First AR- Bushmaster

Gbannan · 02-15-2012, 00:22

Im getting my first AR today and its a bushmaster. Wondering what your guys take on the fit and finish of Bushmaster as a brand. I've heard they're decent but no Colt. Any problems or issues I should be aware of. Tips? Thanks guys.

WoodenPlank · 02-15-2012, 00:26

Some bushmaster ARs turn out fine, some turn out to be lemons. The lemon rate is higher in Bushmaster than many other brands, so many people avoid them.

Before this thread really gets going, though, lemme go grab my popcorn...

**Javelin** · 02-15-2012, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodenPlank

Some bushmaster ARs turn out fine, some turn out to be lemons. The lemon rate is higher in Bushmaster than many other brands, so many people avoid them.

Before this thread really gets going, though, lemme go grab my popcorn...

Whatever. It has a cool snake on the rollmark. Does Colt or your precious SW Sport have that?

I didn't think so.

**Javelin** · 02-15-2012, 00:41

I forgot to add. This.

Ok I'm done.

aptrpl6 · 02-15-2012, 00:43

I guess that I got a good one. Roughly 2,000 rounds in three years and not one hiccup. Most of those rounds were "Wolf". The only fault that I have found was an un-staked castle nut, but that was easily remedied. I've heard some negative feedback about Bushmaster since they were bought out, but I don't have any first hand experience with that.

**Javelin** · 02-15-2012, 01:06

BM is not really a bargain-priced gun. OP can I ask how much you are getting it for? Reason is a lot of people buy BM, Armalite, etc and then find out they could have had a Colt, LMT, BCM for roughly the same price and then get buyers remorse later on down the road.

Gbannan · 02-15-2012, 07:09

Probably more than i should have but i got a ton of extras with it. Im new to the AR and Bushmaster seemed like a decent manufacturer. Just wanted to hear from people with more experience with Bushmaster.

svtpwnz · 02-15-2012, 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbannan

Probably more than i should have but i got a ton of extras with it. Im new to the AR and Bushmaster seemed like a decent manufacturer. Just wanted to hear from people with more experience with Bushmaster.

A buddy of mine has one and its a POS. The past few times we went to the range together, the thing has not run at all. It has jammed, issues with the bolt, won't feed, etc. I would not waste my money on one considering the fact you can get a Colt 6920, DDM4 V7, BCM for damn near the same money.

Gbannan · 02-15-2012, 08:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtpwnz

A buddy of mine has one and its a POS. The past few times we went to the range together, the thing has not run at all. It has jammed, issues with the bolt, won't feed, etc. I would not waste my money on one considering the fact you can get a Colt 6920, DDM4 V7, BCM for damn near the same money.

Great...

***Glockdude1*** · 02-15-2012, 08:15

When it comes to Bushmasters, the ONLY TIME you hear/read anything bad about them, is on the internet.

When you meet real owners of Bushmasters, the experience is the total opposite.

Mine has been excellent.

Gbannan · 02-15-2012, 08:26

Well im picking it up today. I'll throw some pics up and a range report. Its only been shot about 20 times so we shall see.

smokin762 · 02-15-2012, 08:56

I own 2 Bushmaster rifles. I bought my first one in 2003 and I bought the second one in 2004. To this day, I have never had any kind of issue with either rifle. Shooting Wolf ammunition would be a different story.

In the past, I have bought Bushmasters and Rock River Arms complete rifles. All these rifles have been flawless for me. However at the time, I was also not familiar with some of the other choices that could be had. Some of them are just as good for a little less money.

Since now, I am more aware of what could be had and the finding out that my options are endless, my approach for buying an AR would be a little different. Knowing what I know now, it is very easy and cost effective to buy a complete lower and upper of one’s choosing and just snap them together. I recommend this to people all the time.

Gunnut 45/454 · 02-15-2012, 09:08

Gbannan
So your buying it USED? If thats the case and your spending more then $600 your getting ripped off! You said your getting extras with it -what are they? If it's used then why is it being sold?

Gbannan · 02-15-2012, 09:19

Its practically new. Maybe shot 20 times. Soft case, Quad rail, 223 ammo, 5.56 ammo, 4 mags, flip up sights, od green stock and original. Other stuff im forgetting.

