercial ammo rather than Mil Surplus
Yes they are Chrome but to me that is a moot point...I clean may weapons and take care of them.
I have another AR that is not Chrome but it is 5.56 and that is my Stoner M4, but you are pushing $1400 plus when you can find then. I figure they only make about 2000 pre year, if that.
This is what or were I would start, Bushmaster A2 Hbar with a 16 inch barrel or the BM Dissapator and start thinking red dots sites and mounts later.
IMHO that way, for $700-800 you will have a carbine you will never have to replace.
They will shot all day and hold good groups out to 200 yards.
For your second, third or forth AR look us up.
Next is optic and all the toys, we will be here for you s a support group and hopefully sway you away from the bad
Just me
Karsten
Post here, but also at AR-15.com, which obviously is a website devoted to this fine and highly diverse weapon. You will find that of the three you mentioned, the Bushmaster is the most popular. Its not because of any price difference since they are all commensurate. And I would say that Romanian's experience is definitely the exception to the rule. The Busmaster is very well made. The only problem I have encountered, and the one most often mentioned by others, are the sights, which sometimes, but usually not, need some adjustment.
Everyone has their own preference.
I think the Dissipator is a good compromise between a shorty with it's reduced sight radius and a full size model with a 20" barrel.
The only thing I would do differently if I was buying one today is explore the option of ordering one with a fluted barrel. They are supposed to be a few ounces lighter, and the Dissipator feels a little front heavy to me. I've only read about the fluted barrels, so I don't know if it would make a significant difference or not.
As far as quality, I have a Bushmaster Dissipator, an Armalite AR-10, and I had a Colt SP-1. Could not tell any difference in quality when comparing them. The only regret I have is selling the SP-1.
I think the Dissipator is a good compromise between a shorty with it's reduced sight radius and a full size model with a 20" barrel.
The only thing I would do differently if I was buying one today is explore the option of ordering one with a fluted barrel. They are supposed to be a few ounces lighter, and the Dissipator feels a little front heavy to me. I've only read about the fluted barrels, so I don't know if it would make a significant difference or not.
As far as quality, I have a Bushmaster Dissipator, an Armalite AR-10, and I had a Colt SP-1. Could not tell any difference in quality when comparing them. The only regret I have is selling the SP-1.
Jeff Thomas
New member
blades67, why avoid the Dissipator line? I hear the longer sight radius is quite handy.
Regards from AZ
Regards from AZ
go to www.ar.com they have a deal on a pretty nice rifle for 599.
man i dont know what that web site is but here the one you want www.ar15.com::eek:
www.ar15.com ill get it right yet!:
Jack Carson
New member
AR 15 Choices
Last February I attended one of John Farnam's defensive pistol classes. As you probably know he also teaches defensive rifle and shotgun courses. During one of our breaks he gave an impromptu rifle/shotgun lecture and one of his topics was weapon choices. He said that of the current AR 15 selections today the Bushmaster was his choice. He sees lots of different types and brands each year and stated the Bushmaster was the most reliable of its type.
Two weeks later I bought one and have been very satisfied with it. My only complaint is a creepy, somewhat gritty trigger but that seems to be getting better with use.
Last February I attended one of John Farnam's defensive pistol classes. As you probably know he also teaches defensive rifle and shotgun courses. During one of our breaks he gave an impromptu rifle/shotgun lecture and one of his topics was weapon choices. He said that of the current AR 15 selections today the Bushmaster was his choice. He sees lots of different types and brands each year and stated the Bushmaster was the most reliable of its type.
Two weeks later I bought one and have been very satisfied with it. My only complaint is a creepy, somewhat gritty trigger but that seems to be getting better with use.
Humm, just a little range report....Now understand I was just shooting to get rounds fired and parts worn in a bit.
Well, last month took a new Dissapator out with a Rough Zero'ed
30 MM Red Dot and had a nice 3 inch group out of about 100 rounds....but that was just pulling the trigger.
Well I have done the same with my 16" VMatch and today got it over 300 rounds so I figured I would think about a few groups. At 50, 2 out of 3 groups all were touching, last group a 1/4 inch flyer and 2 touching......Darn AR10 brake next to me
I thought they said Ar15 brakes were bad.
The 3 100 yard groups could be covered by a quarter so I am happy.
I don't think you can go wrong with a BM. Then again my Stoner didn't do bad either with the 300 meter flip up rear site but that is another game all together.
I read somewhere Stoner only makes a bout 1000 AR's a year cause they are pricey but different, I like it.
Just my opinion
Karsten
Well, last month took a new Dissapator out with a Rough Zero'ed
30 MM Red Dot and had a nice 3 inch group out of about 100 rounds....but that was just pulling the trigger.
Well I have done the same with my 16" VMatch and today got it over 300 rounds so I figured I would think about a few groups. At 50, 2 out of 3 groups all were touching, last group a 1/4 inch flyer and 2 touching......Darn AR10 brake next to me
I thought they said Ar15 brakes were bad.
The 3 100 yard groups could be covered by a quarter so I am happy.
I don't think you can go wrong with a BM. Then again my Stoner didn't do bad either with the 300 meter flip up rear site but that is another game all together.
I read somewhere Stoner only makes a bout 1000 AR's a year cause they are pricey but different, I like it.
Just my opinion
Karsten
bad_dad_brad
New member
I also have been doing much research. I want to replace or augument my .223 Mini-14. After a lot of research, I would probably choose Armalite.
I have heard too many comments about Bushmasters, and Colt as a company, well, after they dumped all of their product lines except AR's, M1911s, and Single Actions, well they hurt their reputation.
Consider one more choice in a .223 semi. Armalite just came out with a newly improved AR-180 called the AR-180B. Looks interesting and the price is right - 599 retail.
Not that RRA seems to have a pretty good rep also. Just don't know that much about them. Cleveland Illinois? Man it is hardly on the map.
I have heard too many comments about Bushmasters, and Colt as a company, well, after they dumped all of their product lines except AR's, M1911s, and Single Actions, well they hurt their reputation.
Consider one more choice in a .223 semi. Armalite just came out with a newly improved AR-180 called the AR-180B. Looks interesting and the price is right - 599 retail.
Not that RRA seems to have a pretty good rep also. Just don't know that much about them. Cleveland Illinois? Man it is hardly on the map.