Feelings about Bushmaster

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Marineman
You asked, how do I feel about Bushmaster? Mine started out
as a 16” carbine. Then it changed into a standard 20” A2. Then
it morphed into a DCM Service rifle. It has changed as my needs
for it changed. Even though I only take moderate care of it, it
has been utterly reliable.
I can’t think of a better rifle for me.
Steve
 
I have 2 of them. An M4 and a 20 inch standard A-3 flat-top. Both have been extremely reliable and good shooters for me.
 
I have a bushmaster xm15. It's a great gun I have had it about 10years now and not had a problem with it.

I would buy another one if I needed another one in a heartbeat.
 
Bushmaster, RRA, etc do cut corners and cater more to the casual shooter who is going to put about 1K a year through their gun. I own both but do not consider them the same as a combat rifle I would trust my life with. There are a lot better options out there for the money.
 
of the two i own, i wouldnt trade one of them for two of the colts that i owned.

actually, my colt 6700c was a rattle trap that came from colt with a plastic wedge to keep the upper and lower tight.

no such item in my bushmasters.

there is no better rifle for the money.

4150 barrel steel
more accurate than my colt
WAY more reliable than my colt
better finish than my colt

most likely the only way you will regret your purchase is if you are sensitive to the experts on the internet.

maybe my colt was a lemon, but my bushmasters are better rifles than my colt was.
 
I always get a kick out of these threads...

usually what "a ton of reseach" means, is the infamous little AR comparison chart was reviewed, and the gun with the most "x's" wins....

it's a load of crap... I can promise you that if you line up 3 of each ARs by bushmaster, RRA, and colt, 99% of people couldn't tell you which was which.

colt is certainly a good rifle, especially for resale value. it seems funny that a few years ago, RRA was never revered as "vastly superior" to bushmaster... then, they start making a few guns for the DEA, and suddenly they are THE gun to have....

it's a good thing people don't get caught up in marketing

If you go up to some of the semi custom guns, you probably will see a difference. But you're talking 2-3X the price over a standard RRA, Bushmaster or Colt.


off the rant now... I have two bushmasters now, and have owned a RRA in the past, and have shot several other brands with a couple friends that own them... colt, alexander, DPMS...

I've never had a FTF in the bushmasters, but I've never really opened them up just to spray the shots. actually.. the only one I ever had FTF was a buddy of mines who had a 6.8 SPC

I have honestly never shot one and said "wow, this AR15 is substantially different from all the other ones I've shot!"
 
Last edited:
"Does anyone have any actual experience with the Bushmasters? I am not concerned about theoretical problems. Thanks"

As I said the current one I have I have had for about 10years. Accurtate, tight, well finished great gun and overall very high quality.

I have owned RRA which is still a good gun but preferred the fit and finish of the Bushmaster.

I owned a colt and it's fit and finish was less than Colt or RRA. It was an accurate gun and never had a problem with it but the rattle of the gun and sloppy feel of it made me not trust it. No point owning a gun you don't trust.

I would say for the money Bushmaster is as good as it gets there is nothing bad to say about them from what I have seen.

People will toss out their opinions about which is best but when it all comes down to it, opinions are like aholes and we know what those are full of.

Try out a few find some folks who own different brands and give them a test run if possible. I have never liked shooting other peoples firearms but know many folks who have no problem letting someone shoot theirs.
 
I have two Bushmasters and have never had any issues with either one. They run like sewing machines. My newest is the Carbon 15 P97S pistol and it functions flawlessly.

---

On a related note: I inherited a Hesse Carbon H-Bar when my father passed away and although I had heard nothing but terrible things about this weapon - I have had zero issues with this one.

It consistently shoots 1" groups at the three hundred yard range and has not jammed on me ever. I don't know if this is because the carbon receiver performs differently than other Hesse products or if the H-Bar version was made differently - But I plan on keeping it.
 
