I realize that I can just use Google, but I trust the family at Sigforum. I have always thought there were cool, and look similar to the SCAR. My local shop had one come in, and I couldn’t resist. Long story short, I have 89 days to get it out of layaway! Hope I didn’t make a mistake! I’d appreciate any knowledge you can share!

It depends on what you paid for it. The gun itself is fine, but people are mainly upset about two things.

For one, the price Bushmaster put on the gun. Magpul claimed a $1500 price when the announced it as the Masada, so when Bushmaster brought it out at almost twice the price, people revolted (although there was no proof that Magpul could actually have brought it out for that price).

The other issue is that Bushmaster essentially abandoned the platform, and making little for the gun, except for two stock choices, two handguards, and a couple of 5.56 barrel lengths. None of the promised caliber conversions and hardly any spare parts (taking lessons from Sig, apparently).

As has been said, fundamentally it’s a good gun, with a great stock, so if you didn’t pay to much and don’t mind the lack of accessories and spare parts, it’s fine.

because they were once local to me I have a soft spot for bushmaster stuff. and hence I have a number of these. Dwill104 mostly has it down. Its probably a bit worse in that what you get in an orphan. Nothing new for sig 556 fans but because production volumes were low and a bankruptcy was involved its actually much worse. I personally don't care as I have multiples, but with just one, just know you are signing up for parts search when/if something goes south or worse its unusable. such is the life of low volume orphans. Its heavy up front, the barrel change feature doesn't mean squat, and the trigger is nothing to note. But it runs reliably, has nice ergos and goes bang.

For what it's worth, Franklin Armory bought the rights to it, and they've announced that they're going to be bringing it back to market.

Now, there's a lot of "if" in this statement, but, if they do, and if it's what the Bushmaster version should have been, and if it sells well, then there may be new lifeblood infused into the platform. Might see parts, might see an aftermarket. If.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
For what it's worth, Franklin Armory bought the rights to it, and they've announced that they're going to be bringing it back to market.

Now, there's a lot of "if" in this statement, but, if they do, and if it's what the Bushmaster version should have been, and if it sells well, then there may be new lifeblood infused into the platform. Might see parts, might see an aftermarket. If.

That is great news P220 Smudge!
I bought a brand new one on Gunbroker shortly after they took bankruptcy for $900, was the cheaper version with the non-folding stock ... however I called Remington/Bushmaster and got the enhanced (?) folding stock and handguard. Accuracy wasn't as good as the typical AK. It had a standard military weight trigger and replaced it with a RRA 2-stage. Also when I had it apart it seemed that there was the tiniest bit of play between the barrel & receiver, I couldn't see the play but I could feel it. So I measured the shim that was in it, called Bushmaster again and the parts guy I talked to sent me a parts list with part numbers and I ordered the next 2 larger shims and the next size up fixed my problem.
Then about 2 years ago I got an email from them that they were blowing out their 14" complete drop-in barrels ... I don't remember how much it it was, but it seemed cheap to me & complete with the gas system. I thought I'd use it as a doner to build a 300BO but still haven't.

I'm not worried about replacement parts, I keep my firearms compliant to the KISS philosophy so I'm not worried about accessories. It's light, I like that it has a non-reciprocating charge handle, actually other than the low production numbers I can't think of anything I don't like about it but it isn't my "bug-out or go to gun".

I took my oldest grandson out to the farm yesterday to burn through old ammo. took a SiG 1911-22, Glock 19, Kimber 1911, MP5SD clone and AR carbine the ACR ... his overall favorite was the ACR and the Glock.

Gotta burn through that old ammo dangit, somebody's got to do it.

Worse than standard AK accuracy? That's quite an achievement.

I always like the idea of the ACR. Never took off for me. Maybe it will make a comeback.

Had one years ago, got it dirt cheap from Remington direct otherwise I would have went scar.


The bad of it.

It's hefty, crappy bushmaster barrel, and so adaptive you can't change the grip. Also the ambi safety is shit (I sanded mine down). The only worse ambi safety ever designed is on the cz scorpion.


The good of it.

You can slim the weight up with parts from templar precision. I highly recommend their forend, and lightweight parts and folding charging handle. They also have a lower so you can use what grip you want. Basically everything it should have comes from them.

It also uses an AR barrel (different has port diameter cause of the piston though). So if going to sbr, you can swap to a different barrel maker. At one time spikes tactical had or was going to make barrels for them, not sure if they ever did. I know when John noveske was alive and they were small, they had done custom gas port sizes as well for it.

The stock is a tank and is awesome.


Would I buy one again if the price was right, and now that templar makes everything it should have had..maybe.

quote:

Originally posted by Slippery Pete:
Gotta burn through that old ammo dangit, somebody's got to do it.

Worse than standard AK accuracy? That's quite an achievement.

I always like the idea of the ACR. Never took off for me. Maybe it will make a comeback.

I forgot to add, when I changed the barrel shim to tighten it up, group’s shrunk down it ~1.25 to 1.5” at 100yds with 62 grain LC green tip and 62grain Silver Bear and .75 to 1” with my hand loads.

smpsmp
Thanks for the heads up about Templar Precision!
I used to frequent the ACR forum when I first got mine and was really looking forward to getting a 300BO conversation barrel but there was only one guy doing it and if memory serves, he wanted around a grand to build one and the buyer had to supply the gas & barrel lock system and I lost interest.

I have one. Just my opinion but if you can AFFORD one get one! AFFORD includes potentially expensive replacement parts and limited availability’s. It’s a really sweet, smooth rifle that I really wish could have reached far higher popularity. If you can only afford one rifle buy an AR. If you can afford a really nice, interesting sweet rifle an ACR might be a solid investment. BTW Geiselle makes a trigger just for the ACR……

I own one, an FDE folding stock railed version that was purchased when Bushmaster was making them in Maine.

I have had no issues, with mine. I did not like the M4 barrel that came on the rifle and purchased a lightweight 5.56mm (I never felt the urge to use any other caliber) barrel when Remington came out with them. I also purchased a lot of spare small parts from Remington as well and upgraded to the V2 shell deflector, upgraded gas piston spring, safety assembly, Remington Defense extended bolt release added Troy sights and got one of the aluminum M-Lok handguards from Bushmaster when those came out.

I basically set it up like the early Remington Defense rifle without the magnesium lower. I like it, but I still like my Colt Combat Unit carbine the best of any 5.56mm rifle.

I know a lot of people bag on the ACR claiming Bushmaster "ruined" Magpul's perfection, but to tell the truth, Magpul's rifle was still basically a prototype when they had it, it still needed a lot of work (like improvements to the gas system) to ready it for primetime. A lot of the things people complain about (original thick plastic safety, one piece grip and lower, M4 barrel) were Magpul's original design.

Remington/Bushmaster made the investment to improve the rifle in an attempt to compete with other military rifles.