Bushmaster .308 Rifle

Gun Blast ^ | 14 July 2004 | Jeff Quinn

[45Auto]

The Bushmaster .308 differs from the typical AR in a few of its controls. While the forward assist and safety are normal AR type controls, the bolt release is at the bottom front of the trigger guard, and is ambidextrous, having a mirror-image release on each side. This is an excellent design for the bolt release, and it is easily reached with the trigger finger of either a right-handed or left-handed shooter. The magazine release is in the normal AR position, but also has an ambidextrous twin on the opposite side of the receiver. The upper and lower receivers are forged, and are well-fitted. The twenty inch barrel has a twist rate of one turn in ten inches. The gas block has attachment rails machined into the top and sides to accommodate sights and accessories.

One of the best features of the Bushmaster .308 is its magazine. Unlike most of their competition, Bushmaster is supplying its rifles with twenty-round magazines. They are able to do this because they designed the rifle to use the readily available, cheap, and reliable surplus FAL rifle magazines.

[45Auto]

As farr as I know, at least for today, the 2nd Amendment is still the law of the land, although it has been changed from the Right to keep and Bear Arms, to the Permission to keep and bear....Oh, well, at least our homes are safe.....

[45Auto]

16 inch barrel, A2 style, .308, using FN FAL magazines

[Lurker]

My whole problem with the AR-10 was the ridiculous price of magazines.

L

[68skylark]

I've been real happy with my Bushmaster .223 rifle -- it seems very well made.

[45Auto]

Yes, and the SR 25 has even more expensive mags.

[IGOTMINE]

I own an AR-10...unreliable POS. I'm dumping it ASAP.

[45Auto]

The Pre Expired AW ban Knights Armament Stoner SR 25:

[45Auto]

The original AR 10:

[jcdc]

More like this

[45Auto]

I'll give you $100 for it....The AR 10 is finicky about bullet geometry. It will shoot good match grade ammo or handloaded ammo using 168 grain Sierra HPBT. Cycling reliability can be enhanced by keeping the gas rings lubed. I found this out the hard way. Once those rings are worn, the damn thing will lock open on every shot. Shooting it with dry gas rings will screw it up after 300 rounds or so.

[verity]

Extraordinary graphic.

[45Auto]

The three forms of the .308 AR design, the Bushmaster, the Armalite AR 10 and the Knight's Armament SR 25 each use their own unique magazines - none are interchangeable. The Bushmaster is probably the most useful with regard to mags using the FN FAL units which are cheap and plentiful.

[KoRn]

"Oh, well, at least our homes are safe....."

That is, until your house is targeted for a shopping mall location.

Very nice gun by the way!.

[Zathras]

I nearly bought a SR25 a number of years ago.

[45Auto]

Stewart Wilson builds some really nice rifles:

Wilson Shooter Ready AR 10's

[Fido969]

While many find the .223 to be a mild cartridge - lacking the necessary knock-down you would hope from a miliary round, .308 seem a bit much for a high rate of fire. I like it in my tricked out M-14 for single long distance shots, but it seems like it would be tough to handle on full auto. Although that particular cartridge was suposed to replace the 30-06 which was completely unmanageable on full auto.

[shellshocked]

"My whole problem with the AR-10 was the ridiculous price of magazines."


The Bushy uses FN-FAL mags, which can be had for $8.

[yarddog]

I bet a .308 out of a 16 inch barrel is not all that hot.

[FearlessFreep]

I have the .223 also. It is a very well made and reliable rifle.

[45Auto]

I aquired one back in the early 90's when they were still "cheap". The thing had the 24 inch heavy barrel and shot well, but weighed in at 11 pounds. I wanted to obtain a 16 inch lighter carbine upper, but Knight's quoted me a ridiculous price (for the time) for one. I proceeded to build an upper based on Armalite AR 10 parts, then available from Armalite. I had to modify a number of items to get the hybrid rifle to function. (it still functions well with the original SR 25 upper.) I installed a 16 inch fluted Blackstar cryo-treated barrel. The thing still shoots at 0.5 inch and sometimes under when I do my part.