It was a different scene back then. In 2009 there was a “tactical elitist” push against the DI driven AR-15 and many online were saying if you still used one you were behind the times and foolish. Even the military considered replacing the M16/M4 back then.
I always fought that mentality here in TNP and even made a video about it (Piston vs DI Dilemma: “The AR-15 Gas Choice” It was in the environment that the Magpul Massada became the Bushmaster/Remington ACR and was finally introduced to market.
Many were rightly disappointed with the results and funny memes in YT resulted ( TacticalDoodle joins me for this GRV and we talk all about that and those interesting times. We were in no hurry to review this ACR because of its bloated/over priced nature. However here you’ll see we give it fair treatment, as we do all things here, and cover all the specifics. Does the ACR hold up a decade later? Who actually bought these? How accurate, reliable, lightweight, and “adaptable” is it really anyhow? All this is covered along with our mini gear fun and other stuff we’re famous for. Remington is claiming bankruptcy as this video goes to press and it might be because of unfocused, market-detached product decisions like this. You will still, despite some big drawbacks, the ACR is still a competent gun overall.
Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 2 out of 5
Gear rec’d, shown in video:
Seiko 5 Field watches I love:
Seiko 5 Dive ORANGE watches I love:
Seiko SNZG15 Field watch we show in video, sick:
Our most used lightweight 30mm AR scope mount:
Tnp stuff at:
Thanks to Gunnies Western Wear in Orem, UT for the items sometimes provided to TNP for review…like the clothing. Look them up, say thanks!
Note: All items get a fair review here and each stakes up against the same criteria. In terms of value, its high weight, marginal accuracy, lack of ergo versatility the ACR loses out big time. The market agrees too: it has not sold well and now Remington is in Chapt 11 (for many reasons). The one reviewed has sat on the gun shelf for over 5 years without selling and it still will. The FN SCAR 16 and 17 have some downsides too ($$) but they are very accurate, lightweight, have better triggers, and recoil less so they both got good reviews (even though I wasn’t liking either one).
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I like mine, its cool, it’s just heavy and dated with its giant tri-rail and isn’t better than and can’t replace an AR.
Hands down the best gun in modern warfare 2
CZ 805 Bren FTW!
I like the ACR. I shoot cheap .556 brass, mostly .55 grain winchester recently. Bowling pins open sights at 100 yards is no problem. I do wish they would get rid of the M4 style barrel. But I paid 2k for mine and my 2k AR I5 build is a better gun.
So what I'm hearing is that Bushmaster sucks
I have a Bushmaster ACR and numerous AR rifles and pistols. I love my ACR. It's my favorite to shoot out of them all. Accuracy was never an issue or was weight. As far as barrel swaps to different calibers, why? All my platforms are on caliber, 5.56. Same ammo across the board. One battle belt and plate carrier loaded and ready to go that can be used with any rifle or pistol I grab. And if I grab one, I would reach for the ACR first.
I really don’t believe anyone will ever decide mid-firefight they want to change from 5.56 to 6.8 or what have you. The interchangeable barrels are more geared towards mission requirements preset before you’re engaged. This guy needs to talk less about stupid shit and being a “bro” and stick to the pertinent information on what he’s supposed to be reviewing. I couldn’t even get through this video without wanting to bitch slap this “tacticool” wanna be operator…
Remington/Freedom Group could eff up a wet dream.
the original Magpul masada was a thoroughly superior design.
the ACR retains most of what made the design great but much got lost in translation imo.
it still has the excellent ergonomics and the most thoroughly intuitive ambi controls in the industry imo.
especially the fully ambi bolt control located in the perfect position and actuated in the perfect way, a verically sliding button/lever at the bottom front of the triggerguard where its easily operated by the trigger finger or support hand thumb. perfection.
the bolt control is THE critical control imo and the one control the MUST be fully ambi and easily and quickly operated for fast, seamless operation during both reloads and malfunction clearance.
that one simply and easily designed for capability has huge benefits and every tactical semi auto fighting rifle should have full ambi bolt control MANDATORY.
just try it during a reload or malfunction clearance one time from prone and youll understand.
other designs work well too like the fully mirrored AR-15 like ping pong paddle on the right side of the LWRCI, LMT MARS, DD5 series, S&W M&P-10, Seekins SP-10 and a few others.
some have an even more intuitive design such as ADM OIC series and the new Sig M-400 3-gun rifles with a simple axially pivoting lever extending to the rear and slightly below the ejection port.
all of them do the same thing, allow fully ambi bolt control, both catch AND release using your trigger finger.
a potentially life saving capability and speed and control enhancement.
eventually ALL ARs and others will have it and thats a good thing.
now if theyll just sh*t can the rear charging handle of ARs in favor of left side or a switchable ambi receiver mounted non reciprocating charging handle!
For 223/556 I have to agree that the D.I. AR-15 is still king—and I think the point about push pin uppers is a VERY valid point…..I have only 3 lowers but I have MANY calibers.Just build a new upper people…parts are well priced these days. Boutique solutions to problems that never existed—-I do love the A.C.R in it's appearance,but I think the fact that Bushmaster failed to deliver what Magpul promised screwed the pooch on this deal….to much drama–To much $$…
love the videos featuring doodle
At the 28 minute mark trying to reassemble the rifle, you guys do a helluva hit to your credibility. Are you kidding? Thrash on individual pieces like pins? You slam around loose, disassembled pieces on any rifle youll knock them out. Wow. Unprofessional and unimpressive.
