Welding Rod
Member
If you have had any kind of problem(s), please describe it / them.
Poll on BCM Quality
- Thread starter Welding Rod
- Start date
- Status
Dionysusigma
Member
I have had absolutely zero problems with my BCM upper (20" Gov't profile HPT/MPI), bolt carrier group (also MPI/HPT, and Auto configuration), and charging handle (GFH Mod.4).
Ammo run through it so far has been 20 rounds of PPy Match 75gr BTHP, 20 rounds of Hornady Match 75gr BTHP, 140 rounds of Cor-Bon bulk .223, and 540 rounds of Federal XM193--total of 720. Everything works exactly as Eugene Stoner intended, and accuracy is great (though better with the heavier bullet weights as a 1:7 twist tends to be). I also have a few hundred rounds of Brown Bear .223 and IMI M855 that I plan on running through it soon.
Others place the quality of BCM at the same level as Daniel Defense, Noveske, and even Colt. My next two rifle builds are going to be BCM-uppered, and that's after spending months of research on most AR companies out there.
Long story short: I trust them.
Ammo run through it so far has been 20 rounds of PPy Match 75gr BTHP, 20 rounds of Hornady Match 75gr BTHP, 140 rounds of Cor-Bon bulk .223, and 540 rounds of Federal XM193--total of 720. Everything works exactly as Eugene Stoner intended, and accuracy is great (though better with the heavier bullet weights as a 1:7 twist tends to be). I also have a few hundred rounds of Brown Bear .223 and IMI M855 that I plan on running through it soon.
Others place the quality of BCM at the same level as Daniel Defense, Noveske, and even Colt. My next two rifle builds are going to be BCM-uppered, and that's after spending months of research on most AR companies out there.
Long story short: I trust them.
steven58
Member
I have built 3 ARs using complete BCM uppers, bolts and bolt carriers.
2 were 16" carbines for friends and one was a 16" mid-length for myself. All have 1/7 twist.
Together we have shot over 8000 rounds of mixed Wolf, Brown Bear, Federal XM193, Win. White Box and Remington with bullet weights of 75, 65 and 55 gr. with 0 problems of any kind.
These are all well build high quality components with superb fit and finish.
2 were 16" carbines for friends and one was a 16" mid-length for myself. All have 1/7 twist.
Together we have shot over 8000 rounds of mixed Wolf, Brown Bear, Federal XM193, Win. White Box and Remington with bullet weights of 75, 65 and 55 gr. with 0 problems of any kind.
These are all well build high quality components with superb fit and finish.
Welding Rod
Member
Thanks guys.
Wow, I figured with all the BCM proponents that more people would have actually owned them.
Wow, I figured with all the BCM proponents that more people would have actually owned them.
RockyMtnTactical
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2006
- Messages
- 3,539
I just got my 5th BCM upper today. I have put probably 4-5K rounds through my first one before I sold it to a friend. Nothing was wrong with it though.
Jaybird78
Member
Mine has run flawless for over 1000 rounds.
I will be a repeat customer.
I will be a repeat customer.
wnycollector
Member
I am the happy owner of a 14.5" upper with pinned FSC556. I have put ~1200 rounds of silver bear 62gr HP ammo and 250 rounds of wolf 75gr HP w/o a single hiccup. I plan on picking up another BCM upper (BCM SPR Mk12) in the spring.
Zerodefect
member
I have two BCM uppers and BCG's. Both 100% flawless. Lost count of ammo, but it's 5000+.
(note: I don't shoot el cheapo ammo, only brass cases and copper jackets for me)
(note: I don't shoot el cheapo ammo, only brass cases and copper jackets for me)
Gary G23
Member
I've owned three BCM uppers:
16" mid-length
14.5" carbine
14.5" mid-length
All have been flawless
16" mid-length
14.5" carbine
14.5" mid-length
All have been flawless
Birddog1911
Member
Give it time; you'll get more of a response. Also, there are not as many AR shooters here as there are at AR15.com
My 14.5" FSC556 mid length on a BCM lower has been completely flawless. I haven't even bothered to clean it yet.
My 14.5" FSC556 mid length on a BCM lower has been completely flawless. I haven't even bothered to clean it yet.
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
Good stuff---buy with confidence
ny32182
Member
I have two BCM rifles, a 16" midlength and 11.5" SBR, both with the govt material spec and "govt profile" (except for length) barrels.
I don't shoot them a lot, but the only quirks I've noticed are:
-During one range session with the 16", the CH was unlocking during firing; I could never figure out what was going on with that. I changed to a different CH and it hasn't happened since.
-The main action spring in the 11.5" (same lower as the 16") seemed to not be as strong as that in my unfired Colt 6920 once when I was comparing just the two. I've meant to compare, just by feel, to some others but haven't done that yet. The only reason I was comparing those two is that is what was in front of me at the time, and the 11.5" once didn't go into battery all the way when I was charging it from a full mag, using the CH (a situation of maximum drag on the BCG). It only has done that once and the rifle is still relatively new.
Overall I think they make good quality stuff, and their lowers also have every quality I like to see in a lower.
I don't shoot them a lot, but the only quirks I've noticed are:
-During one range session with the 16", the CH was unlocking during firing; I could never figure out what was going on with that. I changed to a different CH and it hasn't happened since.
