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Posted: 7/11/2011 4:17:55 PM EDT
| I know this horse has been beat to death so I will ask one specific question in hopes it doesnt start a huge debate. As you all know I have been looking for an upper from BCM and there out.. So fellow AR Forum members pointed me to Spikes.. If I piece together a BCM it comes out to 200 bucks more than the same thing spikes offers.. I know everyone says there damn near identical, but why the price difference then? I mean would you take one over the other if ya went off to kick some ass? |
| Are you sure the price difference for an upper receiver is really $200? Are you comparing apples to apples when it comes to specs on the two models you are looking at? If it really is a difference of $200, and the specs are identical, then perhaps you have answered your own question. |
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Are you sure the price difference for an upper receiver is really $200? Are you comparing apples to apples when it comes to specs on the two models you are looking at? If it really is a difference of $200, and the specs are identical, then perhaps you have answered your own question. OK so ya got me there.... but yes both Tester barrels chromed lined in 1/7 twist. both BCG are tested, same charging handle, no rear sight, Carbine hand guards.."F" marked front sight gas block. from what I can tell its the same specs.. Maybe I did answer my own question 
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If you can get your hands on a Spikes upper, go for it and never look back. Now, if that BCM logo is gonna make you feel better then you are gonna eventually spend more money later on to get that BCM that you want in the back of your head and the Spikes won't satisfy you. If that's the case then wait for the BCM. However, from what I could gather, there is no difference in quality. I own one Spikes midlength 16" upper and can tell you the quality is top shelf, and for the price difference, I'd hafta go with Spikes. Plus, I love the fact that they're based in Apopka since I'm from there... Just a little bit of homer love 
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Are you sure the price difference for an upper receiver is really $200? Are you comparing apples to apples when it comes to specs on the two models you are looking at? If it really is a difference of $200, and the specs are identical, then perhaps you have answered your own question. OK so ya got me there.... but yes both Tester barrels chromed lined in 1/7 twist. both BCG are tested, same charging handle, no rear sight, Carbine hand guards.."F" marked front sight gas block. from what I can tell its the same specs.. Maybe I did answer my own question I just looked it up and per the BCM website a standard upper is $400 plus BCG for $140 gets you to $540. Spikes M4LE upper is $525 per their website. It looks like the spikes gets you the standard M4 handguards and the BCM does not come with handguards, but that doesn't make up the difference to get you to a $200 delta. I'm not suggesting that you get one over the other, but I just don't see how you are coming up with the $200 price difference? |
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Are you sure the price difference for an upper receiver is really $200? Are you comparing apples to apples when it comes to specs on the two models you are looking at? If it really is a difference of $200, and the specs are identical, then perhaps you have answered your own question. OK so ya got me there.... but yes both Tester barrels chromed lined in 1/7 twist. both BCG are tested, same charging handle, no rear sight, Carbine hand guards.."F" marked front sight gas block. from what I can tell its the same specs.. Maybe I did answer my own question I just looked it up and per the BCM website a standard upper is $400 plus BCG for $140 gets you to $540. Spikes M4LE upper is $525 per their website. It looks like the spikes gets you the standard M4 handguards and the BCM does not come with handguards, but that doesn't make up the difference to get you to a $200 delta. I'm not suggesting that you get one over the other, but I just don't see how you are coming up with the $200 price difference? well going buy the parts that are in stock at BCM to make a complete upper ( DD BCG, BCM Large latch charging handle, Hand guards), with shipping and tax to my door is $743.13 since I live in wisconsin I get charged 42 bucks in tax, Now a website I found has a complete spikes upper M4 complete for 515.00+Ship..so total is around $535.00... So to me roughly $200 apart |
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Spikes man, Spikes. For real. Pull the trigger on that 515 deal. It won't be available for long, I'd wager. yeah they have 3 in stock, and they also have 7 of the Bushy 6.8 Uppers I want in stock spec II chambers 1/11 twist Chromed bore and lined.. Sorry I was wrong on the spikes its $489.00 |
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Spikes man, Spikes. For real. Pull the trigger on that 515 deal. It won't be available for long, I'd wager. yeah they have 3 in stock, and they also have 7 of the Bushy 6.8 Uppers I want in stock spec II chambers 1/11 twist Chromed bore and lined.. Ah, see now you've opened a new can of worms with the 6.8. You should settle on what caliber you really want then buy. Like they all say around here, buy once, cry once. If you don't get exactly what you want from the get go then you'll be spending extra $ down the road to get what you really always wanted to begin with. |
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Spikes man, Spikes. For real. Pull the trigger on that 515 deal. It won't be available for long, I'd wager. yeah they have 3 in stock, and they also have 7 of the Bushy 6.8 Uppers I want in stock spec II chambers 1/11 twist Chromed bore and lined.. Sorry I was wrong on the spikes its $489.00 Wow, 489? That's a helluva deal. Is that for the middy or carbine? |
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Spikes man, Spikes. For real. Pull the trigger on that 515 deal. It won't be available for long, I'd wager. yeah they have 3 in stock, and they also have 7 of the Bushy 6.8 Uppers I want in stock spec II chambers 1/11 twist Chromed bore and lined.. Sorry I was wrong on the spikes its $489.00 Wow, 489? That's a helluva deal. Is that for the middy or carbine? Carbine.... and the 6.8 is going to be set up just for hunting the 5.56 is going to be my fun gun.. Im building the 6.8 for my father who is handicaped and cant really handle the recoil of anything bigger than a .308.. |
