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BCM parts quality (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/4/2025 5:35:18 PM EDT
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Has anyone experienced any issues with BCM parts quality? Just finished putting together a new rifle using a BCM mid-length upper and BCG, Spike’s lower, BCM lpk with mod3 grip and BCM buffer assembly with mod0 stock. Issues I ran into… The castle nut engagement slipped a few times. I’ve never had that happen before. I used a Real Avid castle nut wrench, which I’ve used for other builds without issue. Not sure what happened, but I’ll chalk this part up to user error. I did torque to 38ft lbs on the first attempt. Went to re-torque at 40 when it started slipping. Staked it in place and will shoot it before I decide if my OCD takes over to replace it. Next issue I ran into was the mod3 grip. This isn’t my first mod3 grip as I have one on another build. This one however would just not fit at all. Way too narrow to slip onto the receiver. I put on a spare Magpul MOE-K that was in the parts bin. Fit perfectly. Once I installed the FCG and started the function test, the BCM safety selector had a sloppy mushy feel to it. I changed the spring and detent and that did not fix it. I replaced the safety with one in the parts bin and it’s nice and crisp. Other than those issues, everything went together fine. I’ve reached out to BCM regarding the grip, actually did that before I noticed the safety issue (wife asked me to pick up stuff at the store mid build  ). I’ll see what they say about the grip and I’ll also tell them about the safety selector. |
| I put together an Anderson lower with a BCM LPK and BCM buffer tube assembly last summer. I do not recall any issues with the castle nut. I did use a magpul wrench and ncstar lower receiver vise block. The BCM mod grip was tight but did go on the Anderson lower. No issues with the safety selector. Mine is nice and positive. I really like their LPK, and will buy more when I can find them on sale. |
Well, I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison....
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Originally Posted By marc1979: How do you like the NCstar vice block. It’s between that and the botach buffer jig for my next tool purchase. I like it. I got it on sale at Primary Arms. I think I paid $37 for it. Before I got this it was a pain in the butt for me to torque castle nuts. I ruined a buffer tube by allowing the end plate to spin and it chewed up the buffer threads. This block gives you a third hand to keep everything in place. Also making torquing easy. |
Well, I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison....
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As someone who has owned/used several BCM products, I have one mushy BCM selector out of 10+ I've used, and have had a few here and there from different brands of lpks, which are oem Shmidt. The only issues I've had with BCM castle nuts is removing them, the staking is very well done to the point I've cammed out a few notches and had to use a rotary tool to remove some material out of the notches. With that being said mil spec castle nuts aren't very hard to begin with and the slightest misalignment of the wrench can cause issues. |
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| I often post about my hate for BCM. I had a BCG fail at the bolt carrier pin hole and a gas key come loose. I paid extra for the BCM name and warranty and had it fail like one from Bear Creek. |
Leave me alone. I’m a libertarian. CW vet x7, give away a kidney to a loved one if they need it.
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I get flack for saying this here but I have really not been impressed by BCM's quality. Especially in the last 5 years or so. I built guns out with PSA and Delton parts that had less wear than my BCMs with the same round count. There are not worth the money imo and I steer clear. |
Dont call it a comeback, Been here for years.
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Well this doesn’t instill a lot of confidence I’ll see what their response is to my email. In the meantime, I’m going to shoot it as much as I can. I’m going to PSA in the morning to try it out This is my second mid length upper. My first is a PSA premium with CHF(FN) barrel. It’s on a Lauer Custom Weaponry lower (LMT I think). I’ll see how it compares. |
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A Grendel's Love is different from a 5.56's Love
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Originally Posted By bravo_677: Build enough and you'll see all brands have an issue here and there. Don't forget most lkps and receiver parts are oem by someone else. The only thing that changes is the packaging Fact Most BCGs are Toolcraft with different labels and warranties. |
Leave me alone. I’m a libertarian. CW vet x7, give away a kidney to a loved one if they need it.
