Adaptive Combat Rifle
Encyclopedia
The Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR) is the production name for an updated version of the Masada Adaptive Combat Weapon System. In late January 2008, Bushmaster entered into a licensing agreement with Magpul whereby Bushmaster would take over production, future development and sales of the Masada. It is a patent pending
self-loading rifle platform designed by Magpul Industries
of Erie, Colorado
.
The rifle was initially developed over a period of five months, completely independent of government funding. Prototypes were displayed at the 2007 SHOT Show
in Orlando, Florida
. Originally scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2008, Bushmaster announced on May 16, 2008, that the consumer release would be delayed until Q1 2009, due to a focus on military projects. On November 18, 2008, Bushmaster released a statement saying, "The ACR is being redesigned to be a superior offering to compete for the next generation US Army infantry carbine and subcompact weapon requirement and will be available to select customers in 2009."
The ACR was one of the weapons displayed to U.S. Army
officials during an invitation-only Industry Day on November 13, 2008. The goal of the Industry Day was to review current carbine technology prior to writing formal requirements for a future replacement for the M4 Carbine
.
The original Magpul Masada design represents an amalgamation of several recent rifle designs, incorporating what is considered by its designers to be the best features of each in a single, lightweight, modular rifle platform. Design features from the Armalite AR-18 (short-stroke gas system), the FN SCAR
(upper receiver, charging handle location), the Heckler & Koch G36
/XM8 (liberal use of polymer
components), the M16
/AR-15
(trigger pack), and the M16
(barrel
, fire control group) are clearly prevalent. The rifle also includes several features developed by Magpul, such as a quick-change barrel/trunnion system, adjustable gas regulator, non-reciprocating charging handle, and storage compartments located in the stock and grip. Just prior to the deal with Bushmaster, Magpul made additional changes to their design—the most obvious of these is the relocation of the ambidextrous operating handle to a forward position (somewhat similar to the Heckler & Koch G3
and Heckler & Koch MP5
series of weapons). Experts from Magpul Industries have on several occasions mentioned that depending on the barrel length of the weapon, the rate of fire is estimated to be in the range of 600-800 rpm (this is an estimate; specifics have not yet been verified).
was designing an individual carbine to replace the M4 Carbine
for the future rifle of the United States Army. The prototype rifle of the ACR performs positive actions on the rotating bolt with a 5.56x45mm NATO
round. The United States concluded on the production of the rifle for future replacement of the M16
. The 6.8mm Remington SPC and the 7.62x39mm rounds performed an excellent status on accuracy and precision, but the feed system will be a perspective timing on the jamming system, which the government decided to recall the program for further testing with the other individual rifles, the HK416, the FN SCAR
, the XCR
, the XM8, and the M27 IAR for the individual carbine program.
Bushmaster Firearms, with the help of Remington Arms (a sister company in the Freedom Group, Inc portfolio that includes Bushmaster, Remington, Marlin, and DPMS Panther Arms brands) has also made extensive design changes based on intensive environmental and functional testing specifically to meet the emerging requirements of the US military in both the carbine and subcompact weapon versions of the ACR family. The ACR is currently offered to military and civilian personnel in .223 Rem/5.56. Bushmaster expects to have kits available soon to switch the caliber of the rifle to 6.8mm Rem SPC and 7.62x39mm just by replacing the barrel, bolt carrier, and magazine. Other calibers are also being considered. It is also expected that the ACR will have barrel length options of 10.5″, 12.5″, 14.5″, 16″ (commercial), and 18″. Among options for the ACR include Fixed Adjustable (in terms of length of pull and check weld), folding adjustable, and a sniper stock based on the Magpul PRS stock, and four handguard options including long and short polymer handguards with heatguard and attachable rails, aluminum Trirail and, on the Remington model, a five sided aluminum handguard that can be user configured with Mil-std-1913 rail elements. A Model of the ACR manufactered by Remington
has been offered as part of the Army's Individual Carbine competition.
The magazine conceived for the 5.56mm version of the ACR rifle is called the Magpul PMag
, a high-impact, 30-round polymer magazine claimed by Magpul to be significantly more resistant to wear, shock, and harsh environments than other counterparts on the market. The PMag is STANAG 4179-compatible, as it will readily fit any STANAG magazine firearm, including the M16 rifle
family.
between $2,685–$3,061.00 – twice as much as early price quotes of "around $1500," causing public outcry and dismay of the rifle from a large portion of the firearms fraternity and potential civilian end-users. Semi-automatic versions will be available to the commercial market from Bushmaster, and selective fire
versions available for military and law enforcement under the Remington name. As of April 2010, civilian market rifles are available for sale.
