I’m doing some research to do my first AR build, and this forum has been extremely valuable. After lurking for a couple of weeks and realizing that a neophite can quickly come up to speed by simply following The Chart, I’ve narrowed the components selection to the following:
Upper
BCM Standard 16" Mid Length Upper Receiver Group
BCM Bolt Carrier Group (MPI) - Auto
BCM AR15 Charging Handle
Magpul MOE MID Length Handguard
The goal is to assemble a basic, quality AR, with potential for future enhancements. These set of components have been listed in numerous threads here, so I believe I’m in good shape.
The question I have is, for the lower assembly, should I go with option 1 or option 2? Either option has a similar cost.
Is there any value in having both upper/lower from BCM?
yeah, it doesn’t mean a whole lot. I would like to have a BCM lower, but I come from the school where a lower is a lower, as long as everything is machined correctly.
So it pretty much comes down to which logo you like.
I’d go with the BCM lower and of course you can put a CTR stock on it if you like.
Many people already have a lower then add a BCM upper which of course should work out fine. But since you’re buying both the upper and lower it makes sense to go BCM with both. Why not have the complete rifle and be done with it.
You don’t gain anything with the Mega unless you’ve just got to have that look. But then if you’re doing that you might as well get a stripped Mega upper as well to complete it. A lot of trouble and expense for just a “look”.
In the end though you’re going with good components either way and won’t have to apologize for either option.
One thing I always consider with any purchase is re-sale value. I don’t currently plan to sell any of my guns, but that time may come, and if/when it does, a complete factory rifle of any kind would bring more than a franken-gun. The sad fact is that most people determine what kind of AR it is just by looking @ the lower.
My cosmetic Blemish was a few scratches on the lower in front of the trigger. I had to show friends where it was, they couldn’t find it, it took me while too.
My bcm blem lower has faint scratches by the rollmark. Nothing major. Just surface scratches. In most lighting you can’t really see it. The money saved on getting a cosmetic blem lower paid for my imod. I would definately buy another… On a side note hijack my bcm lw middy was just completed today.
Can’t find the blem on mine, I would definitely buy another. I had a Geissele SD-C waiting, so I replaced the trigger right away, but it felt like typical GI.
There is no importance to matching a lower to an upper… I’m also from the school that a lower is a lower is a lower as long as it’s in spec. I’m also OCD though, so it bothers me pretty hard that my BCM upper has a CMMG lower on it :rolleyes:. At the end of the day though, that CMMG lower that I aquired for nothing does the exact same thing that a BCM would do…
I would say that a matching lower and upper might be important from a resale value standpoint, however. People tend to not like buying mutt guns.
Not really important from a functional standpoint. Personally, I’ve been using Noveske matched uppers/lowers because they fit nicely together without wiggling or looseness. That is strictly cosmetic, has no effect on the rifle’s function, but a lack of rattling makes me feel better about the rifle to the point where I’m willing to pay extra for it. Other than cosmetics, I can’t think of any reason to pursue a matched set.