My wife finally got her new 97S Carbon 15 in. I have given it a thorough going over and thought I'd post a little review for anyone that was interested.
First, I notice quite a few things that Bushmaster said they were changing from the PO C15's, and all for the better.
The following parts are all milspec (or so they appear visially) parts.
All fire control parts.
Bolt
Cam pin
firing pin
firing pin retaining pin
carrier key
charging handle (standard handle, except the t-part is polymer)
front sight post
rear sight app.

The bolt carrier is almost milspec, but is shorter, and has a few different cuts.
It appears from looking at it, that it could be converted over to a milspec carrier, buffer tube, buffer, buffer spring, and standard stock, with a few minor mods.
The upper fit onto my standard Bushy lower a little tight, but other wise just fine. I put one of my uppers on the Carbon 15 lower, and it fit a little snug as well, but it fit none the less.
The upper rail is an one piece all alloy unit. I put my Aimpoint/Arms #22M68 on it real quick, and it fit perfectly. Nice and tight with no movement at all.
I remember reading on here where someone had a PO version, and it got knocked over and shifted the forearm, or something like that. Below is a pic looking down the barrel under the forearm, and as you can see, there is a center piece that goes around the barrel. This one isnt moving. All in all I am very impressed. The proof is in the pudding though, so we'll have to see how it shoots. Will post that report then. Here are a few pics for now.

WHAT? No pics of it with your woman holding it?

You suck!

Sweet looking rifle.  Good man.

She was already laying down when I got home with it. Getting her out of bed for pics would have been pure suicide. She did play with it for a while though. Really likes it. I had to beg her to let me have it for a few minutes to break it down and clean it, and take the pics.

awesome


looks good.

hope it shoots!

i want one now!

-Spaceman

Looks good Hawk, let us know how she shoots.

5.3 pounds with loaded mag. Nice.

Slightly less than that with 20 rnd mags, which is what my wife will be using.

[lolabove]
Boxes from Bushmaster might begin to mysteriously show up on your doorstep.

Will be another week or so before we can get to the range.

I'm going to follow this as light-weight is good as far as these type of rifles are concerned.  I just, for some reason, don't like the looks of the front handguard, but if it works (ergonomically), then I guess that's the most important thing.

Hey Hawkeye, any way you could measure the length of pull? If you've the time, could you also measure from the charging handle to the rear of the stock? Looks like at least A1 or A2 length. I do like the way this looks.
Thanks.....Chad

Hadnt thought about that. Will try to do it in the next day or two.

Isn't it about time for a range report?

Does the Aimpoint co-witness on the #22 with the rail being so high?

Will be shooting it this Sunday. [;)]

Unfortunately, no, it will not co witness.

How much are these?

It is good to know that a standard car stock might fit.  If they fart around and let the AWB sunset a BM carbon with a colapsible stock would be a real cool project.

That is one ugly rifle.  On the other hand the evolution of the Ar15 is always interesting.