Army bushmaster training aids

[wrecks30]

So, for the third time this month I was tasked to run the Engagement skills trainer (EST) for my unit. For those of you who dont know what an EST is, it is weapons systems fired by compressed air at a movie screen. Now, the weapons are real and modified to work with compressed air. Well, to my surprise, all of the training M4s were bushmasters. Not sure if they were picked up somewhere for cheap or they didnt want waste the colts, but thought i would share what i had seen. Anyone else on an Army installation ever notice this? Why would the US Army use Bushmasters for training aids?

[Stickman]

There are a bunch of Olympic Arms training aids out there as well.

The military isn't converting weapons, they are making orders based on existing equipment which meets their training objectives. The company who makes the equipment makes mods as needed.

[leibermuster]

It has been years since i was in but we had BM rifles for the simulator in the CF. I think that was in 2006 or something the last time I used it.

[evotistic]

The EST we use also uses bushmaster M4's. The EST is a good tool, but there is inevitably one lane down. Not sure if that is more attributed to the compression system, electronics, or the rifle itself.

[RogerinTPA]

I suspect that this information will be distorted by the Bushmaster Fan Boys as 'proof' that the US Army uses BM M-4s, on gun forums internet wide.

[plouffedaddy]

Bushmasters at our EST too.

[wrecks30]

I guess it is more common than I expected, I was just kind of shocked when I seen it.

[Iraqgunz]

This was talked about the last time someone provided "proof positive" of the fabled Army/Bushmaster connection. Hell when I went through basic we used the same machine and for all I know it could have been a BM as well.

[CRAMBONE]

Yeah the ISMT (Marine version) at PI had Bushmaster M-16A2's back in 2004 when I was at bootcamp.

I always wondered if that was where the whole "bushmaster .mil contract bullshit" came from.

[Frens]

There are a bunch of Olympic Arms training aids out there as well.

yup,

Bushy --> EST
Oly --> dummy rifles for the USAF. afaik it's made with working parts (trigger group, bolt, etc) but cant fire live rounds.

ETA: mandatory Oly pics