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Posted: 10/4/2010 7:10:55 PM EDT
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I'll be buying my first AR very soon and I'm thinking of getting this one:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-RECCE-16-AR15-Bravo-Company-carbine-rifle-s/144.htm Unless you guys can talk me out of it (by talking me into something else), I'll be buying within a couple weeks. My first addons will be folding Troy sights and a Tango Down vertical grip. Later down the road will be a flashlight and a EOTech or ACOG. But I guess I'm just posting to ask if anyone can see any reason why I might not want this rifle. I've been looking into this for a while and I've wanted a BCM upper since before they had lowers. I originally planned to buy the upper and lower seperate, but now that they make lowers I think I'll just buy a complete rifle from them. So... what do you think? |
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I would get the upper and lower seperately.
BCM Blem lower group, and then get a BCM recce 16 upper with a 12" daniel defense lite or a Troy/VTAC TRX Extreme 13". Honestly, those troy quad rails are HEAVY pigs. Add that to a heavy BCM stainless barrel, and that thing will be very front heavy. I have a BCM Stainless barrel as do a few of my buddies. They are scary accurate with the right load. You have no idea how much farther ahead of the curve you are going with a BCM as your first rifle. No matter what you choose from BCM, you will be beyond happy. However, I believe there are much better handguards out there than the quad troy on that particular rifle. TRX BCM RECCE DD LITE BCM RECCE Both of those will be significantly lighter. You will have a more versatile setup those handguards. |
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You're definately looking at a great brand. I went with the blemished lower, and then the Recce 14 upper. I didn't get the Gunfighter CH, but I'm getting it seperately. I prefer the shorter barrel, personally. The Troy is a little heavier. That said, I've always used heavy rifles, and the weight doesn't bother me. 
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Quoted: What is the difference between the regular lower and the "BLEM" lower? Well, it can vary. Many report that they have never found a single blemish. Mine, has a minor scratch on the right side in the black finish. I duracoat and cerakote, so not an issue to me. BCM marks all of their blemished lowers with a "C" on the front of the magazine well. Off the top of my buzzing head, I believe that you'll save about $100. Edited to add: Another added benefit to going this route is that you can get the complete lower minus the stock if you want something different than the standard carbine stock. You'll notice mine in the pic above has an ACS stock. |
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Only you can decide that. Iv'e not shot the 1/8, but it sounds as if it is the compromise for shooting the lighter bullets. Me, I like heavy bullets, so the 1/7 was a no brainer. As an aside: Now, as I state this, this is not in anyway attributed to BCM. But I have heard of reports of stainless steel barrels literally breaking when struck while cold, in very cold environments. Have I seen it? No. But I have heard a couple of different reports. I'm no metal expert, but it seems that SS is more brittle. BCM did a lot of research into the steel that the use for the standard barrels; I bet they did the same thing for the SS. |
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For starters, I think you've selected one of the best AR's out there. My Bravo rifles are my Go-To rifles without hesitation. What type of use do you intend for your rifle? I'm asking mainly because of your interest in the stainless barrels. You pick up extra weight which may not be desirable in some instances. I will also second the motion for a DD Lite 12" rail and buying the upper and lower seperately because you'll save paying the excise tax and can pick any upper configuration you want. Here's my all BCM 16" Middy with 12" DD Lite rail and EOTech XPS2-0. 
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The rifle will mainly be a fighting rifle.
I heard stories that during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina that people would patrol the streets of thier neighborhood with rifles and shotguns to protect from looters. Honestly, that's the type of situation I had in mind when looking at this rifle. A rifle I could depend on when things get bad. However, I would like to keep it as versatile as possible. But, from what you've said, the main disadvantage with the pre-built rifle is the heavy Troy quad rails. Weight is a concern of mine, so that might be a deal breaker... not sure. I'm also leaning away from stainless steel. I think I'd rather have the 1/7 twist and don't want the extra weight (wish I knew exactly how much more it weighed). I clean all my guns after every shooting, so I don't see stainless's corrosion resistance being a huge factor. If I build seperately, I would get 16" mid length 1/7 twist + DD Lite 12" rail. The whole rifle would cost me $1370, or if I want the Gunfighter charging handle, $1415. I'm not sure the lighter rail is worth $200 more than the $1219 pre-built rifle. |
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Quoted:
Thanks for all the great info. Now I'm on the fence... trying to decide between a 1:8 Stainless barrel and a 1:7 standard. What do I do? I was in your exact same shoes a month ago. I went with the 1:7 twist chrome lined CHF for the following reason: I see myself shooting far more cheap plinking ammo than I expensive match ammo/homebrewed reloads. Basically you have to make the same choice. |
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Maybe I'm a "Franken-rifle" kind of guy but here is what I would do if I were in your shoes.
I would get this stripped lower and build it with this build kit then slap on this upper with this BCG using a BCM Gunfighter CH. With that combo, you should be under $1100 before optics, buis, or mags. I believe that gives you enough you can throw on a set of MBUS and buy a few Pmags before getting to the price of the rifle you priced. All the "running parts" are BCM and the lower is g2g by all accounts, as are the DD internals. |
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Quoted:
I'm not sure where you're coming up with your price quoted above. A blemished lower with M4 stock is $270, and the standard 16" middlength with DD Lite 12" is 779, for $1049. You might have been looking at one of the uppers listed with the VLTOR MUR. Looks like I was looking at this one with a "Barrel Forged Hammer": http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-BFH-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-Daniel-p/bcm-urg-mid-16%20bfh%20ddl12.htm It's about $100 more than the standard, plus an additional $135 for the bolt carrier group. I also had a regular lower in my price, not a blemished one. Is this "BFH" barrel worth the extra $100? This is what it says about them: Cold Hammer Forged Barrels
This process of manufacturing barrels has been used for European small arms for generations, and it is gaining popularity in the United States because of the increased barrel life and outstanding accuracy of a hammer forged barrel. The BCM BFH™ series of barrels are made right here in the USA! (Just like all the BCM products.) What do you think? Is the BFH worth it? |
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^^^Nothing wrong with the BFH at all, but after reading your intended usage I would suggest saving the extra money. There is absolutely, positively no drawbacks to using their standard barrels. The BCM Gunfighter CH is definitely worth the money though. Check out: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-Daniel-Defense-p/bcm-urg-mid-16%20ddl12.htm or this (unless you have already decided against a fixed FSB) http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-16-MID-Upper-Receiver-Daniel-Defense-p/bcm-urg-mid%2016%20ddox9.htm |
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