[ Many thanks to Todd for emailing me the link. ]

The 1:7 twist helps stabilize the heavy 75 grain bullets.

This Bushmaster ACR was on display at Magpul's SHOT Show booth. Bushmaster will almost certainly introduce an ACR finished in the A-TACS Camo scheme, although they have not announced anything yet.

Let me remind you all this forum is for product questions & to share info on your existing BFI products. If your intention is to just come in here and randomly use profanity and bash products, your post will be reported to AR15.Com Staff and deleted. I'm all for talking about product and taking criticism, but the majority of this re: the ACR is over the top and unacceptable.

If I missed something, I'll come back in and answer what I can.

1st Topic M4 Bbl: M4 profile was picked as a trade-off between weight and durability. We tested up to 6 bbl profiles (hvy, med, light, heavy under the handguard M4, M4, and fluted hvy). We found that the M4 offered the best weight/performance ratio.

2nd 1x9 Bbl Twist vs. 1x7: 1/7 bbl assemblies will be offered. BFI did 1:9 bc tests show that for 62 gr and under it was more accurate than 1:7. However, 1:9 does not stabilize 77 gr and above as well, so for customers requiring a. 1:7 it will be offered separate and installed in the rifle late spring.

3rd Civ weight vs. Mil Version: The Mil version is still under development and weight reduction to 7lbs. is part of that process. When completed, application of those design changes and the use of alternate material components can be applied to the civ model.

4th Chrome lined vs. New Proprietary Coating: Many have pointed out that the ACR barrels are not chrome lined and that is correct... They are not. That does not mean that they are not coated. As stated in our original press release the ACR barrels, and all internal components, feature a new, proprietary coatings that are substrate conversions which vastly increase durability, lubricity and reliability.

5th Pricing: To make this weapon combat ready, and suitable for LE application and Civilian sales, it went thru revision after revision after revision. The ACR is not an inexpensive rifle to produce, it is of the highest quality and we are utilizing the most advanced materials available. The $1500 Retail price tag was not realistic. I know we all wanted to produce and offer this weapon for under $2k, but when the cost roll up is done, and all the pricing is tiered the realistic $’s are what we are showing.

6th BFI Targeting Modern Warfare Consumers Absolutely not, especially when a large demographic playing this game are youth and we are very careful not to market to individuals who are not legally able to own a firearm, especially youth. We commented at the show on the phenomenon Modern Warfare 2 has caused, bringing the awareness of the ACR to an entire segment of the population that was previously unaware of it. But this product has never been targeted specifically to the players of video game. Our target, as it has been and remains, are professional firearms users, tactical firearms enthusiasts, target and competition shooters, and recreational shooters who value high quality, performance firearms.

Lastly, replacement bbls, buttstocks, forends, and caliber conv kits will be offered. We are setting up our accessory/spares program, and will release more info on this as we get closer to the offering.

The cheaper Basic model of Bushmaster ACR at SHOT Show '10

He then went on to say ...

1. They do not accept a std AR Bbl. However, spare bbls will be offered.
2. We did show the A-TAC Camo version at Shot, it will follow shortly after the release of the Enhanced ACR.
3. We will be offering the 6.8, 7.62x39, and 6.5.
4. No other trigger option avail..this one is pretty sweet.
5. Enhanced model does not go with an additional hgd, will go with the 3 rail only. Basic hgd will be offered separately.

I wonder why they dropped AR-15 barrel and trigger group compatibility. It was one of the major features touted by Magpul back in the day.

As you can see above, there are four models (ACR SS 16M B, ACR SS 16M C, ACR FR 16M B and ACR FR 16M C ). Essentially there are two colors (Black and "Coyote Brown") and two types (Basic and Enhanced). Each model is available in 5.56mm or 6.8 SPC (but can be quickly swapped from one caliber to the other by changing barrel and bolt head).

The Basic model features:

• 16.5-inch cold hammer-forged barrel system
• A2 birdcage-style suppressor
• Magpul MBUS iron sights
• A-Frame style stock
• Free floating monolithic top rail.

The Enhanced model adds the following features:

• Three sided handguard rail ( giving a quad rail setup with the monolithic top rail at 12 o'clock ).
• AAC Blackout flash hider
• 6 position folding stock. This stock is what we all think of as "THE" ACR stock.

Now what you have been waiting for ...

The suggested retail price for the Basic models is $2,685 and for the enhanced it is $3,061! This is what I expected, although many were hoping for it to fall into the $1000-$2000 price range.

