To commemorate Bushmaster’s 50th anniversary, the company is releasing limited-edition XM15A2 and M4A2 Patrolman’s rifles. We caught up with these iconic guns at Bushmaster’s booth in Las Vegas for SHOT Show 2024.

The retro 50th Anniversary XM15A2 is a classic semi-auto-only Vietnam-era M16. Barring a few updates, these are recreations of the original rifles Bushmaster produced back in 1973. The shorter M4A2 Patrolman’s rifle is the carbine variant akin to the one some fans of the movie “Heat” may remember well. 

It has received the same limited-edition treatment as the commemorative XM15A2 while sporting a shorter 16-inch barrel with matching M4-style furniture from that time period.

These rifles are beautiful and really harken back to a different time. The XM15A2’s upper is forged with an integrated A2 carry handle. The gun runs a rifle-length gas system, 20-inch chrome-lined barrel, chrome-lined bolt, A2 flash hider, and classic A2 furniture.

For some reason, these AR-15s with carry handles are having a resurgence. I’m seeing them all over the place, and it’s getting me nostalgic to the point that I really want one.
 

Only 50 of these limited-edition 50th Anniversary XM15A2 rifles will be produced. They will come with serialized challenge coins and certificates of authenticity, and they will have the 50th anniversary logo printed on the lower receiver. Both a Gold and California-compliant edition will be available. 

If you can’t get your hands on a limited-edition version, Bushmaster will offer standard, non-limited XM15A2s as well.