Thinking about purchasing a Bushmaster ACR 223

[Mr_Polite]

Hello all. I came to this forum a while back to get suggestions about a home defence shotgun purchase, and it helped me decide on a Mossberg.

I've been really thinking about get a nice assault rifle and I'm thinking about getting the Bushmaster ACR 223 BSC 16.5. Any pros or cons on this rifle? Does anyone have any experience with this type? All suggestions and extra info are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Girodin]

Cons:

Its much heavier than it should be. Which is a bit amazing considering all the plastic on it.

If you want decent features you need to pony up for the enhanced.

It has a 1:9 twist so longer bullets are unlikely to preform well.

Although it is supposed to have a quick change barrel, which makes for some neat possibilities including an easy swap to 300 BLK, I couldn't find anywhere you could actually buy one. Rumors were later this year and 300 BLK some time next year, but who knows.

It costs a lot.

It is made by bushmaster.

You could buy a SCAR for that money.

For less you could buy an AUG if you just want something unique.

For much less you could buy a good AR and Sig 556, or a hot roded up DR200, etc

Pros:

hmmm . . . its unique.

I'd buy a SCAR long before I'd buy an ACR. I base that on comparing the two guns and on my experience with both FN guns and Bushmaster guns. That's just me though.

 

[briansmithwins]

I had to make the same choice recently and I went with the SCAR.

My reasoning:
1) SCAR is lighter.
2) FN's quality impressed me. They just did everything right w/o cheaping out. Barrel is properly hardchromed and 1:7, aluminum parts are well anodized, and steel bits are parkerized.
3) Replaceable (with slight modification) pistol grip (I have small hands.)
4) Better design. Bolt carrier seals openings in the rifle against exterior dirt. 18oz bolt carrier gives reserve of energy to keep operating. Easily adjusted gas system.
5) The one ACR I've seen at our local rifle match puked its gas piston out the front of the gun, turning it into a straight pull action.
6) Charging handle. Simple 1 piece design tells you at a glance what's going on inside the rifle.

BSW

 

[Ar180shooter]

For that sort of money, get a SCAR or Sig 556 as Girodin said. Not that there's anything wrong with the ACR, but I think you get more bang for your buck with the SCAR, and getting the Sig 556 is much cheaper, and leaves you a bunch of money for optics and mags.

 

[ugaarguy]

I've been really thinking about get a nice assault rifle

First, if it's not full auto or burst, it's not an assault rifle. The term "Assault Weapon" was made up by the antis to confuse the public into thinking that semi-automatic sporting rifles with certain cosmetic features are assault rifles. Call it what you want, but calling it an assault rifle or assault weapon just perpetuates the anti gun agenda. I prefer the more recently coined name Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) because it reflects that these are sporting rifles, but also infers their military heritage; just as there is a military heritage of muskets, muzzle loading rifles, lever action rifles, and bolt action rifles.

As far as MSRs go I still like AR-15 rifles & carbines. They're inexpensive, they run great when built properly, and they use standardized non-proprietary parts. Because of the now half century of military service of M16 variants and civilian AR-15 variants there's an unsurpassed knowledge base on these rifles. You can also configure an AR into exactly the rifle you want.

If you must get something different, then I agree with the folks above that an FN SCAR is a far better choice than a BM ACR. The reasons have already been stated.

 

[Mr_Polite]

Thanks for all of the info guys.

After some light searcing and reading, I thinking I'm leaning more towards the FN Scar now. Now I just have to decide on the light or heavy. I see Buds Guns has both the light and heavy. Does anyone know where to buy the accessories for the FN Scar?

I appriciate it. Thanks all.

 

[creeper1956]

Now I just have to decide on the light or heavy. Does anyone know where to buy the accessories for the FN Scar?

Hi Mr_Polite...

You stated in your first post that you were looking for a .223 (5.56 NATO)... yes?
Just in case you missed it... a SCAR light, or SCAR 16S is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO (.223) while the SCAR heavy or SCAR 17S is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO (.308).

Everyone from Magpul to Vltor to MGW and GG&G (to name only a few) make accessories for these guns... but not even remotely on the same level as those for the AR15, which tends to limit your ability to "transform" the gun into what ever you want it to be... IMO. Never the less... the SCAR is a finely made rifle.

Cheers,
C

 

[briansmithwins]

What kind of accessories were you thinking about?

These guys have parts:

http://strykerent.com/

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi

But, like creeper said, there isn't the huge aftermarket of parts for SCARs that ARs have. OTOH, I think FN pretty much got the SCAR right out of the box, so I really don't feel a big need to swap a bunch of stuff around.

BSW