Opinions of Bushmaster AR

K

kbert

Inactive
I'm considering an AR and realize there are a lot to choose from out there. While the shorter 16" variants have taken over the lion's share of the market, I am thinking I might be inclined towards a 20" with the carry handle. I have my eye on a used Bushmaster at a local shop but wanted some opinions before I go any further. What are the pros/cons of the Bushmaster brand based on personal experience? Anything specific I need to be looking for? My intended use would be punching paper at the range, and I'm not interested in mounting a bunch of tactical accessories or optics, or using it for home defense or hunting.
 
Most will say put your money into a DD or bravo company but I have the XM15 model bushmaster and ive never had a problem with about 1000 through it. Keep it lubed up and you'll be fine. I avoided the lacquer and poly coated ammo and went with silver bear zinc coated for plinking and never a problem feed or extracting. Decent rifle for the money, not worst, not best.
 
Chances are that it would be fine. Maybe it wouldn't. Bushmaster has a long list of people who have been quite happy with theirs, and a list just as long of those who have been unhappy. Edited to add: I've had 2 Bushys, and never had a problem with them. That was before Cerebrus bought them.

You could build a Bravo Company (BCM) with a 20" barrel and the removable carry handle for the area of $945; some of their prices have gone up slightly. Now, I don't know what the Bushmaster would run these days, but let's just say $150 less. You have to decide if the extra $150 is worth it to get a rifle that is of the same high quality as a Colt, and has a very loyal following, to include those who live their lives by their rifles. And there is a reason that they are so loyal, and a reason why you will find so very few, if any, honest complaints about the quality of a BCM.

Whatever you choose, I wish you luck, and tip my hat to you for bucking tradition and looking at a rifle that you can master with sights to 600 yards.
 
You will put in the money of a few boxes worth of ammo to get something of a much higher quality level with BCM.
 
Cool, I am glad to see I am not the only one who likes the 20 inch barrel. I had the same questions you had, and reading these boards make sure the system has Chrome line barrel and bore seems to be number on concern.

The Olympic arms rifles are not chromed and I guess will rust on you which would be a problem, but in a fire fight the straggly is to spay and pray so it is not that big of a deal. Because most tactical engagements are only 300 yards, and spaying and praying with the AK 47 is the best thing you can do as that is the majority of the opinions I have read.

:)

All joshing aside, I think the bushmaster is a fine rifle and I am at odds between it or an Armor lite.

My criteria is it has to be 20 inch barrel, chromed barrel and bore and the carry handle has to be removable so I can mount an Eotech, and set up back up flip sights.

I like the Bushmasters Optic ready rifles, and I saw on Impact guns they even have a eotech package for only 1500 bucks, Eotech inculed.
 
The Olympic arms rifles are not chromed and I guess will rust on you which would be a problem, but in a fire fight the straggly is to spay and pray so it is not that big of a deal. Because most tactical engagements are only 300 yards, and spaying and praying with the AK 47 is the best thing you can do as that is the majority of the opinions I have read.
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I think what you say has been debunked so many times I'm not even going to bother, please, just stop posting.
 
For the love of all that is holy, DO NOT BUY AN OLY!! They are well known to be very out of spec, and when you try to replace whatever part broke, many times a new spec part won't work in it.

There are a lot of places that sell for less than Impact; that price for that Bushy is outrageous.
 
I think what you say has been debunked so many times I'm not even going to bother, please, just stop posting.
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From what I understand that in a tactical engagement it is best to carry fewer rounds and spray them at the enemy and run out of ammo so you can try to bludgeon the enemy with your heavy rifle.

This is far Superior to an M16 and a 20 inch barrel. At least that is one the arm chair elitist have to say on these board, just read for yourself.

I did say i was joshing right... You don't want you sense of humor to go the way of your WROL skills.
 
Magog, the problem is even when your not "joshing" you make ignorant statments. For example:

The small stubby little M4 has the rep for having an edge over the M16 in close fire fights?

This smells to me, because our Marines use the M16 as their main battle rifle, and they have the rep of being top dog fighters...

So why do the Marines use the longer 20 inch barrel? It helps the 5.56 maintain that critical velocity so it can work its magic and cause hyper static shock to the target and massive tissue damage on the cellular level.

Must be why the Marines are such top dog fighters. They use the right weapon for the job of killing people.

