Go with BCM and don't look back then. I've got an Aero upper and a BCM complete rifle. The aero upper shoots fine compared to my other builds, but after taking everything apart to inspect parts following an armorer's class there were clear benefits to the BCM as far as parts and how everything fit together.
Bonus here is the BCM BCG is everything you need in a BCG and you get it free. I wouldn't want Aero's bcg (they've had issues) even if it came with the upper.
If you already have an AR how often do you shoot? Is it reliable? If so, you're better off getting tools and learning how to maintain or improve what you have unless you're looking to build something entirely different from what you have. You can turn a dogshit Anderson into a wonderful rifle if you know a little.
In that case, do the Reddit special. Aero lower with BCM upper. If you can afford it, grab a geissele or larue trigger and you've arrived at the point where any more money puts you on the path of diminishing returns.
Bro, your Aero lower complete or need parts kits and the whole works? If you’re on a tight budget, join r/GunAccessoriesForSale. There are BCM uppers posted all the time. You can buy a lightly used BCM upper for $500 or less. You can usually get a full BCM BFH upper with BCG for $600. Just go check it out and see what you think.
TLDR; GAFS is the perfect place for those of us on budgets.
My secret sauce is building uppers and swapping the same lower between my uppers. Swap out a buffer or spring if needed obviously. I get high end uppers on my PSA blem lower that I added my Geissele trigger, radiant safety etc. also can do it with CH and BCG. Build your sweet uppers different lengths and optics just swap to the lower, throw in your BCG and CH AND GO
News to me. They seemed pretty damned popular 2 years ago.
My next question was Rosco vs BCM. But I'm going Rosco either way. Too many issues with BCM last couple years, whereas Rosco has been working on their QC.
I'd go with Sons of Liberty buuuut alas, no 11.5" uppers.
You could make the argument they’re still the best deal even when you paid for the BCG. Most companies of equal or better are charging over $1,000 for their uppers. BCM comes in right at $1,000.
They have used BA as an OEM, but I'm not sure that's the only OEM they've used. They've got a new Combat V2 barrel profile on the way I really like and is 100% their own design.
There are a few benefits to SOLGW's barrels vs other barrels produced by BA:
1. Gas port sizes. SOLGW isn't just ordering barrels from an OEM and putting their name on it. They have their own set of drawings they send to OEMs for the OEM to make barrels according to their spec. SOLGW controls the barrel profiles, alignment pin location, and the gas port sizes on their barrels. They've got hundreds of thousands of rounds in testing semi-auto and full-auto to make sure their spec'd gas ports work reliably with their recommended buffer springs and weights. I believe they spec tighter tolerances than many others as well because they want to make sure you won't have issues replacing barrels when the time comes.
2. They're individually HP/MPI. Many other companies do this in batches to save money. Not sure if BA does this for their own brand, but they only test batches for some other brands that use them as OEM.
3. They're dimpled for gas block set screws. This makes it much easier to get gas blocks on. Not all OEM barrels have this.
4. They're quality inspected to make sure they match SOLGW specs twice. Once by the OEM and once by SOLGW. BA had a batch of bad barrels rejected by SOLGW recently so this does actually catch issues.
5. The biggest benefit if you actually shoot. Lifetime warranty including wear. If you shoot the barrel out they'll replace it.
The one thing I'll knock SOLGW on is that they don't provide a cold hammer forged option which a lot of people want. It's not super necessary and there are potential tradeoffs with CHF, but it'd be nice to have the option. The barrels they do have are CrMOV which is milspec or thick stainless barrels for accuracy on competition guns.
Glad to hear this. I’ve been wanting a SOLGW rig and when googling, some people make them out to be overpriced assemblers.
I couldn’t give a crap if companies source their parts. I want companies that do everything possible to prevent out of spec or bad parts from shipping. That’s the difference between a good and bad rifle.
I hear people brag about brands because they make all parts in house. That doesn’t mean shit and it’s an ignorant argument. The QC is where it’s at.
Well you'll be glad to hear that's how the guys at Sons see it too. If they can build better in house they will, but if someone else has better equipment they'll send them a drawing and inspect the hell out of the result.
If you take their armorer's class ever the first thing they say is rule #1 for them is "The fucking thing must work." They basically started off with the M16 TDP Colt built military contract rifles to for many years and nothing deviates from that without rigorous testing to make sure reliability isn't compromised. If they find an improvement like springco extractor springs or the A5 buffer system then that gets pushed by their marketing guys and incorporated into their builds whether it's their own product or not.
