During the
past several years, Bushmaster Firearms in Windham, Maine
has become the foremost producer of AR-15 type rifles for the
civilian market. They produce a seemingly endless variety of
high quality weapons for individuals and law enforcement.
Starting as a supplier of parts and accessories for AR-15 and
other type rifles, Bushmaster has risen to the top of the heap,
producing many more AR-15 type rifles than their nearest
competitor.
Now,
Bushmaster has begun manufacturing the unique Carbon 15 series
of rifles and pistols at their facility in Arizona. The Carbon
15 firearms feature a reinforced polymer upper and lower
receiver, along with high quality stainless barrels. They are
gas operated like other Bushmaster firearms, and come supplied
with one ten-round magazine, but will use any AR-15/M16
magazine. Many of the internal parts are common with standard
AR-15 rifles. The Carbon 15 series is chambered for the 5.56mm
NATO cartridge, and will use the .223 Remington cartridge
interchangeably.
We recently
received the Type 97 Carbon 15 pistol for testing. The type 97
features a seven and one-quarter inch fluted stainless barrel
that has a unique detachable muzzle brake. Sliding a spring
loaded collar forward releases the brake for simple removal,
without tools, and it pops right back on just as easily. While
the 5.56mm cartridge has very little recoil already, the muzzle
brake eliminates muzzle rise entirely. The stainless gas
tube is covered by a ventilated heat shield that is very
effective in protecting the hand from the hot tube during rapid
firing of the weapon. The type 97 wears the very comfortable
Hogue hard rubber pistol grip. The controls on the weapon will
be very familiar to anyone who has used an AR-15 or M16 rifle.
The safety positions are clearly and brightly marked. The
magazine release is protected from accidental operation, but is
readily accessible for quick magazine changes. The bolt locks
open on an empty magazine, and has the familiar bolt release on
the left side.
The overall
length of the Carbon 15 pistol is twenty inches, but the weight
is a feathery 46 ounces. That is lighter than a Ruger Super Blackhawk
or a Smith & Wesson Classic .44 Magnum revolver. The Type 97
has a windage adjustable rear ghost ring sight with a ramped
post front. The upper receiver is grooved to accept a special
Picatinny scope mount base that securely attaches with one
screw, and still allows the use of the open sights.
Bushmaster also sells mounts to attach a flashlight or laser
sight to the grooved barrel of the Type 97 pistol.
I was at first
a bit apprehensive about firing the Carbon 15 pistol, thinking
that the noise of shooting 5.56mm ammo in a gun with a seven and
one-quarter inch barrel would be horrendous. As it turned out,
the noise wasn’t bad at all wearing standard shooting muffs. I
fired several types of 5.56mm and .223 ammo through the pistol
for testing both functioning and accuracy. The intrinsic
accuracy of the little AR is as good as any good rifle, but with
the short barrel it is not meant to be a benchrest gun. I did
not mount a large scope on the little gun as that would have
been foolish, and not in keeping with the purpose of the compact
and lightweight firearm, instead choosing to mount the excellent
Trijicon Reflex dot sight.
The Reflex is durable, accurate, and lightweight, and is
perfectly suited to the Carbon 15 pistol. Reliability with all
of the types of ammunition was flawless in the Type 97. Every
round fed, fired, and ejected perfectly. The C15 ejected the
empty brass to the right and rear of the shooter, without any
damage to the cases. Many short barreled AR type weapons
have reliability problems, but the Carbon 15 worked without a
hitch, every time. The muzzle brake totally eliminated muzzle
rise during firing, making it very easy to rapidly make multiple
hits on the target. I really like the detachable feature of the
muzzle brake. The design would make it easy to attach a flash
hider or sound suppressor to the muzzle, should a shooter choose
to legally obtain either.
This would be
as good a place as any to discuss the purpose of the short
little AR. There are places where this pistol would prove to be
much handier than a rifle, such as in the confines of an
automobile or a cramped hallway. For a police entry team, the
Carbon 15 would be very maneuverable, while still carrying
thirty rounds of 5.56mm firepower. Out of the short barrel,
military ball and hollow point ammo has a velocity of over
seventeen hundred feet per second, and has virtually no recoil.
Rapid fire repeat hits are easy. Muzzle flash from the short
barrel is bright, as can be seen in the accompanying
photo, but a good flash hider would take care of that for those
who need one.
There is also
another place where this pistol excels, and it became apparent
to me during the testing of the Carbon 15. Without a doubt, this
pistol is one of the most downright fun guns to shoot that I
have ever tried. Loading a GI surplus magazine with thirty
rounds of ball ammo and blasting away at rocks and steel plates
is, for some reason, extremely enjoyable! The lack of recoil and
bright muzzle flash in rapid fire is a real hoot, and has to be
experienced to be fully appreciated. There are times when a gun
means the difference between life and death, and the Carbon 15
can fulfill that role if needed. There are also times when
shooting should be relaxing and entertaining, without thinking
about tactical drills and exercises. This pistol is very
entertaining, for the shooter and observer alike. It is
lightweight, handy, reliable, and just plain fun.
Check out the
entire line of Bushmaster products at: www.bushmaster.com.
Jeff Quinn
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