Here is what Byron South has to say about the similarities and differences between the Remington and the Bushmaster (copied and pasted from another post). There are subtle differences and I for one would not consider someone comparing the two as a negative. My Bushmaster Varminter is a tack driver and a rifle I am very happy with.
Quote from Byron South:
I know where you guys are coming from when you say it is a Bushy with a camo job. The float tube and gas block are almost the same but that is pretty much where the similarities end(other than the obvious basic AR design features and standard AR parts).
This comparison to the Bushmaster and other AR's for that matter is very expected and welcomed.
I will see if I can explain how the R-15 is different than the Bushmaster or any other AR currently available.
The float tube looks very similar to the ones Bushmaster puts on their Varminter and Predator rifles, but they aren't identical. First, they are shorter on the 18" gun (Mid-length). They are they same length on the 22" gun. If you will notice there is also less cooling vents on the front portion of the tube. This is to acomodate a space to mount a light rail. There are holes drilled and tapped here to mount the light in the position you desire.
The R-15 also differs from the Bushmaster(and all others)in the barrel configuration. the R-15 is available in 18" and 22" barrel lengths of a slimmer profile than the Bushies. To my knowledge no other AR manufacture including Bushmaster makes barrels configured to these dimensions. To me this is the biggest and most favorable feature on the R-15 vs any currently available AR on the market. Why? First off is the weight differance and secondly is the length. To many the 16's are TOOO loud but very handy. By adding 2 inches to the barrel it makes it significantly more comfortable to shoot but the slimmer barrel still mantains the feel of the larger contoured 16" guns. Remington also wanted a longer rifle but instead of just going with a 20 or 24 like Bushmaster and all the others they settled on a 22" and stayed with the slimmer barrel to keep the weight down.
Yet another differance is the single stage trigger. This trigger was desinged exclusively for the R-15. It is supposed to closely resemble a nice trigger on a bolt gun. I've yet to try one as I like the two stage triggers but I've heard from several people they are a nice trigger and adjusted to about 3.5 pounds from the factory.
The bolt carrier is also slightly different than the Bushies.
In a nut shell, this is a way different gun than the Bushmasters and is the first AR designed from the ground up to accomodate the predator hunter. I know this becasue I help design it. Like I said earlier, comparisons of this rifle with Bushies and others is expected and welcomed but believe me when I say these are not Bushmaster rifles with a Remington roll mark on them.
1. Different barrels (length and contour) button rifled.
2. Different float tube (drilled and tapped for light rail which is included)
3. Nice single stage trigger (Two Stage available on signature gun)
4. Different bolt carrier
5. Camo is standard.
6. Less expensive.
6. also available in .204
I'm not offended that the R-15 is compared to the Bushmaster at all, in fact I think of it as a compliment to the R-15. Remington doesn't hide the fact that Bushmaster was leaned on to an extent for the develoment and production of this rifle. I believe this was a very smart move. I'm not saying any of this in an attempt to distance the R-15 from Bushmaster but simply to say the R-15 is not a Bushmaster with a Remington name taped over it. If you will compare its features you will see it is a completetly different rifle.
Good Hunting, and God Bless,
Byron
