Bushmaster DCM barrel twist

[micmacman]

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[Trigger Monkey]

A cleaning rod with a tight patch, a marker, and a tape measure will give the you an idea of the twist rate.

 

[BCP]

9 is my guess.

I’d try some 77gr ammo if it shoots just OK (or worse) try some 52s or 69s instead.

Around 2010 they were 8 twist iirc

 

[Ex E6]

i have a Ban era Bushmaster A2 DCM rifle , i was curious if there was a way to determine the barrel twist in order to have a better idea of what ammo to try to see what it prefers , id rather not remove the free float assembly to see if the barrel is marked , was curious if the serial could eude to it in some way , ie they used this twist rate during this production run sorta thing

otherwise i will have to try alot of a little of this a little of that to find the combination the agrees with it

1999-2000 Era ? More than likely 1:8 although I have #2 XM15-E2S A2 20" Target which are 1:7 as I requested that ratio .
Mine produce SINGLE BUG Holes with 55 gr. 68 & 69 Gr. pills . at 200 yd. .

 

[micmacman]

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[micmacman]

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[micmacman]

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[BCP]

The CMP used to sell NM AR15s made by bushmaster and then rra. It could be one of those. You'd have to email them and ask it's been probably 20 years since they sold bushmaster rifles.

 

[micmacman]

i recently aquired this a few months ago , appeared to be unfired , no carbon to be found anywhere , not even on the bolt face or gas key , no dings or doinks , doubtful it went through the CMP program , which iswhy i contacted CLE , which wouldnt made sense for a safe queen having them build it either in retro spec , match sights , counter weights , 4.5 lb trigger , FF handguard , full profile barrel , 11 dgree target crown , A2 upper , its a DCM no doubt , i just do not believe it went through the CMP program , i think they logo'd their rifles i believe too

 

[micmacman]

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[Trigger Monkey]

Sometimes that's what you have to do. I'd give 69 gr. and 77 gr. bullets a try, I've had good luck with Black Hills, Federal, IMI, and Sig factory match.

 

[micmacman]

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[Trigger Monkey]

i cant wait to find what premium it likes

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[micmacman]

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[bfoosh006]

From the 1999 Bushmaster Catalog

The complete upper was $795 in 1999 !

"A 20" Barrel, button rifled in 1 x 8 twist, that is a full 1" diameter from the barrel extension forward to sight base. Barrel material is the finest Chrome VanadiumSteel with a Manganese Phosphate finish and it is machined with an 11° competition typemuzzle crown. We recommend assembly by an experienced AR15 gunsmith in order to achieve all the accuracy designed into this superb barrel."

Also... ( and BTW, from here... https://web.archive.org/web/19990209005032/http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog/competitionparts.html )

Bushmaster Firearms has designed a rifle for the serious DCM Competition Shooter - and it has proven itself a Gold Medal Winner in numerous competitions. In keeping with Dept. of Civilian Markmanship Competition rules, this rifle looks like a stock issue"AR15" but includes the accurizing modifications and parts listed below that will give you the winning edge.
Features include:

• The A2 Rear Sight is specially modified to accept interchangeable "micro-aperture" peeps and its windage and elevation mechanisms feature either 1/2 or 1/4 MOA adjustments with each "click" of the windage knob or elevation dial. The precision machined "micro-aperture" inserts are available in .036" - .040" (Std.) - .046" or .052" sizes.
• The Competition Front Sight is specially ground for optimum clarity and is available in your choice of three different widths (.052"; .062" or .072"). It is secured within the front sight base by a set screw to avoid the possibility of any movement.
• The 20" Bushmaster Extra Heavy Competition Barrel is a full 1" diameter under the handguard and is available in 1 x 8" precision rifling. They are machined from Chrome Moly Vanadium barrel steel and are hardened to Rockwell C26 to 32 - superior to stainless barrels!
• In the Upper Receiver, the bolt is carefully matched to the Barrel Extension for maximum strength and accuracy.
• The lower receiver houses a finely honed Competition Trigger Job that is factory set for a DCM legal 3.5 lb. 1st Stage and a 1 lb. letoff (2nd Stage).
• The handguard set looks like stock Gov't issue parts but is actually a "free floater" type handguard (handguard/barrel nut combination) that does not contact the barrel. Special weights are installed inside this free floater handguard for added stability.
• Even the buttstock has been improved for competition with the addition of a lead "counterbalancing weight" which can be trimmed by the competitor to achieve just the right balance and adds to the solid feel of this special competition model.

