So, I’m definitely going with BCM, but undecided on the SS410 barrel.
Should I go 1/7 or 1/8? Recommendations? Opinions?
Thanks
Is’nt a “Recce” supposed to have an 18" Bbl.
No 16" is the generally a Recce rifle. An 18" is generally a SPR.
It really depends on the type of ammo you want to use with it (45 gr, 5gr, 62gr, 72and up) and what do you want to use it for? As a overall useful rifle I would go with a 1/7.
I went with 1/7, although even with a 1/8 you will get 2 full spins out of a 16" barrel.
I’m having the same problem.
Can’t make up my mind which one.
Were I made of money then the 1x8 twist black stainless w/ LaRue rail would seem the ‘ultimate’ mid-length Recce. Pictured here.
I’m looking for a 200 to 400 (to even 500) yard rifle, and plan to be using the 64, 69, 75, and 77gr bullets exclusively.
I’ve got a Bushmaster 20" V-Match in pre-ban configuration I’m working with now, it’s too heavy to run with, and offers little accuracy improvement over just a basic M4 style upper. This upper seems to me more of a light machine-gun upper than a DMR or Recce upper.
Every time I get an upper over 16 inches long, I bemoan the loss of it’s maneuverability, so I’ll learn to live with a little less velocity and get a 16" upper.
But 1x7 vs 1x8 vs stainless vs chrome lined… still debating.
When I built mine I had to go 1/9 because that is what was available in chrome-lined heavies at the time (stupid me, deciding to do a build after BO gets elected, duh!). Not too big a problem for me because I am slinging 62 and 64 grain most of the time and don’t plan on going above 68 grain unless the 77 becomes readily available and cheap.
I prefer the 1/7 twist over most anything else. Just in case I need to shoot the really heavy bullets, I can.
I like the 16" middy with the Larue 12.0 for a recce build, but that’s just personal preference.
I would have preferred the 1/7 or maybe a 1/8 but at the time it was my only option; not wanting to wait months for another barrel. For now the 1/9 gets the job done and I can always swap it out later, should I decide I need to for heavier bullets.
BCM has my BFH 16"/12" LaRue Recce upper back in stock, you know not to entice you or anything 
You guys are pretty free with my checkbook! I am waiting till the new year to begin another rifle. I am building a lightweight M4 for my wife and BCM will be a major “sub-contractor”.
Generally a stainless barrel will be more accurate than a Chrome-Moly-Vanadium (CMV) barrel. Not by a huge margin. One example of many, take a look at the info Molon posted in the link below. Compare the group sizes of the Noveske 16" stainless barrel (0.92" average) to the Noveske 16" N4 barrel (1.24" average): http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=467919 The difference is just slightly more than 1/3" (one third of an inch)
Generally a stainless barrel will have a slightly shorter service life. Don’t take this comment to the extreme.
Generally a stainless barrel will be slightly heavier than a CMV barrel.
Weight comparisions:
03designgroup | [b]AR15 Upper Receiver Weight Comparisons 
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Both the 1/8" and 1/7" will shoot 52 grain - 77 grain .223 or 5.56 ammo well. 52 grain - 77 grain is what a majority of AR shooters shoot a majoirty of the time. I shoot local run and gun competition out to 425 yards on smaller than standard targets with both 1/8" and 1/7" barrels on a regular basis. Most of the time I use 55 grain Black Hills Blue Box, Feder American Eagle, Federal XM193, Winchest Q3131A, etc, and I don’t have any issues if I do my part.
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=2475 (targets can be seen on page 3 … you’ll also see pics of me shooting a BCM SS410 stainless barreled upper (1/8") and a Noveske N4 mid-length (1/7") on the same page)
A majority of competition shooters favor the 1/8" twist and the stainless barrel. You can’t go wrong with either, just depends on what features are most important to you and how you plan on using the barrel.
Recently I purchased a BCM 16" DD 12" rail with a 1/7 barrel. In fact, so recent that I have not received it yet. I had allot of the same questions. I decided to go with the DD and the 1/7 because it will a general usage carbine. I may want to shoot the heavier bullets eventually, but for now the 55gr and 62gr will be fine. The small weight difference was also what I wanted. The DD rail also has the option to move the QD mount where you want it. Long barrel life is important also.
