Bushmaster C15. A carbon framed AR15

[Buckshot Wade]

Now I don't do this often, which is impulse buying of a firearm or anything else for that matter. I am a very calculating and cautious individual and will study a weapon closely before making a purchase. However, yesterday, checking out a new gun shop in Athens I spotted this little carbine up on the rack and immediately went bonkers. I couldn't resist it and I did a little swapping and tossed a couple C notes in cash at it came home.

1:9" twist, chrome lined bore and chambered 16" barrel. The forearm is carbine length and is a four sided rail design with well fitted rubber covers on three. Had a dot in circle Bushnell red dot sight on it, but no. It needed an M3 carrying handle sight with that standard front.
Range report:
5 rounds to zero. [Snap!] 25m standing to get the feel was good. Trigger a little rough, but again, its new. I expected that. 50m kneeling showed promise. Adjusted elevation to match load. 75m was same-same. 100m sitting was fun. Taking my time I tore into my 10"x10" iron plate. 5 rounds in about a 3 1/2" group. Considering my right eye sees with a slight blur that gets worse in the evening and a totally new carbine, I'll take it.
My simple handloads of Hornady 55gr BTSP 25gr of RL15 and CCI 400 primers hits around 3175fps or so. Not a great load but they were loaded before I consolidated powders.
But never the less, the little 5 pound carbine shot flawlessly. Was extremely comfortable and pointed like an M-4 clone should, right on target.
Overall I don't think this was a mistake. True I have a fine Anderson AM15 carbine that is flat out Devine. And what do I need another M4 clone? Well I'll tell ya.... It's got SKULLS! I normally detest graphics on a weapon. I think its stupid. But... Those skulls on the frame and the lightweight and overall coolness factor turned my old head! I just hadda have it even if it goes against all I believe in "acquisition". I don't care if it hairlips every cannibal in the Congo. I just wanted it!
And here's the pics for those that gotta see pics so they can tell I ain't talkin' shit, and see how my skull enhanced carbon framed 15 looks. Ha! A real departure from my style, but who cares?

 

[EZ-E]

Nice little find.
Throw a carbon fiber free float hand guard on it & you'll be looking sharp.

 

[grasshopperglock]

I like it!

For some reason I've always wanted the polymer version. I've held them and shot them. Something about the Bushmaster snake and the engineering to do it. Never owned one even though it's one my favorites.

Now it's carbon fiber. Well $hit, now it's more kewl.

 

[Buckshot Wade]

This is the 2nd gen Carbon 15. The 1st Gen had issues. No dust cover. Poor stock attachment... But the 2nd gen ironed that all out.
Sadly, Bushmaster has discontinued the Carbon series. Mine was a custom order from the factory with the B2 front sight and the skull graphics added. The customer had ordered it through the shop but could not buy it because his wife complained about it. Ha! His loss. My gain. That's why you don't see wives around here. Went through 3 of em. At my age I'd rather have the guns. They don't bitch at ya and never get old and fat!! Ha!

 

[EZ-E]

That's why you don't see wives around here. Went through 3 of em. At my age I'd rather have the guns. They don't bitch at ya and never get old and fat!! Ha!

Hmmm...I don't know which feels better next to me.... a nice warm woman or cold steel against my thigh.

 

[Kar98]

Hmmm...I don't know which feels better next to me.... a nice warm woman or cold steel against my thigh.

I'm thinking, I'm thinking, don't rush me!!

 

[grasshopperglock]

Well, the Bushmaster won't complain if you don't automatically throw your socks in the hamper as soon as you take them off.

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Today I'm like the old man in the original Magnificent Seven when they were going to move him into the village. He said "As to women, I became indifferent at 83." Well I'm not 83 yet, but I'm indifferent anyway. They cost too much to maintain. I'd rather feed my guns! Ha!

 

[avvidclif]

Where is this new gun shop?

 

[Buckshot Wade]

405 S. Palestine St.
Ben's Custom Back 40 Firearms Co.

Good shop and they don't gouge you either. They're moving into a bigger building in a few weeks. I'll keep ya posted.

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Nice little find.
Throw a carbon fiber free float hand guard on it & you'll be looking sharp.