On October 15, 2010 Bushmaster issued a recall of all ACR rifles instructing users to "Please immediately discontinue the use of your ACR rifle" along with instructions to contact customer support for an RMA. Bushmaster stated that the recall was issued due to "a possible firearms performance issue that may develop with a small number of ACR rifles" and goes on to state that "Bushmaster discovered a design flaw which could result in multiple rounds firing continuously when the trigger is pulled". Bushmaster has stated that it will cover all of the costs associated with the repairs to the recalled rifles.
. Magpul company literature about the rifle states that, "Magpul Industries is not Jewish owned or Israeli backed, however Magpul has always found the story of the Masada as a bold example of defiance." When production rights were signed with Bushmaster, the Masada name was dropped from the product.
Some users have reported problems with bolt lock back reloads when inserting a fresh magazine aggressively. It is reported that the magazine will override the catch ejecting the magazine when the bolt is released.
Patent pending
The expressions "patent pending" or "patent applied for" refer to a warning that inventors are entitled to use in reference to their product or process once a patent application has been filed, but prior to the patent being issued or the application abandoned...
self-loading rifle platform designed by Magpul Industries
Magpul Industries
Magpul Industries Corporation is a designer and manufacturer of polymer firearms accessories and concept firearms. The company is based in Erie, Colorado in the United States...
of Erie, Colorado
Erie, Colorado
Erie is a Statutory Town in Boulder and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. The estimated population according to the 2010 US Census is 18,135 and was recorded as 6,291 at the 2000 census. The Town of Erie is located just west of I-25 for easy access to I-70, Denver International Airport...
.
The rifle was initially developed over a period of five months, completely independent of government funding. Prototypes were displayed at the 2007 SHOT Show
SHOT Show
The ' is an annual tradeshow for the shooting, hunting, and firearms industry. It is the biggest event of this type in the world together with IWA & OutdoorClassics , also taking place annually. "SHOT", besides being a general reference to shooting, is an acronym for "Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Originally scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2008, Bushmaster announced on May 16, 2008, that the consumer release would be delayed until Q1 2009, due to a focus on military projects. On November 18, 2008, Bushmaster released a statement saying, "The ACR is being redesigned to be a superior offering to compete for the next generation US Army infantry carbine and subcompact weapon requirement and will be available to select customers in 2009."
The ACR was one of the weapons displayed to U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officials during an invitation-only Industry Day on November 13, 2008. The goal of the Industry Day was to review current carbine technology prior to writing formal requirements for a future replacement for the M4 Carbine
M4 Carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
.
Design
FN SCAR
The Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle, or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by FN Herstal for the United States Special Operations Command to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. This family of rifles consist of two main types...
(upper receiver, charging handle location), the Heckler & Koch G36
Heckler & Koch G36
The Heckler & Koch G36 is a 5.56×45mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch in Germany as a replacement for the 7.62mm G3 battle rifle. It was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr in 1997, replacing the G3...
/XM8 (liberal use of polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
components), the M16
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
/AR-15
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
(trigger pack), and the M16
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
(barrel
Barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container, traditionally made of vertical wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. Traditionally, the barrel was a standard size of measure referring to a set capacity or weight of a given commodity. A small barrel is called a keg.For example, a...
, fire control group) are clearly prevalent. The rifle also includes several features developed by Magpul, such as a quick-change barrel/trunnion system, adjustable gas regulator, non-reciprocating charging handle, and storage compartments located in the stock and grip. Just prior to the deal with Bushmaster, Magpul made additional changes to their design—the most obvious of these is the relocation of the ambidextrous operating handle to a forward position (somewhat similar to the Heckler & Koch G3
Heckler & Koch G3
The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....
and Heckler & Koch MP5
Heckler & Koch MP5
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
series of weapons). Experts from Magpul Industries have on several occasions mentioned that depending on the barrel length of the weapon, the rate of fire is estimated to be in the range of 600-800 rpm (this is an estimate; specifics have not yet been verified).
History
The United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was designing an individual carbine to replace the M4 Carbine
M4 Carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
for the future rifle of the United States Army. The prototype rifle of the ACR performs positive actions on the rotating bolt with a 5.56x45mm NATO
5.56x45mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...
round. The United States concluded on the production of the rifle for future replacement of the M16
M16
M16 or M-16 may refer to:Firearms and military equipment* M16 rifle, a United States military rifle* M16 mine, a United States landmine* Grigorovich M-16, a Russian World War I-era biplane flying boat* Stahlhelm, a German World War I helmet...
. The 6.8mm Remington SPC and the 7.62x39mm rounds performed an excellent status on accuracy and precision, but the feed system will be a perspective timing on the jamming system, which the government decided to recall the program for further testing with the other individual rifles, the HK416, the FN SCAR
FN SCAR
The Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle, or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by FN Herstal for the United States Special Operations Command to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. This family of rifles consist of two main types...
