New upper: BCM, DD or VLTOR?

[awp_101]

Instead of rebuilding/upgrading my old PSA upper or building a new Frankenupper I’ve decided I’d rather buy something already assembled or at most just needs my choice of handguard/rail. I’ve found uppers from these companies that meet what I’m looking for and in my price range.

I know BCM and DD are highly regarded but I know next to nothing about VLTOR and their reputation. Is it basically flip a coin between the three or just BCM and DD?

[Clusterfrack]

I prefer BCM. I like that their uppers work with a wide range of loads, suppressed or unsuppressed. I also like their barrel offerings. The lightweight hammer forged and LW fluted barrels especially.

[breakingtime91]

I would say BCM or Colt. uppers matter a whole lot more than lowers so buy a quality one, with the barrel and bolt being the heart of the rifle.

[Old Man Winter]

BCM would be my choice from the options you listed. If you're open to other suggestions Sionics and Sons of Liberty Gun Works are worth looking at.

[Duke]

Just get a whole rifle from knights.

It costs more

Keep your lower to move for profit during the next scare.

[MSparks909]

BCM. /Thread

[breakingtime91]

BCM. /Thread

Only thing I wish is that BCM offered their factory rifles with more rails.. I prefer something besides their thin rails.

[NPV]

Love my BCM RECCE Mid-Length it has been 100% reliable over ~3,000 rounds. Having said that my buddy bought a DD V11 same time I got my BCM and his has also been 100%. Can’t go wrong with either but the BCM rails have been lighter IME.

I run mine mine with a ST-T2 buffer and Surefire brake, recoil and muzzle rise are nonexistent.

[MSparks909]

Only thing I wish is that BCM offered their factory rifles with more rails.. I prefer something besides their thin rails.

If you’re a Picatinny guy they have their QRF rails. They’ve also got some others by other manufacturers or you could just run handguards :cool:

[breakingtime91]

If you’re a Picatinny guy they have their QRF rails. They’ve also got some others by other manufacturers or you could just run handguards :cool:

A2 HG for lifeeeeeeeee

[PearTree]

BCM or DD whichever is cheapest they are both quality.

[Clusterfrack]

BCM 14.5" Hammer Forged Lightweight, Middy, MLok. This is my favorite upper right now. I wish I had an excuse to buy one, and for $675 it's hard not to. I have the ELW fluted in Keymod, and it's light, stiff, accurate, and 100% reliable.
https://cdn3.volusion.com/j4enh.r2en5/v/vspfiles/photos/BCM-URG-MID-14BFH-ELW-MCMR-13-2T.jpg
https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-14-5-Mid-Length-ENHANCED-Light-Weight-p/bcm-urg-mid-14bfh-elw-mcmr-13.htm

[Wake27]

I’m a huge BCM fanboy. There are tons of great ARs out there right now, but you really can’t go wrong with a BCM and you get a lot for your money. I never understood why DDs were more expensive when they still had BS like the A2 charging handle, etc. BCM has made fantastic upgrades to nearly every part of the rifle. I haven’t owned a KAC, and I really want one, but I’ve had two Noveskes and I always return to BCM and wondered why I spent the extra money. Their ELW barrels and ELW-F are legit and I’ve been pleased with both the KMR and MCMR.

Aside from KAC, I honestly look at every other AR and wonder why not just get a BCM?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[awp_101]

Thanks everyone for the responses so far!

I was all set to round up a barrel and the remaining small bits to assemble an upper. This weekend a local store with an indoor range had an anniversary sale and they brought in some sales reps from ZEV, FN and DD. The store had a special where you could test fire 10 guns for $30 including 2 FA. The 3 from DD were 2-16" carbines (I think the M4V7 and V11, the guy said the only difference was the rail system) and a MK18 with the happy switch. Those were the first ARs I've fired since 2001 that weren't a pieced together FrankenAR and there was just something different about them that got me to thinking about getting one good, solid upper that I can depend on.

[NH Shooter]

I've owned the BCM BFH 16" Mid Length (ENHANCED Light Weight) Upper Receiver Group w/ BCM KMR-*ALPHA* 13" Handguard (https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-16-Mid-Length-ENHANCED-Light-Weight-Upp-p/bcm-urg-mid-16-bfh-elw-kmr-a13.htm) for going on three years and its the best upper I've owned to date: superb quality, 100% reliability and near-MOA precision with 77 OTM and Gold Dot 75 loads.