But i guess shot 20 times is still used...

Buddy needs money badly.

deputy tom · 02-15-2012, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbannan

Its practically new. Maybe shot 20 times. Soft case, Quad rail, 223 ammo, 5.56 ammo, 4 mags, flip up sights, od green stock and original. Other stuff im forgetting.

But i guess shot 20 times is still used...

Buddy needs money badly.

I've had nothing but good luck with Bushmasters. You will be happy with your new purchase I'm sure. You also will recieve good karma for helping your friend out.Good luck and please post a range report.tom.

Gbannan · 02-15-2012, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by deputy tom

I've had nothing but good luck with Bushmasters. You will be happy with your new purchase I'm sure. You also will recieve good karma for helping your friend out.Good luck and please post a range report.tom.

Hope so. Will report soon.

ca survivor · 02-15-2012, 09:55

I have one, it's been good, true I don't have too many rounds through it maybe 500.

SigFTW · 02-15-2012, 09:55

Gratz on your first AR!!

I know you will have a blast at the range. There is just one down side, you can never have enough ammo

so save your pennies!!

TangoFoxtrot · 02-15-2012, 09:59

Hey congrats on your new Bushmaster. Don't listen to all the internet experts here , just go out and shoot the snot out of it!!!! You'll figure it out for yourself.

bmoore · 02-15-2012, 10:00

Just enjoy your rifle first and foremost man. Sounds like your helping your buddy out of a jam and thats cool. There isnt any part on that rifle that cant be replaced/upgraded (if you want to/if it needs to). Shoot the dog wad out of it and if something gives you a problem or you dont like it, replace it. I doubt it will give you any grief.

My cousin has a Bushy and it runs fine. He doenst take carbine courses and he doenst use it in combat. He owns a heating/AC company and shoots at cans/junk by the bayou on weekends. Pretty anti-climatic I know, but his rifle works just fine for general fun.

Gbannan · 02-15-2012, 10:56

Thanks for the kind words guys. Really excited to hit the range.

mgs · 02-15-2012, 11:06

Never had a problem with any of their parts. They had some front sight issues but their parts were mil-spec years ago when I did some builds. I have a lower built by them and it's as nice if not equal to my Colts. I just don't like their 1/9 twist barrels. I like 1/7 or 1/8, Mike.

GlockWheeler · 02-15-2012, 11:16

The one seemingly consistent issue I had with prior Bushmaster uppers was that three out of three had improperly indexed barrels right out of the box. Functionally, they were fine but it was annoying having to send each one back for the same problem. One was a 14.5" upper with permanently attached flash hider, the second was a 16" HBAR and the third and last was a 16" Superlight. I stick with BCM, Colt, Daniel Defense and most recently a Stag LE upper and have had zero issues.

pag23 · 02-15-2012, 11:32

Congrats on your purchase! Did you get it at Targetmaster in Chadds Ford

TrueGunNut · 02-15-2012, 16:43

I bought the Bushmaster Texas edition m4 during the obama election. I did not know anything about m4carbine.net and all the internet fanboys and different tiers of AR's. I REALLY loved my AR when I took it home and I still REALLY love it. I don't have buyers remorse anymore or wish it was a colt (its just an AR and I'm not in the navy seals).

My BM has been 100% flawless. I have just over 1k rounds of pmc .223 55 grain and an assortment of m193 and m855. After reading about all the internet craze, I bought into the whole milspec stuff and bought some upgrades: BCM BCG, BCM gunfighter charging handle and H buffer. It is now, for the most part, what you could call milspec.

In retrospect, I didn't need any of those parts but it gives me more warm and fuzzy feelings about it- and who doesn't like to upgrade their AR to some degree?! (also put a 1.5x trijicon acog on it)

I now have the BM bcg as a complete spare which is nice. I would not worry about the internet...I love my AR and I think it would do just as well as any other AR if the shtf.

Also, my gen 3 glock 19 purchased last year has been flawless. I'm going to shoot a couple hundred through her this weekend and we'll see if I have any brass dumped on my head ( don't recall any ejection issues in the 500+ rounds I've shot through her).