Colt and BCM uppers

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unlimited4x4

unlimited4x4

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Im at the home stretch of my first build and looking at either a BCM or Colt mid length upper. I don't think I can go wrong with either. I found a couple of good deals on colt LE6920 uppers. How do they compare to the BCM? I plan to use the heck out of this rifle, so I want it to be reliable. It will not be a safe queen. Also, While searching for an upper on gun broker, the phrase "factory take off" is used with a lot of the colt descriptions. What is meant by this?

Thanks
 
Colt doesn't offer mid length uppers, they only offer carbine length gas systems. If you are set on a mid length gas system, they you would need to go BCM. As far as construction goes they both use top quality components and I wouldn't worry about either.

If you can settle for a carbine length gas system, then I'm sure you can find some very good deals out there on LE6920 uppers. A lot of people seem to buying those 6920's to get a Colt marked lower, and you can often find those same people selling the upper for a pretty good price. However if you want an upper with something other than a mid length gas system, 16.1" barrel, and a pre-installed quad rail you should look at what BCM has to offer.
 
I went with BCM for mine. More available and better selection. Quality is just as good as Colt. Same materials and testing/QC done. Be sure to get a BCM bolt carrier group togo with it so you have the best of the best where it all counts (upper+BCG).
 
RRA doesn't even compare to Colt or BCM, and most people don't care for a 1:9 twist barrel. That's not to say that they aren't decent, or even good, but they aren't built to the same specs.

As much as I dearly love BCM, you couldn't go wrong with Daniel Defense, either. Look at whatever the best deal is. I hear back and forth about LMT, but it seems most folks are happy with them.
 
Yeah, RRA does compare: they make great stuff that shoots sub-moa, for great prices, while still made in usa.

Not everybody needs to run the BCM/DD OBEY brand names, do we? No, in America we have the freedom of choices. Excellent.

Good times.
 
The OP asked specifically about Colt or BCM. Sorry, but RRA is not in the same playing field as those two companies. Does that mean that RRA is garbage; no. But look at some facts, and understand that it just isn't the same. I'd take a RRA or DPMS, or many others; but for a gun that is going to be run hard, there are better out there.

Try not to take my comments as a slight towards your character, as they aren't. But facts are facts.
 
Your opinion is just that: yours. If you don't like my opinion, don't read it, and don't take a dump on someone else's opinion when it does not fall into the "BCM/DD/LWRT" canyon of OBEY my theory. Got it?

There's great options out there-we have choices and can educate others here in the forums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ikq9PrTp7M
 
Yeah, RRA does compare: they make great stuff that shoots sub-moa, for great prices, while still made in usa.
Click to expand...

This is like the archetype of "I must defend my choice" posts. So, name one single AR15 for sale in the US that is not made in the US? (hint: there are none) Every AR15 you can readily buy in the US is made here, and most of them have 100% US parts (apart from some minor fasteners, and the better ones - like Colt and BCM - have US-made fasteners as well).

I've owned RRA along with about 8 other brands. From what I've seen RRA makes pretty guns intended for hobbyists.
 
I'm not defending a choice that I made.


SIGs ARs are not built in Europe?


Choices are good, choices are great, if you only OBEY the mainstream gun sellers, what do you get?
 
rock river make nice guns, especially for high power shooting. but for a hard use gun, they leave a lot to be desired. and sorry, but nutnfancy reviews as a whole are kind-of silly.

as others have mentioned colt doesn't make a midlength upper, which makes me want to say, do more homework, you aren't ready to complete your build yet. however, between colt and bcm, you can't go wrong with either, and i don't think either has a leg up on the other. bcm will offer more options in terms of configuration.
 
what about 7.62 ars? of course there are plenty of choices out there. when you require your ar to run under hard use, your choices narrow. the op asked about colt and bcm....those are his/her choices.
 
PLEASE, lets not get started with the internet arguing. There are other brands, and I have considered them. And everyone is entitled to their opinion. Two other brands I have considered are DD and PSA. DD would be stretching my budget though. PSA is a option, just not sure they have been around long enough to be "proven" like the others. I plan on having only one rifle, so I want it to be the best it can be in my budget. Some might chastise me for limiting my upper selection due to budget, but that is not my only criteria and not my leading criteria. It is however a fact of life. BCM,LMT, RRA and PSA are all within my budget. I have read about all of them, and everyone has a opinion regarding these brands and who is better. But I was specifically looking at BCM and Colt. I have wavered for some time with the PSA idea. The majority of the reviews I have read were positive about PSA. Not sure I want to take the chance though. BCM and Colt are two companies with very solid reputations. Thank-you all for your thoughts and opinions.
 
if it were me, and my budget allowed a bcm upper, i would choose them over psa without a second thought.
 
unlimited, I think you've narrowed the field down to a couple of fine choices. Although I really don't think that I can say that one is definitely better than the other, I can say that both are built to be run hard.

