# AR-15 folks, Bushmaster or Rock River Arms? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-folks-bushmaster-or-rock-river-arms/251889 "2004-06-23T22:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-folks-bushmaster-or-rock-river-arms/251889/1 "2004-06-23T22:14:56Z")
Tell me about your AR clone please, I am trying to pick one, did you buy or build?. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-folks-bushmaster-or-rock-river-arms/251889/2 "2004-06-23T23:11:25Z")
I have three AR-15s: A 1979 Colt AR-15 Sporter, a Bushmaster XM-15, and another clone that IIRC is Olympic Arms (but could be something else). Obviously the Colt, which was my first, was bought already built. I built the other two. The Bushmaster is an -A2 clone, and the other one is a collapsable-stock CAR-15HB. All are pre-ban. The Colt feels very light compared to the Bushmaster, for obvious reasons. I like the heft of the Bushmaster. I like all three of them, and it’s hard to pick a favourite. The Colt is stock with the triangular handguards, and I like the “history” of having a “classic” rifle. The Bushmaster is nice for its heavy barrel and sights. The “CAR-15” (which also has the -A2 upper) is cool because it resembles the M4. I’ve never had any problems with any of the rifles. I was going shooting one day with the (unloaded) Colt across my back when I fell of the motorcycle. Naturally I’d left the ejection port open! I took out the bolt carrier and wiped it off with a rag, and it functioned perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-folks-bushmaster-or-rock-river-arms/251889/3 "2004-06-23T23:36:26Z")
Whatever you do, wait until after September to spend money on ANY assault rifle! You might end up wasting a lot of money otherwise. FWIW, _Quality Parts_’s BushMaster rifles are awesome! If you do end up building your own clone, stick with either Colt or BushMaster factory magazines. It’s amazing what problems aftermarket mags can cause. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-folks-bushmaster-or-rock-river-arms/251889/4 "2004-06-24T15:55:05Z")
I have a basically stock Bushmaster XM-15, 20" barrel. Had it for 6 years or so, very happy with it. I’ve run about 5000 rounds down it with no problems. The stock trigger was pretty creepy though, so I put in a Rock River Arms non-adjustable 2 stage trigger that’s beautifully crisp, and was half the price of an adjustable 2 stage. I also put on a Hogue grip, since the stock AR grip is too small for my hand. BTW, I’m left handed, and the AR is a fantastic semi-auto design for lefties. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ar-15-folks-bushmaster-or-rock-river-arms/251889/5 "2004-06-24T16:59:04Z")
Why go with a clone at all when the [real thing](http://world.guns.ru/assault/as16-e.htm) is still available? I’ve shot a couple of different AR configurations, but there is nothing like an honest to god Armalite AR-10 or 18.