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BCM parts quality (Page 2 of 2)
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Nov 2024
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TX, USA
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Originally Posted By CatBacker: That statement needs a LOT more detail to be taken seriously. I don't need anyone to take it seriously. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I'm not going to get into a debate about the quality of these BCG's. I just told my experience with them. |
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Originally Posted By EZ_Money: 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. Was it a Toolcraft product, or a Microbest product? I’ve never seen a BCG from either company be “garbage”. I’d like to hear why you thought the way you did. Also note that BCM probably does not actually manufacture their Bolt Carrier Groups. Like other OEMs, they won’t say one way or the other. Toolcraft and Microbest are some of the biggest names in the AR carrier market, and the way they got there is by filling customers’ needs. I don’t know about Microbest, but via an email conversation with Toolcraft, I know they DO NOT make bolts, just carriers. I imagine that Microbest might also source their bolts from other manufacturers. |
I suggest we trade a question mark in for a maybe.
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Posts:
48193
EE: 100% (90)
IA, USA
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My brother bought me a BCM upper because I said I was going to buy one from PSA-I was only buying the PSA because the upper was an especially good deal that month. He hates PSA, said "If you don't buy the PSA I'll buy you the same version upper from BCM". Two days later the upper showed up. Only thing different was chrome lining and faster shipping. I don't see a 3x value increase for that. |
WARNING-this post contains words or thoughts that may at some point be discovered by the state of California to cause cancer.
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I’ve used BCM BCG’s in a half dozen builds without any issues. I also like their QD end plates, M-Lok QD sockets, receiver extensions, spring/buffer kits, Gunfighter charging handles, gas blocks, gas tubes and QD sling swivels. My spare parts stash contains their firing pins, cam pins, and SOPMOD bolt rebuild kits. Generally speaking, IMHO they are quality parts at a reasonable price. |
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Originally Posted By EZ_Money: I don't need anyone to take it seriously. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I'm not going to get into a debate about the quality of these BCG's. I just told my experience with them. Originally Posted By EZ_Money: Originally Posted By CatBacker: That statement needs a LOT more detail to be taken seriously. I don't need anyone to take it seriously. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I'm not going to get into a debate about the quality of these BCG's. I just told my experience with them. Come on, don't be shy! Was it Microbest or Toolcraft or both? Nobody needs convinced BCM's bolt carrier groups are truly excellent, but both the others make excellent, highly respected products too. What makes you declare them garbage? |
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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". They used to build their uppers from Mod1 Sales parts. All their LPKs back in the day were sourced from, or from the same vendors as DPMS. I haven’t looked at them lately. |
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Originally Posted By marc1979: 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. Originally Posted By marc1979: 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. I just clamp the bottom of the buffer tube in a big vise. One hand on the torque wrench, one hand holding the lower in alignment. Super easy. It might mark the tube a little but who cares? |
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Originally Posted By shack357: My brother bought me a BCM upper because I said I was going to buy one from PSA-I was only buying the PSA because the upper was an especially good deal that month. He hates PSA, said "If you don't buy the PSA I'll buy you the same version upper from BCM". Two days later the upper showed up. Only thing different was chrome lining and faster shipping. I don't see a 3x value increase for that. The PSA premium uppers with the CHF barrels are great, plus most of their phosphate bolts are Toolcraft, which is also now a PSA company. Th BCM bolts have a well deserved reputation of quality due not simply to their supplier, but to their in-house QC inspections of them historically. Whatever bolts you use, remember they are a wear item (and a critical part) so keep repair kits on hand in your range bag...BCM has a good kit too. |
Left-handed and right-minded!
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Originally Posted By WrenchGuy: The PSA premium uppers with the CHF barrels are great, plus most of their phosphate bolts are Toolcraft, which is also now a PSA company. Th BCM bolts have a well deserved reputation of quality due not simply to their supplier, but to their in-house QC inspections of them historically. Whatever bolts you use, remember they are a wear item (and a critical part) so keep repair kits on hand in your range bag...BCM has a good kit too. Why is PSA premium great? What about them is great exactly? Same with the toolcraft BCG, why is it so great? |
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The PSA premium uppers mostly use FN CHF barrels, some of the best in the industry. PSA isn't alone in this, several AR brands use FN barrels on their rifles, or just sell their own branded CHF barrels made to their specs by FN. Toolcraft has been an OEM bolt maker for decades, and later providing complete mil-spec BCG sets for many current AR brands as well as consumers under the Toolcraft brand. They are not the latest Gucci kit, but consistently reliable mil-spec parts.. Its a bolt, its made with the right materials, to the right specs...shoot it and get it dirty. ETA...personally I have five FN barrels, and at least that many or more Tollcraft bolts, so between them the only parts I'm likely to need at any regular interval is gas rings...usually have to replace those on at least one bolt each year. |
Left-handed and right-minded!