I will try to find out the price of caliber conversion kits and additional barrels when I am at SHOT.

[ Many thanks to Daniel and Josh for emailing me info about this rifle. ]

Defense Review has analyzed the video.

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

Bushmaster ACR

Left Side. Note "multi-caliber".

Right side

The lower

Lower and fire control group.

Pistol Grip

Stock

Gas Block

Under the rail.

Gen-4 Rail.

Barrel and pistol

Upper and bolts

Jesse says ...

1. Mid length gas system, 16" barrel, m4 profile, AAC break for m42000 Can. New ratchet and lock design.
2. Gen-4 Rail system with removable pic rail sections. Rail moves a little in rear if twisted. (See Shoot Photos)
3. Came with both the new style folder with spring lock and the fixed stock.
4. New style gas block, no bayo lug,
5. Gun is Black.
6. All kinds of Q/D options on both sides of the rifle.
7. Charging handle can be flipped left or right, up or down.
8. Great fit and function, and is very easy to figure out. Rear upper pin hangs slightly when in out position.
9. Trigger is 100% better than SCAR and is very crisp. (Looks to be a standard AR style, might be wrong though)

It is great to finally see what is, almost certainly, the final civilian version of the Bushmaster ACR.

AAC Blog has photos.

I was surprised because compared to the AKs, M4s and Glocks of the world, the ACR is relatively unknown outside of the industry. I finally realized why this is: the gun is featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warefare 2, which was launched last month.

Bushmaster ACR with the mythical heart beat sensor.

Have any other bloggers noticed the call of duty effect?

ACR on display at Milipol '09. Serial number: ACR00067.

The Bushmaster website still says it will go on sale in the first half of 2010.

It has been promised so many times before that I will only believe that it is on sale when it is on sale and not a moment before!

Many thanks to Aurélien for the tip.

Remington ACR with A-TACS camo.

Its universal pattern¹ is a kind of improved digital pattern that uses blended blobs instead of the square pixels that are used in digital camo.

More info at Solider Systems and Strike - Hold.

We are not currently in the process of developing our own 6.5mm round for the AR platform. We have mentioned the 6.5 in our communications on the ACR simply because that platform is capable of handling the Grendel or something like it. At this point, there are no plans to chamber the ACR for the Grendel. However, that may change if we receive enough input from the marketplace to make it seem necessary.

Remington Military Products Division still list it as a caliber on their ACR webpage.

Screenshot of the Remington ACR webpage.

I expect this has generated much confusion as the company now has an official statement regarding the issue. For now the only 6.5mm cartridge in the Remington stable is the .260 Remington¹

Many thanks to rootman for sending me the top link.

The cool thing here--other than it being a brand-spanking new gun that you can get your hands on real soon--is the ACR's modularity. The consumer version will be offered with a 16.5-inch barrel, but Bushmaster will also be making barrels with lengths of 10.5, 14.5 and 18 inches. The first version of the ACR will be chambered in 5.56x45 mm, of course, but since a tool-less disassembly allows you to change bolt heads, barrels and magazines, the ACR can be user-configured to run with other cartridges as well. Ongoing development will focus on the 6.8 mm Rem. SPC, 7.62x39 mm, a yet-to-be-disclosed 6.5 mm round and, get this, the .30 Rem. AR.

Read more about, and for photos, click on over to Incoming Blog.

UPDATE: Read my post about Remington and the 6.5mm.

Don't quote this as fact, but I think there is a good chance we will finally see the launch of the civilian Remington / Bushmaster / Magpul ACR at this seminar.

Why do I think this?

Firstly, Remington unveils their exciting new products at this event. In October 2007 we saw the launch of the Remington R-15. October last year was when the .30 Remington AR cartridge was launched.

Secondly, a few months ago Magpul said we would see the rifle unveiled late this year.

And my final reason for thinking it will be unveiled this week is that a semi-automatic version of the ACR is already in the hands of a civilian. At the recent AAC Silencer Shoot, AAC (now owned by Remington) auctioned off an ACR. The proceeds went to the Wounded Warrior Project.

In a few days we shall see if I was right ... or not.

Many thanks to Jay for emailing me the video link.

I was looking forward to the Modern Warfare sequel but, after reading the excellent IMFDB overview of the in game guns, I am downright salivating at the thought of playing it!

Magpul Bushmaster Remington ACR

Armsel Striker / Streetsweeper like shotgun

Other guns that may be appear in the game are the M26 Masterkey Shotgun accessory (under barrel shotgun), Winchester Model 1887 lever action shotgun, IMI Tavor, FN SCAR-H and more.