The complete Bushmaster "DCM Competition" Rifle is available at the special price of $1,195.00 (to F.F.L. Dealers - Shipped with Two 10 Round Magazines - Viper RangeSafety Device - Sling - Operator's Manual and Maintenance Instructions Package - all in our new Bushmaster Hardside Case shown in our Accessories Section). All competition parts are available individually (see below). We recommend the U.S. Gov't. M16 A2 TechnicalManual for assembly work - see our Gunsmithing Tools & Supplies Section. Call the Bushmaster sales line for help in specifying exactly the components you need to win!

 

[micmacman]

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[BCP]

the butt weights make the rifle seem lighter because its so balanced , it was my understanding though the trigger weres factoy set at 4.5 as per competition regulation , its a sweet trigger , i wont say its better than the Geissele SSA-E 2 stage though , but its as smooth , the SSA-E is lighter and claim to be 3.3lb , thats where i came up with the 4.5lb was those two things

but thats the best info ive seen on the rifle yet , thank you

The weights are for competition shooting offhand balance. The RRA NM service rifle I had weighed 13lbs iirc.

 

[NCgreentick]

It is an 8 twist for sure. I had one and expected it to do good but not great but it ended up hanging with the best of them at 600. Absolute hammer.
This is back in the day when everybody was using 69's at the 200/300 and 80gr Sierras at 600.

 

[micmacman]

It is an 8 twist for sure. I had one and expected it to do good but not great but it ended up hanging with the best of them at 600. Absolute hammer.
This is back in the day when everybody was using 69's at the 200/300 and 80gr Sierras a,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Ex E6]

Someone is blowing smoke as to prices !. I remember when Rich Dyke sold Bushmaster to Cerberus ,as I had inquired about a few Rifles . Due to MY work obligations. Anyway I paid $762.?? each for #2 , 1:7 XM15 E2S A2 20" Target H Bars " COMPLETE RIFLES " ,with Cr chamber n barrels .
NO threaded barrels as I was in San Diego County, Kommfornia at the time and the Ban was coming Jan. 1 St. . So I purchased them in December 1999 2000 ?.

Fyi ; IMO their some of the most accurate AR's I've shot or Built . You tune a load and they're single hole shooters .

Funny thing is I requested consecutive serial #'s but got 5 #'s off However due to accuracy I'm NOT bitching .

 

[micmacman]

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[Ex E6]

i wouldnt know about prices back then , i was into AK's SKS and WW2 German stuff back then , really only got into AR platform amybe 5 maybe 6 years ago, i owned a couple SP1 rifles back in the day for a minute , but .223 wasnt my thing so they fell victim to trade fodder , feel stupid now , but back then they were $400-$500 rifles , should have kept at least one , whos a dumb ass , this guy

unfortunatly not a reload guy , toyed with the idea , what do you think the start up cost for a single caliber such as .223 would be from the ground up

This day and age who knows ?. Several factors determine reloading , #1 Accuracy #2 Frequency for shooting aka volume ,#3 ability to make your own ammo regardless of shortages ( provided one plans ahead and stocks when reasonably priced components are available ).
I've been pulling the handle #58 years now and never regretted it . I also load for #18 calibers excluding 12,20 and 28 gauge shot shell .
I lost count #40 years ago how many rounds I've produced but I shoot MORE than the average #5 guys combined .

Hand tools single stage press not expensive , progressive turrets more $$$$'s ,semi auto round production ,$$$$$ + !.