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I can't comment on the 6.8 uppers but if the carbine 16" is the way you want to go then I think you'd be real hard-pressed to beat that 489 deal for the spikes. You'll find a lot of Spikes love here: .http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=2&f=282
I'd say peruse some of those threads and if you're still not convinced then go with the Bravo upper |
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Are you sure the price difference for an upper receiver is really $200? Are you comparing apples to apples when it comes to specs on the two models you are looking at? If it really is a difference of $200, and the specs are identical, then perhaps you have answered your own question. OK so ya got me there.... but yes both Tester barrels chromed lined in 1/7 twist. both BCG are tested, same charging handle, no rear sight, Carbine hand guards.."F" marked front sight gas block. from what I can tell its the same specs.. Maybe I did answer my own question I just looked it up and per the BCM website a standard upper is $400 plus BCG for $140 gets you to $540. Spikes M4LE upper is $525 per their website. It looks like the spikes gets you the standard M4 handguards and the BCM does not come with handguards, but that doesn't make up the difference to get you to a $200 delta. I'm not suggesting that you get one over the other, but I just don't see how you are coming up with the $200 price difference? well going buy the parts that are in stock at BCM to make a complete upper ( DD BCG, BCM Large latch charging handle, Hand guards), with shipping and tax to my door is $743.13 since I live in wisconsin I get charged 42 bucks in tax, Now a website I found has a complete spikes upper M4 complete for 515.00+Ship..so total is around $535.00... So to me roughly $200 apart Yeah, I saw that you were a WI resident, so the sales tax thing is an issue. The charging handle is sort of moot, because I would definitely recommend that you get one regardless. It sounds like you have found a nice deal for the Spikes. The general feedback on Spikes is very positive, so I wouldn't feel like you are "settling" if you go with the Spikes. If you want to support your home state manufacturer, then I guess you are just going to have to suck it up with the sales tax. You are choosing between two good options, so you can't go wrong either way. Good luck! |
| I have both the Spikes and the BCM M4 clones with 16 inch barrels. I can tell zero difference between the two, absolutely zero and you won't be able to tell the difference either. So flip a coin and pick one. Given the price differences Spikes wins absolutely every time. If it were me, I would get the Spikes upper and a BCM gunfighter charging handle Mod 4 and be done with it. Or I'll even throw a bigger monkey wrench in your decision: Check out Palmetto State Armory complete uppers for $399. They are up and coming around here and another forum related to AR's and I wouldn't have a problem buying one of theirs either. In fact, when I get paid on Friday I'm going to buy one two of their stripped lowers for a future SPR build and a mid-length build. |
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I will be anxiously awaiting your report. 
I have 2 PSA stripped lowers on the way. 1 will be another 5.56 and the other is gonna be my 6.8 deer/pig killer.  Range report willfollow for sure..Im gonna drop at least 500 rounds right away.. so if it handles that with no malfunction Im sure its gtg from thereon...6.8 for a deer gun and hog seems perfect since most shots around here never get past 100 yards anyways. |
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Well I ordered the Spikes last night and Im excited to get it and see how it is.. Who knows maybe Spikes will be my new love.. I didn't see you already ordered the Spikes when I posted the above reply. You will love your Spikes rifle. When I ordered mine through a local FFL he said who and what is Spikes? Are you sure you want this one. I said yes, just place the order. He then said you know you can get a Bushmaster for just a little more from me. I literally laughed at him to his face. Then said thanks for placing the order and call me when it gets here. After 1K trouble free rounds it is just as solid as the BCM. Other than my most recent purchase of a Mod 4 CH, I'll only buy BCM parts on the EE when they are reasonably priced. Be sure to post pics when you get the rifle. |
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I have both the Spikes and the BCM M4 clones with 16 inch barrels. I can tell zero difference between the two, absolutely zero and you won't be able to tell the difference either. So flip a coin and pick one. Given the price differences Spikes wins absolutely every time. If it were me, I would get the Spikes upper and a BCM gunfighter charging handle Mod 4 and be done with it. Or I'll even throw a bigger monkey wrench in your decision: Check out Palmetto State Armory complete uppers for $399. They are up and coming around here and another forum related to AR's and I wouldn't have a problem buying one of theirs either. In fact, when I get paid on Friday I'm going to buy one two of their stripped lowers for a future SPR build and a mid-length build. I already ordered the Spikes ..The charging handle seems like a good add on. I found that whats the point of asking questions or asking for advice on here if Im not going to follow it... So thats why I got the spikes.. Mine as well give it a try. |
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Well I ordered the Spikes last night and Im excited to get it and see how it is.. Who knows maybe Spikes will be my new love.. I didn't see you already ordered the Spikes when I posted the above reply. You will love your Spikes rifle. When I ordered mine through a local FFL he said who and what is Spikes? Are you sure you want this one. I said yes, just place the order. He then said you know you can get a Bushmaster for just a little more from me. I literally laughed at him to his face. Then said thanks for placing the order and call me when it gets here. After 1K trouble free rounds it is just as solid as the BCM. Other than my most recent purchase of a Mod 4 CH, I'll only buy BCM parts on the EE when they are reasonably priced. Be sure to post pics when you get the rifle. I will be sure to post pics Im very excited to see how it performs. Maybe this will be my new addiction 
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In true ARFCOM fashion I got both(uppers)! I have a BCM middy and a Spikes Middy. The BCM has standard hand guards the Spikes has the 9" BAR. Both have the gunfighter charging handle and Troy rear sights. I paid about the same for both all said and done. Quality is equal imo so go with the better deal and be happy. |
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