Purchase used Bushmaster AR-15?

[DobeMan]

I'm relatively new to firearms, and I only have a pistol, a Glock 17 Gen4. I just met a fellow today, fresh back from A-Stan. We were talking BMWs (he was getting his serviced and was looking for mods) and somehow the topic got turned to guns. I mentioned that I will be going to the gun show next weekend and was looking for an AR-15. He said that he has a Bushmaster that is in decent shape for sale, but it does need a new bolt. He said that he has zeroed it himself and that he would be willing to show me the way around the AR-15 and teach me to shoot it as well (young kid, but apparently well qualified, doesn't seem like a chronic BSer).

He's asking $480 for it, plus I would need to buy a new bolt. He said that it has one magazine and a few accessories (iron sights, Picatinny rails).

I know the description is vague, but if the gun is what he says it is, it is a good buy?

Thanks!

[gunderwood]

$480 seems a little low. It could be a great price for a lot of reasons. Couple of questions to get answers to first.

1. How many round have been through it? Most people don't keep books for an exact round count on an AR, but he should have an idea
2. Why does it need a new bolt? Broken, worn out? The bolt is a wearable item, so needing a new one isn't necessarily a big deal.
3. What model is it? Bushmaster makes a lot of models.
4. How old is it?
5. Original owner or did he pick it up used? If not, how long has he had it.
6. Reason for selling?

Bushmaster makes average ARs. IMHO, they are better than the low cost manufacturers, but definitely are not as good as the higher end ARs. Most average manufacturers don't actually meet milspec. This saves money and for a range gun and it might not matter to you. It is debatable how much it hurts a hard use gun either. E.g. Rock River Arms won a DEA contract years ago, but I don't think they used a flattop (F marked) front sight back then. Lots of average manufacturers don't because they have to inventory two front sight bases and mistakes can happen (putting the wrong one on, so process overhead is needed to avoid it). Flattop is better (if you have a flattop), but does it really matter? Apparently the DEA didn't care (I think RRA shipped them their custom designed rear sight platform which corrects for this).

Another way most average manufacturers save money is not parkerizing under the gas block. You will find references to putting a drop or two of oil under the front sight for exactly this reason. The barrel has no finish and without the oil, it will rust over time. Big deal? No, but not milspec.

Truth be told, even the higher end manufacturers don't really meet milspec. However, that is usually because they go above and beyond it. E.g. Wilson Combat puts that Tactical Trigger Unit (TTU) I posted about in their guns. Unbelievably better than a milspec trigger, but it technically isn't milspec. In short, some short cuts save money and have little to no impact, while others do. Some aren't even short cuts and make the system better.

Here is the most important link you will find on figuring out which AR to buy. http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... utput=html

The table at the end compares some makes/models. Things change, so use it as a guide. Blue means it is on par with the Colt milspec. However, just because it isn't blue doesn't mean it is bad. E.g. a staked castle nut makes sure it can't come off. However, if you want to change out the rear buffer tube/stock it will make you say a few choice words.

Edit: Some of that information is old as you probably could tell by the prices. However, it gives you an idea.