Second Bushmaster in a Month?

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ranger7

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Between the sunset of the ban and the election, I placed an order with my local dealer for a Bushmaster M4 copy - telescoping stock, 14.5" barrel w/2.25" flash suppressor and A3 upper receiver. I thought this was going to be my one and only AR for home defense, plinking and occasionally more serious target shooting. There was a waiting list and the wait for one of these was expected to be 4-5 weeks.

Just after I placed the order my dealer got in an M4 like I wanted, EXCEPT it had the A2 upper. I thought if the election went badly, there would be increased demand and it might be difficult to get exactly what I wanted. I bought the one with the A2 upper and told my dealer to keep me on the list for the one with the A3 (to keep my options open).

I like the AR with the A2. It's a good "pickup and go" rifle for home or vehicle defense and it's a fun plinker. I haven't had any malfunctions but I haven't been able to get great groups with it, 5"-6" groups at 100 yards with Q3131A, M193 or Wolf. Part of my problem is seeing the front sight post clearly with my bifocals. I also tried an inexpensive red dot with a rail that mounts on the handle and the groups tightened up a little, maybe to 4"-5".

Today (after almost 4 weeks) he told me the A3 M4 clone came in, BUT I saw he also has another Bushmaster in that has a fixed stock, full 20" barrel + (removable) flash suppressor and A3 upper. I'm thnking this would be a better second AR for me (if I really "need" a second AR) at this point. My thinking is that this would fit the "more serious target shooting" use I had in mind (plus it's $50 cheaper than the one I had on order.) Actually this is probably a better "all around" AR than my first one. The first one is cool and I have no intention of giving it up but the 20" A3 seems like a good idea too. (I guess Black Rifle Disease has thoroughly infected me.)

Any comments or suggestions on my thinking (or rationalization)?

Alan
 
Personally, I'd go with the 20" rifle. You said it yourself - you already have a shorty carbine that puts holes minute-of-torso with the irons. :D
 
I've owned 16" Bushmasters and 20" Bushmasters and haven't seen a lot of difference in group size between the two. However they would all do a lot better than 4-5".
 
Alan...

I don't know your financial situation or anything else, but if I were you I would probably go for the 20" Bushmaster first. It will give you a different rifle to play with. I have both a 20" rifle and a 16" carbine and am thinking about getting some different uppers (barrel length, A2/A3 configuation, etc.) to experiment with.

These things ARE addictive, aren't they?

:what:
 
I find the longer sight radius of the 20" to be useful if you are going to be using irons. If you are using optics, then it is less important.

It is no surprise that you would get 4-5" groups with Wolf; but you should be seeing better than that with XM193 or Q3131A - more in the area of 2" with some practice. How stable is your shooting position? If you are shooting offhand, then that isn't too bad.
 
Your accuracy is limited by the quality of the ammo you are using, and by your technique. It takes a lot of practice to get those 1" or less 5 shot groups with irons from a solid prone position. It also takes better ammo than the Q3131A which is mil spec ammo not match grade ammo, and is probably the most accurate of the choices you mention. It you want those small groups, you will have to practice alot, shoot off a rest, or a sandbag most likely, start to reload with good bullets like Sierra matchkings, or buy federal gold medal (very expensive). The rifle you have is capable of 1" 5 shot groups maybe better with all the steps I mentioned and good ammo.

Also a better trigger like the rock river 2 stage will help with accuracy, stock bushmaster triggers are not designed for match grade accuracy, but for military spec reliability.

You should get the 20" model and if you are looking for uber accuracy, a match stainless barrel, better trigger and a freefloat tube will all help.

I own 3 AR-15's 16" M-4 clone, 20" HBAR, and a uber heavy barrel freefloated varmint gun made from a Rock River varmint upper, and a Bushmaster lower with a RR 2 stage trigger. The varmint is the only one that I have shot sub .5 MOA 5 shot groups with. That was off a bipod in the prone position, using a handload of 69gr HPBT sierra matchkings, 24 grains of varget, lake city 00 brass, carefully trimmed, and weighing each powder charge on a scale for consistency. Oh, and I did not drink any coffee that morning either.

Some folks would have you believe they routinely shoot 1/4" groups with any old ammo all the time from their stock AR-15's. They are full of crappolla.

Your shooting is good and what could be expected with the ammo and equipment you are using. With a good bit of practice and the Q3131A you should be able to do 3" 5 shot groups with the red dot. The problem with most red dots is that they have like a 5-7 MOA dot. That means at 100 yards they cover a 5-7" circle on the target, the slightest waver in your hold will make the groups open up with a red dot. For small groups you need to practice with the iron sights (hard and you need good eyesight), or you need a good 10x scope with a fairly fine cross hair.
 
If you can afford it get both! :D

A flattop 20" with a nice scope is lots of fun from the bench. You can change the carbine you already have to any other configuration you want with another upper receiver if you so desire.

Even rebarreling an upper receiver is not that hard if you have a vise, receiver vise jaw block, and barrel wrench.

The only real limit on what you can do is your wallet. ;)
 
Spent a couple of hours at my dealers today. Fondled the 20" HBAR for a while, considering my options. (I took my M4 with me for comparison. Seems like a lot of weight difference, but only about a pound per the Bushmaster literature.) The AR people there (including a LEO who has several ARs) agreed that the 20" was a nice complement to my M4. I said, "Go ahead, do the paperwork."

I thought I was going home empty handed. (I already had an appointment to shoot with a friend tomorrow morning.) The PA Instant Check system was down. I was told it was down for 3.5 hours yesterday. It started working again after about an hour of waiting.

The new "baby" is home, cleaned and inspected. Also did the rear sight adjustment for the "Improved Battlefield Zero". Ready for a try-out and initial sight-in during the A.M.. :D

Alan
 
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