Bushmaster

Why Bushmaster

Bushmaster goes back to 1973 in Maine, and for decades it was one of the biggest AR-15 names in the country. It went through the Cerberus and Remington years, then its trademarks sold in Remington's 2020 bankruptcy auction. A new company brought the brand back in Nevada in August 2021.

The XM15-E2S is the rifle most people picture: a plain M4 pattern AR in 5.56 NATO. The old company also sold the ACR, a licensed take on the Magpul Masada, and the Carbon 15 with its polymer receiver.

Today's line sticks to semi auto rifles and pistols on the M4 and AR-15 pattern, and current guns are built with 100% US materials and parts.

The thing to know is that the name carries more history than the company does. The Bushmaster you buy now comes from a business that's only been at it since 2021, so judge the rifle in front of you, not the reputation of the old Maine guns.

We'd treat a new Bushmaster like any other mil-spec style AR and decide on price. If it costs the same as a brand with a longer run under its current owner, we'd take that one.