Is this a factory Bushmaster upper or did I get screwed?

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by ColtCarbine, Jan 6, 2009.


  1. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    Anybody have a Bushmaster Varminter HB 24" stainless upper that could verify if this is a factory assembled Bushmaster upper?

    I received my upper in the mail today and after inspecting it, I'm wondering if this is a factory assembled Bushamster. The only stampings on the barrel are M1S SS, no indication of the barrel twist or manufacturer, nothing just M1S SS. Upper receiver is a A3 keyhole upper with aluminum free float handguard, no bolt/carrier or charging handle.

    Would I be assuming correctly that this stamping is for Model One Sales and not Bushmaster?

    Does Bushmaster use barrels with this stamping on their factory assembled uppers?

    Wondering if the seller did a switcharoo on me and never said a word about not being able to supply the upper that I ordered?

    Thanks in advance. I would have posted this in the Bushmaster Forum but it seems after reading some threads there, Bushmaster is a little busy at the moment. Go figure.

    I'm happy that I finally received my upper. However, if this isn't a factory Bushmaster upper, it's going back to the seller on his dime. I wanted a Bushmaster upper for a reason since the lower I bought was a Bushmaster.
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Poking around on the web sorta points to M1S SS as an E R Shaw barrel marking. I don't know for sure, but I'd stake a hamburger to a cuppa coffee that Bushmaster doesn't make any of their own barrels. No marks at all on the upper receiver other than that?
     
  3. Dawg23

    Dawg23 do or do not, there is no try

    I do know that the "ss" means stainless steel (thats pretty obvious) Im looking for the markings and to see if it is a bushy. try ar-15.com for answers. I hang out there, and the guys wont bash you for questions. we all try to help each other out. unlike the other AR site.
     
  4. RouteClearance

    RouteClearance Monkey+++

    You would have to go through Bushmaster to find out. What a lot of people don't understand is that most AR/M16/M4 manufacturers have their upper receivers manufactured by third party vendors. The various markings that exist are an alpabet soup that is all but impossible to identify unless you have a current and continuosly updated list of these third party manufacturers. Sorry I could not be much help, but I do know that Cerberus does not use ER Shaw as a third party barrel vendor for Remington, Bushmaster, or DPMS.
     
  5. Akheloce

    Akheloce Monkey++

    Sounds to me like the M1S might stand for Model 1 Sales. They use ER Shaw barrels (which are pretty good IMO).
     
  6. RouteClearance

    RouteClearance Monkey+++

    What yu have is an FTF Industries M1 S Upper reciever assembly which uses an ER Shaw barrel, so you were not sold an actual Bushmaster. Even though you were lied to about the manufacturer, the ER Shaw barrel should out shoot any barrel Bushmaster makes.
     
  7. Akheloce

    Akheloce Monkey++

  8. RouteClearance

    RouteClearance Monkey+++

    After reading the above link that Akheloce provided, it seams that the upper receiver is actually manufactured by Bushmaster, which was your original concern to begin with. So even thought you do have a "Frankenstein" upper assembly, I will still stand on ER Shaw's better accuracy over Bushmaster's barrels.
     
  9. Dawg23

    Dawg23 do or do not, there is no try

    Here are some upper markings and WHO makes them. I have to thank several friends from AR-15.com for this information:


    A (splintered) = Anchor Harvey Aluminum

    AF = Alcoa Forge

    C AF = Colt Alco Forge

    C MB = Colt / Mueller Brass

    Cardinal (stylized) = Cardinal Forge

    CH = Colt Harvey Aluminum

    CK = Colt / Kaiser Aluminum

    Circle/Crooshairs w/"AR" = ArmaLite

    CM = Colt / Martin Marietta

    D (stylized) = Diemaco

    DK = Diemaco / Kaiser Aluminum

    E = Emco

    EK = EMCO/Kaiser

    E MB = EMCO/Mueller Brass

    F keyhole = FNMI / Cerro Forge

    FA = FNMI / Anchor Harvey

    FK = FNMI / Kaiser Aluminum

    FM = FN/Martin Marietta

    FMB = FNMI / Mueller Brass

    Keyhole = Cerro Forge

    L = Lewis Machine & Tool

    LK = LAR / Kaiser Aluminum

    LM = LAR / Martin Marietta

    M (under diamond) = Mueller Industries

    PA = Capco / Anchor Harvey

    PM = Capco / Martin Marietta

    <!--closes open comments-->
     
  10. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    That was my 1st thought and/or to post on the Bushmaster Forum at ARFCOM but found out they weren't very attentive lately, go figure with manufacturers being balls to the wall in production.

    Sorry for not being very attentive myself in my own posting until today. Between my regular job, teaching plumbing apprenticeship classes 2 nights a week and the family leaves me not much time to get on the computer lately.
     
  11. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I cross posted it at ARFCOM, thank you for the suggestion.
     
  12. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    That is the same seller I purchased from. I now realize that I got exactly what I paid for. After posting this here and ARFCOM I re-read the seller's description and realized he seller was accurate in his description but IMO it was somewhat deceptive. I've never been one to let myself get duped but it happens. Considering how hard parts are to get I'm glad I got a new upper just bummed it wasn't what I thought I was getting.

    Here's the seller's description of the Bushmaster upper:

    *AR15 / M16 A3 BUSHMASTER Flat Top VARMINT Upper HALF with 24" inch HBAR EXTRA Heavy Stainless BULL BARREL with 1913 Flat Top Front Gas Block. This .223 cal barrel for an AR15 VARMINT Style or Law Enforcement / Military SNIPER barrel is 24" long ..1 - 9 twist... Mounted on BUSHMASTER A3 Flat Top Upper with a Mil Spec 1913 front flattop gas block replacing the front sight base for use with electronic or removable sighting systems..USES 2 piece Aluminum FREE FLOATING handguard ...The gas ports are SUPER TUNED for flawless function . This barrel by E.R. SHAW is, without question, one of the finest AR15/M16 type barrels made - These Ultra Accurate barrels are of heavy-weight dimension their full length - This barrel is button rifled with 6 grooves and lands - right hand twist 1 turn in 9" - which have been found to give the best shooting results with the widest variety of ammunition (Upper receiver is complete LESS Bolt assembly and charging handle) ... This upper is FULLY ASSEMBLED GUAGED & HEADSPACED & ready to GO !!! Drop in your bolt assembly and charging handle and GO !!...Condition is Brand New
     
  13. ColtCarbine

    ColtCarbine Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I've heard others echo the same about E.R. Shaw stainless barrels. I honestly read right past the seller's description about the E.R. Shaw barrels on the Bushmaster upper for some reason. It's not like me to not catch these things but I've never owned a Bushmaster so who knew. I feel like an idiot for not realizing this was an in-house assembly job and not factory. Oh well, now I know.

    Thank you to all for the responses
     
  14. Byte

    Byte Monkey+++

    I had to LOL at the thought of a firearms manufacturer by the name FTF...

    Byte [troll]
     
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7