, the XCR
XCR
XCR can stand for:* Robinson Armament XCR, a multi-caliber, gas piston weapon system* The IATA code for Vatry Airport in France...
, the XM8, and the M27 IAR for the individual carbine program.
Bushmaster Firearms, with the help of Remington Arms (a sister company in the Freedom Group, Inc portfolio that includes Bushmaster, Remington, Marlin, and DPMS Panther Arms brands) has also made extensive design changes based on intensive environmental and functional testing specifically to meet the emerging requirements of the US military in both the carbine and subcompact weapon versions of the ACR family. The ACR is currently offered to military and civilian personnel in .223 Rem/5.56. Bushmaster expects to have kits available soon to switch the caliber of the rifle to 6.8mm Rem SPC and 7.62x39mm just by replacing the barrel, bolt carrier, and magazine. Other calibers are also being considered. It is also expected that the ACR will have barrel length options of 10.5″, 12.5″, 14.5″, 16″ (commercial), and 18″. Among options for the ACR include Fixed Adjustable (in terms of length of pull and check weld), folding adjustable, and a sniper stock based on the Magpul PRS stock, and four handguard options including long and short polymer handguards with heatguard and attachable rails, aluminum Trirail and, on the Remington model, a five sided aluminum handguard that can be user configured with Mil-std-1913 rail elements. A Model of the ACR manufactered by Remington
Remington Arms
Remington Arms Company, Inc. was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, as E. Remington and Sons. It is the oldest company in the United States which still makes its original product, and is the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North America. It is the only U.S....
has been offered as part of the Army's Individual Carbine competition.
The magazine conceived for the 5.56mm version of the ACR rifle is called the Magpul PMag
Magpul Industries
Magpul Industries Corporation is a designer and manufacturer of polymer firearms accessories and concept firearms. The company is based in Erie, Colorado in the United States...
, a high-impact, 30-round polymer magazine claimed by Magpul to be significantly more resistant to wear, shock, and harsh environments than other counterparts on the market. The PMag is STANAG 4179-compatible, as it will readily fit any STANAG magazine firearm, including the M16 rifle
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
family.
Availability and Recall
The ACR is stated to be available in the 2nd Quarter of 2010 for military, government and commercial customers. The ACR will be available in greater quantity (tens of thousands) in the commercial marketplace in 2010. According to an official press release from Bushmaster, the rifle will have suggested retail priceSuggested retail price
The manufacturer's suggested retail price , list price or recommended retail price of a product is the price which the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell the product. The intention was to help to standardise prices among locations...
between $2,685–$3,061.00 – twice as much as early price quotes of "around $1500," causing public outcry and dismay of the rifle from a large portion of the firearms fraternity and potential civilian end-users. Semi-automatic versions will be available to the commercial market from Bushmaster, and selective fire
Selective fire
A selective fire firearm has at least one semi–automatic and one automatic mode, which is activated by means of a selector which varies depending on the weapon's design. Some selective fire weapons utilize burst fire mechanisms to limit the maximum or total number of shots fired automatically in...
versions available for military and law enforcement under the Remington name. As of April 2010, civilian market rifles are available for sale.
On October 15, 2010 Bushmaster issued a recall of all ACR rifles instructing users to "Please immediately discontinue the use of your ACR rifle" along with instructions to contact customer support for an RMA. Bushmaster stated that the recall was issued due to "a possible firearms performance issue that may develop with a small number of ACR rifles" and goes on to state that "Bushmaster discovered a design flaw which could result in multiple rounds firing continuously when the trigger is pulled". Bushmaster has stated that it will cover all of the costs associated with the repairs to the recalled rifles.
Miscellaneous
The rifle was originally named after the Siege of MasadaSiege of Masada
The siege of Masada was among the final accords of the First Jewish-Roman War. The long siege by the troops of the Roman Empire led to the mass suicide of the Sicarii rebels and resident Jewish families of the Masada fortress...
. Magpul company literature about the rifle states that, "Magpul Industries is not Jewish owned or Israeli backed, however Magpul has always found the story of the Masada as a bold example of defiance." When production rights were signed with Bushmaster, the Masada name was dropped from the product.
Some users have reported problems with bolt lock back reloads when inserting a fresh magazine aggressively. It is reported that the magazine will override the catch ejecting the magazine when the bolt is released.
See also
- FN SCARFN SCARThe Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle, or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by FN Herstal for the United States Special Operations Command to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. This family of rifles consist of two main types...
- Heckler & Koch HK416
- Heckler & Koch XM8
- Robinson Armament XCR
- Remington GPCRemington GPCThe Remington GPC is an AR-15 derivative with an extruded upper receiver acting as a barrel cooling jacket mounted with STANAG rails. A deritive product is being offered to the US Army For its Improved M4A1 Program Called the Modular Gas Piston Carbine. It features a Ferritic Nitrocarburized...