I'm doing my homeowrk and pre-purchase research on my next firearm purchase. It'll be an AR and for a number of reasons it'll more than likely be a Bushmaster or a Colt. I already own two colt pistols and know first hand that "quality makes it a Colt". I've heard good things about Bushmaster, and the shop Ive done most of my business with sells a lot of them and I know I'll get a good price. I'm looking for your comments to tilt me in one direction or another, or maybe just make me pick the one I like best. But I'm new to AR's and any pros and cons you can offer are really appreciated. Thanks.
Bushmaster vs. Colt AR
- Thread starter milefile
- Start date
- Status
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwswheghNQsEuEhjFwPrgTA&single=true&gid=5&output=html
That link discusses only the features in M4-style ARs; but it does help give an idea of how ARs that look visually identical can have major differences in price and components.
That link discusses only the features in M4-style ARs; but it does help give an idea of how ARs that look visually identical can have major differences in price and components.
http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?81462-So-you-want-to-buy-an-AR-15-huh
There are many choices; just educate yourself a little and know the purpose you intend to use your AR. You won't go wrong.
Also there is a thread now going on about Bushies
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=581029
Pick a brand, do a search, and you will find lovers and haters for just about everything.
There are many choices; just educate yourself a little and know the purpose you intend to use your AR. You won't go wrong.
Also there is a thread now going on about Bushies
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=581029
Pick a brand, do a search, and you will find lovers and haters for just about everything.
I own a Bushmaster and I am very happy with it. It is 10 years old and I treat it with respect but I don't baby it- it isn't a "safe queen". Lots of time in the pouring rain and lots of rounds through it and it never even hiccups.
The customer service at Bushmaster has been good. I have talked to a live person each time with lots of dumb questions and they were pretty patient about taking the time to help me. Also took the time to help me pick out a sling and some other accessories over the years and stuff has always arrived very quickly and well packaged.
I don't know what the prices are on Colt vs. Bushmaster but I think that would be the deciding factor for me.
If all else is equal, I would at least call Colt and see how long it takes to get a tech on the phone. If their customer service doesn't meet your expectations then absolutely go with the Bushmaster.
They are both great and I hope you have a great time with whatever you decide on.
The customer service at Bushmaster has been good. I have talked to a live person each time with lots of dumb questions and they were pretty patient about taking the time to help me. Also took the time to help me pick out a sling and some other accessories over the years and stuff has always arrived very quickly and well packaged.
I don't know what the prices are on Colt vs. Bushmaster but I think that would be the deciding factor for me.
If all else is equal, I would at least call Colt and see how long it takes to get a tech on the phone. If their customer service doesn't meet your expectations then absolutely go with the Bushmaster.
They are both great and I hope you have a great time with whatever you decide on.
Zerodefect
member
Colts Ar's are even better than the Colt 1911's your used to. The 6920 is a great rifle to start with.
Bushy isn't even close.
You can also get a Noveske lower of your choice from your local store, then internet order a BCM upper. Snap them together for something custom.
Bushy isn't even close.
You can also get a Noveske lower of your choice from your local store, then internet order a BCM upper. Snap them together for something custom.
DoubleTapDrew
Member
Colt > Bushmaster
Personally I'd go BCM (or Noveske if the budget was large enough to allow) but Colts are nice.
http://www.03designgroup.com/reviews/bcm-complete-ar15-upper-and-lower-receivers
Personally I'd go BCM (or Noveske if the budget was large enough to allow) but Colts are nice.
http://www.03designgroup.com/reviews/bcm-complete-ar15-upper-and-lower-receivers
HOLY DIVER
Member
the Colt is the better rifle hands down. now does that mean bushmaster is crap....nope there good rifles, but Colt is better in a few areas like quality control ect..i personally love BCM Ar's but if it has 2 be a colt or bushy i'd highly recommend the colt
Birddog1911
Member
Just what do you plan on doing with the rifle?
Just those two? Colt, every day of the week. While lots of folks have never had a issue with their Bushy, there are lots that have. There are a number of areas where Bushy has known issues, such as improper/poor staking of gas key, too short front sight pins, improperly sized gas port, etc. It's nice that they have good customer service, but it would be better if they didn't have these problems.
Colt has let some get by, but over all their product is superior in almost every way.
Now, any time I buy a new rifle, it will be Bravo Company (BCM). Some will smirk and call me a fanboy. You're darned right I'm a fan, and there is a very good reason that I am. Along with plenty of others who shoot far harder than I do. Filthy 14 (google it) made me a believer. Do yourself a favor, and check them out. I think you'll change your brand choices.
Just those two? Colt, every day of the week. While lots of folks have never had a issue with their Bushy, there are lots that have. There are a number of areas where Bushy has known issues, such as improper/poor staking of gas key, too short front sight pins, improperly sized gas port, etc. It's nice that they have good customer service, but it would be better if they didn't have these problems.
Colt has let some get by, but over all their product is superior in almost every way.
Now, any time I buy a new rifle, it will be Bravo Company (BCM). Some will smirk and call me a fanboy. You're darned right I'm a fan, and there is a very good reason that I am. Along with plenty of others who shoot far harder than I do. Filthy 14 (google it) made me a believer. Do yourself a favor, and check them out. I think you'll change your brand choices.
