Why are the Bushmaster Carbon 15's so light?

AR-15 » AR Discussions

AR Sponsor:

Site Notices

TNVC Partners With Envision Technology - MARS Rangefinder Family, MARS-Lc!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Why are the Bushmaster Carbon 15's so light?

Posted: 10/8/2004 10:08:43 PM EDT

3.9 lb's for the Bushmaster Lady.......the lightest AR I've seen runs around 6 lbs......If you go with the Vulcan CF and the lightest handguard and grips you can get , plus the Superlightweight 16" barrel, the best is probably 4.5-5 lbs......what makes them so light? You still have to have a steel carrier, bolt and barrel.....what's the major difference? How can they shave off an extra 1-2 lbs?

THanks,
AoD

Posted: 10/8/2004 10:13:19 PM EDT

[#1]

Uh, by using carbon instead of aluminum

Posted: 10/8/2004 10:16:57 PM EDT

[#2]

^What he said. All of the aluminum is replaced with carbon which is lighter.

Posted: 10/8/2004 10:20:45 PM EDT

[#3]

I held one today at a local gun shop. The upper and lower are carbon (plastic). It's really light but we'll have to see how it wears in the long run! Super light though!

Posted: 10/8/2004 10:21:53 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
I held one today at a local gun shop. The upper and lower are carbon (plastic). It's really light but we'll have to see how it wears in the long run! Super light though!

carbon wears a lot better than metal.

Posted: 10/8/2004 10:28:21 PM EDT

[#5]

Yeah but.....even the lightest CF upper and lower builds (Vulcan CF) aren't as light as the Bushmaster....... The new Bushmaster Carbon 15 Model 4 which is made with a CF lower and upper weighs a portly 5.95 lbs...

www.bushmaster.com/shopping/Carbon15/az-c15m4pst.asp

....how is the Bushmaster Lady getting down to 3.9lbs?!?!?! I know that chicks like to diet but....man! AoD

Posted: 10/8/2004 10:54:47 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
....how is the Bushmaster Lady getting down to 3.9lbs?!?!?! I know that chicks like to diet but....man!

AoD

the entire stock assembly is carbon. Maybe some other factors, like a skinny barrel.

Posted: 10/9/2004 5:41:35 AM EDT

[#7]

Also bolt carrier is shorter, buffer tube and stock are carbon unlike th vulcan. also the handguards are carbon not zytel.

BTW, my carbon 15 97S because of its light weight has recoil somewhere between a M4 clone with RAS and an AK47 clone. Just in case you are thinking of buying one for your wife, girlfriend etc. If she kinds the recoil from an AK is ok, then this should be fine.

Posted: 10/9/2004 6:56:25 AM EDT

[#8]

Ronin....so you're saying the carrier itself is shorter than standard? Any idea how much that saves in weight? I'm guessing that they're using a carbine buffer......

What I was trying to do was a lightweight build with the Vulcan CF Upper and lower, CF handguard, and Bushmaster ULW barrel...... I'd like to get as close as possible to the weight of the Carbon 15, but I was just wondering how/why they were SO much lighter than anything else out there.....

Thanks,
AoD

Posted: 10/9/2004 8:02:46 AM EDT

[#9]

I have a C15 T97. The carrier is different. The spring is different and the buffer is different. The barrel is fluted. There is no front sight post. The buttstock is plastic. And so is pretty much everything else. I think the only metal parts are the springs, trigger group, barrel, and bolt/carrier. I gotta take it out this weekend and really put it through its paces.

Posted: 10/9/2004 9:04:26 AM EDT

[#10]

Differences of the Carbon, from a previous post...

Quoted:
So before the ban, I tried interchanging stocks and uppers. Things worked pretty well in terms of swapping the uppers and lowers. Stock changeover was a bit more difficult due to the funky shape of the carbon lower's proprietary stock tab. So the ban sunsets, and I have the opportunity to try again. I used the ACE M4 SOCOM stock. NewARGuy was kind enough to let me test it at his shop. Worked flawlessly. All you need to swap stocks is the correct buffer, spring, and a standard bolt carrier. The Carbon Bolt works fine in the standard carrier. Here's some picks for anyone contemplating the same thing.
www.johnnyego.com/stockconv.jpg

Posted: 10/9/2004 9:23:48 AM EDT

[#11]

Hummm....looks like the carrier has been milled out at the back to lighten it up....plus a lighter spring and buffer...... I wander if I could use an aluminum carrier like this......

www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=7583&title=AR-15+LOW+MASS+BOLT+CARRIER

to get the same effect? Then use an aluminum gas block (No fixed site) and J point site to get the lightest AR possible.....

AoD

Posted: 10/9/2004 9:29:57 AM EDT

[#12]

aluminum gas block

This might cause some trouble for you sooner then later.

Posted: 10/9/2004 11:23:02 AM EDT

[#13]

Cans4you......why? Any problems with these that I should know about?

www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=7592&title=AR-15+ADJUSTABLE+GAS+BLOCK

Thanks,
AoD

Posted: 10/9/2004 12:20:38 PM EDT

[#14]

Differential heating and expansion of alminum and steel will casue gas leaks and malfunctions. You must use a steel gas block for reliability.

Posted: 10/10/2004 7:52:23 AM EDT

[#15]

But I know some makers use aluminuim for gas blocks......do you only get problems after the barrels heat up? Or are they just making the aluminuim gas blocks for people that don't know any better?

AoD

Posted: 10/10/2004 9:29:56 AM EDT

[#16]

The Vulcan and the original Carbon 'whatever' weighed so little for the same reason that shit floats.

The jury is still out on the Bushy Carbon 15, but strong odors have already been detected.

Posted: 10/10/2004 10:35:57 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
The Vulcan and the original Carbon 'whatever' weighed so little for the same reason that shit floats.

The jury is still out on the Bushy Carbon 15, but strong odors have already been detected.

Own one, Eh?
I own a Carbon 15, and don't seem to have any problems.
The moderator of this forum has one, and doesn't seem to have any problems.
I'd be curious to hear about your personal experiences with the rifle. Maybe a little something factual?

I use mine at the FDCC shoots every month. No jams, no malfunctions. Mine also sees extensive range use every week. No jams, no malfunctions. Carbon Fiber being inert, all I have to clean on a range session basis is the bolt and barrel. The handguards remain cool despite heavy use. Like everything, the rifle has it's good and bad parts. I would have felt more comfortable with an ejection port cover and a buffer retainer. No one's going to bash down doors with it. However, it is an accurate, very light weight rifle that is a joy to shoot.

The only strong odor I smell is from your unqualified post.

Posted: 10/15/2004 5:57:49 PM EDT

[#18]

JohnnyEgo, how many rounds do you figure you've put through your rifle?

Posted: 10/15/2004 6:04:28 PM EDT

[#19]

My Professional Ordnance Carbon 15 has it's share of problems. Not quite ready for prime time.

theotherdave who posts here had his Bushmaster Carbon 15 fail about 1,000 rounds out.

Posted: 10/16/2004 7:50:06 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
JohnnyEgo, how many rounds do you figure you've put through your rifle?

Before the stock change-over, 550 in .223 and 1050 in .22.
After the stock change-over. 700 in .223 and 1250 in .22.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Why are the Bushmaster Carbon 15's so light?

AR-15 » AR Discussions

AR Sponsor:

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us