“Bushmaster is back! We are 49 years in the making, and we are so excited to bring this gorgeous, all-American-made, quality company back,” said Isabelle DeCocco, Bushmaster’s representative at their SHOT Show booth who walked us through the brand-new rifle system. “It is a straight-pullback bolt-action rifle … It has an XM-10 barrel, XM-10 handguards, and an XM-10 magazine for easy caliber conversions and just easy customization for that individual.”
One of now only two straight-pull American bolt-action rifles in production – the other being Savage’s Impulse line launched in early 2021 – the BA30 stands out because it can be operated in a “sling-shot” fashion thanks to the spring-assisted bolt. Shooters can quickly rack the bolt to the rear and release it to allow the spring tension to chamber the next round. In and of itself, it’s a pretty unique feature, and it even felt strikingly familiar as a shooter accustomed to charging handles on semi-auto rifles.
Made from all-American parts, the platform offers interchangeable barrels with the current options being either .308 Win or 6.5 Creedmoor. You can choose between two barrel lengths, 24 and 18 inches, which offer a 1:10 twist for .308 and 1:8 for 6.5 Creedmoor. The gun hosts a DM25 two-stage trigger with a top Picatinny rail and M-LOK along the handguard. For those who like to tinker with their firearms a bit, the AR-style of the BA30 offers plenty of flexibility, including dropping in a different AR trigger.
The gun offers a comfortable, linear recoil impulse thanks to the barrel running in line with the adjustable stock. As an AR-style platform, the gun is modular from end to end, with options for interchangeable pistol grips and handguards. There’s also an ambidextrous magazine release and bolt handle. While the rifle sports the Snake Charmer muzzle brake, we were happy to find it pleasantly soft shooting even in a .308 chambering with a suppressor at the SHOT Show range day.
Currently, the rifle boasts a bent bolt handle, but word on the street is that Bushmaster is also looking to add a 90-degree bolt handle for shooters who prefer easier access for faster shooting. When we finally got behind the gun at the range, it had already cycled hundreds of rounds and had all the signs of a well-fed gun on the firing line. Still, we found operating the bolt was quite intuitive and easy, and the AR-style platform gave it a certain familiarity even on our first shots.
With both Savage and now Bushmaster offering innovative new American straight-pull bolt guns, the prospect of more models and even brands entering the market feels promising. While the launch of two American straight-pull rifles in two years may not make a trend just yet, it wouldn’t surprise us to see more follow given the interest they’ve sparked so far.
