Bushmaster AR-15 a good buy?

[geojap]

My local Academy sporting goods store has a Bushmaster AR-15 just like this one for $900 + tax.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_787/products_id/46149

I have always been a piston-type action kind of guy. FALs, AKs, a Sig 556 and such. I have never actually never handled an AR-15 before. I handled this one at Academy and I was surprised how light the construction was. It felt like a plastic toy gun actually compared to a milled AKM, FAL or Sig 556. It had rolled pins instead of solid steel pins that I like to see. The machining on the bolt carrier group looked very well done.

My question is, if I was to jump into the AR-15 pond, is this a decent buy that will do me just fine? Or is there another route which I should really look at because it would be so much better?

 

[Bailey Guns]

They're nice ARs. You'll need some sort of sights or optical device, though.

The price is OK. I sell them for $889.95.

 

[tinroad37e]

You can get them on Gunbroker.com in the low $800s. With FFL fee and shipping, your looking at about $900 even. If you buy it at Sports Academy, you are paying $900, plus $60-$65 in taxes. Bud's seems too high. I always prefer to buy from local gun stores (not Wal-mart or Sports Academy) before I buy on-line. As long as my locally owned gunstore isn't pricing their guns at MSRP, as one of my local gun stores do.

 

[AR-15 Rep]

I would check to see if it really a .223 or 5.56, if it is 5.56 you can shoot .223 or 5.56. If it is .223 you can not or shouldn't shoot 5.56mm military rounds through it.

 

[tdubya]

I bought a Bushmaster AR 20inch barrel about a year ago. Its a great gun i love it!

One complaint is that it only comes with 1 magazine and its a pretty crappy one.

 

[FlyinBryan]

I would check to see if it really a .223 or 5.56, if it is 5.56 you can shoot .223 or 5.56. If it is .223 you can not or shouldn't shoot 5.56mm military rounds through it.

i think all standard aluminum bushmasters are chambered for 5.56 and will fire both. i know mine will.


its a great rifle. my 16 inch heavy barrel shoots a well as my colt 20 inch target rifle did.

 

[AR-15 Rep]

I looked at the product description... just making sure it is what it is. I agree it probabley is chambered for 5.56 but there is always that chance...

 

[Wayne G.]

Personally, for that kinda money, I'd get an LMT. Yes, you can (I did) by buying the upper and lower separately.

Would the Bushmaster be fine? Most certainly.

 

[jackdanson]

If you hurry you can get a similar S&W m&p for about 900 minus a 100 mail-in-rebate. It also will come with the detachable rail handle. The S&W's are at least as good as the bushmaster. The mail-in rebate is only until april 30th.

 

[Organdonor]

I picked up a new 20" Bushmaster A2 in January for $825. $900's not too bad. As for quality, you can't go wrong with Bushmaster. Mine doesn't eat Wolf ammo... in fact, it hates it. I've heard similiar comments from other Bushy owners. It loves Black Hills reloads, though.

 

[nathan]

Yeah the ones at Academy are nice but on the high side . Gunshows would save you some.

 

[MassMark]

Go S&W...

 

[IllusoryFreedom]

Hi all, new member here. A couple people mentioned the S&W model for $800 after MIR. Where can I buy this model, and is it up to snuff compared to the Bushmaster? And how does DPMS, at $750 or so, compare to either of these?

 

[greyling22]

I called bushmaster the other day and asked about mounting a lefty upper on a carbon 15 lower, and they said just go buy a dpms. so they're goo denough for bushy to recommend. and my army buddy says that they're all the same anyway. milspec is milspec. and that only the super high end rifles catered to ar-15 nuts are any different.

but those are only opinions.