Ned ID on a old Bushmaster AR model

waltermorl

January 18, 2012 13:28

I have a old Bushmaster AR with a stamped steel upper. The rifle has a pistol grip and is missing the stock, I think it might have been a folding stock. The mags that came with it are Colt, the caliber is 223. A lug broke off of the bolt so about 20 years back I sent for a Bushmaster parts catalog and ordered a new bolt, firing pin and the related parts. The bolt I got didn't match up with the broken one from the gun. I put the rifle away a long time ago and now I'd like to try to get it to shoot. Does anyone know if there were companies that used Bushmaster lowers and "other" upper receivers? If I remember the stamped steel upper almost looked like a SKS. Like I said years back Bushmaster was no help to me. Before I put it away I thought that I would need a gunsmith to machine a new bolt from the old broken one but thought it would be too costly on a apprentice salary. I had forgot all about the rifle until a friend at work showed me pics of his new MOE Mid Lenght. Do any of you od timers know what the heck I am talking about? It was rumored that the rifle came from costa rica in the early eighties but I was never able to confirm it. I had got it from a family member after a death of a uncle. I stashed it years back and will be trying to retrieve it soon. As reasonable as a new complete upper is I'd probably be better off to go that route.
Thanks for any help that can be thrown my way.
Walterm

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  Riomouse911

  January 18, 2012 14:34

  On page 21 of this PDF shows a "Bushmaster Assault Rifle." This is the stupid no-no list from California's DOJ. Is this what you're talking about?
  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pdfs/firearms/forms/awguide.pdf

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  rufe-snow

  January 18, 2012 17:46

  Sounds like one of the Gwinn Arms Co./Bushmaster guns. They made (3) different models, maybe more? Starting in North Carolina and then moving to Maine. Supposedly the Air Force bought some of the "Arm Pistols".
  
  I had one of the fixed wooden stock versions years ago. Here is a photo off Buddy Hinton's site showing one of the Arm Pistols and a folding stock version. They date from the 70's and are completely different from the modern Bushmaster firearms. Getting replacement parts will be problematical.
  
  

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  waltermorl

  January 19, 2012 14:11

  quote:Originally posted by Riomouse911
  On page 21 of this PDF shows a "Bushmaster Assault Rifle." This is the stupid no-no list from California's DOJ. Is this what you're talking about?
  http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pdfs/firearms/forms/awguide.pdf
  
  
  Yes that's it but not the wooden stock. Wow I want to get it together and shoot it.
  Thanks,
  Walter

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  waltermorl

  January 19, 2012 14:18

  That's it, cept mine doesn't have the tubular folding stock, the square attachment piece looks familiar though. Did Bushmaster buy out Gwinn Arms? This is just what I needed now I can do some research. Do you know if the lower will match up with one of todays upper receiver?
  Thanks again,
  Walter
  
  quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
  Sounds like one of the Gwinn Arms Co./Bushmaster guns. They made (3) different models, maybe more? Starting in North Carolina and then moving to Maine. Supposedly the Air Force bought some of the "Arm Pistols".
  
  I had one of the fixed wooden stock versions years ago. Here is a photo off Buddy Hinton's site showing one of the Arm Pistols and a folding stock version. They date from the 70's and are completely different from the modern Bushmaster firearms. Getting replacement parts will be problematical.
  
  

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  rufe-snow

  January 19, 2012 15:16

  quote:Originally posted by waltermorl
  That's it, cept mine doesn't have the tubular folding stock, the square attachment piece looks familiar though. Did Bushmaster buy out Gwinn Arms? This is just what I needed now I can do some research. Do you know if the lower will match up with one of todays upper receiver?
  Thanks again,
  Walter
  
  
  
  
  Although Gwinn was in business during the early to mid 70's. Bushmaster didn't acquire them and move production to Maine until later. My WAG is that Bushmaster only assembled rifles from parts that were made by Gwinn in NC years before. They didn't resume new production of any of the firearms designed by Gwinn.
  
  To the best of my knowledge none of the Gwinn designed parts are compatible with modern AR's.
  
  The one with the fixed stock that I had had years ago was in excellent condition and functioned well. I still didn't get a lot out of it though. Because of this I wouldn't put a lot of money or effort trying to fix the one you have. Part it out on the auction, If you can't get your hands on some kind of a stock.

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  waltermorl

  January 20, 2012 12:11

  Thanks for the info I was looking for.
  Walter

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