The Optics Ready Carbine Rises Again! Bushmaster ORC II & ORC II ProThe Firearm Blog

It was a little over a month ago that our very own and beloved Luke Cuenco announced that the Optics Ready Carbine (ORC) from Bushmaster was back in circulation. The Optics Ready Carbine (ORC) used to be a staple for economy AR-15s in the past 2 decades – and now the Bushmaster ORC II and ORC II Pro are here – and we have more details!

Bushmaster @ TFB:

All of these new Bushmaster Firearms rifles are going to be chambered in 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem which is in line with how the originals were put out into the market. You will see some upgrades though of a heavier profile barrel, free-float handguards, and the obvious option to select from what we could call a “Standard” (or base model) as well as a “Pro” model.

Cartridge: 5.56 NATO (.223 REM)
Barrel: 16”, 4150 CMV, Salt Bath Nitride with 1/2″x28 TPI and 1 in 7″ Twist Rate
Overall Length: 33″ – 36”
Gas System: Carbine-Length
Lower Receiver: 7075-T6 Aluminum Alloy (XM15-E2S® marked)
Upper Receiver: A4 Flat Top, 7075-T6 Aluminum Alloy
Bolt Carrier Group (BCG): MPI Tested, Salt Bath Nitride
Handguard: BFI® 14” M-LOK Handguard
Trigger: Mil-Spec
Muzzle Device: A2 Flash Hider
Magazine: Includes 3 BFI® Aluminum 30 Round Magazines
Weight: 6.3 Lb

Bushmaster ORC II

ORC® II 5.56 NATO | SKU: 00-10027-BLK | MSRP $846.95

All of the new Optics Ready Carbines share the specs that were listed above. Bushmaster even went as far as creating Cali-Compliant, 10-Round magazine versions (for other restrictive states and locales), and Binary Trigger models, too. So, all-in-all, there are 5 ORC II models to pick from and 5 ORC II Pro models as well.

Bushmaster ORC II Pro (Optics Ready Carbine)

ORC® II PRO 5.56 NATO | SKU: 00-10028-BLK | MSRP $890.95

Featuring a 7075 Forged A4 Flattop Upper Receiver, a 7075 Forged XM15-E2S™ Lower Receiver, and a 14” Free Float Rail, the ORC® II is perfect for customization. The rifle is chambered in 5.56 NATO (.223REM) with a carbine-length gas system and has a 1:7 Twist Rate and 1/2×28 Thread Pitch, ensuring excellent accuracy and power. Its Salt Bath Nitride MPI Bolt Carrier Group guarantees consistent and reliable firing.

So, since Luke last reported on these rifles in February, we now have some specs, more photos, SKUs, pricing, and the ever-annoying and common catchphrase of “Coming Soon.” There is no precise release date as to when you might see these on shelves or internet retailers. For the time being, let us know all of your thoughts about the new Buckmaster ORC II and ORC II Pro in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

The Optics Ready Carbine Rises Again! Bushmaster ORC II & ORC II Pro

Bushmaster ORC II

Bushmaster ORC II Pro (Optics Ready Carbine)

Adam Scepaniak