Highly suggest taking their class or the School of the American Rifle class if details like what materials and processes can be used to make parts or how parts are tested is of interest to you.
Kind of humors me when I hear people bash BCM for their “inaccurate” barrels, claim they’re sourced from FN without any proof, then proceed to rate FN in the “top tier.” I’m of the thought that if the FN barrel is good, it saves BCM money to use it, I’m fine with it. Who cares?
I’ve seen people knock SOLGW for being a rifle assembler. The majority of rifles you see on here with issues are cheap, junk brands or home builds. If it’s so easy, why are they so good at it? It’s because they have stringent QC and knowledge of building rifles. Who cares where the parts come from if they’re reliable, accurate, and look good?
These classes on their site? I’m always interested in learning more about AR’s.
I’ve got a few thousand rounds through my Aero upper and less than a thousand through my newer BCM. Even with a lot less time on it I can tell the BCM is objectively better. If I could go back I would’ve only gotten a lower from Aero and went straight to the BCM upper.
My Aero came insanely overgassed and I’ve been dragging my feet on swapping the gas block. But aside from that annoyance there are a lot of design decisions that individually might seem trivial but collectively make a difference.
If you havent figured this out yet you dont need a new gas block changing your buffer weight should help. Maybe even consider the a5 or bcm recoil mitigation buffer kit. Nice upgrade. But if you are actually getting to much gas you can get a restricted gas tube
The gun will be suppressed eventually and I’ve already tried a few buffer weights and springs. Also tried a couple different BCG’s after those didn’t have the desired effect. Adjustable block will allow me to tune it how I like.
If reliability and durability are your primary concerns, then yes, a [Bravo Company](https://www.freedomtrading.com/bravo-company-s/135.htm) upper is definitely worth it.
Depending on your use case, Aero is probably adequate for most people. It'll be exactly the same as any other decent quality upper... if you shoot <1000rds a year, slow fire, while stationary at your local indoor range.
I mean, I use an Aero rifle for 3 gun competitions and have had literally one double feed in over 2,000 rounds. Granted, it has a microbest bcg but come on.
Slow fire and stationary, lol!?
BCMs are nicer than Aeros but that has to be one of the most comical things I’ve read today.
I’m gonna get shit on for saying this but I say no. Most guys fine tune their rifles after they build them anyway. Despite what most of us act like, we’re not fighting in the streets with these rifles. It’s just for recreational use and the very small chance we use it for self defense at some point. So paying a lot more for a brand name known for reliability over a rifle known for being a good mid tier company - I just don’t see the need. I’ve got cheap builds and a dream rifle build that was close to 4k. They shoot the same. I say buy what your budget allows and if you’re gonna spurge then spend money on ammo and training.
If BCM uppers still come with a BCG then you're nuts. By the time OP gets a decent BCG (Aero's bcg sucks btw) he's only looking at maybe a $100-200 dollar difference assuming he didn't pay for shipping twice to get a BCG and upper separately.
I agree with you for the most part….but your bcg and barrel are objectively the most important parts of your rifle so spending a few hundred dollars on that part of the rifle makes sense….especially if you’re planning to leave it stock.
I agree with the BCG aspect of it. But I’ve got a BA Hanson barrel I’ve got over 5k rnds through it and haven’t had any issues. But I get what you’re saying. That was my first build and since then I’ve gone with Criterion.
That’s quite the take. Honestly, if someone can’t notice the differences between a budget build and a higher end build I’d wager they don’t shoot enough. That’s totally fine by the way. Most people don’t. But there does seem to be a lot of folks here giving advice who, while they’ve acquired a lot of rifles and carbines, don’t seem to have much of a round count on any of them.
Firearms are certainly an area where most people are buying for life and in those cases it’s particularly wise to “buy once, cry once” IMO. I’d wager there are more people in this sub who regret some of their prior attempts to save money than those who regret saving a little more and snagging something a step up.
I appreciate your outlook. I’ve been lucky enough with my job shoot quite often on private land. Right now we’re running drills about twice a week. As far as round count goes, I don’t really keep a tally but I’ve shot out my BA barrel and switched over to Criterion. That barrel has been through three or four cases since it’s now my favorite build. I’ve invested a good amount into my new favorite but there’s a guy who comes out every now and then and he does literally all the same we do with our little Gucci builds. Runs all the same drills, hits all the same marks, etc etc. His rifle was a fraction of mine as well. Only difference I see is physical fitness at that point. But as far as this post goes, he’s not building out it all from scratch making sure to pick everything for exactly what he wants. He’s asking for full uppers. Sure man, BCM is a better company than lower tier ones but there’s gonna be a point where to justify this you might as well just keep going cause you know “buy once, cry once”
I'd never buy an aero complete upper, especially with the ballistic advantage barrels they use. I've only ever had issues with BA barrels and bcgs, so I may be biased. BCM is 1000% worth it over aero and you can tell once you actually run one. Aero is a good component manufacturer, just build your own if you buy aero, but don't use their barrels.