It has a MFT polymer free floater already. Cute huh?
And I just ordered a MFT Minimalist stock for it as the one on it now just ain't what this old man likes. The replacement has a Q-R sling swivel for the rear so I can use a loop sling for shooting. I'm old army and still use a loop if the weapon's equipped with the right sling swivels and correct sling.

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Just discovered this weapon has a commercial buffer tube and I ordered a mil-spec buttstock!
Oh well, live and learn. As to sights, I'm pretty much having to stick with iron. A simple 4MOA red dot appears to be a triangular set of three dots with my right eye! Two are faint and the one in the middle left is brightest. On Dr. Evil [the Anderson] I can almost do ok with a cheap Tasco that's inline with the flip up irons. The Bushmaster has the standard front sight system and requires a taller mount. So I use the rail that mounts atop the carry handle sights.

I have a holographic sight being delivered today. Its my hope that out of the four different reticles and colors I'll find one that will work. If not, I'll just go iron all the way. Can't use a scope as everything is a blur. Just one of the many wonderful things associated with getting old! Confidentiality, it sucks getting old!

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Just one of the many wonderful things associated with getting old! Confidentiality, it sucks getting old!

Yep, but it sure beats the alternative....

 

[deemus]

Can't use a scope as everything is a blur. Just one of the many wonderful things associated with getting old! Confidentiality, it sucks getting old!

You do know that scopes can be adjusted for poor eyesight?

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Yep, but it sure beats the alternative....

True dat!

You do know that scopes can be adjusted for poor eyesight?

I've tried three different scopes. Tripple images merging makes for an awful poor image no matter how I twist and turn the focus.

And though I began life as a southpaw, well over half a century of using right handed stuff has made shooting lefthanded ridiculous.
So I guess if the holographic sight doesn't cut it, I'm all the way iron sights. And to be honest if the right eye didn't get worse as the light dims I'd not even try the lighted dot stuff in the first place. I really do like iron sights, just can't see em close to dusk...

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Well, I could see the dots and circles and crosses and stuff on this holographic sight pretty good. A couple were good. But I couldn't zero for squat!
Cleaned the carbine. Pulled the sight from the carry handle adapter rail. Carbine clean and happy. Tried the new pretty sight on Dr. Evil, the Anderson model. Fit like a glove! Perfect height and not perched way up like on the other.

Then I found out why I couldn't get it to zero with the other weapon. The sight adjustments were 180 degrees backwards! So as I was trying to zero the other weapon I was going in the opposite direction making it worse. But to be fair, that Bushmaster really is an iron sighted gun and I like it that way. And the Anderson, Dr. Evil, is a much more refined weapon and once I figure it out how the sites were lining up with my flip up sights oh my it was a snap to get its zeroed. So I'm happy again all is well and Wade World yeehaw.

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Some random musings on this model, the second generation Carbon15, after one week.
The upper and lower are identical dementions to the aluminum models and they're interchangeable.
They're not built to have massive amounts of "tacit-cool" junk hung all over em. They're intended to be lightweight sporting rifles with light fast handling qualities.
And some people in reviews complained that it "smelled funny" after ripping through three 30 round mags by yanking the trigger as fast as they could like an idiot. Well of course they will if you're trying to set a world land speed record with an index finger! Geezzz.
One reviewer said while changing the barrel he was daydreaming while threading on the barrel nut and managed to strip the threads on the upper. Another reason some folks should not play gunsmith even with "the Lego rifle". Junior wasn't paying attention and destroyed his weapon!

Well, my opinion is different than some of the individuals that treat their weapons worse than a caveman does his woman. I've found that this weapon is capable of the accuracy and function as that of it's aluminum cousin in comparable configuration.
Yes, the first generation carbons were an inferior design. No argument there. But the second generation, used as intended, is a dandy little performer that puts a grin even on this old man's face.

Yesterday's tinkering at 100m sitting in the dirt with a stick for a rest. Not bad for a partially blurred right eye and iron sights.

POA was bottom of plate [classic pumpkin on a stick] only way I could see it in the peep.

 

[Coastal76]

Looks good enjoy

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