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Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: Fact Most BCGs are Toolcraft with different labels and warranties. Good to know. I try to look at it this way... its just a grip and safety selector. Not major issues right now. I had spares in the parts bin and am happy with the fit of the other parts. The hammer was a pain in the ass to install though, don't remember having to fight one so much to get it in, but it works and passes the function test. I put 60 rounds through it Sunday at PSA for a quick function check and sight in on for the Holosun 403b. It groups nicely just based on the limited range and round count. I'll keep running more rounds thru it as time allows. I'd like to eventually use it in a carbine class at PSA. |
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I had a couple of their barrels years ago that were suspect, and at the time their CS seemed pretty disinterested in doing anything about it, so I ended up selling those with disclosure of what I thought the issues might be. More recently I bought a 16" ELW upper, my only "gripe" with it is the "M4" feed ramps on the receiver don't reach those on the barrel so there is a weird looking gap, but functionally I don't think it matters and it as been functionally no problem in the limited round count so far. But as far as their small parts, to include quite a few BCGs, I've never had a single issue... in fact they are kind of my general go-to for misc/spare milspec parts since I've never had a single bad experience with any of that stuff from them. |
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No experienced issues. I did have one assembly issue with a canted FSB, which Paul made right by sending a new upper. Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: I often post about my hate for BCM. I had a BCG fail at the bolt carrier pin hole and a gas key come loose. I paid extra for the BCM name and warranty and had it fail like one from Bear Creek. What did BCM say and do about it? |
"Do not overthink it, gentlemen. It's only a gunfight, not an IRS tax audit." - Louis Awerbuck
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Finished rifle pic https://imageshack.com/i/pnncBGwwj 
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Nice looking gun! Just to add two cents to the "experiences with BCM parts": I have used their PNT duty trigger assembly, their QD endplates, trigger guards, blem upper receivers, MCMR handguard. I have not used their other small lower parts (pins, springs, detents). My thoughts (short version) on those parts that I have used: QD endplate -- quality, but there's nothing magic that makes it better than other well-made QD endplates. Unless you hit a sale, I think you're partly paying for the name. PNT duty trigger -- It's like a sprinkle-coated sugar cookie of triggers - better than plain, you're happy if it's all you have, but it's never the first empty tray at the desert table. Most of my triggers are 2 stage. (Geissele, LaRue, Hiperfire, Timney, etc.). I have one lower with a BMC PNT trigger, and I feel no need to upgrade it. (I am no fan of standard mil-spec triggers, yet this gets a go for me.) Trigger guard -- this is one of the best values available anywhere for price and weight; it's the only one I'll buy. I don't know why anyone buys a different one. Cheap, lightweight, sturdy, locally made. Why isn't BCM famous for this? Blem uppers -- if you don't need your rifle to look perfect, and you desire a "thermo fit" (sadly necessary note: an undersized receiver bore cannot magically compensate for undersized barrel extensions) upper, I find it a superb choice for a traditional mil-spec upper. Barrel installation is often challenging. Experience helps. Not a good choice for one's first few builds. MCMR handguard -- a little expensive, but great choice. Trades "easy to install" for "granite-like lockup once installed". Best attempted if you've already done challenging installs on other parts. Same techniques to install thermo fit upper/barrels apply here. Not a good choice for most people's first few builds. Experience helps. eta first line |
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Thanks Preacher! Heard back from BCM. Responded to me with "Our pistol grips are designed to fit very tight to mitigate any looseness or wobble. However, if you prefer we can get the grip back for inspection" No mention of the safety selector. At this point, they are in the spare parts bin. Not worth it for me to ship it back. The rifle is complete at this point and I'm happy with the fit of all other parts. |
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I have built a lot of rifles using BCM parts over the years. My go to for certain things. I use their thermal fit uppers for just about everything. The castle nut I'm not sure. I do notice that some wrenches the cuts are little more rounded and they want to slip easier. I have an old tapco wrench that has really sharp cuts that I intentionally use because it simply won't slip. BCM grips do fit pretty tight. I've never failed to get one on though. I suppose if you have a lower that's on the high side of tolerance it might be difficult. The selector deal is very strange because I normally buy BCM selectors for builds because I'm picky about them and I like a solid click. Never had a sloppy feeling one. It would be interesting to see who their suppliers are because BCM doesn't make alot of their parts, but they QC them in house. Many years ago there was alot of speculation that their barrels were made by criterion. But no one actually knows. I would expect we'd see some familiar names if that info was released. |
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I didn't even know BCM had a branded trigger guard; just went to look it up, in the pictures it looks to me like a restamped Magpul for a buck less... not that that's a bad thing, I have several Magpuls and consider them a perfectly functional cost effective solution, if not "Gucci feeling". MCMR rails are probably tied for my most used/owned handguards ever, and my take on them is that they are a good, affordable (sub $200) solution, but you may actually be sacrificing some rigidity for light weight... hard to say for sure without objective testing though. I guess if I personally found them deficient in some way, I wouldn't keep buying them. Yeah, you need a heat gun and a mallet to work with the uppers or MCMRs, but... you know, stuff you should have anyway if you're going to be working on ARs. |
