Is the Bushmaster BAR the same as the RRA LAR-8?
I just picked up a Bushmaster BAR that takes FAL mags and the info I have heard is that RRA bought the rights to manufactuer the LAR -8 from the Bushy prints.
Is this true?
What parts are interchangable between the LAR-8 and the Bushmaster BAR?
Thanks for any info!!!!
The answer is YES, I also own one of the Bushmaster BAR-10's, and from what I've been told they are 100% interchangeable, but I haven't had my hands on an LAR-8 to compare.
It also depends on what stage you got your BAR-10 in, mine had to go back to Bushmaster for the bolt carrier upgrade and the charging handle upgrade.
If it's one of their BAR-10s from the '04-'06 era (approximate) you have the information backwards. Bushmaster Firearms Inc. contracted with RRA to use RRA's patented design and manufacture/sell it under license from RRA. There were some initial issues (there ofyten are with new firearms as they hit the field and are used in manners that th eoriginal design team never envisioned) that were worked out, and several thousand were made under that licensing agreement over the period of approximately 2.5-3 years, at which time sales had not met BFI's expectations and they asked to be released from the agreement and manufacturing rights returned to RRA. We spent more than two years going through the entire rifle, tweaking and tuning it into largely what the LAR-8 is today. Multiple changes were made while maintaining the basics as they were. For instance, currnt LAR-8 upper halves will "drop " onto BAR-10 lowers with just the two pins. A complete LAR-8 carrier group will work in a BAR-10 upper half (and once it hhas replaced the original group, currently manufactured LAR-8 carrier group components woudl be used). Many components are standard LAR-15 (our 5.56 platform) parts and pieces. Not every thing will however interchange. A case in point is the charging handle. The original design's spring loaded top detent locking system proved to be problematic under certain circumstances, and was replaced with a more common style with side latch. While it will fit in a BAR-10, the left side recess fo rth elatch is not found on a BAR-10 upper. It could be machined in, or an LAR-8 upper receiver could be used to give compatibility with the current, RRA, parts.
If you have questions about specific parts/components, please contact me-I'll either know the answer or be able to find out for you.
Thanks.
Steve/RRA
Ahhh good to know!!! Thanks for the info Steve.
I actually feel better that its a RRA design and not a Bushmaster.
So are there any problems or changes with the bolt or carrier for this rifle? I have heard different stories that there were some replacements that were made for these.
I also heard the cocking handle had an issue with the small pin that holds it in.
I can call you if it's too much to type.
Higher pressure loads had a tendency to override the charging handle detent and drive the handle rearward...towards th eshooter's nose. I didn't do it for thousands of rounds in testing, then reappeared when particualr loads were use din it by end-users. Hance the change to a more traditional style of locking latch.
there was a heat treat issue with some of the early BAR-10/BM-308 bolts, but that was corrected during their initial production runs. Again, bear in mind that the current bolt and carrier are completely different from the original, and parts do not interchange. To replace th ebolt woul drequire the entire BCG, at which time all parts of it would be of the current style and replaceable with current LAR-8 parts.
Steve/RRA
So why did you guys change the bolt and carrier design?
Are there any advantages to having the new style bolt and carrier as far as accuracy or durability?
Originally Posted By JMosesB:
So why did you guys change the bolt and carrier design?
Are there any advantages to having the new style bolt and carrier as far as accuracy or durability?
It all started with changing the design of the extractor. That necessitated a change to the bolt, which in turn required a change to the carrier. The giant thread above has th eongoing story of the LAR-8 as it was going through the revisions/changes. Changing one partt requires weeks of checkig and testing to see what effect it might have on other parts, subassemblies, assemblies, and the rifle as a whole.
It's a much better extractor design, and the only version available at this time. When Bushmaster gave up th edesigns, they also stopped any/all parts procurement. We got hem some when they were still honoring their one year warranty, but after that, they were sending anyone with an issue to us. The "old" parts that we had on hand went pretty quickly, and we didn't make/remake any of those we were goign to be doing away with or significantly changing in the LAR-8. Eventually, if there are issues with the older BM/BFI era parts, they may have to be upgradded with current parts...either individually where it can be accomplished, or as new assemblies which can then be maintained with individual parts and pieces of the newer types.
Every change we made had a concrete reason for doing so.
Steve/RRA
