Bushmaster Looks to Revive the ACR… Again
May 4, 2018
Hey, remember the Bushmaster ACR? Of course you do. Nearly a decade ago and after loads of hype, the modular rifle hit shelves only to be subsequently ignored by Bushmaster and left to rot with little aftermarket support and none of the promised adaptability.
Last year, at SHOT, Bushmaster signaled a modest revival to the line with the introduction of a factory short-barreled ACR and replacement barrels for ACR owners looking to swap their standard, 16″ barrel for something shorter or even a bit longer. Then, the company went quiet yet again.
According to news from this year’s NRA Annual Meetings, it looks like Bushmaster is finally going to give the ACR the attention it needs and arguably deserves. First, let’s talk calibers. Bushmaster plans to release 6.8 SPC and .450 Bushmaster versions of the ACR. The 6.8 gun will come with a 16″ barrel and the .450 Bushmaster will be offered with either a 16″ or an 18″ barrel. Bushmaster also plans to add an ACR pistol to the line in 5.56mm with a 10.5″ barrel. Lastly, all ACRs will get upgraded, Keymod-compatible Squaredrop handguards that appear to be substantially lighter and much lower profile than the previous ACR rails – not counting Remington’s unreleased version.
All of this is obviously very good news, but the caliber choices are, in my opinion, a little odd. There still isn’t a .300 Blackout ACR, despite AAC being the company originally behind it’s development (.300 Whisper notwithstanding). Also, 6.5 Grendel has largely surpassed 6.8 SPC as the 6mm caliber du jour. Aside from .300 Blackout, 7.62×39 and 5.45×39 are conspicuously absent, despite being among a handful of calibers initially shown with early ACR prototypes. As someone who shoots little-to-no big bore, I can’t say much about .450 Bushmaster.
Overall, these additions are undoubtedly welcome, if a bit unusual. Here’s to hoping that this signals Bushmaster’s revitalized interest in the ACR as a platform.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.