Colt or Bushmaster

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Well, the rumor mill is suggesting that Colt will not allow its LEO-style rifles to be sold to the general public and will cut off dealers who do sell to the public.

If that rumor proves to be true and I had a choice between Bushmaster, who was proudly selling their LEO line to the public yesterday and Colt, who was trying to appease the antis, I would have to go with Bushmaster - even though Colt does better QC on their military/LEO rifles.
 
Is it a fact about the QC? I might even spend the extra $ and get a Wilson if I have to.
 
Go Bushmaster. Colt's announcement is just the latest in a long line of strange moves from Hartford, whereas Bushie already has post-post-ban models on its website. :)
 
I have a more basic reason for not going Colt...

Bushmasters don't have any non-standard size parts or odd inner dimensions.
 
Is it a fact about the QC? I might even spend the extra $ and get a Wilson if I have to.

That is just my opinion, nothing more and is based on my own limited experiences.

On the other hand, I've also found that while Colt's seem less likely to have issues, their customer service was really, really poor when you do have problems (though this was several years ago).

Bushmaster on the other hand has always been great in the customer service department and handles things promptly.

If you decide you are willing to pay the extra $$$ to guarantee reliability, take a look at http://mstn.biz/ - They have an outstanding reputation when it comes to building highly-accurate and reliable AR15s.
 
Some reasons to go with colt:

Mil spec - i.e. bushmaster doesn't parkerize under sight base for ex., colt does per mil spec.
Colt magnaflux's and proof tests "all" bolts and barrels
M4 feed ramps on Colts M4 models (6920 or 6400C)
Non-std. FCG pins, but even Bushy makes replacement ones-not an issue
Thermoset handguards-withstand heat better-won't melt!
Chrome lined M4 barrels and chambers
Final seal on anodizing
Correct radius on magwell-mags drop free
etc.
 
In addition to non-standard pins, Colt's also puts a steel block in the lower to make it more difficult to work on the trigger. (Not sure if this is present in "LEO Only" versions) And Colt's bias against civilian sales of rifles with "evil" features is well known.

And my experience with Colt's NON-service for warranty work soured me on them.

I have a Bushmaster standard rifle and am very pleased with it.
 
Listing a chrome lined barrel as a plus for Colt over Bushmaster is a bit disingenuous, as they both have chrome lined barrels. Actually, for a while Colt wasn't even giving you a complete chrome bore & chamber, depending on which barrel you bought. They might still be going cheap on that - I don't know.
 
You are correct about the chrome bores not being std. on all civilian models. I know the 6920 and 6400C though do have chrome lined chambers and barrels.
 
My Mall Patrol Rifle is almost finished, just waiting on my LMT BUIS.

Other major components:

LMT 16" Upper & bolt
Bushmaster Lower
ACE ARFX Skeleton stock
KAC RAS-II

I'll have an Aimpoint sight and mount on order soon.

I have a Stag lower that I'll build up in a month or so. It'll get an LMT "Crane" stock - not yet sure from there.

My recommendation?

Go with Bushmaster over Colt, simply due to Colt's attitude towards the civilian market. If you must have Colt, buy used. Otherwise, go with LMT or Bushmaster. (LMT does have the M4 feed ramps, btw.)
 
Both Bushmaster and Armalite are already advertising on their web sites AR-15s that are post AWB ban legal. Colt is not.

I have a Bushmaster and it is totally mil-spec, a fine rifle, quality all around, and the company has the right attitude. Colt has a negative attitude.
 
I have a Bushmaster and it is totally mil-spec,
So it has the three-round burst feature? Along with all the other M16 components?

Hope it's legally registered with the BATmen.

Civilian-legal, post'86 AR15 clones can be close to mil spec, but unless the military is specifying rifles without full auto or burst control, they're not "totally" mil-spec. But from what I've read, Bushmaster is about as close as you'll get.
Correct radius on magwell-mags drop free
This works just fine on my Bushmaster - I don't see a Colt "advantage" here.
 
For those of you who have missed it, Colt has announced that they wont be puting the nasties on civvy guns and that LEO guns will remain destined for LE and military only.

I have had extensive conversations with Colt about this, as well as with two other very large Colt LE distributors (like us).

All of us agree that the deicsion makes sound financial and business sense for Colt. If you fail to see why, you are more interested in spouting off the same tired rhetoric than you are in focusing your energies in making America a better place for gun dealers. I wont waste energy debating it here, but Beren, if you for one would like to discuss it in private manner, gimme a call

Keep in mind in this equation that Colt is a manufacturer, Bushie and the rest are not (using manufacturing in the context of making guns as opposed to just assembling)

On the other hand, Colt boycotters make it easier for the rest of us as the supply of Colt AR15s is extremely limited and at least in our case, dealers are placing orders as fast as I can get em in.

Looks like there are gonna be two classes of AR owners..those who dont internet whine, and quietly and within the law end up with a Colt, and those who do whine and dont, then waste energy justifying themselves by contending that what they have is better for their "combat" needs, despite the fact that for most of us, combnat is rolling off the Laz Z Boy into a low crawl towards the fridge so SWMBO dont see us on the ice cream raid.

BTW...I own a Bushie M4gery for the main reason that Colt cant produce the model I want. Colts are noticably smoother, better finished and do have the M4 ramp. That being siad, for a fat armchair commando like me, those rails make no diff at all.

WildnowbacktothenextgrupbuyAlaska
 
Wildalaska,

I guess I'm just stupid, but despite the fact that I am a business/finance professional, I'm missing the part where pissing off large numbers of customers is a wise business decision.

I guess I've just swallowed the old tired rhetoric, but if my company went out of its way to make its customers feel stupid, I can't imagine that being a sound choice.

Please enlighten us serfs.
 
I too would like to know why it makes business sense other than attempting to circumvent possible legal action in the future, which in reality probably won't matter to the Anti's anyway.

I have been on these forums a long time and you know me not to be a troll or somebody who just wants to start stuff or tow the company line so to speak. I am generally interested in the financial reasoning behind this as I can personally not see it.

If you think this is something that will fire up a flamefest then I would be happy to PM you.

Chris
 
its a CYA move so products designed for combat are not sold to the general public

they only sell "sporters" to johnny sixpack

sporters to not accept military uppers or fire control parts
 
All of us agree that the deicsion makes sound financial and business sense for Colt.
Ummm . . . I apologize in advance if you find this offensive, but from reading your post, doesn't the "us" you write of comprise Colt distributors carrying on a business (financial) relationship with Colt?

Business relationships can sometimes cloud one's objectivity a bit.
 
All of us agree that the deicsion makes sound financial and business sense for Colt. If you fail to see why, you are more interested in spouting off the same tired rhetoric than you are in focusing your energies in making America a better place for gun dealers. I wont waste energy debating it here, but Beren, if you for one would like to discuss it in private manner, gimme a call

Give the man a call.
 
Cor, cslinger if ya want to discuss with me prvately for your own edification, feel free to call

HankB that is offensive. Ya'll want to say that I am or will be have been gouging with respect to Colt products? That pisses me off. Or is it the mere fact that I consider ourselves to be a representive of a fine company that "clouds my judgement"? And how much is your judgement clouded by your won personal worldview as set forth in the rhetoric in your post.

By the way, I didnt say that I liked the decision, I only said I agreed with it in a business sense

And why am I even debating this

WildandwiththatbacktoworkAlaska
 
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