They say the M4 is close and acceptable, but it does not have the edge over the M16 in fire fights.

I have a bias because the M4 was invented for Arabs, and was never the original design of our battle rifle.
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When you post stuff like this how do you expect anyone to take you seriously.
 
Bushmasters, last I heard were the top selling AR..outselling Colt even. If DPMS hasn't passed them though, I'm sure they are close just because they are flooding the market with cheaper builds without dust guards and forward assists..I've never had a problem with my Bushmaster. Nice rifles. I have a carry handle carbine Bushmaster and a S&W M&P flat top...honestly, I can't really say which I like better...about the same. A lot of people dislike the carry handle ARs..I can see their points but there are work arounds and I like the looks of them a little better. Around here, AR prices are dropping. S&W flattops with flip up sight for a little under 800. Without sights, 650ish I think? You can buy carbine Bushmasters all day for a little over 600 here now.
 
I bought my Bushmaster XM15E2S 20" HBAR with A3 handle several years ago. I have since added a Leupold Mk4 scope and a bipod. I have never had an issue regardless of what I shoot through it. I am sure there are better made ARs out there but this one's purpose is for fun on the range and for taking out varmints and occasionally Texas whitetail. Its accurate and reliable, and I trust it to work for me when I pull the trigger.
 
I do have one complaint about Bushmasters. I am a Herpetologist and have done reptile rescue/rehab/research for going on 30 years...And I design and develop handling equipment and supply zoos, Herpetologists, Govt Wildlife Agencies, etc... I know a little about snakes...so it irks me that they put rattles on the logo snake. Bushmasters do NOT have rattles!
 
Some years back I had a Bushie Match Target. Even with the not-very-good standard trigger, it was half-MOA all day long. But, 9.5 pounds was more than I wanted in a varmint gun...
 
all personal attacks aside.........

my m17s bullpup and my bushy ORC have both been GREAT rifles. the bullpup does have its flaws.... some make it fun to own :)

find my first post and you will know what im talking about, and some make it a pain...

like the fact it REFUSES to load ANY steel case ammo.... i dont reload quite yet, so wolf and tula keep me and the kids plinking.... just not with the bullpup.

my ORC will eat, digest, and crap out anything i feed it, from lake city brass to wolf fmj or fiochii ballistic tips...

run your bushmaster "wet" , and clean it good every couple hundred rounds and you should fall in love with the rifles as i have.

If you are going to be starting competitions, you may want to look into building a better ar with Rock river arms, daniel defense or colt parts, or a mix and match. because we all know you get what you pay for.
 
I have found my Bushmaster XM-15 to be a quality carbine. It has performed without any mechanical failure whatsoever since I purchased it in January 2009.

The only surprise I have had with it is that unlike my experience with other firearms, this rifle works best when liberally rather than lightly lubricated.

Also, my practice is to always clean and lubricate my XM-15 after every range work even if only 100 or less rounds have been expended. Perhaps, this is excessive by some standards. However, knowing that my firearm is in the "ready" at all times provides me with peace of mind and confidence in my weapon.
 
I bought a Bushmaster XM15 in 2004, a 20 inch, heavy barrel A2 version, just like the one I carried when I worked for my Uncle. I don't shoot it much, mainly use it to teach kids to shoot with iron sights. I've never had any problem with it at all. The stock trigger is not great (read, lousy, actually) but that's easy enough to upgrade and I'll get around to that eventually.
 
I bought my Bushmaster XM15E2S 20" HBAR with A3 handle several years ago. I have since added a Leupold Mk4 scope and a bipod. I have never had an issue regardless of what I shoot through it. I am sure there are better made ARs out there but this one's purpose is for fun on the range and for taking out varmints and occasionally Texas whitetail. Its accurate and reliable, and I trust it to work for me when I pull the trigger.
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Thinking about the Bushmaster V match with just the flattop upper as I'm getting older and the eyes for long range iron sight shooting are not as good as they used to be. It sucks getting older. Going to put some good optics on it from the start for long range.
 
One thing that I forgot to mention last night are the front sight blocks on Bushmaster. They do not use the proper "F" marked sight block to match the height of the rear sight on a removable carry handle rifle.

BCM does use the proper height FSB.
 
If it at all matters to ^^^ My XM15 is flat top with detachable carry and the front post was at the proper height from factory for 25yr zero on zero rear mark.
 
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