"We're gonna talk about this for about 45 minutes" Does it in 44
I'm waiting for the documentary covering the flubs of Remington / Freedom Group throughout the years. Remington 700 trigger recalled 50 years after they discovered the problem, Remington screwing up the 6.8 SPC, Bushmaster wrecking the ACR, destroying AAC…
Just get a desert tech mdr or tavor.
So, why is the Masada better than the ACR?
i think piston guns are too heavy for marginally cleaner operation.
You guy should give a chance try to the Faxon ARAK21 I believe it was a great concept… I think it's really cool.
I’m saving for an AR15….thoughts?
They really screwed the pooch on this gun.
Acr is a good rifle and they sell like crazy it's hard to find one in stock and it's 1700 now alsome deal o just think better is cuz bren
I might be the only person in the comment section that owns an ACR and also has a Nexus Tac. carbon fiber hand guard on it and when you also remove the trunnion QD mounts and the barrel handle and its screw, it makes a HUGE difference.
As always, nutnfuncy hit the gym bro, everything is heavy to you
Have you had the chance to look at the Faxon ARAK? I'm interested in a good lift-side side charging rifle and have heard…interesting things about it
I love ar's and have two of them myself but everyone here is acting like they have always been perfect. It has taken years of refining and 3rd party options to get the ar to where it is today.
Like frozen butter!
I think with the scar you can change stocks….granted I'll never own one because I can have an AR, even an expensive one that shoots as good for less
I got mine slightly used for $1,400 just about a year after they hit the market, I still have it and love it. I got the unloaded weight down to 5.5lbs. I had the barrel shortend 2" and Reprofiled into a pencil Barrel, it's now perfectly balanced. In addition replaced the stock trigger group with the Gissele super ACR group. At 100 yards with the stock Magpul MBUS sights I was able to get 3 in a group the size of a quarter. I've never had a stoppage of any kind and hundreds and hundreds of rounds were cheap wolf poly coat steel cases ammo. I still love my AR but the ACR has taken it's spot.
I think,for the price there is much better buys out there.
I have a Bushmaster XM-15 and i love it. I threw a Vortex Spitfire Prism 3X on it and a BCM Ambidextrous charging handle on it and called it a day!
I used to own an ACR and loved it. I could shoot 1/4 MOA with 55 or 62 grain ammo at 100 yards. I ran a couple thousand rounds through it including a lot of steel and it never once failed. But it was a little front heavy and pretty pricey so I moved on to an Adams AR which only shoots sub MOA and also has never failed.
I was so excited for this gun when Magpul announced the design…. I waited and waited. And then bushmaster broke it for me. I couldn’t believe that fiasco.
hey nuttin…i think you meant the acr had the "sharknado" affect lol not the halo affect 😉
it was supposed to have a bunch of quick change barrels so you can have multi calibers…
current production ACR's are coming with taper profile 1:7 twist barrel, definitely a step up from the M4 profile 1:9 barrel. while i agree with many of the points here, economy of scale has blessed the AR-15 to such extent that pretty much every other rifle fails in a direct comparison against an AR. the ACR is a fantastic rifle that was butchered by Bushmaster/FG, but that doesn't detract from the genius design and reliability.
The insidious produce of corporate greed.
So you are a bit over a pound away from being able to pick the weapon up by the trigger without firing it?
Hey Nutn, could you try out one of the 18" match barrels from Ground Zero Precision? They're like $140 and I want to know if they're any good. Some people like the company a lot, others don't because of shipping time which seems to color their impressions of the stuff. They guarantee sub MOA performance, but there's not much on the company.
"We'll try to wrap this up in a tight 25 minutes."44 minutes OAL. Oh, Nutn, when will you learn haha!
2,249 dollars,oof thats one expensive disappointment
Every time I think I want to buy one of these just for fun…..they end up looking like an exercise in misery. Cam pin rail screws falling out, push pins detents flying around, Bushmaster ALWAYS putting the completely wrong style of barrel on the gun….and so on and so on. What a joke of a weapon.
I had a adams arms conversion and a di back then they both shot awsome but the di weighed less and I used it more often.
wasn't it seposed to be like 1200
I've had my ACR for 3yrs. Purchased for about $1300 NIB. Typical story of it sitting on the shelf for ever. It's one of my favorite rifles. If it were lighter it would be my main rifle. Everyone wants to shoot it when they visit and it stays clean.
The only thing I've changed is the trigger. I went with a RA-140. For a few years I contemplated fluting the barrel but, with it being cold hammer forged I take issue with changing the profile. I was one of those guys that ran the SCAR overseas durring testing. I understand the concept but just didn't like the rifle. My personal opinion is I enjoyed the ACR more than the SCAR. With the new Bushmaster facility up and running I would buy a 14.5 barrel, MI handguard, and make it my go to.
COUGH! COUGH! UH! PISTON! COUGH! You might wanna read, cough cough lol http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/7889/the-pentagon-has-slowly-fallen-in-love-with-hks-take-on-the-ar-15
Love the feature-length reviews .
great video. I remember those days well. I have never had any type of malfunctions at all with any of my DI AR-15's. Not to mention my heaviest one is 5.8lbs
The acr maybe heavier but its the perfect weight for full auto fire