Ok, after doing more research than I probably should (enough to make my head spin and make me want to give up!), I went to a shop I haven't been to in quite awhile and there were 2 Bushmaster ARs there. Both were model XM15-E2S, but they were quite different.
One was used, had a really nice scope but I couldn't tell the brand. I think the store owner said it was Leopold (I'm not at all familiar with what to look for in scopes), a rubberized grip, metal tubular forearm, a non-collapsing standard stock, sling, and a 20" barrel. It was quite heavy too. Price was $1195 but the store owner offered to sell it to me for $850.
The other one was new and much simpler. No scope or sites, 4 position collapsible stock, 16" barrel, and had a short plastic forearm. Maybe the forearm should be called a barrel shroud or fore end. It was priced at $995 but the owner offered it to me for $775.
I came home and immediately tried looking up facts about these rifles online, but what I'm finding on my own is surprisingly limited. On Bushmaster's own site, they show 5 versions of the XM15, but only the 2nd one looks like the new one I saw, although the one I saw didn't have the 2 point mounting rail. The one online also claims to have a 6 position stock. The one at the store had a 4 position stock. The website's $1391 MSRP also makes me doubt it's the same one.
The Bushmaster website didn't have an XM15 version with a 20" barrel. I imagine that rifle was customized by it's previous owner.
I guess what I'd like input about is:
Is Bushmaster a good brand for my first AR? It would be for HD and maybe more if law and order ever had a major breakdown.
Is this particular model a good one? Does the fact that certain things more expensive ARs have such as "properly staked" bolt carrier are not there make a big difference? (Improperly staked doesn't sound good!)
Also, the owner lowering the prices makes me wonder. Are these guns ones nobody likes (for good reason) and now he wants to just get rid of them? Are the prices he offered good prices? Oh yeah, and about that used 20" AR with the nice scope--the owner claimed that the scope itself is worth about $400. Come on! Does that mean if the scope wasn't there, the rest of the rifle is only worth another $450? It just makes me a little suspicious, like maybe he's not being totally honest. But I have no way to know for sure.
I'd just like to hear what others here have to say since the only conversation about it so far has only been between myself and the store owner. I need impartial advice!
One was used, had a really nice scope but I couldn't tell the brand. I think the store owner said it was Leopold (I'm not at all familiar with what to look for in scopes), a rubberized grip, metal tubular forearm, a non-collapsing standard stock, sling, and a 20" barrel. It was quite heavy too. Price was $1195 but the store owner offered to sell it to me for $850.
The other one was new and much simpler. No scope or sites, 4 position collapsible stock, 16" barrel, and had a short plastic forearm. Maybe the forearm should be called a barrel shroud or fore end. It was priced at $995 but the owner offered it to me for $775.
I came home and immediately tried looking up facts about these rifles online, but what I'm finding on my own is surprisingly limited. On Bushmaster's own site, they show 5 versions of the XM15, but only the 2nd one looks like the new one I saw, although the one I saw didn't have the 2 point mounting rail. The one online also claims to have a 6 position stock. The one at the store had a 4 position stock. The website's $1391 MSRP also makes me doubt it's the same one.
The Bushmaster website didn't have an XM15 version with a 20" barrel. I imagine that rifle was customized by it's previous owner.
I guess what I'd like input about is:
Is Bushmaster a good brand for my first AR? It would be for HD and maybe more if law and order ever had a major breakdown.
Is this particular model a good one? Does the fact that certain things more expensive ARs have such as "properly staked" bolt carrier are not there make a big difference? (Improperly staked doesn't sound good!)
Also, the owner lowering the prices makes me wonder. Are these guns ones nobody likes (for good reason) and now he wants to just get rid of them? Are the prices he offered good prices? Oh yeah, and about that used 20" AR with the nice scope--the owner claimed that the scope itself is worth about $400. Come on! Does that mean if the scope wasn't there, the rest of the rifle is only worth another $450? It just makes me a little suspicious, like maybe he's not being totally honest. But I have no way to know for sure.
I'd just like to hear what others here have to say since the only conversation about it so far has only been between myself and the store owner. I need impartial advice!