Joe Demko
Member
I've owned both. The Colt's superiority lies in resale value.
Welding Rod
Member
I have owned both.
I'm not on the "gotta be milspec" wagon (I generally tend to favor RRA guns for most of my AR needs), but of those two I would definitely go for the Colt. I would expect better build quality and resale value from it.
That said, if you are condsidering an M4 clone the 6920 has a needlessly short sight radius, a goofy grenade launcher cut in the barrel, a very minimalistic telescoping butt stock, and generally comes with a pretty sad trigger. Good quality, but not the best design features in an AR IMO.
I'm not on the "gotta be milspec" wagon (I generally tend to favor RRA guns for most of my AR needs), but of those two I would definitely go for the Colt. I would expect better build quality and resale value from it.
That said, if you are condsidering an M4 clone the 6920 has a needlessly short sight radius, a goofy grenade launcher cut in the barrel, a very minimalistic telescoping butt stock, and generally comes with a pretty sad trigger. Good quality, but not the best design features in an AR IMO.
Having owned a new bushmaster, i can say that most of this http://forums.officer.com/forums/sho...y-an-AR-15-huh is out of date. Most of these companies have made improvements since then.
welcome to THR
the link Bart posted in #2 will give you a fact-based perspective. Then you can make an informed choice about value. Obviously, the bushmaster M4 isn't quite as good as the colt 6920. However, if the bushmaster is only $300 and the colt is $3000, clearly, the bushmaster would be the better value. If they're both $1100, clearly the colt is the better value. If you have only $1100 to spend in your total budget, an $800 bushmaster and a $300 case of ammo is probably the way to go
(unless you can get a $550 CMMG bargain bin and two cases of ammo)
because proficiency is worth a whole lot more than the differences between those two guns
the link Bart posted in #2 will give you a fact-based perspective. Then you can make an informed choice about value. Obviously, the bushmaster M4 isn't quite as good as the colt 6920. However, if the bushmaster is only $300 and the colt is $3000, clearly, the bushmaster would be the better value. If they're both $1100, clearly the colt is the better value. If you have only $1100 to spend in your total budget, an $800 bushmaster and a $300 case of ammo is probably the way to go
(unless you can get a $550 CMMG bargain bin and two cases of ammo)
because proficiency is worth a whole lot more than the differences between those two guns
Shooter973
Member
A Colt is the original thing, all the others are just copies of the Best....
Quentin
Member
Unfortunately the M4 chart linked above no longer appears when you go to the spreadsheet. The chart is being radically upgraded and right now only the description of features shows, not the 14 manufacturers and how they rate. But Colt was at the top of the rankings while Bushmaster fell way behind due to many missing features or specifications.
You just can't go wrong with Colt but there are other choices that are of the same quality and yet not much more expensive than BM. Two that come to mind are BCM and Daniel Defense. Spikes and S&W fall back a little but are better than BM though the price is about the same.
Finally, building your own AR with quality parts can give you Colt quality for about $850 or so. This is the path I went.
You just can't go wrong with Colt but there are other choices that are of the same quality and yet not much more expensive than BM. Two that come to mind are BCM and Daniel Defense. Spikes and S&W fall back a little but are better than BM though the price is about the same.
Finally, building your own AR with quality parts can give you Colt quality for about $850 or so. This is the path I went.
kwelz
Member
Colt is far superior to bushmaster. However you would be well served also looking at BCM or Daniel Defense. They will be at the quality level of the colt but at the price point of the Bushmaster.
Seems like the guys who have Bushmasters are okay with them, but don't love them. I need to be excited about my guns. I've done some looking into BCM and am impressed. I guess bushmaster is out of the running.
I did manage to get a copy of the chart from a member on another forum even though it's been taken down.
I did manage to get a copy of the chart from a member on another forum even though it's been taken down.
crossrhodes
Member
Question
Question. I've noticed that a lot of folks like the BCM upper and the spikes lower. Is it price or quality for the reason of mix and match.
I have a BCM upper with a Bushy lower but that's because I had an extra lower sitting around and found a deal on the BCM upper.
Question. I've noticed that a lot of folks like the BCM upper and the spikes lower. Is it price or quality for the reason of mix and match.
I have a BCM upper with a Bushy lower but that's because I had an extra lower sitting around and found a deal on the BCM upper.
Between the two mentioned, I'd have to say that the Colt is the better rifle, at least on paper.
If you are doing some pre-purchase research, don't limit your search to just the brands that you are familiar with. I would recommend that you check out Bravo Company and Spike's Tactical. These are two very popular brands with those that are in the know. Is a Colt better than a Bravo Company or Spike's rifle? Maybe. It's certainly arguable, but I can say without reservation that either the Spike's or the BCM would give you a lot more bang for the buck.
If you are doing some pre-purchase research, don't limit your search to just the brands that you are familiar with. I would recommend that you check out Bravo Company and Spike's Tactical. These are two very popular brands with those that are in the know. Is a Colt better than a Bravo Company or Spike's rifle? Maybe. It's certainly arguable, but I can say without reservation that either the Spike's or the BCM would give you a lot more bang for the buck.
- Status