Thought some of you fellows might be interested in this. In a recent e-mail, Bushmaster announced:
"The ACR testing and analysis programs are running right on schedule. We are running it through every imaginable scenario to ensure that it’s absolutely ready to be released. Each day brings us closer and closer to the official launch, which is tentatively in the first half of 2010."
Note that the e-mail comes from Bushmaster, but Remington is the company with the pictures and gun specs online. I don't know what to call this thing anymore . . . Magpul/Bushmaster/Remington Masada/ACR. Some guys online are saying that Remington will handle the military contracts, Bushmaster will take care of the civilians.
By the by, I just checked Bushmaster’s webpage, and they have updated the “ACR Product Update” tab to include the above statement with a new picture of the ACR that looks like it’s straight from Remington’s Military site. So far as I know, this has been done fairly recently - within the last week or so, maybe two.
Anyhow, it's an interesting rifle, a bit less novel now than when Magpul first announced its development at SHOT way back in 2007. One of the main distinguishing characteristics of Magpul's original design was the capability to fire either 5.56x45 NATO or 7.62x39 "Commie" ammo with just a few parts swaps, and the very neat ability (as I understand it) to utilize standard Kalashnikov magazines, rather than the NATO modified type of the sort used in most 7.62x39 AR-15 style rifles.
I don't know that Remington/Bushmaster will retain this intriguing function, but I will definitely be looking forward to the ACR release nonetheless.
A brief history in pics:
"Bagman" promo from SHOT 2007. This was based on the 5.56/7.62 concept originally developed by Magpul. According to a Discovery Channel "FutureWeapons" episode featuring the (then) Masada, the idea was that US operators or their allies could leave a very "light footprint" in hostile territory by using the enemy's ammunition. No 5.56 NATO brass laying around means it is much easier to "blend in" to your surroundings and remain anonymous - thus becoming a sort of "bagman." For some reason, Picasa inverts the colors - weird, but I think you can get the general idea.
Poster by Magpul comparing the Masada to the other primary competitors of yesteryear - the M4, the SCAR, and the XM8. The HKXM8 is no more; but the M4 and the SCAR are definitely out there. PDF files won't upload to blogger, but go here and you can see it.
A pic of the Masada.
Very neat folding stock.
Note the rail system. The Magpul Masada originally had a forward handgrip that reminds me of the MOE - doesn't come with rails, but you can attach them yourself.
The Bushmaster flyer for what had become the "Bushmaster ACR"
The current flyer for the "Remington ACR." Whereas the Masada had different forward grips for different configurations, the ACR apparently has a one-size-fits all grip. Integral rails come standard.
Some action shots
Here's hoping the ACR will finally come to fruition.