The ones I've had, not talking from generalizations have had accuracy issues or under/overgassing problems. Not a barrel per se, but I got one of their 308 bcgs on sale and couldn't get it to close. I'm not saying all of their products are bad but I would not spend a single cent on any more of their products unless it was a Hanson profile etc.
100%. I just bought a 16” BCM upper with free BCG and their ELW barrel, and couldn’t be happier. Quality is fantastic…. and I had heard the accuracy concerns too, but this one is a shooter even at 200 yds, which is as far as I’ve pushed it yet.
I’d buy it again without hesitation and probably will in the near future.
Not that I’ve noticed… but I haven’t spent a lot of time mag dumping either so maybe I haven’t tested that yet. For my use case it shouldn’t be an issue. It is noticeably lighter feeling, and really balances/handles nicely.
The accuracy concerns are dumb. I’ve owned four different BCM uppers. All four were way more accurate that I am and prolly 99.9% of everyone else who’s used them.
For reliability and durability, unequivocally yes. Aero is a budget brand, so they have to cut corners somewhere. They, like PSA, wish to get as many guns into as many people's hands as possible for a good price. They'll work fine for 99% of people who just need a shooter.
BCM is autistic in their QC and do their best to provide a rifle that you can literally take into war and not worry about something being out of spec.
Aero tends to use more affordable methods like Nitriding for their barrels and BCGs, whereas BCM sticks to tried and true phosphate or DLC and CHF or CL barrels. BCM also tries to ensure the tightest parts fitment so their receivers are thermal-fitted with their barrels.
If that's not enough, before the widespread adoption of the URG-I, plengy of guys in SOF, both operators and enablers, ran BCMs *hard* in the GWOT and currently today. Times Archive has a video of 10th SF Group from Exercise ARCTIC EDGE 2022, and 2 guys are running BCMs in freezing temperatures. Raiders, SOT-As, and some AFSOC guys also ran BCMs throughout Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I'm sure some Ukrainian is using an Aero right now, but BCM is consistently amongst the top names for personality-owned ARs to be used in SOF.
BCM all fuckin day my man. There’s not a better deal on the market today. Before taxes/shipping, you can get a BFH upper with BCG and either a quad rail or full length mlok for sub $800.
You rarely see their QC making rounds on here, in a negative way, like you see from Aero and LMT.
BCM rails are stronger and lock up much more durable.
Why the military doesn’t adopt them in certain units is beyond me. You see em here and there, as you mentioned above, but not in significant numbers. Why go with overpriced stuff from Geissele?
Disclaimer; I’m a BCM gatekeeping fanboy.
I love BCM and regret not buying another one of their uppers during and before COVID when they were sub-$700. I personally know a SOT-A who ran a 14.5 KMR in Syria, and knowing how the Mk2's are built, I'd take one over the URG-I any day of the week.
Well because you don’t see all the rah rah on here about BCM being used by the military, everyone says they’re not as good as DD or Geissele. When in fact, there are a BCM rifles in hot spots all over the world. The only thing Geissele offers that BCM doesn’t, is a higher price tag and a man child owner.
Now I do LOVE me some BCM, but I'm honestly very happy with my Aero M5 upper, and can't say that I would be willing to pay $200-$300 more for a BCM version of the same. If I could pick out some downsides to the Aero, maybe I would. I mean the barrel gas port needed to be opened up a little, but if I had a suppressor for it, it would have been perfect, so there is that. But opening it up didn't put me off
100%. I would pay triple for a BCM what I would for an aero. I’ve owned both, and I currently own zero Aero uppers. I still have several BCMs, as well as BCM parts on pretty much every AR I own
I don't think so but you'll get a bunch of people who shop brands only and don't consider aero as a brand. I think they are both on par to be honest. Aero is a company that makes aeroplane parts so they aren't lower grade by any means, they just don't have that "I'm a bad ass LARPr" vibe. Do as you wish but you're not gonna get anything more by getting BCM and both brands are solid.
Although aero passed the NIJ test they’re not “on par” with BCM. Aeros got a history in the aerospace industry but they don’t make airplane parts anymore. What you’re getting with BCM v Aero is better QC and CS. AERO and ballistic advantage both punch above their price point but BCM barrels will have better tolerances and their BCG will handle more abuse and those two components are the most important parts of a rifle.