-The main action spring in the 11.5" (same lower as the 16") seemed to not be as strong as that in my unfired Colt 6920 once when I was comparing just the two. I've meant to compare, just by feel, to some others but haven't done that yet. The only reason I was comparing those two is that is what was in front of me at the time, and the 11.5" once didn't go into battery all the way when I was charging it from a full mag, using the CH (a situation of maximum drag on the BCG). It only has done that once and the rifle is still relatively new.
Overall I think they make good quality stuff, and their lowers also have every quality I like to see in a lower.
RockyMtnTactical
Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2006
- Messages
- 3,539
Also you might want to ask pat rogers how he feels about bcm...
Zerodefect
member
ny32182
Member
I think it is too early to determine if it is a "BCM" thing or not, but now in the last two weeks I've had both my BCMs fail to go into battery when chambering a round via dropping the bolt, in multiple circumstances.
Once a round did get into the chamber there were no similar type issues during actual firing, but the fact that this is happening is a little unsettling if these were to be used in a "cruiser ready" type configuration for defensive purposes, etc.
Both stock BCM lowers; one with an H buffer and one with a standard carbine buffer. Common threads:
-Neither were completely "spic'n'span" clean, but both had <100 rounds since the last cleaning; not a condition where I would think heavy lube should be required.
-However, neither had a fresh shot of lube immediately prior either.
-Temps +/- freezing
I have other lowers (LMT and Colt at the moment) to which I will compare the buffer spring tension as best I can by feel.
Other than that I'm kind of at a loss. Never seen this until now. Both the rifles are pretty much new; one with ~600 rounds and one with ~300. I'd consider the 600rd one to be broken in however.
Once a round did get into the chamber there were no similar type issues during actual firing, but the fact that this is happening is a little unsettling if these were to be used in a "cruiser ready" type configuration for defensive purposes, etc.
Both stock BCM lowers; one with an H buffer and one with a standard carbine buffer. Common threads:
-Neither were completely "spic'n'span" clean, but both had <100 rounds since the last cleaning; not a condition where I would think heavy lube should be required.
-However, neither had a fresh shot of lube immediately prior either.
-Temps +/- freezing
I have other lowers (LMT and Colt at the moment) to which I will compare the buffer spring tension as best I can by feel.
Other than that I'm kind of at a loss. Never seen this until now. Both the rifles are pretty much new; one with ~600 rounds and one with ~300. I'd consider the 600rd one to be broken in however.
Zerodefect
member
Try "heavy lube". Kind of a smoking gun/red flag that you mentioned that. What lube do you use?
What ammo and mags were you useing?
What ammo and mags were you useing?
Yeah, if it was cold and you were using a lube that turns gummy when it gets cold, that could put a damper on things. Ammo that's loaded a little too long will cause this too, as well as a magazine with a spring that applies way too much tension when it's fully loaded.
ny32182
Member
The only variable that is different from when most of my AR shooting occurs is the cold, but I didn't really think that right around freezing was that cold.
-Ammo is my handloads, but I gage every round, plus a little tap on the forward assist chambered the rounds with no problem, so I know the cases are in spec. One of the loads was a 77gr SMK at the USGI magazine limit of 2.26. I've shot this exact load from these exact magazines many times in other rifles, and also there were only five rounds in the mag, so excess pressure from a fully loaded mag should not have been a problem. The other time it happened with the same mags fully loaded with my 55gr plinking load which are much shorter than 2.26.
-Magazines were this one, but with black finish: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-Magazines-p/magazines dh gt20.htm They look like cut down USGI 30's. Probably not the greatest, but I've used them to shoot off the bench for years and never had a problem.
-Lube, I squirt some Breakfree CLP in there after cleaning. It is pretty "wet" at that point, but if it sits for a while and/or is shot, it is then less so. In this case I was shooting each rifle two days in a row, so didn't bother cleaning after the first day since there was less than 100 rounds fired the first day (well under in one case, like 20rds). This is nothing different than I've ever done; the only difference really was that it was colder than normal outside. Does CLP bind up at freezing?
-Ammo is my handloads, but I gage every round, plus a little tap on the forward assist chambered the rounds with no problem, so I know the cases are in spec. One of the loads was a 77gr SMK at the USGI magazine limit of 2.26. I've shot this exact load from these exact magazines many times in other rifles, and also there were only five rounds in the mag, so excess pressure from a fully loaded mag should not have been a problem. The other time it happened with the same mags fully loaded with my 55gr plinking load which are much shorter than 2.26.
-Magazines were this one, but with black finish: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-Magazines-p/magazines dh gt20.htm They look like cut down USGI 30's. Probably not the greatest, but I've used them to shoot off the bench for years and never had a problem.
-Lube, I squirt some Breakfree CLP in there after cleaning. It is pretty "wet" at that point, but if it sits for a while and/or is shot, it is then less so. In this case I was shooting each rifle two days in a row, so didn't bother cleaning after the first day since there was less than 100 rounds fired the first day (well under in one case, like 20rds). This is nothing different than I've ever done; the only difference really was that it was colder than normal outside. Does CLP bind up at freezing?
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