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Originally Posted By DVCNick: I didn't even know BCM had a branded trigger guard; just went to look it up, in the pictures it looks to me like a restamped Magpul for a buck less... not that that's a bad thing, I have several Magpuls and consider them a perfectly functional cost effective solution, if not "Gucci feeling". That's spot on. They ain't magical, but I noticed the value when I was doing a several lightweight builds (4 - 5 lbs). When ounce fractions count, most parts shoot up in price pretty fast. It was a pleasant surprise, as I was dishing out cash hand-over-fist for lightened parts for either of more expensive alloys or more extensive machining, to find items that were both among the lightest available (<0.2 oz, including roll pin/set screw) and among the very lowest priced available. The most recent I picked up were a few for around $6.50 ea on x-mas-sale last month, and I'm sure I've bought some even cheaper in the past. This aside brings me to another point -- the pistol grip. The tighter it squeezes the lower receiver, the less work the pistol grip screw has to do... not that said screw isn't possibly the single most over-spec'd part in the entire system. If I were you, I'd try to force the pistol grip on, possibly utilizing a plastic headed mallet at some point in the process, or even considering a (plastic jawed) clamp if you really have trouble. BCM does seem to have the attitude that every single part that's meant to be secured together should fit tight as a roll pin. (If you ever install RRA's trigger pins, it's the same type of fit, lol. Oh, mid-westerners, lol.) I'm not arguing it should require this level of effort, but given what I and others just described for barrel/receiver, and rail/barrel nut installation process, it's the in the same vein of hoop-jumping and extra effort those parts require. |
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Originally Posted By DVCNick: I didn't even know BCM had a branded trigger guard; just went to look it up, in the pictures it looks to me like a restamped Magpul for a buck less... not that that's a bad thing, I have several Magpuls and consider them a perfectly functional cost effective solution, if not "Gucci feeling". Unbranded has them without any stamp for $2.49 |
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Originally Posted By DVCNick: I didn't even know BCM had a branded trigger guard; just went to look it up, in the pictures it looks to me like a restamped Magpul for a buck less... not that that's a bad thing, I have several Magpuls and consider them a perfectly functional cost effective solution, if not "Gucci feeling". MCMR rails are probably tied for my most used/owned handguards ever, and my take on them is that they are a good, affordable (sub $200) solution, but you may actually be sacrificing some rigidity for light weight... hard to say for sure without objective testing though. I guess if I personally found them deficient in some way, I wouldn't keep buying them. Yeah, you need a heat gun and a mallet to work with the uppers or MCMRs, but... you know, stuff you should have anyway if you're going to be working on ARs. The BCM is their own. It’s better than the Magpul as the lower profile allows it to work with grips that have duckbill extensions on the front to cover the gap of a standard trigger guard. |
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Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: Sad thing is. My negative experience was during the "good ole days". Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: Originally Posted By Blacktoothgrin: BCM doesn't appear to be the same quality of the old days. Sad thing is. My negative experience was during the "good ole days". BCM used to use the same parts as RRA, DelTon, Stag, Bushmaster, etc. They were just commercial small parts. Not sure if that is still the case. |
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Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: Fact Most BCGs are Toolcraft with different labels and warranties. While Toolcraft does make bolt carriers for many companies, there are around 5 major manufactures that also make carriers (I'm talking tens of thousands per month). Toolcraft has maybe 10-15% of the market if I had to guess. |
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Originally Posted By marc1979: Finished rifle pic https://imageshack.com/i/pnncBGwwj https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q70/923/ncBGww.jpg The old dueling dicks lower. 
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"I miss the days of being able to shoot all commies" G.B.
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Originally Posted By akethan: The old dueling dicks lower. Originally Posted By akethan: Originally Posted By marc1979: Finished rifle pic https://imageshack.com/i/pnncBGwwj https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/150x100q70/923/ncBGww.jpg The old dueling dicks lower. Looks like darth vader crying. |
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After dealing with DPMS and Bushmaster issues in the early 2000s, I switched to BCM. Palmetto has always been good to me but BCM has a nicer fit and finish. The MCMR rail is my favorite. First purchase, around 2008, is a middy upper that runs like a scalded dog. Second was a 14.5 upper with the MCMR. Again, runs great. Third is another MCMR 14.5 LW upper that I got for a song because it is keymod. I shot it a few weeks ago, and was hitting silhouettes at 940 yards, single loading 80 ELD handloads. My son purchased an 11.5 MCMR about 5 years ago. Ran it really hard until the gas key came loose. BCM took care of him. I have an 11.5 MCMR that I picked up second hand. No idea of the exact history, but it runs great as well. For LPKs, I have used Daniel Defense and Palmetto. DD is definitely nicer. |
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Originally Posted By marc1979: How do you like the NCstar vice block. It’s between that and the botach buffer jig for my next tool purchase. If you want it for staking castle nuts, a 3d printed magazine and a vice would suffice, or a Magpul Bev Block. The grip has to be removed to use the NC Star device. |
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Originally Posted By RD20: If you want it for staking castle nuts, a 3d printed magazine and a vice would suffice, or a Magpul Bev Block. The grip has to be removed to use the NC Star device. I plan on picking up the VISM vice block and a new Forward Controls Castle nut wrench next month. I want more support when torquing the castle nut. |
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Originally Posted By Type7SOT: While Toolcraft does make bolt carriers for many companies, there are around 5 major manufactures that also make carriers (I'm talking tens of thousands per month). Toolcraft has maybe 10-15% of the market if I had to guess. Originally Posted By Type7SOT: Originally Posted By RattleCanAR: Fact Most BCGs are Toolcraft with different labels and warranties. While Toolcraft does make bolt carriers for many companies, there are around 5 major manufactures that also make carriers (I'm talking tens of thousands per month). Toolcraft has maybe 10-15% of the market if I had to guess. Toolcraft, Microbest and DLC are the big 3 and I was under the impression that Toolcraft was the largest supplier. Who are the others you are talking about? I know LMT, Young and JP Enterprises make some. AO Smith makes the bolts for many brands but no carriers that I am aware of. |
"Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."
