NEW Bushmaster AR-15 ORC 18" Barrel!!!

[On]

Hello all,
I've found this site helpful in the past and after doing much research on my new purchase I'd like your input. I just purchased what was told to me by Bushmaster Customer Service to be a special production run of Bushmaster AR-15. It is equipped with these items:
* .223Rem/5.56mm
* A2 Butt Stock
* Flat Top A3 Receiver
* Optics Ready Mounts
* Mid Length Gas System
* 18" Fluted Barrel 1/9 (Rem)
* Free Float Forearm
What concerned me was the 18 inch barrel and free float forearm. Ive never seen a Bushmaster with the free float forearm with less than a 24" barrel. The Gas system is actually hidden inside the forearm tube unlike the 24" Varminter Models. I have not fired it yet because I'm waiting on my Weaver 4-20X50 Tactical Mil-Dot to come in
Can anyone tell me if they have experience with this particular gun, good ammunition for it, what you got it for, and any input you have on how it should perform...The 18" barrel is not very common from Bushmaster. Any Input would be great! I payed $875 at a local gunshop just over the boarder in NH. Hope it was not to much!
To see pictures of it go to my photobucket page: The password is 2 letters: ak
http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk241/chsherbie/Firearm/

 

[waterhouse]

Welcome to THR.

I don't know much about that particular Bushmaster, but I am a fan of the 18" barrel length for ARs.

If you let your mouse hover over your photo on photobucket, there will be an option for IMG code. If you click on that it automatically copies the link, and then you can paste the link in your post so that pictures show up. When you paste is will look like this except with brackets at the beginning and end:
IMG]http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk241/chsherbie/Firearm/BM1.jpg[/IMG

When you post it with the brackets it will "convert" that link into pictures and you'll see pictures. Keep in mind that you won't see the pictures when typing your post, only when you hit post or do an Advanced View:






That way you don't have to give everyone your account password, and they don't have to go to a separate link to see your pictures.

 

[On]

thanks so much waterhouse i will try to remember that nice feature!

 

[deadduck357]

Nice BM, I'm looking for an 18" as well, already have 2 BM, was thinking about a different brand, not because I don't like BM just to mix it up some. Put an optic on it and break that barrel in.

 

[G27RR]

With the 1:9 twist, I would try some Black Hills 55gr ammo. It groups very well from my OBR w/ 18" barrel and 1:8 twist. Conventional wisdom says the heavier(over 55) grain may not shoot as well from a 1:9 but it wouldn't hurt to try.

(PS - you may want to edit your first post and take your password out)

 

[Oceans]

Your rifle should be a tack driver, you can use ammo up to 69 grains with confidence with your 1x9 twist. Some with that twist shoot 75 grains with no problem. If you want to shoot varmints, stick with the 45-52 grain loads. With that scope you have coming, you will have one hell of a varmint rig.