A 16" mid-length with the Daniel Defense 12.0 Lite rail is a great combo.
These were both built before BCM uppers were available. If I was doing it again today they would probably be BCMs
Great looking AR’s. I have to acquire some folding BUIS soon. That is the only thing I need to start sighting in. And a laser bore sight. Not sure to get the Tritium Troy’s or not? I will start out with the BUIS and then get an Aimpoint or other optic.
Same here, and I’m looking at the BCM hammer forged barrels, but I would like some indication if it’s a proven product (or not).
I would really like to see some range reviews with a view towards accuracy with “decent” (like IMI M193 or similar) ammo, as well as the more premium ammo.
I’m and old retired 3-Gun shooter and know the limitations of rifle/ammo, etc., but I still like to go out and whack the gongs at longer distance. I also know that some barrels will shoot 55 grain ammo very well - at least out to 300M - and some won’t.
FWIW, my favorite accuracy ammo when I used to compete was Black Hills 68gr Blue Box or a similar reload. The old pre '94 Colt 1x9 (20" and too heavy) and a similar Bushy would stay on the 500M 18"x18 steel with this ammo if the shooter was any good. Will the newer technology 16" BCM BHF Middy do as well or better, or should I look elsewhere?
Thanks!
I had allot of the same thoughts as you. I talked with BCM and they said that their SS410 barrels would out shoot most shooters for accuracy with match loads. I will be shooting military loads mostly and am not concerned with supreme accuracy. I went with the hammer forged chrome lined barrel in 16". Maybe a box or 2 of match loads to see what it can do. Others here on M4Carbine will tell you that the new hammer forged barrel is more accurate than the older barrels. Stainless is what you want to use if accuracy is your ultimate goal. BCM are good people. I have not had any issues with their service and their shipping is fast.
I cannot remember the last time I fretted over something as much as this, but finally ordered the Noveske N4 Light Recce Basic 16" Upper from PK Firearms. They have it “on sale” for $925 (only $50 off list), but was enough to push me over the edge.
From the PK site:
The Noveske N4 Light Recce Basic has a 16.1" Cold Hammer Forged barrel, 1/7 twist, 5.56 Caliber. Made of Mil-Spec M249 Machine Gun barrel steel, with heavy chrome lining. (appx. 2 times as thick as an M4 or M16 ). Extended feed ramps, MP High Pressure Tested, Mid-length gas system, Forged charging handle, Shot peened and MP tested bolt and auto carrier group. All Factory built Basic configuration includes Flat-top upper receiver, Mid-length plastic hand-guards with heat shields, fixed front sight base marked “F”, Troy flip-up rear sight and a Smith Vortex flash hider.
Considering it comes with a matched bolt, carrier, and a rear BUIS, it’s priced (for my purposes) in the same general ballpark as some other quality uppers. It will go on a 1993 Eagle lower that just had a trigger upgrade, but at some point I may be temped to go with a Noveske lower. The Eagle lower is not drop free with standard PMags, but is with the windowed version.
Optics will be either an old ACOG TA01NSN (tritium lamps are gone) or an Aimpoint Comp ML3 (2 moa dot) - both are on hand. I’m leaning toward the Aimpoint for general purpose, but the ACOG is nice for distance - we have gongs out to 500M.
I’m not sure if I will want (or need) a FF rail at some point since I’ve never used one, but I’m too poor right now to worry about it.
My version of a recce rifle.
Nice paint job!!!
I’ve been thinking about the Vltor CASV, but since I already have LaRue mounts for most of my optics, I’m not sure that I want them elevated another 1/2".
What kind of fluted barrel is that?
I don’t find the CASV to high for the LaRue mounts, it is a bit of a hassle for BUIS, as you can see my rear sight is now gone until I find a set of folding replacements. As for the barrel, it isn’t anything special. I started this build in February of last year, during the height of Obamanoia and parts were scarce everywhere and before I found this site. Needless to say, I started buying at one end of the spectrum and quickly found myself on the other. The upper and lower receivers are YHM, the barrel is from Anvil Arms and is a 1/9. I am not too hung up on the twist as I don’t shoot anything heavier than 68gr right now. Should that change I will probably switch to a 1/8. The barrel does shoot really straight and true and prints nice groups. A friend gauged the chamber and it is 5.56 and has digested everything I have fed it, including Wolf.