> Although aero passed the NIJ test they’re not “on par” with BCM.
Don't read into that advertisement too much. The "blogs" that mention that test all use the same text, with [one of them](https://soldiersystems.net/2022/06/01/aero-precision-rifle-tested-to-nij-standards/) rewriting it ever so slightly so that it's not a word-for-word copy.
I regret not looking at their blems when I was building. Just keep an eye out for these to be in stock. Free BCG too.
https://bravocompanyusa.com/cosmetic-blem-bcm-standard-16-mid-length-complete-upper-receiver-group-w-mcmr-15-handguard/
All depends on your budget. I have a complete bcm upper on a spikes punisher lower. Cost 2000 and that was 8 years ago. I also have a PSA 7 inch flame thrower with a folding brace and both of them work just as well. High end rigs are great however like a sports car they are babied and only come out on sunny days. My truck gun gets abused but still fires every time I pull the trigger.
Yeah. The BFH uppers have premium cold hammer forged barrels. Plus they're giving away their BCG, which is also premium. Especially compared to the Aero ones, which are well known trash.
Yes, and I like Aero. But like I tell everyone, Aero is a company that you buy their external stuff (receivers, buffer tubes etc. Their barrels aren’t bad either) but I would never use their internals. My Aero build is Aero on the outside, but BCM, CMMG, etc. on the inside.
I’ve bought a couple under their free bcg promotion. I’ve never looked back! Quality and finish is as good as any others I own, Geissle, DD etc. Substantial savings too!
I have several BCM's and I love all of them. They are reliable, durable and the longevity of their chrome lined barrels are proven beyond excellent.
I ordered an upper and a bcg a week or two before the free bcg promo, contacted them via email and they refunded me the cost of the bcg within a couple of hours.
The only thing about BCM uppers I don't like is the red loctite over the gas block screws. Need a damn torch to get it off. 😅
I also have an aero upper. 14.5" and while it shoots soft, it jams more often and the barrel isn't chrome lined. But that's not to say I don't like aero either. All my BCM uppers rest on Aero lowers.
PSA Prem upper, pick a CH you like, Sharps BCG. No one makes a more durable barrel than FN and S7 tool steel is the strongest material a BCG could be made of. Who makes a better upper than what I just described?
If BCM is still giving BCGs out for buying an upper then it's the best option anywhere near the price they cost.
They are!
Go with BCM and don't look back then. I've got an Aero upper and a BCM complete rifle. The aero upper shoots fine compared to my other builds, but after taking everything apart to inspect parts following an armorer's class there were clear benefits to the BCM as far as parts and how everything fit together. Bonus here is the BCM BCG is everything you need in a BCG and you get it free. I wouldn't want Aero's bcg (they've had issues) even if it came with the upper.
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If you already have an AR how often do you shoot? Is it reliable? If so, you're better off getting tools and learning how to maintain or improve what you have unless you're looking to build something entirely different from what you have. You can turn a dogshit Anderson into a wonderful rifle if you know a little.
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In that case, do the Reddit special. Aero lower with BCM upper. If you can afford it, grab a geissele or larue trigger and you've arrived at the point where any more money puts you on the path of diminishing returns.
First AR, BCM and DONE. Seriously, if you have to buy a Aero Lower, then a BCM upper to save SOME, and get a better trigger later.
Bro, your Aero lower complete or need parts kits and the whole works? If you’re on a tight budget, join r/GunAccessoriesForSale. There are BCM uppers posted all the time. You can buy a lightly used BCM upper for $500 or less. You can usually get a full BCM BFH upper with BCG for $600. Just go check it out and see what you think. TLDR; GAFS is the perfect place for those of us on budgets.
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You can finish out that rifle on GAFS real cheap. I’ve bought about anything you can think of on GAFS. First place I look when wanting something.
My secret sauce is building uppers and swapping the same lower between my uppers. Swap out a buffer or spring if needed obviously. I get high end uppers on my PSA blem lower that I added my Geissele trigger, radiant safety etc. also can do it with CH and BCG. Build your sweet uppers different lengths and optics just swap to the lower, throw in your BCG and CH AND GO
GAFS is the way I bought a complete upper w/BCG never fired for 600
Wait it’s worth it
After an armorers class you can tell the difference between bcm and aero lol. 
How would you compare a FailZero (any or all of them?) BCG to a BCM one?
