Bushmaster XM-15

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Bushmaster Dissipator Model XM-15 rifle with aftermarket handguards

File:D.C. Sniper Bushmaster XM-15 Rifle.png

The Bushmaster XM-15 used by the D.C. snipers during their attacks in October 2002

The Bushmaster XM-15 series (or XM15<ref name="opmanual"/>) is a line of AR-15 style semi-automatic rifles and carbines manufactured by Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC.<ref name="McNab"/> Variants include the Bushmaster M4-type Carbine, Patrolman series, QRC series, Bushmaster XM15-E2S, and the Carbon 15 line.<ref name="McNab"/><ref name="sales brochure"/>

VariantsEdit

The standard XM-15 has a forged 7075T6 aircraft-grade aluminum upper and lower receiver. Barrels of XM-15 firearms have a heavy profile and are hard chrome-lined 4150 alloy steel or 416 stainless steel.<ref name="McNab"/><ref name="otheropmanual"/> In Bushmaster's 2016 sales brochure, all new-production XM-15s are stated to be supplied with a 4150 steel barrel.<ref name="sales brochure"/> The standard barrel has rifling of 1 turn in 9".<ref name="opmanual"/>

E2S Series: The basic E2S is fitted with a 16-inch carbine-style barrel.
- E2S Target<ref name="Catalog">Template:Cite book</ref> - 20" heavy-barrel target rifle with A2-style stock and carry handle upper, also available with 24" and 26" barrels.
- E2S Shorty<ref name="Guns2011">Template:Cite book</ref> - 16-inch version with a "shorty" handguard.<ref name="Catalog"/>
- E2S Shorty AK<ref name="Guns2011"/> - Shorty variant with 14.5-inch carbine SBR barrel with an AK-74-style muzzle brake permanently welded to the end to increase the overall length to 16 inches.
- E2S Dissipator<ref name="Guns2011"/> - Variant with a Bushmaster-designed 16-inch "Dissipator" barrel. This mounts a disused gas block with a front sight at the 20" position with the actual used gas block in the carbine position and concealed under a rifle-length 12" handguard allowing more forearm support and room to accessorize the rifle.
QRC Series: Formerly known as ORC ("optics ready carbine"), but now styled as QRC ("quick response carbine"), are flat-top rifles without iron sights, provided with a simple 1x20 red-dot optic. QRC is chambered in 5.56x45mm with a 1:8 twist melonite coated barrel, M16 style bolt carrier group & mil-spec buffer tube.
Patrolman Series:<ref name="Catalog"/> - 7" or 10.5" barrel "pistol" version with a free-float handguard and no stock. Also available as a military or LE select-fire version.
Bushmaster M4-Type Carbine

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Carbon 15

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File:This AR-15 was found in classroom 10 after the shooting.jpg

The Bushmaster XM15-E2S used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

NotorietyEdit

The Bushmaster XM15-E2S "M4 type" carbine first gained notoriety for its use in the October 2002 Beltway sniper attacks.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A Bushmaster XM15-E2S carbine was displayed in a February 2011 video message by Caucasus Emirate leader Dokka Umarov. Bushmaster rifles were captured by pro-Russian forces during the Russo-Georgian War.<ref name=calob> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A Bushmaster XM-15 was used in the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Just before the second anniversary of the massacre, nine families of the 26 victims of the shooting filed a class action lawsuit in Connecticut against Bushmaster, Remington Arms and others,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> seeking "unspecified" damages for the defendants' purported negligent entrustment and illegal marketing of the XM-15 rifle.<ref name="CNN">Template:Cite news</ref> Plaintiffs argued that both theories of liability fell within exceptions to the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which affords broad civil immunity to gun manufacturers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="obbieatlantic">Template:Cite news</ref> The case was dismissed in superior court and was appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In March 2019, the Connecticut Supreme Court reinstated the wrongful death lawsuit, holding that the plaintiffs successfully pleaded a cause of action for illegal marketing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Remington appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which denied review on November 12, 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On February 15, 2022, Remington Arms insurers settled with families of Sandy Hook victims and agreed to pay a total of $73 million to families.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

XM-15 rifles were also used in the 1997 North Hollywood shootout (illegally converted to full auto),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the 2018 Nashville Waffle House shooting,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the 2022 Buffalo shooting.<ref name="WP weapons">Template:Cite news</ref>

An XM15-E2 was captured from Islamic State fighters in Sinjar Mountains by Peshmerga during the Iraqi Civil War.<ref name ="CAR 2014">Template:Cite book</ref>

LegalityEdit

As of October 2, 2000, California has banned the Bushmaster XM15 by name in the Kasler v. Lockyer Assault Weapon List, among other AR-style rifles by Armalite, DPMS, Colt, and Eagle Arms, to name a few.<ref>Kasler v. Lockyer Assault Weapon List</ref>

As a result of the Sandy Hook school shooting:

New York State banned the Bushmaster XM-15 series and assault weapons in the January 2013 NY SAFE Act.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The XM-15 series is among over 100 named firearms added to the Connecticut state assault weapon ban list in an April 2013 amendment, passed in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>