So Belmont31R just said he had Issues with the BCM stock kit being “soft”. Did anybody else experience this? I’d like to know because it is what I was going to order to complete my build.
Like I said in the thread, I’ve installed 40-50 BCM stock kits on various lowers with no issues.
What is the definition of “soft?”
C4
I just got one delivered to my house yesterday for my first build. sure as hell hoe there isnt anything wrong with it. and as Grant said… define this “soft” you are referring to
Sorry, missed the BCM part. I guess I’m gtg then.
Castle nut and buffer tube were supposed to be to soft.
Was a rockwell tester involved? If not, how would you know if something was “soft.”
C4
Jesus Christ…
I had an issue with the cut outs the stock wrench goes into bending very easily with moderate pressure, and yes I contacted BCM about it.
I have not had this issue with other stock kits including LMT and the one Magpul sells. Just today I got a new stock kit from someone else to replace a BCM one, and I had no issues with the cutouts getting all jacked up with much more force than what it took to ruin the BCM castle nut. This happened with every BCM kit I have gotten in the last month which is 3 total as well as 2 replacement castle nuts. The ones I got were very easy to bend around those cutouts, and I have not experienced this with any other castle nuts besides BCM no matter how hard I try.
I also had TWO different receiver extensions turn with the castle nut under moderate pressure, and the tab on the end plate dug into the threads on the receiver extension. Again never had this happen with other stock kits even when applying quite a bit more force.
Another issue I had where I said they were inconsistent is having a couple different stocks being extremely tight on the tube, and another receiver extension they were normal. The machine work was different on them, and the one that was tight turned out to not be level putting it on a square. One had a flat cut into it on the bottom like Colt stocks do, and the other one was circular before you get to the area where the stock latches on. Both the CTR and SOPMOD I tried were very hard to even push on and take off. Never had that happen with any other kit Ive used.
I didn’t say anything about doing any scientific testing. Just my observations in installing about 10 kits in the last couple years.
Ive spent quite a bit of money with BCM and generally think they sell top of the line stuff. I will however go to someone else for a stock kit in the future.
Threads got ruined when the rec ext decided to turn with the castle nut under moderate force…notice they also got smashed when I tried to take it off.
Cutouts for castle nut wrench bent. This is just from me holding the gun in one hand, and the stock wrench in the other. Not in a vice with a cheater bar or anything crazy. It was about at half the pressure I normally put on the wrench. I was very surprised to see it bent under such little pressure. Also bent the other side taking it off. Replacement kit when on without any issues with at least twice as much force applied.
tag for later
what type of wrench were you using? I’ve had castle nuts bend while using the DPMS wrench that has a single tooth that engages the castle nut. This concentrates all of the torque on one slot, thus displacing the metal.
RRA which engages 3 out of 4 cut outs.
Only time Ive ever bent a cut out or even marred the metal. In fact this same wrench was used not too long ago to take the OEM castle nut off my SR15, put an ASAP plate on, and put the same castle nut back on. The castle nut still looks new, the cut outs are still square, and I used quite a bit more force on the final tightening down as I did on the pictured BCM castle nut when it bent and the rec ext rotated causing the tab on the end plate to gouge out the threads.
I don’t know. Maybe BCM got a bad batch of stuff, maybe my wrench sucks, maybe I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. What I do know is I’ve never had this issue with any other kit, and I won’t buy BCM stock kits anymore. I the past I have mostly used LMT and Magpul stock kits. I have several of them installed, and they all look fine. Ive been installing stock kits on my own guns for years with this same wrench, and this is the first problem I can recall.
Last weekend, I swapped out my extension plate on my assembled BCM lower for a ASAP and now have 2 dented slots in the castle nut going in each direction.
I more acquainted it to the tool I used and me using as much force to break loose the nicely staked BCM installed nut and then me putting as much force back on after putting on the ASAP.
Not many castle nut tools work great with the ASAP I think I only had one tool that would work halfway decent, and you generally only get one slot to stake it in place too.
One thing for sure, removing my castle nut will still take much force with a tool.
Maybe I should have to do 30 pushups for denting the slots in my castle nut?
I probably need to get a better castle nut tool.
I’m about to do the same thing. Did you do anything to the BCM staking before you took the plate off or did you just “force it through”, staking and all?
With that style wrench, you shouldn’t have had any issues. I have only had the castle nut slots deform with really cheap stuff. The only thing I can think of is that Paul got a bad batch of CN’s or you have applied too much torque to it.
C4
It is generally a good idea to drive the metal back from the castle nut. Watch that you don’t slip and hit the receiver!
If you cannot do that, then you will just have to power through the staking.
C4
Grant brings up a good point about trying to push back some of the staking material, I didn’t think of that.
When I did mine nothing was done to the BCM staking just a good tug to pop them loose and no harm was done to the threads on the extension.
I used a older one point on a combo powdercoated DPMS wrench with a one point contact. Nothing was done to the BCM staking just a good tug to pop them loose and no harm was done to the threads on the extension.
The tool I used looks like this:DPMS Wrench
I plan to pick up one of these for any future work:TCU Heavy Duty Carbine Castle Nut Stock Wrench. This appears the be the best option for working with the ASAP if I am looking at it right.
Use a dremel tool with a cutter to cut through the metal (staking process) protruding into the castle nut. Do it carefully and slowly a little bit at a time and take care to not ruin the receiver itself. If you are a knuckle-dragging ham-fisted type:D :eek:don’t use that method. If not, it is the best way to go as far as removing staked castle nuts. It should not ruin your castle nut. Those parts are cheap anyway.
One last point. We handle all the BCM lower sales. These lowers come assembled from BCM with their castle nuts. Not a SINGLE CASTLE NUT has been damaged in any way. So unless the armorers at BCM have some secret way of installing their castle nuts, I gotta think there is another issue at work here.
C4
Thanks Grant, that’s insuring.