Read the whole list at IMFDB

Big thanks to Tarkan for the link.

Original Magpul Masada. Original handguard is not mentioned on Remington’s website.

Remington ACR.

The ACR is made up of an aluminum upper receiver and lower polymer receiver.

The lower receiver resembles the AR-15 and SCAR lower receivers. Like the polymer AR-15 lower receivers made by Calvary Arms, the ACR’s pistol grip is part of the mould and cannot be removed. The trigger group has a two stage trigger that has a pull weight of 6.25 lbs. The trigger group parts are compatible with the AR-15 / M16. Modes of operation are semi-automatic or fully automatic. All the controls are all ambidextrous.

The operating system was inspired by the AR-18. It uses a short stroke piston system – meaning the piston slams into the bolt carrier knocking is back and cycling the action. The AR-18 bolt carrier design has been improved, at least in my opinion, although it would be more costly to manufacture than the AR-18. The AR-18 has twin guide rods and twin recoil springs, see the photo below. The ACR has a recoil spring that inserts into the bolt carrier and is guided by steel rails that are attached to the receiver.

The bolt is in the AR-15 style with 8 lugs, one of which is an extractor. The bolt can be easily swapped out and a 6.8 mm SPC or 6.5mm Grendel bolt swapped in.

AR-180 (semi-auto version of the AR-18). Photo from carteach0’s blog.

ACR bolt carrier.

Steel guide rails indicated by arrow.

The rate of fire is 650-700 RPM. This is slightly higher than the SCAR which features a larger/heavier bolt carrier.

The side mounted charging handle does not reciprocate, unlike the SCAR, but can engage the bolt carrier and used as a forward assist.

Barrels offered will 10.5”, 14.5”, 16.5” and 18” in length and can be changed by the operator without tools. Magpul originally touted compatibility with standard M16 barrels, although Remington does not mention this on their website.

Two stocks will be offered: a foldable / adjustable stock and a fixed stock.

The 14.5″ carbine version of the ACR weights 7 lbs (unloaded)

Drake from Magpul posted these photos online:

More info at Remington Military
Hat Tip: ITS Tactical

The Magpul Masada design has been licensed to Bushmaster Firearms and they are handling production and distribution. It’s been renamed the ACR and was officially scheduled for release in the first Quarter of 2009. However, Bushmaster/Remington plans on offering up the ACR for the M4 replacement solicitation. This is necessitating some possible small design changes (barrel life requirements, rail markings, position of full-auto safety, etc.) to meet certain mil-specs along with much more scrutiny in the testing process. Unfortunately this will most likely delay the release an undetermined amount of time but we are hoping it will be unveiled sometime late this year with a retail of around $1500.

Many dates have been given out in the past for the launch of the Magpul / Bushmaster / Remington ACR so don’t pin your hopes on having a ACR under the Christmas tree! The price seems reasonable.

Many thanks to Sean for the info.

I found this Remington promotion material online.

Click to expand.

It says that the rifle will be available in 5.56mm NATO, 6.8mm SPC and 6.5mm Grendel.

There is no indication that Remington will be offering civilian sales.

Click to expand the photos.

Remov holding Massoud

Photos Copyright Remigiusz Wilk (REMOV). Used with permission.

It is presumably named after Ahmad Shah Massoud aka. Lion of Panjshir who was a pro-western Afghan who fought the Soviets. He was assassinated by suspected al-Qaeda agents two days before 9/11.

Don’t expect to see this rifle at your local gun dealer anytime soon, if ever.

Two charging handles. Handles from Bushmaster ACR/Masada

-It is a Saiga cut to 12″ and threaded 1/2 28 right in front of the Russian threads and SBRed with a AAC M42000

-The charging system is something I came up with about 2 years ago before all the other ones you see out there. As you can see from the left side the dust cover is not as open. Yes those are ACR charging handles that I cut and welded on to the carrier.
They do reciprocate which it seems some people have a problem with… why I haven’t a clue… its an AK?!

-Extended custom trigger finger Mag release and Safety

-Ace MIAD grip adapter

-CTR with cheek riser.

-Ultimak scout and lower rail (I welded the locking tabs in for a tighter fit.)

-Aimpoint T-1

-I drilled and tapped the Pig nose adaptor for a sling stud for the MS2 Sling.

-As for the Ranger plates I just took PMAG plates and mashed them on and modified the tab to fit. they will stay on even you don’t mod the tab.

Since this is a one of a kind AK we have deemed it the MAG-K

Very nice. Travis made this clear it is a once off project not a production rifle.

