Bushmaster and Magpul Team to Bring Advanced Rifle to Market

Bushmaster and Magpul Team to Bring Advanced Rifle to Market

Windham, ME – Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC (BFI) announced today that it has signed an exclusive license deal with Magpul Industries Corp. for the production, future development, and sales of Magpul’s prototype MASADA weapon system.

The Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) will initially be offered in 5.56 NATO, available for law enforcement and civilian purchase early 2009. This release will be followed by military ACR versions in the later in 2009..

“The opportunity to partner with such an innovative company as Magpul, is a very exciting step in the growth and evolution of Bushmaster’s product line.” said Chad Brooks, CEO of Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC.

Without government funding or outside influence of any kind, the Masada concept was developed from scratch in Boulder, Colorado by Magpul’s Design Group. The initial Masada concept was first shown publicly at the 2007 Shot Show and its success prompted Magpul to spend a year redesigning the system for production.

Richard Fitzpatrick, CEO Magpul, said, “As the design progressed, we began to realize we needed to find a partner who shared our vision, and could drive production at a suitable volume without sacrificing quality. We entertained a number of ideas and offers, but in the end, a partnership with Bushmaster was the logical choice. Their production capabilities, distribution network, and brand name were the best match for our goal of getting this rifle into civilian, law enforcement, and military hands.”

The result is the ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) which keeps the fundamentals of the Masada concept with added advanced features such as firing pin block and true ambidextrous charging handle.

The ACR will be available for hands on viewing in the Bushmaster and Magpul booths in the Law Enforcement section at SHOT Show 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Among the ACR’s key features are a gas piston operating system, tool-less quick change barrel, multi-adjustable folding stock with integrated storage, and backward compatibility with a number of AR15/M16 parts. Due to similar operating controls, user transition from the M16 series of weapons is easily facilitated with minimal re-training.

The Bushmaster ACR will initially be available in 3 SKUS: Standard Carbine with fixed stock, Entry Carbine with folding stock, and Special Purpose Rifle with Precision Rifle Stock. Live fire demonstration and test and evaluations beginning in the end of March to qualified law enforcement and federal government agencies.

About:
Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC (BFI) is the leading supplier of AR15/M16 type rifles in the United States for Law Enforcement, Public and Private Security and Safety applications, as well as consumer use. Headquartered in Windham, Maine – with additional facilities in Dallas, Georgia and Lake Havasu, Arizona, BFI supplies both Aluminum and advanced Carbon Fiber based rifle platforms in calibers ranging from 5.56mm/.223 to .50BMG, as well as associated accessories, to it’s US customer base, in addition to Law Enforcement, Security and Military customers in over 50 countries around the world.

About:
Magpul Industries Corp is a privately held Colorado corporation, founded in 1999 by a former U.S. Reconnaissance
Marine Sergeant Richard Fitzpatrick. Magpul is named after its original product, an item to improve the speed of tactical magazine changes. The resulting patented product, the Magpul, has over one million units fielded worldwide and is in service with many military and law enforcement agencies. Magpul is notable in the industry as a company that focuses on the end user of an item and self-funds its product development outside of normal government solicitations.

From the success of the original design came other tactical accessories such as stocks, grips, a polymer AR15/M16 magazine and other complete weapon systems.