I like the 16-inch barrel length so I can change muzzle devices using timing washers. If you can, add the bolt carrier group to your cart too.

https://i.ibb.co/GP2K408/rifle-2.jpg

[MSparks909]

BCM 14.5" Hammer Forged Lightweight, Middy, MLok. This is my favorite upper right now. I wish I had an excuse to buy one, and for $675 it's hard not to. I have the ELW fluted in Keymod, and it's light, stiff, accurate, and 100% reliable.
https://cdn3.volusion.com/j4enh.r2en5/v/vspfiles/photos/BCM-URG-MID-14BFH-ELW-MCMR-13-2T.jpg
https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-14-5-Mid-Length-ENHANCED-Light-Weight-p/bcm-urg-mid-14bfh-elw-mcmr-13.htm

This is my next upper :cool:

[Norville]

Just to pile on, BCM.

I have a 16” Recce upper with a 15” Keymod handguard that just runs and runs.

[Doc_Glock]

Another data point. I am not a high volume rifle shooter, but I have been nothing but delighted with the performance of my BCM uppers.

[momano]

check out arms unlimited. $640 Colt 6920 complete upper with bolt carrier assembly and sights.

[Rick62]

check out arms unlimited. $640 Colt 6920 complete upper with bolt carrier assembly and sights.

I'm a big Colt guy, but with OEM models available for $715, it's tough to justify a similar upper for only a hundo less. Not to mention, I'm not sure someone looking for a recce-style upper would necessarily consider the 6920 as a comparable option. If the OP isn't opposed to a FSB, carbine gassed upper, 6720 URGs are currently around $490.

[MSparks909]

I'm a big Colt guy, but with OEM models available for $715, it's tough to justify a similar upper for only a hundo less. Not to mention, I'm not sure someone looking for a recce-style upper would necessarily consider the 6920 as a comparable option. If the OP isn't opposed to a FSB, carbine gassed upper, 6720 URGs are currently around $490.

Link?

[Rick62]

6920 OEM1: https://www.g4gguns.com/products/rifles-colt-098289020246-322

6720 URG: https://www.g4gguns.com/products/accessories-colt-ar6720ck-nhg-098289035424-322

No personal interest in the retailer. Multiple places are showing similar prices.

[awp_101]

Thanks everyone, this has been a surprising thread. I really expected more back and forth between the BCM and DD fans, not a near universal recommendation for BCM.

Thanks to a fellow member a gently used one of THESE (https://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-BFH-16-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-Group-w-BCM-p/bcm-urg-mid-16-bfh-kmr-a-13.htm) will be on it's way to me in the near future. I'll swap my "good stuff" over from the PSA upper and get it dialed in.

[John Hearne]

I've been around long enough to remember, in the mid-2000's, that BCM didn't ship hardly any barrels because they could not guarantee the quality. That commitment to only pushing life saving grade equipment matters to me.

Over the last couple of years, I've bought ~8 uppers for myself or work. Every single one has been a BCM. BCM offers enough extra quality to be worth the money without entering into the realm of superfluous features that aren't worth spending the extra money for.

[ASH556]

I've been around long enough to remember, in the mid-2000's, that BCM didn't ship hardly any barrels because they could not guarantee the quality. That commitment to only pushing life saving grade equipment matters to me.

Over the last couple of years, I've bought ~8 uppers for myself or work. Every single one has been a BCM. BCM offers enough extra quality to be worth the money without entering into the realm of superfluous features that aren't worth spending the extra money for.

Your post reminded me of this PM I've kept in my inbox on ARFCOM from back in the day:



BravoCompanyUSA
3/1/2006 12:35:30 AM EST
Re: BCM barrel
Our BCM program is our own program. We get our contoured blanks from ERShaw build to GI specs. The chrome is done by US Chrome - they do most barrels in the country including USGI. Everything else in done in-house. We have nothing to do with CMMG or DPMS.
Thanks again!
Paul

I've had some issues with BCM (nothing major), but even so the transparency speaks volumes!

[John Hearne]

I've had some issues with BCM (nothing major), but even so the transparency speaks volumes!

My 11.5" upper would not run reliably when I received it. I called BCM and explained that I was an armorer, the gun seemed under gassed, I was using good magazines, and that I was running true spec 5.56 ammo through it. As soon as I said real 5.56 they said "send it back." I very quickly got a new upper than has run 100%. Nobody is perfect but how you handle those problems speaks volumes.

[1986s4]

You all are talking BCM, DD and Colt. Excellent chance they are going to run and keep running. My favorite AR is my newly built A1 upper with Colt 14.5 SOCOM barrel, Colt BCG and Magpul SL handguards. LMT is another quality maker that should be included.

[breakingtime91]

You all are talking BCM, DD and Colt. Excellent chance they are going to run and keep running. My favorite AR is my newly built A1 upper with Colt 14.5 SOCOM barrel, Colt BCG and Magpul SL handguards. LMT is another quality maker that should be included.

got a pic of that rifle? sounds super light and KISS awesome.

[1986s4]

got a pic of that rifle? sounds super light and KISS awesome.

I'll try to get a good pic sometime soon. Just hasn't been sunny here in FL for a day or so, we suffer so much here... I think it's awesome but that SOCOM barrel isn't exactly light, very close in weight to a 16" M4 barrel. It is super simple and I went for 1st tier parts throughout. What I have found since building and shooting it is that IF I can see the target I can hit it. The only limitations of this rifle are the eyes aiming it.

[awp_101]

I'll try to get a good pic sometime soon. Just hasn't been sunny here in FL for a day or so, we suffer so much here... I think it's awesome but that SOCOM barrel isn't exactly light, very close in weight to a 16" M4 barrel. It is super simple and I went for 1st tier parts throughout. What I have found since building and shooting it is that IF I can see the target I can hit it. The only limitations of this rifle are the eyes aiming it.

Sounds like a great setup, mind sharing the build sheet? I traded into a LNIB Ruger AR for stupid cheap last year with the idea of keeping it as a lightweight KISS carbine but I'm not opposed to upgrading it or finding an excuse to build something new.

[1986s4]

Sounds like a great setup, mind sharing the build sheet? I traded into a LNIB Ruger AR for stupid cheap last year with the idea of keeping it as a lightweight KISS carbine but I'm not opposed to upgrading it or finding an excuse to build something new.

OK, let's see if the pics are worth anything. Here are the ingredients:
Colt SOCOM 14.5 barrel, pinned and welded A2 FH.
A1 upper that I got from my gunsmith friend, lightly used by him. In fact I remember seeing him use it in a 2 gun match and he managed to shame everyone with an optic of some sort.
Colt BCG
LMT stripped lower
Colt LPK
Geissele Super 42 buffer spring with buffer [I just added another tungsten weight so now it's a H2, it comes as a H1]
Geissele buffer tube
Colt butt stock
Magpul handguard
KNS pin head front sight and I painted the little globe on top gold.

It is quite simple. A little bow heavy with the SOCOM barrel and the front sight tower wasn't intended to be used with a A1 rear. It does if one runs down the front sight well into the protective wings. I use a 36 yard [more like paces really] zero. The good thing about the sight set up is the rather thin front sight post is very protected being so low.

[breakingtime91]

some kind of white light and thats a perfect carbine to learn on.

[John Hearne]

This video was just released yesterday:

https://youtu.be/BaFOZAwspYI

[cornstalker]

This video was just released yesterday:

https://youtu.be/BaFOZAwspYI

Good stuff. Loved my Recce 14 before I even knew all of this. Great added value.

[awp_101]

Great video, thanks! LAV looks like he's slimmed down quite a bit. Maybe that's a hint I should get off my tuchus or at least change my diet...

I'm sure other quality manufacturers do something similar, I suspect the difference may be in the amount of allowable tolerance or the specialized test fixtures? Either way, I'm not going to knock it! It does make me wonder what changes could/should be made if they had the actual M4 technical data package? I wonder how far, or even if, they are off even by a small amount? And if they're as reliable as the ones produced for .gov, how important is the TDP anymore?