From AR15.com via. Kaiservontexas’ Musings

“The ACR is being redesigned to be a superior offering to compete for the next generation US Army infantry carbine and subcompact weapon requirement and will be available to select customers in 2009.”

This is the third delay. The ACR was originally promised to be on sale late 2008, it was then delayed again until Q1 2009. It now looks like that unless you know someone at Bushmaster or Magpul you will not get your hands on one for quite a while.

As “hga” said, with the possibly of the AWB 2.0 I imagine both Bushmaster and Magpul are trying to maximize short term production for existing products until demand slows down. This does make financial sense. The cost of improving the ACR with the aim of winning a US Army contract will be minimal compared to the cost of decreasing production on AR-15s and tooling up to produce the ACR, not to mention the opportunity cost of not producing AR-15s which are currently selling like, well, they are about to get banned. I also expect Bushmaster and other AR-15 producers are stockpiling AR-15 lower receivers so that in the event of a ban they will be able to sell high priced pre-ban rifles.

Thanks to “hga” for alerting me to the statement.

The Magpul Masada before it became the Bushmaster ACR
.

The product spec sheet says the launch date was “May 1, 2008″, yet the website says coming soon.

M&P15R. No surprises if you have seen an AR before

It will also be available as a complete upper.

It ships with one 30 round 5.45×39mm magazine.
Specs:

Model: M&P15R

Caliber: 5.45 x 39 mm
Capacity: 30 Rounds
Action: Semi-Auto
Barrel Length: 16”
Barrel Twist: 1 in 8”
Front Sight: M4 Post
Overall Length: 35” Extended ,32” Collapsed
Stock: 6-Position Collapsible
Weight: 6.5 lbs.
Barrel Material: 4140 Steel
Receiver Material: 7075 T6 Aluminum
Finish: Hard Coat Black Anodized
Chromed Comp: Barrel Bore, Gas Key
Bolt Carrier, Chamber

Another photo:

When I interviewed Magpul they were planning on releasing a 5.45×39mm conversion kit for the Masada so that trips to the range would cost less. I wonder if Bushmaster is going to follow through with this with the ACR.

Press release after the jump

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts — Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 156-year old firearms maker, announced that it has introduced the M&P15R, a new addition to the company’s M&P tactical rifle series. The new AR-15 style rifle is capable of firing the economical 5.45 x 39mm ammunition and is available as a high quality semi-automatic rifle or as a complete upper receiver assembly kit.

Based on a combat-proven design, the M&P15R incorporates the standard features found in all Smith & Wesson M&P rifles. Engineered to meet the needs of recreational shooters and AR-15 enthusiasts, the M&P15R features a flat-top receiver and an M-4 style post front sight. The rifle is standard with a 16-inch barrel with a twist rate of 1 in 8 inches. Reliability features of the gas-operated rifles include a chrome-lined gas key, bolt carrier and barrel. A six position collapsible stock allows the M&P15R to accommodate a variety of shooting positions. The rifle measures 35 inches in length when fully extended and measures a compact 32 inches with the stock collapsed.

“The M&P15R offers AR-15 enthusiasts as well as those shooters who are looking for a less expensive option when heading to the range, a high grade semi-automatic rifle for recreational use,” said Tom Taylor, Vice President of Marketing from Smith & Wesson. “The new rifle, which is chambered in the less expensive 5.45 x 39mm, will allow consumers to spend more time on the range for less cost. The M&P15R will also be available as a complete upper receiver assembly, allowing those who already own an M&P Series rifle or one of the many other variants, the opportunity to change calibers with ease.”

The black anodized rifle is manufactured with a durable upper and lower receiver made from 7075 T6 Aluminum. A single stage trigger with a 7 lb. trigger pull is standard, as is the A2 Birdcage compensator. The M&P15R is designed to accommodate a variety of optics or a traditional back-up iron sight. The rifle is shipped with a 30-round magazine and has an unloaded weight of 6.5 pounds.

The M&P15R joins a comprehensive family of Smith & Wesson products designed and manufactured to meet the needs of firearms sports enthusiasts worldwide. Other models include the M&P15, M&P15A, M&P15T, M&P15X, M&P15OR, M&P15ORC and the M&P15FT rifle. In addition, the Smith & Wesson Performance Center is also manufacturing a high-end extension to the M&P Rifle Series, the M&P15PC.

