Bushmaster ACR Rifle Mission Combat

This Operating Manual covers the Bushmaster ACR Rifle (“ACR”) which is chambered in 5.56mm NATO/223 Remington and 6.8mm Remington SPC ammunition. It is a gas piston, air-cooled shoulder fired, magazinefed Firearm, that is Semi-Automatic in operation (i.e., a single round will fire each time the trigger is pulled). The ACR Barrels are cold hammer forged and hold the tightest tolerance allowed. They are rifled with either a 1 turn in 7” for heavier grain weight bullets or 1 turn in 9” for lighter bullets with a right hand twist 6 lands and grooves. 

 Like the Bushmaster ACR Rifle, this rifle is designed to be flexible. It is designed so that the shooter can change barrels from one length to another or to change the gun from one caliber to another. It can be configured to shoot .223, 6.8mm SPC, or 7.62 x 39 mm rounds. An allen wrench is used to release the barrel. Barrel lengths range from 11" to 18.6". The one we tested had a 16" barrel. The trigger has just a little slack in it before it reaches the pressure wall. With smooth gradual pressure, it releases cleanly. The controls are all ambidextrous except for the charging handle and the mag release.

 It really isn't relevant to compare an AR-15 with the ACR Rifle and the XCR. The AR-15's basic platform was conceived of a long time ago. Since then it's been tweaked and improved, but it is still that same basic platform. Is that bad? Absolutely not. For any purpose you have, from defense to varmint shooting, this rifle can still do the job. It has admirably withstood the test of
time, on foreign battlefields and at home, and I suspect it will be relevant for a long time to come. The Rock River AR-15 we tested performed flawlessly, and it's a great value.

The Bushmaster ACR is an expensive rifle, but it looks to be worth it. The people who
engineered the layout of this rifle did a magnificent job, in my opinion. And the XCR is going to find a slightly different niche, I believe. This rifle gave me a certain feeling that I couldn't quite put my finger on, even after handling it and shooting it.... that is, until I went to Robinson's website and did a little reading. Quoting from the website, "The XCR's "Kalashnikov Theory" operating system uses a super reliable piston driven, heavy-duty, three-lug bolt which incorporates a heavy duty extractor and a fixed ejector".

 That was it. Like a Kalashnikov, this rifle is businesslike and flexible. The design of this rifle
seems to emphasize ruggedness and flexibility, and de-emphasizes ergonomics and space-age materials. This is not a knock on the rifle and should not be taken that way, as it is not intended that way. This is a modern rifle, unlike the Kalashnikov. And we got much better accuracy out of the rifle than you would from a Kalashnikov. It is less expensive than the ACR, and, now that I understand these rifles better, I see that the two are going to fill slightly different niches in the
market.

Anyone who owns an assault rifle, has served in the military, or has a Sony Playstation has likely heard of Bushmaster’s latest offering in the world of assault rifles-the ACR (Advanced Combat Rifle). Thanks to Garret Jones and Jarem Frye, I had the privilege of being among the first to test a production model of the rifle. This is evidenced in the serial #833. As I made the short drive from Eugene to Shooter Review’s headquarters in Monmouth, Oregon, I was eager to get a first
glimpse at what may be the premier rifle of the next generation. Its streamlined, polymerized shell certainly gives it the state-of-the-art looks to dazzle shooters, but what I really wanted to determine was whether the ACRs brilliant form follows brilliant function, and whether its price tag is one of trend, or of value.

The Bushmaster ACR Assault Rifle is operated by a regulated, short-stroke Gas Piston System which eliminates hot gas from being introduced into the Upper and Lower Receivers. The Regulator can be set for Unsuppressed or Suppressed fire. The ACR is a multi-caliber platform and is capable of transitioning to a range of calibers simply by swapping the Barrel Assembly and Bolt, using the appropriate Magazine. Some calibers may require an alternate lower to accept different sized Magazines.

16 ½" cold hammer-forged barrel with an innovative protective coating which uses a nitriting process that dramatically reduces wear for the ultimate in longevity and dependability. A2 birdcage-type hider to control muzzle flash. Adjustable, two-position, gas piston-driven system for firing suppressed or unsuppressed, supported by hardened internal bearing rails. Tool-less, quick-change barrel system available in 10.5", 14.5", 16.5" and 18.5" and in multiple calibers. Multi-caliber bolt carrier assembly quickly and easily changes from 5.56 NATO/223 Rem to 6.8mm Rem SPC. Free-floating MIL-STD 1913 monolithic top rail for optic mounting.

Can be switched within secondsfrom left to right side of the upper receiver and is non-reciprocating during firing. Multi-Cal bolt assembly quickly and easily changes from 5.56 NATO to 6.8mm. High-impact composite lower with textured magazine well and modular grip storage. Adjustable, piston driven gas system for suppressed and unsuppressed firing. All major components are configurable to user preference. Barrel, stock, and handguard are all interchangeable in less than 2 minutes without tools. Tool-less quick change barrel system. Available in 10.5", 14.5", 16.5" and 18.5". Innovative protective coating which uses a nitriting process dramatically reduces wear for the ultimate in longevity and dependability.