In late January 2008, Bushmaster Firearms International entered into a licensing agreement with Magpul whereby Bushmaster would take over production, future development, and sales of the Masada.^[5] It was then known as the Bushmaster ACR. However, Remington Arms is contracted to manufacture the rifle for the US military and US law enforcement agencies, in which it is known as the Remington ACR.

Hence, Remington Arms is responsible for the selective fire version of the ACR, while Bushmaster Firearms International is responsible for the semi-automatic only version.

The Remington 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.^[6][7] It was also part of the Individual Carbine competition to replace the M4..

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

Origin

The original Magpul Masada was a hybrid of many contemporary assault rifle designs, combining what its creators regarded to be the greatest aspects of each into a single, lightweight, modular rifle. [8] The Armalite AR-18 (short-stroke gas system), FN SCAR (upper receiver, charging handle location), Heckler & Koch G36 and XM8 (extensive use of polymer components), and M16/AR-15 (trigger pack, barrel, fire control group) all have design elements in common. [requires citation] The bolt-catch/release is said to have been influenced by or copied by the Robinson Armament XCR (which was developed as direct competition to the FN SCAR during the SOCOM SCAR program).

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

A quick-change barrel/trunnion system, adjustable gas regulator, non-reciprocating charging handle, and storage compartments in the stock and grip were among the features featured in the rifle. [10] Magpul made significant adjustments to their design shortly before the Bushmaster transaction, the most noticeable of which was the movement of the ambidextrous operating handle to a forward position (akin to the Heckler & Koch G3 and MP5 line of weapons). The calibre of the weapon may be easily changed by swapping out the bolt head, magazine, and barrel.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

The rifle was originally named after the Siege of Masada. 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”.^[11] When production rights were signed with Bushmaster, the Masada name was dropped from the product.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

Remington and Bushmaster adaption

In January 2008, the design of the Magpul Masada was licensed to Bushmaster Firearms International and the production version of the Masada became known as the Bushmaster ACR.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

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) have also made extensive design changes based on extensive 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. They made sure that the ACR will be capable to endure certain conditions such as exposure to sand, dirt, mud, and water.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

The initial ACR design was offered in the Army’s Individual Carbine competition.^[15] In late 2011, Remington unveiled an improved version specifically for the competition. Improvements included a magnesium lower receiver, A2-style pistol grip, collapsible but non-foldable stock, carbine length gas system, a new barrel nut (which eliminates the quick change barrel), and a folding charging handle. These changes made the weapon 1.8 lbs (.8 kg) lighter.^[16] The Individual Carbine competition was cancelled before a winning weapon was chosen.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

Remington also unveiled a sub-compact variant called the ACR-C Personal Defense Weapon (PDW). This version retains the features of the Individual Carbine variant, except that the folding stock was kept and the barrel was shortened to 9.5 inches. With the stock folded, it is only 19.5 inches long.^[18][19] Remington has replaced this variant with the ACR-PDW.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

In January 2014, Bushmaster unveiled a designated marksman rifle version of the ACR. It includes the Magpul PRS adjustable stock, a longer 18.5 in (470 mm) full profile 416 stainless steel melonite coated barrel (that retains the carbine-length gas system) with 1:7 inch rifling twist, and a Geissele enhanced trigger. The DMR ACR weighs 8.75 lb (3.97 kg) and has an MSRP of $2,799.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

Availability and recall

The ACR is expected to be available to military, government, and commercial clients in the second quarter of 2010. In 2010, it was available in larger quantities (tens of thousands) on the commercial market. [13] The rifle’s suggested retail price was between $2,685 and $3,061, according to a Bushmaster press release,[22] more than twice as much as early pricing quotes of “about $1500.”

A huge segment of the firearms community, as well as potential civilian end-users, were outraged and disappointed by the news. Bushmaster offers semi-automatic variants for the commercial sector, while Remington offers selective fire versions for military and law enforcement. [11] Rifles for the civilian market were available for purchase as of April 2010. [23] ^{Bushmaster issued a recall for all ACR rifles on October 15, 2010, asking owners to “Please immediately halt the usage of your ACR weapon” and to contact customer support for an RMA. Bushmaster ordered the recall due to “a possible firearms performance issue that may arise with a small number of ACR rifles,” and that “Bushmaster uncovered a design flaw that could result in numerous rounds firing continuously when the trigger is squeezed,” according to the company. Bushmaster has said that all costs related with repairing recalled guns will be covered. [24][24]}

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

Remington ACR

The Remington ACR is a gas-operated firearm with a modular construction that fires selectively. It shares several characteristics with current designs like the M16 and FN SCAR. [25] The ACR’s modular system’s main premise is that it can enable a wide range of configurations in a couple of minutes. It is exclusively available in 5.5645mm NATO and 6.8mm Remington SPC for military and law enforcement use. By altering the bolt head, barrel, and magazine, it can change calibres from 5.56 mm to 6.8 mm in minutes at the user level.

All of the rifle’s parts can be easily stripped for cleaning and all of its controls are fully ambidextrous.^[25] A three position (safe, semi-auto and full auto) fire selector lever is located over the pistol grip. A charging handle can be installed on either side of the receiver and does not reciprocate when the weapon is fired. Magazine release button is also ambidextrous. Spent case ejection port is located on the right side of the receiver, however it has a case deflector, which propels the cases away from left-handed shooters.^[25]

The rifle can also be configured for handguard, stock type and trigger unit setup. Among the options for the ACR are various stocks including a fixed adjustable (in terms of length of pull and cheek weld), folding adjustable (folding and six-position telescoping), and sniper stock based on the Magpul PRS stock. The Remington’s handguard model has a five-sided aluminium handguard that can be user configured with MIL-STD-1913 rail elements, while the Bushmaster’s model is polymer with heat guards and attachable aluminium tri-rail.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

The magazine conceived for the 5.56×45mm NATO version of the 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.

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

The rifle is available with four barrel lengths and can be easily converted from a standard rifle (with a 16.5 inch barrel) into a carbine (with a 14.5 inch barrel), into a compact rifle (with a 10.5 inch barrel), or into a designated marksman rifle (with an 18-inch barrel) without any tools. Barrel lengths of the two calibres are exactly the same. The Barrels are hammer-forged and hardened with a nitriding process rather than having chrome plated bores as some other rifles.

Bushmaster ACR

The Bushmaster ACR is a gas operated, semi-automatic rifle of modular design. It utilises an aluminium alloy upper receiver, with polymer pistol grip, trigger, and magazine housing (lower receiver) unit which is attached to the upper receiver using cross-pins.^[26] It is available for the civilian market in 5.56×45mm NATO, 6.8mm Remington SPC and other aftermarket calibre conversions are also available.

As of 2020, the ACR is no longer in production due to Bushmaster’s shuttering after parent company Remington declared bankruptcy..

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

Remington ACR

The Remington ACR is a selective fire modular rifle that is only available for the military and law enforcement market in 5.56×45mm NATO. (Other calibres have been mentioned, although Remington has yet to deliver any).

ACR – 14.5 in (368 mm) barrel, 16.5 in (419 mm) barrel

ACR-PDW – 8.25 in (210 mm) barrel, 10.5 in (267 mm) barrel