Four Solid Bushmaster Lowers


In 1999 when I had a FFL, I bought 4 Bushmaster lower receivers – 3 complete with stocks for $209.00 each and 1- complete pistol receiver without the tube for $179.00

In 1999 I also bought 4 complete with barrel upper receivers from J&T Distributing.
Three of them (11.5”, 16” and 20” heavy barrels) with fixed carry handles for $289.00 each. These were made by FN and are the best I’ve ever seen in fit and finish – lucked out on these for sure. The fourth upper was a S/S 24” bull barrel, high rise upper by an unknown manufacturer (unknown because my memory is not serving today – or this past year for that matter!) for $329.00

The Bushmaster lowers where totally functional, but the triggers were a little gritty at first, but worked themselves in. I did have a trigger job done on the receiver that the bull barrel upper is on.

As noted they were purchased 10 years ago and I cannot attest to their current manufacturing standards…..9x23
 
My Bushmaster has always performed flawlessly and have been most satisfied with it. Solid rifle IMHO.
 
I've owned a Bushmaster Patrolman's Carbine for over two years. Never once had a problem or issue. If need arises, I would not hesitate to buy another one.
 
I have two colts and a bushmaster. Colts are well made and reliable, but I can say pretty much the same thing for my bushmaster. I would have no reservation buying another. The bushy is just as reliable and more accurate (HBAR 20" barrel) than either of my 16" colts.
 
re: RRA

"Closer to the lower end of the AR scale."

There's your opinion. Here's mine: That's nonsense.

John
Click to expand...


+1

Too much BS opinion being thrown out as truth in this thread.

Oh yeah - Bushies are great rifles. Wouldn't hesitate to buy one.
 
They seem a little overpriced for what they are. I'm not entirely sure, it's just that lower priced rifles, like from Olympic, almost seem identical to Bushmaster's craftsmanship.
 
it's just that lower priced rifles, like from Olympic, almost seem identical to Bushmaster's craftsmanship.
Click to expand...

you should really check one out more closely.

olympics are fine rifles im sure, but they arent in the same league with bushmaster.
 
We have 2 Bushmasters in our family. Both have been good shooters and very reliable. My nephew (a former Marine) would regularly take mine out to the range when he was on leave and home for a longer stay. Just to keep his skills up. If the Bushy was kept clean, we didn't have any problems.

I can't really speak on other brands as I haven't owned anything else.

Just my 2 cents.

Good Luck

Frank
 
"Bushmaster, RRA, etc do cut corners and cater more to the casual shooter who is going to put about 1K a year through their gun. I own both but do not consider them the same as a combat rifle I would trust my life with."

Do you agree with the statement that was made that RRA is at, or very near, the bottom of the barrel when it comes to AR makers? That's what I was disagreeing with.

I doubt I'll be taking my RRA into combat at age 58. I don't even shoot it very often; I'd rather shoot bolt actions, handguns and shotguns. In hind sight, I lucked out when I paid $850 for a rifle with 60 rounds through it. Even got a chrome-lined bore and some extra mags.

John
 
I love these "mine is better" threads.

For the OP, I have two Bushies and they have been 100% reliable.

I have shot several brands and styles of AR's, I have watched many guys fire their AR's. 99.9% of the problems with the AR platform are with the bugger hook in front of the trigger.
 
No I do not think they are bottom of the Barrel. That is reserved for DPMS, Oly, etc. I consider BM and RRA to me mid level. I would choose it as a rifle to defend myself with if I had a better option but I also feel that with a very careful review and a few upgrades they can be ok rifles.
 
If you need a Noveske, get one. If you want a good range rifle which could be used for HD or a Katrina like situation, the Bushmaster will do fine as long as you take care of it. Do a check before you buy one to see that everything is staked, etc.
 
I'd prefer an LMT, Noveske, Stag, Colt, Smith and Wesson, etc... but they are ok. They don't need many upgrades to be made extremely reliable.
 
Bushy AK shorty here. A-1 sights, 14.5 with AK break (16" total), A-1 stock. It is my go to KISS carbine. $800 new and I have never looked back. I would buy another at that price no hesitation. I also have a DPMS Low-Pro Classic set up as a DMR. Free Floated target barrel, sweet trigger, mid priced optics and bi pod. Will shoot minute of eye socket all day long. Maybe I am just lucky but both guns have been utterly reliable. If you see a Bushmaster you like for a good price just get it. If it does not run right send it back and have em fix it. Bill
 
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