bushmaster 308

[jgo296]

ive gone away from the ar15 and now think i want an ar in 308

my gun store has 5 bushmaster 308's they seem like nice rifles
my concern is that they are apparently discontinued
will there still be repair and upgrade parts available for this rifle?

they are also the same price as the armalite ar10 is it comparable?

how far off is the dpms from these two?

 

[REOIV]

If you want a 308 and are going to spend over 1000 bucks on it go for the good ones.

SA M1A
DSA FNFAL
HK PTR 91/G3

 

[TIMC]

I own one of the Bushmaster AR-10's. I don't know about repairing the rifle, I have had mine for about 6 -7 years and I have never had anything go wrong with it. I have a hunting buddy that has one too and it has been nothing but flawless as well. I have (heard) stories about them blowing up but I can say the 2 I have personal experience with are great.
My AR-10 was the only rifle I used last year to hunt with. The rifle is fantastic for anything out to several hundred yards. I have mine topped with a Leupold VXIII 6.5-20x40mm LR scope. I say if the price is right get one, if you maintain it the rifle will become one of your favorite shooters.
Here are a few pics of mine...

 

[JWarren]

If you want a 308 and are going to spend over 1000 bucks on it go for the good ones.

SA M1A
DSA FNFAL
HK PTR 91/G3

Opinion and debatable.


Nothing per se wrong with the above, but I wouldn't imply that they are significantly better some others-- ESPECIALLY if one considers the role.


How many DSA FNFAL's do you see as target rifle platforms verses AR's?

See what I mean?


-- John

 

[REOIV]

How many DSA FNFAL's do you see as target rifle platforms verses AR's?

See what I mean?

True I'm just looking at it from a cost standpoint.

If you intend on target shooting the AR platform is great.

Even hunting is fine with it.

But if you're worried about parts and or want loads of replacement items etc there are many more FALs, PTR91/G3s, and M1As out there than AR10s.

 

[JWarren]

But if you're worried about parts and or want loads of replacement items etc there are many more FALs, PTR91/G3s, and M1As out there than AR10s.

Very true.


-- John

 

[tnrobocop]

DPMS makes a really good setup in their .308. I have ordered for two customers some TAC-20's with a few changes to suit them. Took about 2 months to get them in but they got them just the way they wanted them.

Accuracy through both is terrific. Reliability is great also. Only problem was when we put a RRA 2-Stage in one it was a tad to tall, but after a few hits with the dremel it worked fine.

They have they quickest time for delivery from order time that I have run into.

As far as parts go I "believe" that there is a 80% (+/-) parts compatibility between the AR10-type platform and the AR15 one.

 

[jgo296]

they have 2 of the exact one in the picture up there
really any of them will be more rifle than i will use or need

im pretty sure i want the ar style (coolness factor) the bushmasters are still priced at 1500 but i believe i could haggle it down (they have 5 of a discontinued rifle)
the dpms 20 inch stainess fluted barrel is 1100
they currently dont have any armalite ar-10's in stock
but the armalite ar15's run about 300 below msrp

what do you give up in accuracy going from a 20 inch to a 16 inch in the bushmaster 308?

 

[Organdonor]

Wow... $1500? I got mine for about $1000 lightly used. I say "about $1000" because I bought it in a package deal including 1600 rounds of Port. Surplus 7.62X51, a Bushnell Holosight, case, and 4 mags. The total package cost me $2000.

I love it. It's my favorite rifle to shoot, and it's more accurate than I am.

However, that being said, I'd go with the Armalite, if it's the same $$$. After all, the Armalite comes with a lifetime warranty. The pluses for the Bushmaster are the ambi controls (I'm lefty, so it matters to me,) the fact that it uses cheapo mags (I've accumulated 18 mags in the last 5 weeks, for under $150.)

It's not going to "blow up" on you... the failure seen was a weak bolt. If you pull out the bolt and inspect it there shouldn't be a grove in the tapered end. If there is, it's an older bolt, and you'll need to get a newer style one from Bushmaster.

A lot of the parts off of the new RRA .308's will work on it, since the RRA rifle is the same design with a few tweaks. RRA sold the design to Bushmaster many moons ago, and Bushmaster produced them for a few years. They stopped because they just weren't selling. They sold the design back to RRA, who is shipping them as fast as they can make them.

Bushmaster does still have parts for them, you just need to contact them directly.

 

[JWarren]

BTW....

The DPMS LR-308 has a lifetime warranty as well.

I am very pleased with the LR-308 that I got for under a grand.


-- John