Bushmaster/Remington ACR

[battleship]

Get past the innovative barrel swap design do you think this rifle or one with the same concept will be adopted by the U.S. Military to replace the Current M4.

I think its really creative that you can swap multiple calibers in one assault rifle system, but what troubles me, i just dont see this been really affective in the battle field theatre.

Im not a soldier but from a laymans view it would seem that it would just not be practical for an infantry man to lug several extra barrels around extra interchangeable magazines and bolts and all the different caliber bullets out in the field, even if its in the back of the Humvee, which at the time of encountering the enemy would be virtually useless.

Wouldnt this just be a burden on the battle field or in a fire fight. Down at the range it would seem cool, but out on patrol it would to me, seem cumbersome and under pressure possibly confusing especially reaching for the correct caliber bullets or magazine to go with the correct barrel and bolt system
while been shot at, which you wouldn't do anyway as you would be to busy shooting back or taking cover so whats the point of the application in the first place over than its a great concept under friendly situations.

Though if you needed a heavier caliber then you might as well stick with one that you would not have to think to to change out to in the first place.

Im not knocking this rifle i would have one given the chance, it has many more improvements incorporated, im just looking at its approach for the military and replacing the M4.

[Vin496]

The idea isn't to lug around multi caliber kits in the field, it to have the option to set up your rifle for the specific mission.

I think the most common example is a unit doing covert work behind enemy lines, where the sound of a 5.56 going off would be unusual and maybe alert the locals that something wasn't right, whereas the sound of a 7.62x39 is common place and no one would be the wiser.

[lazuris]

The ACR will never see military deployment. A, We're Broke and B, the SCAR won that contract. Also correct me if I'm wrong but Bushmaster does not have a contract with .gov. Colt does and bushmaster was the civi offshoot from Colt.

[Rukus]

The idea isn't to lug around multi caliber kits in the field, it to have the option to set up your rifle for the specific mission.

I'm no soldier, but I agree with this statement.

Out on patrol where weight would be an issue- configure it for 5.56 so as to allow a maximum loadout with minimum weight.

When weight/travel isn't an issue set it up for more punching power.

[BigAL]

First it's not Bushmaster that will be offering this to the gubmint. Remington will be doing that as well as offering to feds. Bushmaster will be marketing to the civilian sector. Both are owned by a Cerberus - a company with deep pockets so they do have $$$ backing.

How useful is the quick barrel swap to the military? My guess is it's not very practical on the large scale. Don't forget if you swap the barrel how do you know the sight will remain zeroed with a different barrel? Or will you want to swap the sight as well if you are going from a CQB config to a long range config? And if you are going to swap all that out along with the bolt and have to keep track of parts is it really that much better than just swapping the complete upper? They could do something similar now by issuing multiple uppers on the M4/16 but don't. In addition to armor/LBV/breaching tools/ammo will the .gov expect the average grunt to lug around a bunch of spare parts and also do what is considered armorer level maintenance?
IMO it's a much bigger selling point in the civilian sector.

[WokMaster1]

You are all too practical so NO, the ACR is not for you. It is marketed to a special/elite group of people like me who have outgrown the Barbie Doll accessorizing syndrome & wants to change calibers, barrel length, etc on the fly. You know, "I don't need it but it is capable of doing it in case the SHTF. It is sort of a natural progression of the BRD.

Disclaimer: I am just speaking for myself & am in no way trying to hurt anyone's feelings.

[MrPlutonium]

I got to fondle a scar yesterday and it feels like a toy, so I don't know. I thought the AR felt like a parker bros game piece but the scar was a whole different animal. That being said, the acr is way too expensive and the scar's already been awarded a contract so it seems unlikely that it will be adopted by our military in any significant manner.

[battleship]

Well if its geared towards special forces or mission specific, and its a choice of 556, 7.62x39 or 6.8 spc you might as well go with the 6.8 and not change a thing.
And thats a good point about having to zero in the scope if you were to swap out from one caliber to another.
Still i can see why some would be attracted to this down at the range.
I think the idea is good but on a CQB rifle which is what this essentially is i dont see it been practical. the DTA Rifle has the same application but it seems a far more a mission specific minded rifle in as far as the sniper is backing up the guys in front doing the clearing. In that situation i can see the purpose of the option to change the calibers. beyond that platform i dont see it as an effective step forward.

[SDgarrick]

I like the idea of usiing 5.56 as it is common here, though having the ability to use 7.62x39 depending on locale seems useful for anyone. I can imagine a few scenarios in which the ability to use 7.62x39 in the same rife would be really helpful.

[ar15barrels]

Also correct me if I'm wrong but Bushmaster does not have a contract with .gov. Colt does and bushmaster was the civi offshoot from Colt.

ok, you're wrong.
What the hell are you talking about with bushmaster being the civi offshoot from colt?

[dwa]

the caliber change ability is probably intended to make the weapon more versatile in the strategic sense, ie if we change calibers down the line you don't need to buy new weapons.

the barrel changes wouldn't be in a quick change scenario and i doubt the individual would be in possession of the different barrels, they would be in control of the armourer. i see the barrels in more of a strategic sense also, going to urban AO break out the carbine or shorter barrels, going to more rural AO throw on a 18in + barrel. another application is that a unit could be issued x amount of receivers and have the ability to deploy them as sbrs in a sub machine gun type role, carbine and rifle length roles. this configuration would probably be done well before deployment

another plus is that as barrels get shot out it will be much easier to reset the weapons.

just my opinion on how i would imagine the use of an acr like rifle would be.

[John Browning]

Except for the super secret squirrel units, there is no way that the military will buy that rifle with the thought of using caliber conversions. Heck, we can't even get them to adopt a piston upper in the SAME caliber right now.

[Flogger23m]

The ACR will never see military deployment. A, We're Broke and B, the SCAR won that contract. Also correct me if I'm wrong but Bushmaster does not have a contract with .gov. Colt does and bushmaster was the civi offshoot from Colt.

Remington will do sales with the military, if any. They make rifles and shotguns for the US military.

Also, it might never get used by the US military, but there are always foreign military and police that might be interested.

The quick barrel swap would not be standard issue, that is for sure. The only people who would get that are SF, if any. Would probably be cheaper to convert calibers/barrel lengths than buy two complete uppers.

[Jaxpire]

[ar15barrels]

Other than using the same optic on the ACR I am not seeing the advantage of ACR vs. the AR.

The folding stock makes it easier to jump in and out of humvees and helicopters.