$799 Good price on a Busmaster XM15 E2S 14.5/AK?

[TheOtherOne]

I've been wanting an AR-15 for a while now and I've been looking at the one below. Having never owned one, I don't know alot about these rifles and want it mainly just to have and start my collection rolling. I'll just be "plinking" at the range with it... so I'm not going for extreme accuracy for targets or anything like that. I'm trying to stay below $800 on a new one. So anyways, is this one decent?

http://www.impactguns.com/store/bushmaster_shortyAK.html

 

[Steve Smith]

It is reasonable but isn't screaming. If you want it, get it and know that you weren't taken for an idiot.

 

[JG]

That price is good, better or the same you would see in a retail store. I have seen it online though for $765 (difference is negligible).

You can't go wrong with a Bushmaster or Rock River AR.....but I do think the Bushmaster AK brake stinks (along with the mini Y comp). They are both loud and more importantly extremely annoying (to yourself and the shooters next to you).

 

[jthuang]

It depends on your locale. For my neck of the woods (SE PA), that is a decent price. Not screaming good -- in recent years I've seen them in the $600-650 range -- but these days I see more Bushies in the $750-850 range.

Justin

 

[TheOtherOne]

That price is good, better or the same you would see in a retail store. I have seen it online though for $765 (difference is negligible).

It's a local store, so the savings in shipping will probably be worth it. Who knows... maybe I can even convince them to throw in another mag for free or something if I tell them I've seen it cheaper.

but I do think the Bushmaster AK brake stinks (along with the mini Y comp). They are both loud and more importantly extremely annoying (to yourself and the shooters next to you).

There is this one without the AK brake for the same price. It's a 16" instead of 14.5". Why are they extremely annoying - because of the noise? I just read that they reduce recoil and honestly I kind of like the look of it better with the brake.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/bushmaster_PCWA2S16.html

 

[Coltdriver]

I have the 16 inch Bushmaster shorty.

The AK muzzle brake was installed on mine last year. I hate it. It is louder than you can imagine, people at the range on either side of you will really resent your presence and, with your version, it can not be removed otherwise I am pretty sure you go under the legal length for a rifle barrel.

Get the 16 inch version and forget the muzzle brake. Or, go over to AR15.com and ask about alternate muzzle brakes if you really want one. There are a few that do not increase the noise as badly as the ak version.

Other than that, you will find pretty good support for the purchase of a Bushmaster and if bought new, there are no real cheap ones. There are no better AR's out there either. (of course that comment is likely to start a flame war)

They do make great plinkers, excellent varmint guns and they are amazingly accurate for an automatic with a short barrel.

 

[JG]

There is this one without the AK brake for the same price. It's a 16" instead of 14.5". Why are they extremely annoying - because of the noise?

No, its not just the noise (I don't mind loud, I'm a 50 shooter)......its the report that is annoying, I guess its just the way the brake releases the gases. Its hard to explain, you just have to hear it for yourself. Anyway, it generally doesn't stop people from buying them but it should be noted.

If it turns out to be annoying, you can always send the gun somewhere to have a different brake put on.

Oh, I should add......don't order anything from Impactguns, extremely incompetent dealer.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Thanks for all the info.

One last question... Pre ban mags will work okay in these rifles, correct?

That store has them for $50

http://www.impactguns.com/store/bushmaster_40rd_mags.html

but... I've seen them direct through bushmaster on their website for $24.95. They looked like the exact same thing to me. 40 rounds and all.

I guess just a big markup is the only reason for the price difference?

 

[Still Learning]

40 round mags for $50

I don't know anything about these 40 round mags but I can tell you that you can get excellent 20 and 30 round mags MUCH cheaper from other sources. www.ammoman.com frequently features great quality mags at a much better price. Also, in the Accessories forum on this site there are frequently great deals posted.

Frankly, I dearly love my USGI 20 round mags and only occassionally use my 30 round mags. Rest assured, all the top quality USGI mags will work splendidly in a Bushmaster.

As a side note, the AK muzzle brake is too loud and you will need plenty of hearing protection (plugs and muffs) when you practice. I bought mine before knowing this and have often regretted it. However, I practice alone most often and don't offend nearby shooters. It occurs to me that it hasn't ever bothered me when I've used it to take out varmints on the ranch, though.

 

[jthuang]

Why are they extremely annoying - because of the noise?

1. The noise, yes -- as already mentioned.

2. As Coltdriver said, people on the line near you will not be happy. I was one of those guys next to a person using a Bushie with AK brake during a 3 day rifle class. Every shot felt like it was going to blow my baseball cap off my head.