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Originally Posted By mc556: Toolcraft, Microbest and DLC are the big 3 and I was under the impression that Toolcraft was the largest supplier. Who are the others you are talking about? I know LMT, Young and JP Enterprises make some. AO Smith makes the bolts for many brands but no carriers that I am aware of. The ones you mentioned, also Azimuth Technology, I know there are a few others but I don't have them all memorized. There are a lot of government contractors out there that no one has heard of. |
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Originally Posted By mc556: AO Smith makes the bolts for many brands but no carriers that I am aware of. AO Precision is a major provider for the M16 and M4 parts contract for upper receivers, bolts, carriers and barrel extensions. https://aopmfg.com/services/firearms/ ETA: Circa 2014, DSArms was a DoD contractor for bolt carriers as well. The # of contract shops would likely amaze several here. |
Can't never could 'til try came along.
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Originally Posted By mc556: AO Smith makes the bolts for many brands but no carriers that I am aware of. I wonder what caliber my water heater is? AO Smith makes water heaters. Knew people that worked there in the 80s and 90s. Funny tidbit, AO Smith was founded and is still headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, less than 25 miles by road from BCM's location in Hartland, WI. But I don't think they make any gun parts. AO Precision, as mentioned earlier. |
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Originally Posted By TGWLDR: DLC  Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Toolcraft, Microbest and DLC are the big 3 and I was under the impression that Toolcraft was the largest supplier. DLC DLC Scratch this one due to lack of a proper reference. I’m familiar with Microbest and Tool Craft but DLC came up in a search. I think the internet screwed me on the DLC and I was thinking it was legit confusing it with DC Machine. DC machine is a PSA company so it’s obviously not them. I agree there are many suppliers so I’m going to check my info better before posting. |
"Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."
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Originally Posted By mc556: D. lansky Originally Posted By mc556: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Toolcraft, Microbest and DLC are the big 3 and I was under the impression that Toolcraft was the largest supplier. DLC D. lansky I am not familiar. |
Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
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Originally Posted By TGWLDR: I am not familiar. Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Toolcraft, Microbest and DLC are the big 3 and I was under the impression that Toolcraft was the largest supplier. DLC D. lansky I am not familiar. You beat me trying to edit that post with more info. |
"Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."
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Originally Posted By mc556: You beat me trying to edit that post with more info. Originally Posted By mc556: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Toolcraft, Microbest and DLC are the big 3 and I was under the impression that Toolcraft was the largest supplier. DLC D. lansky I am not familiar. You beat me trying to edit that post with more info. You had me on a chase down a rabbit hole.
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Can't never could 'til try came along.
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
R.I.P. to the EE
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Originally Posted By TGWLDR: You had me on a chase down a rabbit hole. Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Originally Posted By TGWLDR: Originally Posted By mc556: Toolcraft, Microbest and DLC are the big 3 and I was under the impression that Toolcraft was the largest supplier. DLC D. lansky I am not familiar. You beat me trying to edit that post with more info. You had me on a chase down a rabbit hole. Gotta keep you on your toes. |
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| I was in the Army for 21 years and never had any problems with the Colt and FN bcg's that we used. When I started building AR15 rifles I wanted the same quality bcg as I had in the Army. I decided to only use LMT bcg, not the enhanced, just standard M16 bcg. Then one time after reading so many forum posts about Microbest and Tool Craft bcg, I decided to try one. It was garbage and now I will only use LMT. When these companies like Microbest and Tool Craft make OEM parts for other companies, they are not all the same. One company may require different specifications than another company. Just like not all FN barrels are the same. Just because Microbest or Tool Craft makes a BCG for BCM, doesn't mean that all Microbest and Tool Craft BCG's are BCM quality. |
BCM parts quality (Page 1 of 2)
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