Bushmaster Varminter

[nsf003]

I was looking at a $950 Bushmaster carbine as my next gun but the guy(good guy, very pro 2A,different from the AK screwup guy) shows me this Bushmaster Varminter with the fluted heavy barrel, trigger job, and free floated barrel. Total price $1250 without a scope or anything. I now am torn. That trigger was sweet. I would also like to shoot groundhogs with it. I want the carbine for combat and the like. Questions now.

FIrst of all, is the Varminter and its cool gizmos worth the money?

Second, can I buy the varminter first(preferably, so i get the trigger) and get a carbine upper(or vice versa)? How much is a carbine upper?

Third, is that a reasonable price to pay for either of them?

Thanks

nsf

 

[MiniZ]

Tough call.

Is the Varminter worth the extra $$? Probably, if that is the type of rifle you are looking for. If the trigger alone is the high point for you, you can always drop in a better trigger in the carbine, and still be ahead $ wise.

You can get the Varminter, and add a carbine upper later. A new upper from Bushmaster will run you about $450.00~$550.00 complete, depending on model(may even be more, I haven't been to their site for a while.

A used carbine upper will run you anywhere from $300.00~$500.00, again depending on configuration, make, and how complete(B/C/CH included?).

Good luck. I believe you will be happy with the Bushmaster, the hard part is deciding which model you really want.

 

[FAL_Freak]

The Varminter is reported to be very accurate. 3 shots under a quarter at 100 yards. I'd say that pretty good. I've been meaning to buy one since they came out, but other purchases seem to keep putting that off.

Certainly you can add any AR15 upper on to that lower. It doesn't even need to be a Bushmaster. Carbine uppers from Bushy run about $560 for the 14.5 AK braked model. That includes everything in the upper. That can be ordered direct from Bushmaster by any US citizen too.

The prices seem in line with what I'm seeing. I don't live a well poopulated part of the country so sometime the prices are inflated a tad in my parts. I do believe those are the retail prices Bushy says their goods should sell for though.

I'd say get the Varminter. Macth parts goodness will likely make you very happy.

 

[GLOCKT]

Prices from the catalog.

It sounds like your friend showed the price from the current catalog.
The 24" Varminter in the catalog for $1245.00 minus all fee's.
I bought a XM15 E2s Shorty AK Carbine from my favorite dealer a year ago and paid $850 for it.It shows in the catalog for $1105.00.I've found the same rifle at the gun shows for $800.00 when available,first day of the show.Sold-out by the second..
So the price is $250 high,sure the dealer buys at cheaper cost in hopes of turning a profit.And Bushmaster had a price increase due to its unwanted publicity.
I bought a complete V-match 24" fluted upper from Bushmaster,$650.00.So it's $850 plus $650 = $1500.00 for the 2 uppers and one lower.Now I need to install the 2 stage trigger form JP,and I basically have the Varminter,minus the vented handguards.
I'd say shop around and possibly head over to the next biggest town and see their inventory.But when I want something.I want something NOW! and $250 might not be worth the pain and suffering of hoping to find that 1 special varminter.
Good Luck and may the Force be with you!

 

[Art Eatman]

I had a Bushmaster match target 20" with a stock trigger. Tasco 6x24 on it. 9.6 pounds. 1/2 MOA critter for all three-shot groups I put through it.

They oughta go for around $800 at gunshows. Add a Jewell trigger for some $170, +/-, and you'll have a good varmint gun.

Art

 

[mrt]

The price seems way to high...like Art said the gun shows should be cheaper...shop around a find a better deal.

thing about the varminter is the chamber are tighter which *may mean less reliability in feeding all types of ammo.

 

[TheEgg]

I have the BM varminter. Following are my impressions -- hope they help.

Very accurate if I do my part. Have put many 5 shot groups together at 100 yards off of sandbags where all holes can be covered by a quarter -- a better shot might do better with this rifle - some groups are dime size, but not reliably -- probably me!

Does not have the chrome lining in the bbl, so cleaning takes a little more time. If you buy be very careful to clean out the bbl before shooting -- since it is a carbon steel bbl, BM leaves a lot of extra lube in the bore to prevent corrosion when they ship them.

Comes only with 1 five round magazine, instead of BM's usual 10 rounder. Also comes with decent plastic hard case, and risers to help elevate scope mounts on the flat top.

I had one failure to feed in the first magazine of ammo when new, has been dead reliable since.

Just a note about cleaning -- I almost cannot get a Dewey .22 cal rod through the bore on this thing -- have to use the .17 rod.

That price seems high. I bought mine a year ago for about $900 IIRC.

Save money to put a high quality scope on it, it really deserves one.

Yes, you can put another upper on it, not a problem.

I don't think ground hogs would have a chance, but personal experience is with prairie dogs and coyotes, and it is very effective for that.

Is it worth the money? -- only you can answer that one for yourself -- it is for me and my purposes.

 

[Nero Steptoe]

".Now I need to install the 2 stage trigger form JP,and I basically have the Varminter,minus the vented handguards."

The JP trigger is single, not two-stage. It's a great trigger. The Varminter trigger is the Bushmaster knockoff of the Compass Lake design.

The Varminter looks like a great rifle. The prices you were quoted for both the carbine and the Varminter are too high, as was pointed out by somebody else.

If I can find a decent price for a Varminter upper, I might spring for one; however, my free-floated Shorty shoots as well as has been stated in here by the Varminter owner. (@ 100 yds.; probably not @ 400)