3. Recommend Wilson Combat's muzzle brake -- looks almost like an A2 and is post-ban legal!

One last question... Pre ban mags will work okay in these rifles, correct?

Yes, assuming you stick with USGI pre-bans and those that are not known to be defective (e.g., the Sanchez mags that only had 3 spot welds per rib, instead of the mandated 6). Go to ar15.com and read the magazine FAQ, it will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about AR15 magazines.

Recommend you stick with USGI 20 and 30 round mags. I have never used any 40 round mags but it's hard enough going prone with 30s.

Seeing as you are in Ogden (Utah, I presume -- do you know the Rotheys???) if you were asking about legality, I believe Utah does not have any restrictions on high-cap magazines, unlike New Jersey (15 rd), Hawaii, California and other states. Not a legal opinion or advice, etc.

Justin

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Ditto all the comments on muzzle brakes. Cool looking but LOUD! I have the 16" Bushy shorty sans muzzle brake and am very happy with it. I paid $819 last November. Too high probably but it was in my hands, and I fell in love.

Very impressed with this rifle. Very accurate. I was going to get an Armalite, but many of them have permanent muzzle brakes, and so I went with the Bushmaster. Very impressed with the quality as well, although, the factory 10 round Bushmaster mags are almost impossible to load to full capacity.

 

[ShaiVong]

If you want to keep the price down, consider assembling one yourself. Thats what im gonna try and do.

 

[Nero Steptoe]

Get the Shorty without the brake. That way, you're getting a full 16" of rifled barrel. In my humble opinion, having a brake welded or pinned on a barrel just doesn't make sense. If you want a brake, add a Smith brake that uses four setscrews. You can remove it when you want to, and it's not as loud as the AK design.

 

[444]

Everyone has their opinions:
I think the price is very good. Bushmaster had a recent price increase. What you saw last year doesn't apply.
I wouldn't own an AR without a muzzle brake. The AK is one of the louder muzzle brakes. I personally don't care, but that is personal choice. The AK brake is also one of the more effective brakes out there along with the Mini-Y comp. If you want another brake, one of the best places to go is Kurt's Kustom Firearms http://www.kurtskustomfirearms.citymax.com/page/page/8932.htm . He has a variety of brakes and does the install. Don't buy something with set screws, this is mickey mouse. Do it right. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=155969
Before someone chimes in here saying that the AR15 doesn't have enough recoil to justify a muzzle brake; this isn't about recoil. It is about muzzle flip or put another way, the ability to fire rapid shots with accuracy. If you don't think they are worthwhile I invite you to do some El Presidente's with a timer and see what you think. Muzzle Brakes are not flash suppressors, but they do reduce muzzle flash. I have watched a demonstration of rifles being fired at night with various flash suppressors and muzzle brakes. One of the worst was a 16" barrel with nothing on the end. There was a huge fireball.
Accuracy; the AR15 is a superbly accurate rifle. The one you are looking at is a superbly accurate rifle. Just as accurate as a bolt gun. Even though you arn't looking for extreme accuracy on targets, you will have it anyway.
Bushmaster. IMO the best AR15 made today and as good as any that have ever been made.
Magazines: Stick with USGI magazines. Others probably work OK, but this is the best mag out there for civilian use. HK makes a better one that us peons can't be trusted with. I buy my mags from CDNN Investments. I have both 20s and 30s. I see no drawback to using 30s except off the bench. The only problems I ever had with an AR15 was when using a 40 round mag. The ones I have don't run well.
Barrel Length: On my rifles, using my chrono, the difference between a 14.5" and a 16" barrel is an average of 78 fps.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Seeing as you are in Ogden (Utah, I presume -- do you know the Rotheys???) if you were asking about legality, I believe Utah does not have any restrictions on high-cap magazines

Yep, Utah. Legally I know they are fine, I was just more worried about the compatibility issues. My brother-in-law has 3 different AK's and only one of them will take his 30 round hi-cap mags for some reason.

I don't know the Rotheys. Not a huge city, but there's a good 100,000 or so around here. I actually just work in Ogden and live in a suburb.




Anyways... thanks everyone for all the good info! I hear what everyone is saying about the AK brake, but I still think I'm going to stick with it. I like loud anyways! And it's not like I want to be rude to other people at the range, but I usually try and shoot when there's not many people around. Being more of a novice, I just feel too rushed and less comfortable when there are lots of people there.