It will be available in three models:

Bushmaster ACR Entry Carbine (12.5″ barrel)

Bushmaster ACR Standard Carbine (16″ barrel)

Bushmaster ACR SPR Rifle (18″ barrel)

The Masada before it was the ACR

The owner of Magpul has this to say:

Okay guys, first things first – just to clear this up, the Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) is the final production version of the Masada prototype that we debuted at SHOT Show last year. Like the press release says, we’ve spent the last 12 months refining and re-designing the Masada, but I will not be posting any updates yet. The ACR will officially be unveiled at SHOT Show starting on Saturday, so do us a favor and have patience until then. If you happen to be in Vegas, swing by the Magpul and Bushmaster booths – there will be plenty of ACRs to play with. Photos welcome – just ask before you snap. Post ‘em if you got ‘em.

Next, I need to address some of the things I’ve been reading on the forums lately. From the get go, the idea behind the Masada was go big or go bust, no middle ground. We’re going big. We designed the best rifle we could with the ultimate goal of putting it in civilian, law enforcement, and military hands. Licensing the design to a well-established American firearms manufacturer offered the best opportunity to achieve these original goals. Enter Bushmaster and the ACR.

We’ve spent a lot of time with the Bushmaster guys over the last few months. I have personally been impressed with them. Down to earth and and down to business, very stand up. We jived right off the bat. The tolerances and specs Magpul laid out for the original Masada were tight, and the Bushmaster guys didn’t blink. Both sides of the table have kept open minds about the project, and Bushmaster will be building the ACR to the same quality and material standards as the original Magpul concept. The lines of communication on the ACR remain open between Bushmaster and Magpul.

As far as Magpul’s direct involvement goes, we’ll be designing and manufacturing all polymer ACR parts including, but not limited to, handguards, lowers, and stocks. The bottom line: you get high-end Magpul kit straight from the factory on your Bushmaster ACR.

A couple of things in closing – for those of you who are wondering, Magpul is still an independently owned and operated company. We will also continue to expand our product line. In the following days at SHOT we plan to release several new products. These are fast and exciting times for those in our industry.

I think think was a brilliant move by Magpul. There was speculation about how Magpul would fare producing large quantities of Masadas if they became popular.

The press release from Bushmater

The Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) will initially be offered in 5.56 NATO, available for law enforcement and civilian purchase second quarter 2008. This release will be followed by military ACR versions in the 3rd quarter of 2008.

Windham, ME – Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC (BFI) announced today that it has signed an exclusive license deal with Magpul Industries Corp. for the production, future development, and sales of Magpul’s prototype MASADA weapon system.

The Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) will initially be offered in 5.56 NATO, available for law enforcement and civilian purchase second quarter 2008. This release will be followed by military ACR versions in the 3rd quarter of 2008.

“The opportunity to partner with such an innovative company as Magpul, is a very exciting step in the growth and evolution of Bushmaster’s product line.” said Chad Brooks, CEO of Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC.

Without government funding or outside influence of any kind, the Masada concept was developed from scratch in Boulder, Colorado by Magpul’s Design Group. The initial Masada concept was first shown publicly at the 2007 Shot Show and its success prompted Magpul to spend a year redesigning the system for production.

Richard Fitzpatrick, CEO Magpul, said, “As the design progressed, we began to realize we needed to find a partner who shared our vision, and could drive production at a suitable volume without sacrificing quality. We entertained a number of ideas and offers, but in the end, a partnership with Bushmaster was the logical choice. Their production capabilities, distribution network, and brand name were the best match for our goal of getting this rifle into civilian, law enforcement, and military hands.”

The result is the ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) which keeps the fundamentals of the Masada concept with added advanced features such as firing pin block and true ambidextrous charging handle.

The ACR will be available for hands on viewing in the Bushmaster and Magpul booths in the Law Enforcement section at SHOT Show 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Among the ACR’s key features are a gas piston operating system, tool-less quick change barrel, multi-adjustable folding stock with integrated storage, and backward compatibility with a number of AR15/M16 parts. Due to similar operating controls, user transition from the M16 series of weapons is easily facilitated with minimal re-training.

The Bushmaster ACR will initially be available in 3 SKUS: Standard Carbine with fixed stock, Entry Carbine with folding stock, and Special Purpose Rifle with Precision Rifle Stock. Live fire demonstration and test and evaluations beginning in the end of March to qualified law enforcement and federal government agencies.

UPDATE: CheekyQuim posted photos from SHOT Show at MilitaryPhotos.net

UPDATE:

CheekyQuim scanned in the Bushmaster ACR brochure:

(click to expand the image)

UPDATE:

A video made by ar15.com: