[powell0892]

So here goes...of course im like everyone else "getting my first AR" (sorry guys I know it must get old) anyway orginal plan was to build one from model 1 sales, however I got to reading reviews and found way to many issues with them...sorry to all you model 1 guys, Im sure they do make some good guns I would rather be safe than sorry though. So I have decided to go with BCM. Thought about going with Daniel my dad has one but a little out of my $$ range (trying to stay under 1k) they seem to get great rep from you guys. I am thinking about doing a upper/lower build to save some cash. So my question is what makes BCM so good? Sorry I am very unfamiliar with them. Do they contract out to government? I am just trying to get some background info on them, I have looked but seem to be able to find very little info on them simply trying to get some input from you guys. Thank you greatly in advance!

 

[Garadex]

Sorry I don't know what makes 'em good but I know that they are good. Please stop by the introductions when you have time.

 

[JonM]

Bcm rifles are made to actual milspec standard. Well as close as you can get without it being full auto.

Bcm lists detailed information of exactly what each rifle is. If you go to their website click into one of the descriptions of the upper or lower it details all the specs for all parts. No other ar15 maker ive seen even colt lets the customer know the specs of all parts.

There is ample evidence of their rifles being used and abused and just keep going.

Then there is customer service. I thought i had a problem with my bcm carbine. Two emails later less than a day for them to respond back i had a return shipping label. They looked at it examined test fired confirmed it was the magpul bad lever causing the issues (they evidently cause problems on intermittently on many ar15 regardless of make). The same day it arrived at bcm's door they had it diagnosed test fired and sent back in the mail after calling me at no cost to me even though it wasnt their product's issue. No other manufacturer has that level of service.

The bcm i have was less than 1000$ definately a stellar price for what your getting. If i had the choice between something from bcm or something from noveske pof larue i would take the larue noveske pof, sell it buy the bcm and pocket the extra cash while ending up with a better ar15.

The bcm is a rifle you can run hard, put away wet and still have it super model gorgeous the next day.

Plus bravo company is american made right here in hartford wisconsin. Cant go wrong with the bcm label on your ar15. Best all around rifle far as im concerned

 

[Argyle_Armoring]

Even though I have an LMT AR-15 I will tell you the BCM rifles are good to go. I have seen many used and abused by other officers and they work jsut fine. I'm a fan of (in this order): LMT, RRA, BCM, Colt.

 

[Quentin]

Like Jon said you can't go wrong with BCM if you want an AR that can take hard use and remain ultra reliable, and for a good price to boot. The more you learn about ARs the more you will respect BCM. Learn what their specs mean and you'll see what i mean. I have both Daniel Defense and BCM, which I feel are equals except BCM comes in for less money.

 

[Redleg]

Then there is customer service. I thought i had a problem with my bcm carbine. Two emails later less than a day for them to respond back i had a return shipping label. They looked at it examined test fired confirmed it was the magpul bad lever causing the issues (they evidently cause problems on intermittently on many ar15 regardless of make). The same day it arrived at bcm's door they had it diagnosed test fired and sent back in the mail after calling me at no cost to me even though it wasnt their product's issue. No other manufacturer has that level of service.

Ruger does, actually.

 

[Quentin]

Ruger does, actually.

Examples ??

 

[MikeJK]

In my eyes in addition to their overall quality/value it's their willingness to throw their product into the fire for ALL eyes to see. Show me any other company willing to do the same other than Daniel Defense. Honesty and integrity go a long way when you have other companies dodging questions from the consumer and avoiding things like "The Chart".

 

[AgentTikki]

Google Filthy 14.

You can't do better than a BCM or Colt for under 1k.

 

[Redleg]

Examples ??

1. Oh, the guy who found a Single Six revolver that had been lost in the woods for several decades. Sent it into Ruger and they cleaned up the revolver and replaced numerous parts. Returned the gun pristine. No invoice. This was in American Rifleman a few issues back.

2. http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=150385

3. Ruger has no warranty. They do not care who bought the gun, only who owns it now. They will fix anything that involves a failure of the gun almost always at no charge. Even in many cases of user abuse they will fix the firearm at no charge.

Hope this helped.

 

[purehavoc]

If you dont mind waiting weeks on end to get your stuff back then I consider it great service , I own a Ruger I had some issues , They fixed it no charge but it was roughly 6 weeks to get it back on a very simple extractor issue that was a 5-10 minute fix . Other than the wait they have great customer service , no questions asked just fixed and works properly and has for a long time

 

[JonM]

Ruger does, actually.

1. Oh, the guy who found a Single Six revolver that had been lost in the woods for several decades. Sent it into Ruger and they cleaned up the revolver and replaced numerous parts. Returned the gun pristine. No invoice. This was in American Rifleman a few issues back.

2. http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=150385

3. Ruger has no warranty. They do not care who bought the gun, only who owns it now. They will fix anything that involves a failure of the gun almost always at no charge. Even in many cases of user abuse they will fix the firearm at no charge.

Hope this helped.

ive heard that same story and it makes for a good read but its pretty much BS when actually dealing with ruger

here is my actual story with a ruger decades old 1976 production 44 carbine. obvious manufacture defect in that the front barrel band comes off under recoil. called ruger. their support person said it was too old to fix. they would replace the gun with a different one (nonsemi-auto bolt gun)... thats not service in my book. i had no desire for a different gun as the 44 carbine is a fun semi auto, when its barrel band isnt rattling around.

another issue i have with ruger service is i cant get some internal parts to fix my own guns from ruger. they sell certain things to ffl only that are not registered recievers as in ffl items. things like sears hammers bolts which are just small parts. big reason ruger doesnt take a lot of space in my gun safe. i do like my 10/22's and 22/45 but i dont need ruger as third party parts are widely available.

 

[powell0892]

Sounds great guys I appreciate all the answers and the filthy 14 was pretty impressive I was hoping to find another crazy torture test like DD did, I have no doubt the BCM couldnt stick with it but who doesnt like seeing a gun they own be able to survive something like that. I had orginally considered RRA but it seems like they just take forever to get ahold of one of those rifles, where as BCM has plenty of items in stock.

 

[JonM]

Sounds great guys I appreciate all the answers and the filthy 14 was pretty impressive I was hoping to find another crazy torture test like DD did, I have no doubt the BCM couldnt stick with it but who doesnt like seeing a gun they own be able to survive something like that. I had orginally considered RRA but it seems like they just take forever to get ahold of one of those rifles, where as BCM has plenty of items in stock.

if i want to drive tacks ill take my rra match rifle any day. buttttt my bcm is my serious goto rifle

 

[FragOutInc]

Just to add to some people talking about the BCM parts. BCM bolts and barrels are individually proof tested (this is done with a single high pressure round and is called HP testing) before being magnafluxed (also known as MP testing) for surface irregularities. You have to be careful when you purchase from some companies who do not do testing on their products.

For example some of these test make sure they don't send their barrels etc out with cracks in them that are hard to see with the naked eye or that are visible. Some companies just make a product and send them right out with no testing so before you even shot your gun it could be in accurate . Buy quality Buy BCM (or other companies that do testing on their products before they sell them to you)

 

[MikeJK]

DDs torture test is impressive but multiple rifles w/ 20k and up to 50k rounds w/ little to no TLC is where it's at.

 

[powell0892]

DDs torture test is impressive but multiple rifles w/ 20k and up to 50k rounds w/ little to no TLC is where it's at.

That is very true I would be happy with either...off on a side note if I get a complete lower (probably blem) and a upper is there anything else I need to complete the rifle besides a bolt carrier and charging handle, not including furniture such has stocks and rails.

 

[MikeJK]

If you're getting a bolt carrier don't forget the bolt. I'd go w/ a complet BCG. Other than that magazines and a case of ammunition to get you through a couple range sessions.

 

[Redleg]

ive heard that same story and it makes for a good read but its pretty much BS when actually dealing with ruger

here is my actual story with a ruger decades old 1976 production 44 carbine. obvious manufacture defect in that the front barrel band comes off under recoil. called ruger. their support person said it was too old to fix. they would replace the gun with a different one (nonsemi-auto bolt gun)... thats not service in my book. i had no desire for a different gun as the 44 carbine is a fun semi auto, when its barrel band isnt rattling around.

Giving you a whole new gun was not good customer service when the broken gun had been out of production for decades. RIiiiiigggghhhhttt.

 

[JonM]

Giving you a whole new gun was not good customer service when the broken gun had been out of production for decades. RIiiiiigggghhhhttt.

Nope. Not when the new gun sells for substantially less than the old gun and the new is of inferior quality and workmanship. Ruger of 1976 is waaaaaay higher quality than ruger of 2010. Plus the new gun was going to be a bolt action stainless 44. My carbine has no mim parts and all parts are machined steel and hand fitted.

If i wanted a bolt gun i would have bought one in the first place.

All it needed was some attention to the barrel band. Still does. They wouldnt even entertain the idea of doing the work and me paying for it.