Bushmaster M4 Type Carbine
The Bushmaster M4 or M4A3 is a semi-automatic or select-fire carbine size assault rifle manufactured by Bushmaster Firearms International, modeled on the AR-15. It is one of the Bushmaster XM15 line of rifles and carbines.
Also recorded as XM15-E2S
Bushmaster M4 Type Carbine

Mika Järvinen · originally posted to Flickr as M4gery · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Bushmaster M4-type carbine
- Field
- carbine
- Region
- United States
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Documentary summary
The Bushmaster M4 or M4A3 is a semi-automatic or select-fire carbine size assault rifle manufactured by Bushmaster Firearms International, modeled on the AR-15. It is one of the Bushmaster XM15 line of rifles and carbines.
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Is Ranged — yes • Name — Bushmaster M4-type carbine • Type — Assault rifle Carbine Semi-automatic carbine (M4gery) • Origin — United States • Wars — War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) War in Iraq (2003–2011) • Length — 882.7 mm (34.75 in) • Action — Gas-operated, closed rotating bolt, Stoner bolt and carrier piston • Part Length — 406.4 mm (16 in) • Range — 300 m • Feed — STANAG magazines • Sights — Iron sights or various optics • Cartridge —.223 Remington 5.56×45mm NATO 6.8mm Remington SPC 7.62×39mm • Rate — 700–950 round/min (fully automatic) • Weight — 2.82 kg (6.22 lb) • Manufacturer — Bushmaster Firearms International
Design
Design
The M4 Type Carbine is a copy of the Colt M4 carbine. The semi-automatic version is marketed to the U.S. civilian market in compliance with the National Firearms Act. A select fire variant can be ordered by military or law enforcement organizations with three-round burst or fully automatic capability. The rifle's caliber is.223 Remington/5.56×45mm NATO, and the barrel is hard chrome lined in both the bore and chamber. Unlike the current Colt M4 Carbine which features a four-position telescopic stock, the Bushmaster has a six-position stock. It is compatible with most standard AR-15 parts, can mount various attachments such as options on its picatinny rails and has the ability to accept all AR-15/M16 type STANAG magazines. The standard M4 Type Carbine features a permanently fixed "Izzy" flash suppressor attached to a 14.5 in barrel, which brings the barrel to a total length of 16 in. Bushmaster also produces the Patrolman's Carbine variant which features the more common removable "bird cage" flash suppressor, attached to a 16 in barrel, bringing the total barrel length to 17.5 in. Both of these comply with current U.S. federal law which states a minimum 16 in barrel for a rifle. There is also a military M4 Type Carbine which comes with a 14.5 in barrel and a removable "bird cage" flash suppressor. An M4 Type Post-Ban Carbine was developed for the 1994 United States Federal Assault Weapons Ban requirements. Since the ban expired in 2004, this rifle has essentially been replaced by the M4A2 and M4A3. Some states in the U.S. have kept these laws, so the rifle is still being produced.
Legal issues
Legal issues
A trademark dispute between Bushmaster and Colt's Manufacturing Company concerned the use of the "M4" name. The M4 was developed and produced for the United States government by Colt, which had an exclusive contract to produce the M4 family of weapons until 2009. Several other manufacturers, including Bushmaster, offer M4-like firearms, nicknamed "M4geries." Colt previously held a U.S. trademark on the term "M4." In April 2004, Colt filed a lawsuit against Bushmaster and Heckler & Koch, claiming acts of trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, trademark dilution, false designation of origin, false advertising, patent infringement, unfair competition, and deceptive trade practices. Heckler & Koch later settled out of court. On December 8, 2005, a District court judge in Maine granted a summary judgment in favor of Bushmaster Firearms, dismissing all of Colt's claims except for false advertising. On the latter claim, Colt could not recover monetary damages. The court also ruled that "M4" was now a generic name, and that Colt's trademark should be revoked.
Users
Users
• Illustration — A map with users of the Bushmaster M4 in blue. • Czech Republic: The Bushmaster M4A3 B.M.A.S. is used by special forces units of the Czech Armed Forces. These rifles are usually seen with an M203 grenade launcher. The 601st Special Forces Group is armed with the M4A3. • Georgia: Used by the Georgian Army, some taken by Russian troops after the Russo-Georgian War. • Italy: Used by NOCS. • Kuwait: Used by the Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade. • Malaysia: Used by Royal Malaysian Customs • New Zealand: New Zealand Police (including Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group), replaced the Remington Model 7 as their standard-issue rifle. • Russia: Captured from Georgia after Russo-Georgian War. Reportedly in use with Alpha Group. • United States • Amtrak Police Department: Awarded a contact for 100 Bushmaster M4-type Patrolman's carbines in 2011. • Cambridge Police Department (Massachusetts) • Uruguay
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Czech Special Operations soldier in Afghanistan with a Bushmaster M4A3. • Illustration — A Georgian soldier with a Bushmaster M4.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- United States
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Vining, Miles. ISAF armament of BLS. 22 April 2016.
- 2.Bushmaster M4 - Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum.
- 3.Walmart Pulls Gun From Website In Wake Of Shooting. HuffPost. 2012-12-18.
- 4.M, Sam. Bushmaster M4 Type Carbine (AR-15) Review. Gunivore. 2017-01-29.
- 5.Bushmaster Firearms International. Bushmaster XM15 E2S M4A2 Type Carbine.
- 6.Terrill, Daniel. Remington sues gov't over Army's contract with FN, Colt. guns.com. 12 August 2015.
- 7.Trademark Status & Document Retrieval. tsdr.uspto.gov.
- 8.Openjurist.org. OpenJurist synopsis of denial of Colt's appeal to 08 Dec 2005 ruling.
- 9.Archived copy.
- 10.601skss.cz. 601st Special Forces Group Official Website.
- 11.Kivimäki, Veli-Pekka. How Did American Weapons End Up at Donetsk Airport?. bellingcat. 19 January 2015.
- 12.Royal Malaysian Customs Academy. Royal Malaysian Customs Academy: Firing range. Royal Malaysian Customs. 2010.
- 13.New Zealand Police. Replacement due for police rifles. 2005-05-19.
- 14.Gray, Warren. Weapons of Russia’s FSB Alfa Commandos. SOFREP. 2026-03-15.
- 15.Emeritus, F. Riehl, Editor. Bushmaster Secures Contract to Supply Rifles to the Amtrak Police Department. AmmoLand Shooting Sports News. 8 September 2011.
- 16.C, Luke. Cambridge Police Commissioner makes Plans to Reduce Gun Inventory. The Firearm Blog. 26 February 2021.
- 17.Hogg, Ian. Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. 12 November 2002. 000712760X.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 2
- Neville, Leigh. European Counter-Terrorist Units. Osprey. 2017. 978-1472825278.
- Neville, Leigh. The Elite: The A–Z of Modern Special Operations Forces. Osprey Publishing. 2019. 978-1472824295.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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