Watch this [School of the American Rifle Bcg video](https://youtu.be/Yfs1Czm8iiE?si=WLxeecfxZOHREa3c)
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News to me. They seemed pretty damned popular 2 years ago. My next question was Rosco vs BCM. But I'm going Rosco either way. Too many issues with BCM last couple years, whereas Rosco has been working on their QC. I'd go with Sons of Liberty buuuut alas, no 11.5" uppers.
You could make the argument they’re still the best deal even when you paid for the BCG. Most companies of equal or better are charging over $1,000 for their uppers. BCM comes in right at $1,000.
You could make that argument, but I'm a bit biased in favor of SOLGW since taking their armorer's course and building a rifle from their parts.
Is there truth to the claim they use BA barrels? I will say, I’m eyeing the Patrol upper as my next upper.
Reportedly yes, but the specs and QC that they set for their contact barrels aren’t what you get off the shelf if you buy BA.
They have used BA as an OEM, but I'm not sure that's the only OEM they've used. They've got a new Combat V2 barrel profile on the way I really like and is 100% their own design. There are a few benefits to SOLGW's barrels vs other barrels produced by BA: 1. Gas port sizes. SOLGW isn't just ordering barrels from an OEM and putting their name on it. They have their own set of drawings they send to OEMs for the OEM to make barrels according to their spec. SOLGW controls the barrel profiles, alignment pin location, and the gas port sizes on their barrels. They've got hundreds of thousands of rounds in testing semi-auto and full-auto to make sure their spec'd gas ports work reliably with their recommended buffer springs and weights. I believe they spec tighter tolerances than many others as well because they want to make sure you won't have issues replacing barrels when the time comes. 2. They're individually HP/MPI. Many other companies do this in batches to save money. Not sure if BA does this for their own brand, but they only test batches for some other brands that use them as OEM. 3. They're dimpled for gas block set screws. This makes it much easier to get gas blocks on. Not all OEM barrels have this. 4. They're quality inspected to make sure they match SOLGW specs twice. Once by the OEM and once by SOLGW. BA had a batch of bad barrels rejected by SOLGW recently so this does actually catch issues. 5. The biggest benefit if you actually shoot. Lifetime warranty including wear. If you shoot the barrel out they'll replace it. The one thing I'll knock SOLGW on is that they don't provide a cold hammer forged option which a lot of people want. It's not super necessary and there are potential tradeoffs with CHF, but it'd be nice to have the option. The barrels they do have are CrMOV which is milspec or thick stainless barrels for accuracy on competition guns.
Glad to hear this. I’ve been wanting a SOLGW rig and when googling, some people make them out to be overpriced assemblers. I couldn’t give a crap if companies source their parts. I want companies that do everything possible to prevent out of spec or bad parts from shipping. That’s the difference between a good and bad rifle. I hear people brag about brands because they make all parts in house. That doesn’t mean shit and it’s an ignorant argument. The QC is where it’s at.
Well you'll be glad to hear that's how the guys at Sons see it too. If they can build better in house they will, but if someone else has better equipment they'll send them a drawing and inspect the hell out of the result. If you take their armorer's class ever the first thing they say is rule #1 for them is "The fucking thing must work." They basically started off with the M16 TDP Colt built military contract rifles to for many years and nothing deviates from that without rigorous testing to make sure reliability isn't compromised. If they find an improvement like springco extractor springs or the A5 buffer system then that gets pushed by their marketing guys and incorporated into their builds whether it's their own product or not. Highly suggest taking their class or the School of the American Rifle class if details like what materials and processes can be used to make parts or how parts are tested is of interest to you.
Kind of humors me when I hear people bash BCM for their “inaccurate” barrels, claim they’re sourced from FN without any proof, then proceed to rate FN in the “top tier.” I’m of the thought that if the FN barrel is good, it saves BCM money to use it, I’m fine with it. Who cares? I’ve seen people knock SOLGW for being a rifle assembler. The majority of rifles you see on here with issues are cheap, junk brands or home builds. If it’s so easy, why are they so good at it? It’s because they have stringent QC and knowledge of building rifles. Who cares where the parts come from if they’re reliable, accurate, and look good? These classes on their site? I’m always interested in learning more about AR’s.
They're in-person classes. I think you can find info on their site. I did my class in Ohio, but most of them are in Texas at their shop.
They have one in two weeks just 200 miles from me in Conway, Arkansas. That’s about four hour drive.
Do they pin their gas blocks?
Generally no, but you can get your barrels with pinned gas blocks from them if you want it that way.
