ny32182
Member
I researched at length prior to buying my first AR, which turned out to be a Bushy 20" HBAR A3. I've since added a Bushy 16" superlight. Been more than satisfied with both. They are tack drivers, and out of thousands of rounds fired, I've had a grand total of ONE (magazine related) malfunction.
I don't have it out for any brands, but all I'm gonna say about Colt, is that I don't understand what the hype is about. The last two Colts I handled were 20" A3 HBARS "match target", very similar to the first Bushy I bought. They appeared to have standard takedown pins (pleasant surprise) but featured a BLACK PLASTIC buffer, half circle/deep firing pin cut carrier, no chrome lining in sight, and I'm sure the obligatory proprietary fire control group. No thanks. First on the list of stuff to do would be a real buffer and full weight carrier, and thats after paying MORE for the rifle to start with, and still doesn't fix the lack of chrome lining...
At the end of my initial research, I concluded the following:
Colt: Uppers and lowers change takedown pin sizes about every other month, you always have to deal with proprietary lower parts, the lightweight carrier is ever-present, chrome lining is very difficult to find, and you pay plenty more money than you do for other brands. I didn't even know about the plastic buffers until later. I will say that the new 6400C M4gery sounds like a nice rifle. Why can't they build their entire line like that?
RRA: Doesn't have all the proprietary lower crap, but once more, chrome lining isn't a given at all. At the time I researched it, it was my understanding that there was about ONE RRA model out there with chrome lining. I can't imagine why you wouldn't put chrome lining in an AR barrel, with the possible exception of a 24" varminter upper, or something like that. I don't know what other internals they use.
Bushy: None of the above problems. All 20" barrels and shorter are chambered for 5.56 Nato, and are chrome lined, period. They are made of mil-spec material, as are the Colt barrels. Other brands use a different material for their barrels. Bushy uses standard lower parts, full weight carriers, and metal buffers. Another thing I personally noticed, is that while Bushy sells something like 3 times as many civilian AR's as its closest competitor, there are not any more bushy complaints posted to forums like this than there are complaints about any other brand. I think that says something as well.
I didn't consider DPMS, Olympic, etc. In the end, I was looking for the closest thing possible to mil-spec, with a solid reputation. That was Bushy for me. YMMV.
I don't have it out for any brands, but all I'm gonna say about Colt, is that I don't understand what the hype is about. The last two Colts I handled were 20" A3 HBARS "match target", very similar to the first Bushy I bought. They appeared to have standard takedown pins (pleasant surprise) but featured a BLACK PLASTIC buffer, half circle/deep firing pin cut carrier, no chrome lining in sight, and I'm sure the obligatory proprietary fire control group. No thanks. First on the list of stuff to do would be a real buffer and full weight carrier, and thats after paying MORE for the rifle to start with, and still doesn't fix the lack of chrome lining...
At the end of my initial research, I concluded the following:
Colt: Uppers and lowers change takedown pin sizes about every other month, you always have to deal with proprietary lower parts, the lightweight carrier is ever-present, chrome lining is very difficult to find, and you pay plenty more money than you do for other brands. I didn't even know about the plastic buffers until later. I will say that the new 6400C M4gery sounds like a nice rifle. Why can't they build their entire line like that?
RRA: Doesn't have all the proprietary lower crap, but once more, chrome lining isn't a given at all. At the time I researched it, it was my understanding that there was about ONE RRA model out there with chrome lining. I can't imagine why you wouldn't put chrome lining in an AR barrel, with the possible exception of a 24" varminter upper, or something like that. I don't know what other internals they use.
Bushy: None of the above problems. All 20" barrels and shorter are chambered for 5.56 Nato, and are chrome lined, period. They are made of mil-spec material, as are the Colt barrels. Other brands use a different material for their barrels. Bushy uses standard lower parts, full weight carriers, and metal buffers. Another thing I personally noticed, is that while Bushy sells something like 3 times as many civilian AR's as its closest competitor, there are not any more bushy complaints posted to forums like this than there are complaints about any other brand. I think that says something as well.
I didn't consider DPMS, Olympic, etc. In the end, I was looking for the closest thing possible to mil-spec, with a solid reputation. That was Bushy for me. YMMV.
