What about a Bushmaster Carbon 15?

J

Joey P.

New member
Never owned or even shot an AR but just curious on opinions of this rifle. Gander Mt. has this gun in .223 for $649 with a Bushnell Red Dot scope, which I figure would be pretty useless in most hunting situations. Still, price isn't too bad and just curious about opinions on these guns. I've hunted well over 30 years, but never have done much target shooting or owned many guns other than the ones I hunt with. Kids finished school, married, and moved out and slowly expanding my collection now, but still don't have a lot of money to spend. Anyway, opinions on the gun wanted and appreciated. TIA
 
i have researched thease before, seems that guys either love em or hate em.... no middle....

me....i have no experance with them at all, so i caint say.

i would like to hear what the guys on here have to say about them.
 
Originally Posted By: BRIZi have researched thease before, seems that guys either love em or hate em.... no middle....

me....i have no experance with them at all, so i caint say.

i would like to hear what the guys on here have to say about them.

same here. Something that light draws my interest. Theres a Mod. here with one and all seemed well last I'd read.

They have peeked my interest awhile. Just to........ to pull the trigger!
 
I have the Professional Ordinance Carbon-15. They eventually sold to Bushmaster.

This gun is a dream to carry!

While carrying the gun is great, the light weight, in my opinion, is very counter productive when hunting off of shooting sticks if there is even a slight breeze.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the gun, but I am MUCH happier with my Specialized Dynamics AR.

If you're looking for a VERY light gun to carry, then this is the ticket, but be forwarned, it is VERY light and; therefore, not a very stable platform to shoot from in my opinion.



This is my Specialized Dymanics AR which is a bit heavier than a conventional AR after the MAGPUL-PRS stock was added. I just find that the "heavier" gun is a much more stable platform than my Carbon-15.

 
i bought a carbon 15 years ago as a rifle to carry when i am scouting for elk and deer covering lots of ground in high steep country. i break in down into halves to put in the pack while on the bike, and when i start hiking i put it back together. i have killed coyotes with it at 200 plus, but it is so light that it is not easy to shoot well. the trigger in mine was so heavy that you could hang the rifle on the trigger without it going off. light rifle and heavy trigger is a bad combo for accuracy. i replaced the trigger with a timney making much easier to shoot well. the forend is shaped in such a way as to make it harder to shoot as well. it is oval shaped with the point of the oval down so it wants to rock on a rest. it didnt come with a sling stud at either end so i slotted the "butt plate" and put a stud on the handguard. the only place i could put the stud makes a bipod not sit tight. most of the parts are NOT interchangeable with a regular ar. the forend is not free floated. i carry it for the occasional coyote, and it has worked very well for that, and a marmot here and there. it has always been reliable and you dont get tired of carrying it. accuracy is satisfactory for coyotes out to 300, but it will let you know if you are not shooting correctly.
 
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I own one of these.... Love it. I bought the shorter stock for my son to use it. Loaded down with Berger or Barnes 30 grainers its great for foxes and coons.

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As best I recall, if you put together a Plum Crazy lower, with an A2 or adj. 6 -position stock, a lightwt. bbl., lite FF forearm, and flattop upper, it's only 2 ounces or so heavier than a Carbon 15, AND can interchange parts. The idea had me by the short hairs too, till I saw one w/ a PC lower weighed and advertised for sale. Shorter ranges, lighter is better. Esp. here in the East.
 
My advice is to reconsider. Bought one just over three months ago and have tried and tried to make the thing shoot. Spent five weeks back at the factory being overhauled. When I got it back, it had more problems than when it went in. Will not zero. POI all over the place, if you can hit the target at all. best it's shot for me was 4 inch groups at 40 yards. Over 9 inches at 60 and only 3 of ten shots at 70 even hit a 12 inch target. This was off a bench and rest.

I bought this to see if a guy could get a shooter AR for under $700 and I've spent over a thousand total just trying to make it anything more than a door stop and a very costly mistake. Customer service is all but non-existent and do not return e-mails. Phone lines available only when working folks can't call. Makes you wonder what's going on there.

The pros? It only jammed twice in over 450 rounds breaking it in. God only knows where half those rounds impacted 'cause it sure wasn't on the target I was aiming at. Also, the hardshell case that it came in is made by Flambeau and that case has opened and closed perfectly every time I've tried it. Wish the gun was that reliable.
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As for it being a hunting gun... had a coyote standing broadside at 30-35 yards. Shooting off Vern Howey sticks with my trusty Bushmaster Carbon 15, aiming at center mass just behind the close side shoulder..... POI about 2 inches behind the close side hip - missed! Truly amazing was that both before the gun discharged and after, the crosshairs were still on coyote. Quite the tack driver!
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There are 2 types of guys on here - "Hunters" and "My AR is better than your AR" types. I've owned a Carbon 15 for 20 months and have had ZERO problems with it. It won't shoot 1" groups at 200 yds., but it will do 2" groups all day long. I also have a Shilen barrelled Win. Mod. 70 that will do 1 hole groups at 200. The coyotes I've shot all seemed just as dead.
The point is, if you want a light, accuate enough hunting rifle
the Carbon 15 is great. If, however you want an AR to play with, I reccomend getting something else. The "My AR is better than your AR guys" will have nothing to do with you. ( I've killed 33 coyotes with mine so far and the Mod. 70 sits in the gun case.)
 
Garbage. Bushmasters standard AR is already bottom tier as far as AR's go. Take that commercial spec mediocrity and then make it out of plastic that had known issues before they purchased the design. No way brother, run away.

I am certain any mechanical engineer will tell you that it is not a sound idea to take a part designed to be made from forged 7075 aluminum and instead make it out of plastic without making any dimensional changes whatsoever.

If Glock ever starts making polymer AR lowers I would have to re-evaluate but the Bushmaster Carbon 15, no way.



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Originally Posted By: ScatmanThere are 2 types of guys on here - "Hunters" and "My AR is better than your AR" types. I've owned a Carbon 15 for 20 months and have had ZERO problems with it. It won't shoot 1" groups at 200 yds., but it will do 2" groups all day long. I also have a Shilen barrelled Win. Mod. 70 that will do 1 hole groups at 200. The coyotes I've shot all seemed just as dead.
The point is, if you want a light, accuate enough hunting rifle
the Carbon 15 is great. If, however you want an AR to play with, I reccomend getting something else. The "My AR is better than your AR guys" will have nothing to do with you. ( I've killed 33 coyotes with mine so far and the Mod. 70 sits in the gun case.)


There is a 3rd type of person here as well, the kind that digs up a 2 year old thread and starts stirring.


Chupa
 
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