Bushmaster M4 (AR-15)
(Photo Out-of-Date)
For over a year, I waited anxiously to have this rifle. Now that I do have it, I am more in love with it than I expected to be when I was waiting for it. This gun turned out to be the most accurate gun I had at the time. It is incredibly easy to control, and with the red dot sight, target acquisition is very fast. And while it fires a small bullet, it is no slouch.
Handloading: 223 Remington
| Caliber: | 5.56x45mm (.223 Remington) |
|---|---|
| Barrel: | Bushmaster 14.5" chrome-lined with 1:9" twist |
| Flash Suppressor: | permanently attached Izzy flash suppressor |
| Rear Stock: | six position telescoping |
| Forearm: | YHM carbine-length light-weight 4-rail |
| Grip: | CAA UPG16 |
| Overall Length: | 31½" to 35¼" |
| Weight: | 6½ pounds |
The rifle is made by Bushmaster. It has an A3 (flat top) receiver, a telescoping buttstock, an izzy flash suppressor, and a 30 round magazine. Of course, it is not an actual M4, but the closest thing available to civilians. This weapon could not have been made while the 1994 Assault Weapon Ban was in effect.
This rifle fires either the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge or the .223 Remington, the two being almost identical. This cartridge has excellent ballistics, shooting flat and accurate. In addition to home or personal defense, this weapon could be used for larger varmints and smaller game.
Sights
In addition to the iron sights, I have a 50mm red dot sight with a dot that is supposedly 1 MOA. Unfortunately, it is junk. It has obvious parallax problems.
I have had high-powered scopes attached to this rifle on a temporary basis. While it isn't good for use as a CQB, I think I would like to have a scope I can mount on an as-needed basis. I like the NcSTAR 3-9x42mm Illuminated Rubber Armor scope. It is short, has everything I could want in a medium-power tactical scope, and comes with quick-release rings.
Oh, dear, Nightforce has released a new 2.5-10x32mm scope. It looks nice. I want it with target-style turrets. I might have to consider that, assuming I can ever find a reasonably accurate load.
I am thinking about getting an interim solution, a Barska Electro Sight 2x30mm. It apparently has infinite eye relief because the magnification is on the objective. The objective magnifier is also removeable. It doesn't come with a quick-detach base, so I might want to get the Barska AW11143 AR Riser Mount. One reason I am thinking about having a decent interim solution is that I will probably want a red dot sight for this rifle even after I have gone to the ACR as my primary CQB rifle.
Now I am starting to think I should find a red dot sight with a swing-away magnifier. Are there any in an affordable price range?
Ammunition
Hornady 75gr TAP FPD – Tested at the range, and it produces 2 MOA groups. The bullets were obviously stable out to 100 yards. This is an improvement over the Winchester 55gr. FMJ 5.56x45mm rounds I have now. I should probably buy some of this, fill up some magazines, and adjust my red dot sight for it. I can continue to look for a more accurate load, but this is a good choice so far.
I definitely need to work up a load using the 75gr A-Max bullet.
I have been spending quite a bit of time trying to find a bullet and handload recipe that produces accurate results in this rifle. With the right load, this rifle is sub-MOA. Mainly I have been looking for an anti-personnel round. This would be as heavy a bullet as will stabilize in my rifle, and one that expands but holds together. Given the legal issues, it occurs to me that perhaps I should start looking for a factory cartridge that meets these goals.
Others to try:
- Winchester Ranger 64gr Power-Point
- Winchester Ranger 62gr Penetrator
- Hornady 60gr TAP FPD
I have experimented with both 63 and 65 grain Sierra soft points.
Also, it might be a good idea to have a small magazine loaded with an anti-varmint round. I have plenty of 55gr Sierra BlitzKing, which I can use to work up a load. I would need to double-check Missouri wildlife regulations, but I think a ten round magazine would be acceptable.
Mods
- Yankee Hill Machine free-float forearm (carbine-length "Lightweight")
- Command Arms Accessories UPG16 grip
- Magpul MOE polymer trigger guard
Future Modifications
I have decided to upgrade several parts of this rifle. For one thing, I want it to be more "optics ready" than it is now. I would also like to have a better trigger and a better rear stock. Wow. This is $800 worth of gear that I have identified below.
- Forearm and Gas Block
- YHM Smooth Carbine Forearm - $120
- YHM Flip-Up Hooded Sight Tower/Gas-Block - $75
- Rear Stock and Sling
- Magpul CTR Commercial-Spec Rear Stock - $93
- Magpul MS2 Single/Double-Point Sling - $50
- Magpul ASAP Sling Attachment Point - $30
- Magpul MIAD Grip - $35
- Trigger
- Geissele Two-Stage Trigger - $280
- Sight
- Barska Electro 2x30mm Red Dot Sight - $60
- Barska AW11143 Riser Mount - $25
Forearm and Gas Block
Lou talked me into free-floating my barrel. We installed a free-floated forearm made by Yankee Hill Machine. I wish I could say that it had significantly improved the accuracy. Anyway, it is not exactly ergonimic. I tried the Magpul Angled Foregrip, and I definitely don't care for it. I am thinking about replacing the forearm with a YHM "smooth" forearm.
While I'm at it, I think I would like to replace my gas block. The sight erector gets in the way of my optics. I should either get one with a flip-up sight, or with a picatiny rail that I can mount one onto later. YHM makes two-piece gas blocks that would not require me to remove my flash supressor, though I would have to destroy my existing sight erector. I should make sure to get one with a bayonet lug so that I don't lose that functionality.
Check jsesurplus.com, they seem to have good prices.
MIDWAY Online Smooth Carbine Forearm (YHM-5000) $145.50 $124.99 $119.95 Hooded Front Flip Sight Tower (YHM-9396-H) 97.00 74.95 ======= ======= Total $244.00 $194.90
It is 7¼" from the rear of the barrel nut to the rear of the sight erector, and 9-1/16" to the front of the sight erector.
I chatted with a YHM salesperson, who explained that the length of the smooth carbine forearm prevents the bayonet lug from being accessible. I am not sure I believe him, but I guess I will order it without, and if I think there is clearance, I will call them up and have them ship me just the bayonet lug part.
Rear Stock
I want to replace the telescoping stock with one that doesn't rattle. Most of the Magpul stocks have a "friction lock", and I think that is supposed to resolve that problem. I need to verify this. I think the one I want is the Magpul CTR. I have a "commercial-spec" receiver extension tube.
As long as I am replacing the rear stock, I should also get something to attach a single-point sling. I want to be able to attach both a single point sling for tactical use, and a more standard shoulder sling setup for hunting.
Trigger
I need to install a better trigger group for this rifle. The current one has a long, somewhat rough trigger pull. This is fine for combat, but terrible for more precise shooting.
I suppose I want a two-stage trigger for this rifle.
I ought to read up on that trigger that Les Bear sells. It is made by Geissele, and it is available in three ranges of pull weight. I need to find out which one I want, and if it is really the one to have. The DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) version has the light first stage and a heavier second stage, but 0.5 to 1.5 pounds doesn't seem that heavy. That might be a good compromise.