*n00b alert *WTF is the difference between A2-A3

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - *n00b alert *WTF is the difference between A2-A3

Posted: 12/15/2005 12:48:13 AM EDT

Firstoff, I am new to the AR scene, and relatively new to guns in general. I would like to purchase an AR-15 soon. I will probably get a Bushmaster with a 16 inch barrel from Aimsurplus for around $800. When I look at the different models that Aim sells, they have Bushmaster A2 and A3's for nearly the same price, and have the same description and picture(as far as I can tell) My question is this; what is the difference between the two different models? Why should I choose one over the other?

Thanks for the help,
James

Posted: 12/15/2005 12:55:04 AM EDT

[#1]

I believe it's the detachable carry handle. Not sure if that's the only difference though.

Posted: 12/15/2005 1:01:10 AM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
I believe it's the detachable carry handle.

Correct for Bushmaster XM15 series rifles in civilian lingo.

In military terms the difference between an M16A2 and M16A3 is the selector is SAFE-SEMI-BURST for an A2 and SAFE-SEMI-AUTO for an A3 but the upper recievers are 100% the same (both are A2 in configuration).

Posted: 12/15/2005 2:50:37 AM EDT

[#3]

As stated the A2-A3 is a commerical designation. For a fixed carrying handle with adjustable M16A2 style sights then it gets the A2 designation. The A3 is a flat top upper that can except a detachable carrying handle. Gotm4 described the military designations for the M16s.

CD

Posted: 12/15/2005 5:48:12 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
As stated the A2-A3 is a commerical designation. For a fixed carrying handle with adjustable M16A2 style sights then it gets the A2 designation. The A3 is a flat top upper that can except a detachable carrying handle. Gotm4 described the military designations for the M16s.

CD

Posted: 12/15/2005 5:57:01 AM EDT

[#5]

Get the A3 (flat top), with the detachable carry handel. Then you can put optics on at a later date if you want.

Jeremy

Posted: 12/15/2005 6:18:14 AM EDT

[#6]

You can still mount optics to a fixed A2 carry handle but it just looks kinda ghey...

- rem

Posted: 12/15/2005 7:04:15 AM EDT

[#7]

Be sure of what your buying. Sometimes the price of an A2 and A3 are the same, but that is without the A3 carry handle. Usually the A3 with carry handle is about $80 or so more.

Posted: 12/15/2005 7:45:38 AM EDT

[#8]

What does the A4 designation mean?

Posted: 12/15/2005 7:51:19 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
What does the A4 designation mean?

Same as an A3.

In the Military the M16A3 is a fixed handled rifle with full auto (M16A2 with auto instead of burst). The M16A4 is the flattop M16.

However that of course doesn't carry over to the M4s as both the M4 and the M4A1 are flattops.

Posted: 12/15/2005 7:51:46 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
What does the A4 designation mean?

A4 is a flattop in both military on commercial terms.

A3 is a flattop to some comercial providers and to the military its a A2 upper with a safe/semi/full lower,

Posted: 12/15/2005 8:00:23 AM EDT

[#11]

A dog gone "F" marked front site base on an A3 - proper confiburation.

Which is making my life miserable trying to find a barrel config I want for an A2 upper.

I know it can be "worked around" with the FSP but I like to do these builds properly.

Posted: 12/15/2005 8:02:22 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
What does the A4 designation mean?

Same as an A3.

In the Military the M16A3 is a fixed handled rifle with full auto (M16A2 with auto instead of burst). The M16A4 is the flattop M16.

However that of course doesn't carry over to the M4s as both the M4 and the M4A1 are flattops.

What Forest has modestly ommited is What is an A1, A2, A3 orA4?

Posted: 12/15/2005 9:14:13 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Quoted:
What does the A4 designation mean?

A4 is a flattop in both military on commercial terms.

A3 is a flattop to some comercial providers and to the military its a A2 upper with a safe/semi/full lower,

Not quite. The A3 and A4 in the military are both flat tops. The A3 is full atuo and the A4 is burst.

In the commercial market, as has been stated the A3 is just a flat top. Added that to keep the confusion down.

Posted: 12/15/2005 9:36:15 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Not quite. The A3 and A4 in the military are both flat tops. The A3 is full atuo and the A4 is burst.

That is completely incorrect.

The M16A3 is a fixed handled 20" rifle with the auto trigger group (completely the same as an M16A2, expect it has the M16A1 fire control group).

The M16A4 is a flattop 20" rifle with the burst trigger group.

Posted: 12/15/2005 11:43:46 AM EDT

[#15]

I bought the same rifle in which you are looking at, the Bushmaster M4 A3 from AIM. It is a nice rifle, the only thing I didn't like about it and changed, for now, is the handguards. For some reason Bushmaster puts CAR handguards on the rifle. I replaced them with the M4 handguards.

Posted: 12/15/2005 12:04:27 PM EDT

[#16]

If you are in the DFW area Bachman has the A3 for $849 IIRC from the ad in the DMN this morning.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - *n00b alert *WTF is the difference between A2-A3

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