BTW, just to be clear, I am not dissing RRA, simply pointing out that they, like many American manufacturers of AR15 rifles and parts primarily for the civilian market, have for cost reasons, eliminated a integral part of the rifle's design orginal design for relibility and longetivity under heavy use and poor conditions.
Oly does it, Armalite's Eagle Arms line does it, DPMS does it, Wilson (generic .223 barrels) does it, and for either project plinkers, budget guns or match rifles, it's seen as an acceptable cost cutting measure to eliminate the rifle's chrome lined bore and chamber, and to make the rifle's barrel from 4140 rather than 4150 steel.
However, for those who are going to bet their life on the gun, especially if they didn't just pull it out of a safe with a dehumidifier, lightly lubed, and well tended to, it's basically considered a bad move to cut this particular corner, of all those you could cut. Strictly recreational users may never see the difference, but please, please don't tell me that this skipped step is actually an advantage. I work with PC's, I hear, "It's a feature, not a bug" often enough.
Is it essential that the chrome lining be on every bore of every AR15 in the world? no, people save some cash, and build plinkers and range guns, others spend some cash and build match rifles. I don't buy them even for post ban plinkers because the extra cash on the chrome saves me worry and time, not mention making sure that the range rifle I'm going to put thousands of rounds through for fun will last and stand it.
Is it worth it?(the original question)
Are the features, the quality of the Bushmaster worth the extra $150 or so? Sure. That said, I would consider an RRA built with a Bushmaster, Armalite or Colt barrel to be just as good(though the 4150 steel of the Bushy is another plus over the other barrel choices). I own one a complete RRA lower receiver, and put a Bushy post ban upper on it. Works great, and I like it.
But the real question for me is, if this is your do-or-die gun, are the Bushmaster's slightly pricey advantages worth it?
Well, how much is your life worth? Could it make the crucial difference that your chose a Mil-Spec rifle or carbine, be it Bushy or Colt?
That's up to you.
Juggernaut