Given your choices, I think that the last deciding factor would be price and options. Although I do like the Colts, I think that my preference would lean toward getting a BCM; if for no other reason than being able to get the mid length gas system. The longer sight radius and longer handguards are worth getting. As a perk, the mid length will likely shoot a bit more smoothly too.

While you're at it, I'd also recommend going ahead and ordering a spare buffer spring, a few sets of gas rings and extractor springs. I'm assuming that you are planning to shoot the rifle plenty. These are regular wear and maintenance items.
 
Two other brands I have considered are DD and PSA. DD would be stretching my budget though. PSA is a option, just not sure they have been around long enough to be "proven" like the others. I plan on having only one rifle, so I want it to be the best it can be in my budget. Some might chastise me for limiting my upper selection due to budget, but that is not my only criteria and not my leading criteria. It is however a fact of life. BCM,LMT, RRA and PSA are all within my budget. I have read about all of them, and everyone has a opinion regarding these brands and who is better. But I was specifically looking at BCM and Colt.
Click to expand...

I own 1-BCM, 1-PSA, and several DD complete uppers, along with a number of other brands. I continue to be puzzled at DD's premium prices relative to BCM - while DD is also top quality, to the extent that I can find any difference between DD and BCM, it favors BCM. If I could only have one single AR and it would be primarily for defensive use or multigun competition, choosing among significant brands it would be a BCM without a second thought.

As for PSA, I was unwittingly one of their beta testers, and I think enough has been said.

Choices are good, choices are great, if you only OBEY the mainstream gun sellers, what do you get?
Click to expand...

Last I checked RRA had greater sales volume than BCM and was readily available in far more gunshops including some chain stores. BCM is primarily an internet order or carried at a small handful of really knowledgeable gunshops.

Hmmm, there's something out there besides the BCMLWRCDD alphabet soup? Wow.....
Click to expand...

LWRC is barely even in the AR business... listing them there is like listing Subaru, Fisker, and Mazda... one of these things is not like the other. Looking at AR sales volume you would see DPMS, Remington (R-15), Bushmaster, and S&W out in front, followed roughly by Colt, RRA, Olympic, Armalite, and Spike's Tactical, probably Windham Weaponry (former Bushmaster plant), then you would start seeing some of the higher end brands (other than Colt) that are being discussed here. Go to a chain sporting goods store and see what AR brands they carry. Go to a local jack-of-all-trades gunshop and see what they have in stock.
 
Again, thanks for all the responses. I love hearing from the people that own multiple brands of rifles. One of the responses said I need to do more research because Colt does not make a middy. I knew that, but was willing to possibly go with a carbine length for a quality upper. However, after a few of the comments regarding the benefit of the extra handguard length and site radius, I'm down to BCM.
 
powder said:
Your opinion is just that: yours. If you don't like my opinion, don't read it, and don't take a dump on someone else's opinion when it does not fall into the "BCM/DD/LWRT" canyon of OBEY my theory. Got it?

There's great options out there-we have choices and can educate others here in the forums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ikq9PrTp7M
Click to expand...
Oh get out of here! The OP asked specifically about Colt and BCM, and you come in here with this RRA crap. Why can't we stay on topic and not turn every AR thread into a my DPMS, RRA, etc, etc is as good as your Colt, BCM, etc.? Go have fun with your RRA and stay out of threads that don't concern you.
 
Choices are good, choices are great, if you only OBEY the mainstream gun sellers, what do you get?
Click to expand...

You get high quality weapons with hard earned reputations for reliability, accuracy, longevity and customer service.

To address your calling DD and BCM "mainstream", while way more RRAs, S&W, and other brands are sold at silly prices in gunshops throughout the country. A company like BCM who mainly sells complete uppers to people who source their own lower can hardly be considered "mainstream", aside from its group of loyal followers. I agree that Colt has a bit of a cult following (Colt following :uhoh:) but it is well earned.

An RRA or Bushmaster or Armalite or any other mid-quality-level rifle is great, until your barrel wears out prematurely or you experience malfunctions because it lacks chrome lining, the gas key comes apart from the bolt carrier because it was not staked properly, or you can't shoot certain brands of ammo due to an out of spec chamber. There's a reason people pay extra for an upper that is assembled properly from high quality parts.
 
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