Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Armalite vs Bushmaster

I'm in the market for a light AR in 308/7.62. I think I have narrowed it down to two models, Armalite 10A4 and Bushmaster MOE. They are about the same weight and same price. Any opinions? I like accuracy, accuracy and reliability.

I would choose the Armalite over the Bushmaster. But I'm a biased Armalite AR-10 owner.

Any reason other than that's what you own?

I don't have any experience with those particular models but unfortunately have a lot of experience with other Bushmasters and think they are junk. For that reason I would say buy the Armalite.

OK, this is what I need to hear(read). Can you be more specific, what do you mean by "Junk".

Thanks

this Armalite has since lost its muzzle brake, and gained a free float tube, but it still shoots this well:

I have experience with 19 Bushmaster Dissipator Rifles that were purchased to be patrol rifles. We had to send 9 of them back to the factory because of headspace problems. Not enough headspace was causing FTE problems. None of them had the carrier keys staked and several were loose out of the box. 3 had serious gas leakage problems at the gas block. One had the FSB mounted so far off from center that the rifle could not be zeroed. We started having bolt lugs breaking under 5000 rounds. I have replaced most of the small parts with Colt parts and replaced 6 barrels so far. It has been a struggle but with a lot of work and parts replacement they are finally reliable enough to be used.
In my opinion it is criminal that a company would let firearms out the door with that many problems that someone's life may depend on.
Bushmaster has had a reputation of having QC problems. There are people out there that have been happy with Bushmaster products and if so good for them but after my experience with them I will not purchase any of their guns.

Thanks AK, almost sounds like Bushmaster is run by Ruger.

Actually they are owned by Remington.

Yeah, I know, but Ruger is the only company I know of that has zero QC.

I am not fond of Bushmaster either, same thing poor quality control in the one, only and last one I will ever buy from them. RRA has a 308 I think.

Yeah my RRA LAR-8 with 3-9x40 Conquest is a slightly under 11 lbs with an empty poly mag. Not the shooter I was hoping for yet but I have not had a lot of time to mess with it much. It will do 1.5" 5-rounds groups easy enough. I have only shot 165 and 168 ballistic tips so far, I may try a 180gr and 150gr to see what it likes best. SMKs or some other match hollow points may shoot tighter too.

Have two Bushmasters. Both are outstanding quality and they are very accurate.

By the same parent company.

With the complaints I'm reading about current Marlin and Remington QA, I think the decision between those two brands gets easier and easier...

DF

Save a little and buy a LMT, They cost more because they are worth it. You will be glad you did...........dj

How does Lewis stack up against Rock River?

DF

Better trigger, better upper - monolithic, better lower - takes AR-10 mags, interchangeable barells. Std mil issue (British L129a1). Pretty much better in every way I can think of other than it costs more............dj

I would not own a Bushmaster or RR 308 AR because they take FAL magazines. That design weakens the bolt.

Armalite used to have a good engineering explanation of the problems associated with FAL magazines in a rotating bolt firearm (that Bushmaster actually did encounter with their 308 AR), but darned if I can find it anymore.

The RR 308s have been out for several years now with additional changes and upgrades over the previous bushmaster model. Why don't we see some actual internet gac on rifles with broken bolts or lugs because of the weak design like Armalite claims?

I had an AR-10T, sent it back to the factory twice and sold it. My friend has a Bushmaster and has done the same. They told him that some of his parts (that are subbed out) were out of spec. You ought to hear him cuss when it jams. You have to bring a steel rod, a hammer, and a 2X4 to the range! Either could be an A+ gun or it could be a dog.

My story. I bought the AR 10T and the first round I fired jammed the bullet in the barrel. It went back to Armalite. I got it back and it would jam at least 1 round a box. It jammed after it ejected the spent round on a live round. You'd have to put a screwdriver in the action and smack it to open it. I sent it back again. They replaced the gas works. the bolt, and changed the feed ramp. This all on a new gun that left the factory non functioning. I got it back and sold it. Never again. I don't even want another AR platform rifle.

I satisfied my military rifle itch with a M1A supermatch. That goes off every time and shoots well. It is not as smooth. You can feel the krang krang as it cycles that you don't with the AR but it works! I have been looking for other designs for a .223 that are not AR platform. Maybe a Rock Rive LAR with a piston drive system instead of gasworks. I know LaRue and Stag Arms have a lot of fans for their ARs. It's something to think on. The ammo is a lot cheaper to have fun with.