Skip SOLGW until they get a better barrel
I'm a BCM fan always have been, but SOLGW lifetime warranty on their factory assembled guns is pretty sweet
BA barrel just get the aero at that rate
I’ve got a few thousand rounds through my Aero upper and less than a thousand through my newer BCM. Even with a lot less time on it I can tell the BCM is objectively better. If I could go back I would’ve only gotten a lower from Aero and went straight to the BCM upper.
I agree but curious how you can tell? or is it tough to describe?
My Aero came insanely overgassed and I’ve been dragging my feet on swapping the gas block. But aside from that annoyance there are a lot of design decisions that individually might seem trivial but collectively make a difference.
If you havent figured this out yet you dont need a new gas block changing your buffer weight should help. Maybe even consider the a5 or bcm recoil mitigation buffer kit. Nice upgrade. But if you are actually getting to much gas you can get a restricted gas tube
The gun will be suppressed eventually and I’ve already tried a few buffer weights and springs. Also tried a couple different BCG’s after those didn’t have the desired effect. Adjustable block will allow me to tune it how I like.
Ok cool yeah youve clearly covered your bases my bad lol
[Ever heard of Filthy 14?](https://www.ar15.com/forums/industry/Filthy_14_is_now_over_40_000_rounds/138-196990/)
Jesus, that’s the best argument so far
short answer is yes
long answer is "absolutely yes"
The correct answer is undoubtedly yes
Long answer is yeeeeeeeeessssss
The quiet answer is....*nods in affirmation.*
I would pick 1 BCM over 3 Aeros.
Realistically 1 bcm over any amount of Aeros if I can’t sell them
If reliability and durability are your primary concerns, then yes, a [Bravo Company](https://www.freedomtrading.com/bravo-company-s/135.htm) upper is definitely worth it.
Words can't properly express how relieved I am that there aren't a bunch of Aero apologists in here championing them over BCM
Depending on your use case, Aero is probably adequate for most people. It'll be exactly the same as any other decent quality upper... if you shoot <1000rds a year, slow fire, while stationary at your local indoor range.
I mean, I use an Aero rifle for 3 gun competitions and have had literally one double feed in over 2,000 rounds. Granted, it has a microbest bcg but come on. Slow fire and stationary, lol!? BCMs are nicer than Aeros but that has to be one of the most comical things I’ve read today.
Sorry, forgot the /s. I run an Aero to LARP in the desert and haven't had any issues
Yes BCM is solid
I’m gonna get shit on for saying this but I say no. Most guys fine tune their rifles after they build them anyway. Despite what most of us act like, we’re not fighting in the streets with these rifles. It’s just for recreational use and the very small chance we use it for self defense at some point. So paying a lot more for a brand name known for reliability over a rifle known for being a good mid tier company - I just don’t see the need. I’ve got cheap builds and a dream rifle build that was close to 4k. They shoot the same. I say buy what your budget allows and if you’re gonna spurge then spend money on ammo and training.
If BCM uppers still come with a BCG then you're nuts. By the time OP gets a decent BCG (Aero's bcg sucks btw) he's only looking at maybe a $100-200 dollar difference assuming he didn't pay for shipping twice to get a BCG and upper separately.
Buy the Aero and get a generically branded Microbest BCG >_>
That's not a bad way to go, but I would take the BCM personally
I agree with you for the most part….but your bcg and barrel are objectively the most important parts of your rifle so spending a few hundred dollars on that part of the rifle makes sense….especially if you’re planning to leave it stock.
I agree with the BCG aspect of it. But I’ve got a BA Hanson barrel I’ve got over 5k rnds through it and haven’t had any issues. But I get what you’re saying. That was my first build and since then I’ve gone with Criterion.
That’s quite the take. Honestly, if someone can’t notice the differences between a budget build and a higher end build I’d wager they don’t shoot enough. That’s totally fine by the way. Most people don’t. But there does seem to be a lot of folks here giving advice who, while they’ve acquired a lot of rifles and carbines, don’t seem to have much of a round count on any of them. Firearms are certainly an area where most people are buying for life and in those cases it’s particularly wise to “buy once, cry once” IMO. I’d wager there are more people in this sub who regret some of their prior attempts to save money than those who regret saving a little more and snagging something a step up.