 

[micmacman]

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[Trigger Monkey]

what do you think the start up cost for a single caliber such as .223 would be from the ground up

It's been a minute since I've reloaded but to be on the safe side I'd budget about $1,200 or so to get set up with a basic single stage reloading kit from Hornady or RCBS with dies, bullets, powder, brass, and primers. Add to that for stuff like a digital scale and/or digital powder dispenser, electronic case prep station, etc...

 

[micmacman]

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[micmacman]

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[micmacman]

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[Ex E6]

NO problem

well i was looking at this to get started , theres a $75 rebate on that price as well , then a tumbler , dies , trimmer , reemers , tripple beam , sure there are some little things i am missing , im not interested in electric scales at this time , something i can upgrade to later if i need/want to , comes with the manual too , may need a different or better one i dont know but its a start

RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Single Stage Press Kit

The RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme press is designed to last a lifetime. The Rock Chucker Supreme Press features easy operation, ambidextrous handle,...

www.midwayusa.com

there are used pieces that also can be had also . I started with a Pacific C which I suspected but could never prove doubled as a Bass boat anchor during fishing seaons . It was pretty rough but got Me by until I bought a RCBS Rock Chucker and that was in the late 60's . Funny thinking back I remember almost buying the Rock Crusher model but declined to to it's weight . It weighed more than My loading bench !.

Had that until late 80's when I hooked up with Mike Dillon and went down the rabbit hole never looking back . I use near everyone's Dies but own 0 Lee anything . RCBS made a lifetime customer out of ME EARLY on ,not a single issue with any of their products ( That I didn't cause ) .

I have an inordinate quantity of Dies , as I've sent numerous units to various specialty companies for specific coatings .
Intended purpose eliminating lube *. I finally found a diamond hardness with 1/2 PTFE friction ,only to be delayed applying it inside a small cylinder such as a Die . " IF " we ever get the PLD PVD configured inside narrow tubes it will CHANGE SHOOTING HISTORY !.

Imagine a Surface coating microns thick with diamond hardness yet coefficient of friction 0.02 half that of Teflon ,what that could mean for BARREL CHAMBER LIFE ,not to mention VELOCITY !. AlMgB14 aka BAM .

Sorry got off track ; What's needed is A press Dies scale powder primers bullets and cases ( Save Your brass once fired cases ) a set of GOOD Vernier Calipers and a case gauge along with Lock N Load bullet comparator Hornady makes em .

It's NOT $1200.00 more like $ 600-700 and YOU'RE on the road of reloading . WARNING it's ADDICTIVE !.

One of the very BEST things anyone can do ,is look around ask Shooting range members ( local ads trade venues ) , IF they know of someone parting with reloading equipment . Some of us are GETTING higher on the ladder rung than others and there comes a time when parting with equipment for cash is preferable to letting the spouse deal with it

Case in point one of My old range partners passed some years back and as he had NO family interested in the shooting sports ,arranged for the club President to LIQUIDATE his reloading and ammo assets .

Holy Shit DEALS galore . Club raised in excess of $250,000.00 in AMMO sales alone and we bought factory and reloads for $0.10- 0.40 on the $ .
Reloads were commercial manufacture . He spent YEARS going to auctions gun shows sales and never sold anything apparently .

Guns were dealt through an FFL closed club sale and reloading stuff was done in lots ,as he had twice as much as I did and I've got a LOT .

Seems NONE of us knew just HOW much stuff he really had but as I helped move it well over # 8 TONS of Ammunition alone .
He invested VERY WELL ,just the ammo boxes alone would have brought maybe $5-7 K
His powder stock made the two biggest Bass Proshops look like a corner 7/11 .
Obviously NO one knew ! , other wise the FD local PD would have cordoned off the entire block as well as arrested all of us !.

We had learned from a similar situation but that's another story . His Widow was OVERWHELMED with the proceeds and left the State moved in with her younger sister . I still get and send a X Mass card every year from her bless her heart .

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