XM15 vs Carbon 15

[hatzing]

Hoping to buy an AR soon, I've been interested in 2, The Bushmaster Carbon 15 and the Bushmaster XM15-E2S the 2 are pretty similar I only have enough for 1 at the moment, I do not own any rifle at the moment, my arsenal consists of handguns and that is it, and I'd like to add a rifle to the collection. Your thoughts?

 

[SilentScream]

Go with the XM15 as it's a spec rifle. The carbon15 while the price maybe attractive is not a spec rifle. A spec rifle is what you want when it comes time to start modifying/accessorizing (which is almost inevitable with the AR rifles)

 

[jim243]

Either would be fine. I bought the C-15 Ultra Lite for messing with to see how much junk I could add. Green laser to be added.

This is the results - Bushmaster C-15 in 5.56.

Jim

 

[Quentin]

You can do much better if you keep looking. Compare them with what you can get for the same money elsewhere. Look at what PSA and Spikes have at the same price, or Colt/BCM/etc. for a little more money.

 

[hatzing]

Fine looking weapon Jim, I think I might go with the XM15 even though the rifle gets a little hate from its sinister past in the hands of people who shouldn't have firearms. Thanks for the replies.

 

[mtrmn]

I would stick with an aluminum receiver. Seen and heard too many sad stories about the carbon, although never actually seen a BM Carbon 15 break.....

 

[kemper]

I USED to have one

I have owned a CAR-Bon 15 before and it was a piece of sh-t

 

[dcarch]

The Carbon 15 is, in my humble opinion, one of the worst AR clones ever to disgrace the face of this fine earth. Save your money, or go with either a Palmetto State Armory or CMMG AR.

 

[ugaarguy]

Fine looking weapon Jim, I think I might go with the XM15 even though the rifle gets a little hate from its sinister past in the hands of people who shouldn't have firearms.

Hatzing, Bushmaster is more concerned with cutting costs than properly building an AR. In the the fairly recent past I worked for a large retail FFL. I was the IT / internet sales guy, and my desk was nestled in the back corner of the repair dept. Because I already had over a decade of experience with AR-15 rifles even then, I'd help the gunsmith with ARs when he had more complex work to do.

DPMS and Bushmaster were the ARs most frequently brought in for service. The biggest problem was extraction problems caused by poorly finished and / or undersized chambers. Things have only gotten worse for both of those companies after they were bought out by Cerberus Capital / Freedom Group. There are many other things that Bushmaster does incorrectly. I'll be happy to list them if you'd like.

Either way, let me be absolute clear. Bushmaster doesn't get hate from people who shouldn't own firearms. Bushmaster's own corner cutting parts and assembly methods earned them a rightly deserved poor reputation among people who truly understand the AR-15 platform.

 

[justice06rr]

Between the 2, definitely the aluminum one. Stay away from polymer AR's if you can, they really don't take abuse well.

I would also recommend other AR15's like PSA, Colt6920, Spikes, and even Smith&Wesson M&P15 Sport if you are on a budget.