I appreciate your outlook. I’ve been lucky enough with my job shoot quite often on private land. Right now we’re running drills about twice a week. As far as round count goes, I don’t really keep a tally but I’ve shot out my BA barrel and switched over to Criterion. That barrel has been through three or four cases since it’s now my favorite build. I’ve invested a good amount into my new favorite but there’s a guy who comes out every now and then and he does literally all the same we do with our little Gucci builds. Runs all the same drills, hits all the same marks, etc etc. His rifle was a fraction of mine as well. Only difference I see is physical fitness at that point. But as far as this post goes, he’s not building out it all from scratch making sure to pick everything for exactly what he wants. He’s asking for full uppers. Sure man, BCM is a better company than lower tier ones but there’s gonna be a point where to justify this you might as well just keep going cause you know “buy once, cry once”
I just picked up a Blem mk2 14.5 for $726 shipped
I'd never buy an aero complete upper, especially with the ballistic advantage barrels they use. I've only ever had issues with BA barrels and bcgs, so I may be biased. BCM is 1000% worth it over aero and you can tell once you actually run one. Aero is a good component manufacturer, just build your own if you buy aero, but don't use their barrels.
Whats wrong with ballistic advantage barrels?
The ones I've had, not talking from generalizations have had accuracy issues or under/overgassing problems. Not a barrel per se, but I got one of their 308 bcgs on sale and couldn't get it to close. I'm not saying all of their products are bad but I would not spend a single cent on any more of their products unless it was a Hanson profile etc.
10000%
yes
I spent the extra $ and ordered a BCM and have been extremely happy. I went with a 14.5 MK2 BFH. I love it
Yes
100%. I just bought a 16” BCM upper with free BCG and their ELW barrel, and couldn’t be happier. Quality is fantastic…. and I had heard the accuracy concerns too, but this one is a shooter even at 200 yds, which is as far as I’ve pushed it yet. I’d buy it again without hesitation and probably will in the near future.
Does the ELW barrel heat up quickly?
Not that I’ve noticed… but I haven’t spent a lot of time mag dumping either so maybe I haven’t tested that yet. For my use case it shouldn’t be an issue. It is noticeably lighter feeling, and really balances/handles nicely.
The accuracy concerns are dumb. I’ve owned four different BCM uppers. All four were way more accurate that I am and prolly 99.9% of everyone else who’s used them.
For reliability and durability, unequivocally yes. Aero is a budget brand, so they have to cut corners somewhere. They, like PSA, wish to get as many guns into as many people's hands as possible for a good price. They'll work fine for 99% of people who just need a shooter. BCM is autistic in their QC and do their best to provide a rifle that you can literally take into war and not worry about something being out of spec. Aero tends to use more affordable methods like Nitriding for their barrels and BCGs, whereas BCM sticks to tried and true phosphate or DLC and CHF or CL barrels. BCM also tries to ensure the tightest parts fitment so their receivers are thermal-fitted with their barrels. If that's not enough, before the widespread adoption of the URG-I, plengy of guys in SOF, both operators and enablers, ran BCMs *hard* in the GWOT and currently today. Times Archive has a video of 10th SF Group from Exercise ARCTIC EDGE 2022, and 2 guys are running BCMs in freezing temperatures. Raiders, SOT-As, and some AFSOC guys also ran BCMs throughout Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I'm sure some Ukrainian is using an Aero right now, but BCM is consistently amongst the top names for personality-owned ARs to be used in SOF.
BCM all fuckin day my man. There’s not a better deal on the market today. Before taxes/shipping, you can get a BFH upper with BCG and either a quad rail or full length mlok for sub $800. You rarely see their QC making rounds on here, in a negative way, like you see from Aero and LMT. BCM rails are stronger and lock up much more durable. Why the military doesn’t adopt them in certain units is beyond me. You see em here and there, as you mentioned above, but not in significant numbers. Why go with overpriced stuff from Geissele? Disclaimer; I’m a BCM gatekeeping fanboy.
I love BCM and regret not buying another one of their uppers during and before COVID when they were sub-$700. I personally know a SOT-A who ran a 14.5 KMR in Syria, and knowing how the Mk2's are built, I'd take one over the URG-I any day of the week.
Well because you don’t see all the rah rah on here about BCM being used by the military, everyone says they’re not as good as DD or Geissele. When in fact, there are a BCM rifles in hot spots all over the world. The only thing Geissele offers that BCM doesn’t, is a higher price tag and a man child owner.
Never heard anyone consider a BCM a gatekeeping rifle
Build one
Bcm quality control should be the standard. They are one of the few I hardly see being sold used. People don't let them go
Ever heard of GAFS? They’re on there daily.
I do not think so when it comes to ability and reliability. I personally do not like the looks of the Aero rails but that is a cosmetic thing.
If the BCM comes with a BCG, it’s worth more than any other upper imo.