The world's most average shooter, or worse
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43805
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yes Attached File  BCM BCG, Staked gas key loose |
ARFCOM GD hates everything so don't freak out if you catch grief for what you like. Unless you like AKs, then GFY.
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Originally Posted By WrenchGuy: Toolcraft has been an OEM bolt maker for decades, and later providing complete mil-spec BCG sets for many current AR brands as well as consumers under the Toolcraft brand. Historically TC manufactured carriers only. Since the JJE Capital acquisition, I cannot say what their scope of manufacturing is. |
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
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Suppling and making isn't the same. PSA owners probably would not have needed MPI know for especially their bolts if Toolcraft did both. MPI was located near where the old DPMS was. Would not be surprised if they were the makers of the D marked bolts from back then. |
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Originally Posted By WrenchGuy: Yes, mostly carriers from its early days back in the 60's and 70's, but have been FIFY. The bolts in their complete BCGs were sourced according to vendor specs.  |
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
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Originally Posted By WrenchGuy: The PSA premium uppers mostly use FN CHF barrels, some of the best in the industry. PSA isn't alone in this, several AR brands use FN barrels on their rifles, or just sell their own branded CHF barrels made to their specs by FN. Toolcraft has been an OEM bolt maker for decades, and later providing complete mil-spec BCG sets for many current AR brands as well as consumers under the Toolcraft brand. They are not the latest Gucci kit, but consistently reliable mil-spec parts.. Its a bolt, its made with the right materials, to the right specs...shoot it and get it dirty. ETA...personally I have five FN barrels, and at least that many or more Tollcraft bolts, so between them the only parts I'm likely to need at any regular interval is gas rings...usually have to replace those on at least one bolt each year. What round count or interval? |
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Honestly I couldn't tell you how much each set of rings gets but I'd be surprised if I shot more than 5k rounds a year total, some are more worn than others as a couple of the bolts are from the first builds I did years ago. (just weekend range outings, no full-auto use) If the bolt fails the simple stand-up test then I change the rings...they are cheap and an easy maintenance item. Not my video, just a demonstration... https://youtube.com/shorts/_Z8xkCg45po?si=i-nQ6sPntdhhxltC |
Left-handed and right-minded!
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Originally Posted By WrenchGuy: Honestly I couldn't tell you how much each set of rings gets but I'd be surprised if I shot more than 5k rounds a year total, some are more worn than others as a couple of the bolts are from the first builds I did years ago. (just weekend range outings, no full-auto use) If the bolt fails the simple stand-up test then I change the rings...they are cheap and an easy maintenance item. Not my video, just a demonstration... https://youtube.com/shorts/_Z8xkCg45po?si=i-nQ6sPntdhhxltC The TM prescribes the opposite test. If the BOLT drops into the carrier when held vertically. And 5k rounds between five rifles per year is quite small. Military testing involves tens of thousands of rounds per sample. Maybe better to not give advice when you are conducting no real testing or use. |
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Originally Posted By tet493: The TM prescribes the opposite test. If the BOLT drops into the carrier when held vertically. And 5k rounds between five rifles per year is quite small. Military testing involves tens of thousands of rounds per sample. Maybe better to not give advice when you are conducting no real testing or use. This.^^^^ Attached File |
"All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless
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MN, USA
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BCM is great. I've used their thermal fit (mil-spec) upper in the last two builds I did. Absolutely nothing wrong with it and it's cheaper then most. Also my understanding is their BCG is just a microbest with better QC. Personally my move is to go on arftac and get a microbest "super-stake" in chrome for 120 rather then the BCM for 200. At 200 I'm thinking why not spend another 50 or 80 dollars and do a centurion or Geissele and just get something that is actually offering me more then mil-spec. |
BCM parts quality (Page 2 of 2)
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