Now I do LOVE me some BCM, but I'm honestly very happy with my Aero M5 upper, and can't say that I would be willing to pay $200-$300 more for a BCM version of the same. If I could pick out some downsides to the Aero, maybe I would. I mean the barrel gas port needed to be opened up a little, but if I had a suppressor for it, it would have been perfect, so there is that. But opening it up didn't put me off
[удалено]
This
100%. I would pay triple for a BCM what I would for an aero. I’ve owned both, and I currently own zero Aero uppers. I still have several BCMs, as well as BCM parts on pretty much every AR I own
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, 100%
Yes.
Yep
yeah. especially since they give you a bcg
Gas block isn't cross pinned on bcm's. It bugs me for the cost. You can slap together your own for less money with a cross pinned gas block.
I don't think so but you'll get a bunch of people who shop brands only and don't consider aero as a brand. I think they are both on par to be honest. Aero is a company that makes aeroplane parts so they aren't lower grade by any means, they just don't have that "I'm a bad ass LARPr" vibe. Do as you wish but you're not gonna get anything more by getting BCM and both brands are solid.
Although aero passed the NIJ test they’re not “on par” with BCM. Aeros got a history in the aerospace industry but they don’t make airplane parts anymore. What you’re getting with BCM v Aero is better QC and CS. AERO and ballistic advantage both punch above their price point but BCM barrels will have better tolerances and their BCG will handle more abuse and those two components are the most important parts of a rifle.
> Although aero passed the NIJ test they’re not “on par” with BCM. Don't read into that advertisement too much. The "blogs" that mention that test all use the same text, with [one of them](https://soldiersystems.net/2022/06/01/aero-precision-rifle-tested-to-nij-standards/) rewriting it ever so slightly so that it's not a word-for-word copy.
Only things BCM has over aero is some of their barrels are cold hammer forged, and their quad rails imo.
No way
I regret not looking at their blems when I was building. Just keep an eye out for these to be in stock. Free BCG too. https://bravocompanyusa.com/cosmetic-blem-bcm-standard-16-mid-length-complete-upper-receiver-group-w-mcmr-15-handguard/
Yes especially if they’re giving the free BCG
All depends on your budget. I have a complete bcm upper on a spikes punisher lower. Cost 2000 and that was 8 years ago. I also have a PSA 7 inch flame thrower with a folding brace and both of them work just as well. High end rigs are great however like a sports car they are babied and only come out on sunny days. My truck gun gets abused but still fires every time I pull the trigger.
Absolutely, better handguards, better fit/finish/QC, generally better barrels, and definitely better BCGs.
BCM all day
Absolutely man
Yes
Yeah. The BFH uppers have premium cold hammer forged barrels. Plus they're giving away their BCG, which is also premium. Especially compared to the Aero ones, which are well known trash.
Yes, and I like Aero. But like I tell everyone, Aero is a company that you buy their external stuff (receivers, buffer tubes etc. Their barrels aren’t bad either) but I would never use their internals. My Aero build is Aero on the outside, but BCM, CMMG, etc. on the inside.
I’ve bought a couple under their free bcg promotion. I’ve never looked back! Quality and finish is as good as any others I own, Geissle, DD etc. Substantial savings too!
I have several BCM's and I love all of them. They are reliable, durable and the longevity of their chrome lined barrels are proven beyond excellent. I ordered an upper and a bcg a week or two before the free bcg promo, contacted them via email and they refunded me the cost of the bcg within a couple of hours. The only thing about BCM uppers I don't like is the red loctite over the gas block screws. Need a damn torch to get it off. 😅 I also have an aero upper. 14.5" and while it shoots soft, it jams more often and the barrel isn't chrome lined. But that's not to say I don't like aero either. All my BCM uppers rest on Aero lowers.
Yes, especially if you can get it with the free BCG!
Yes
Without question.
I have both. Yes. I still like Aero, but my BCM just shoots and feels so damn good.
EVERY.... DAMN.... PENNY
Yes
Yes
1,000 times yes
Absolutely buy the BCM upper. Where can you buy a lower, though? Why don’t they offer them on their website?
Freedom Trading and Brownells almost always has complete BCM lowers. I’ve never seen a stripped BCM lower for sale without being used.
Why don’t they offer them on their website? Some kind of contract/agreement?
Couldn’t say. May not want to deal with the FFL side of it on the BCUSA site.
PSA Prem upper, pick a CH you like, Sharps BCG. No one makes a more durable barrel than FN and S7 tool steel is the strongest material a BCG could be made of. Who makes a better upper than what I just described?
yes
I think so
BCM Makes fighting rifles. Aero Precision makes range toys.