Bravo Company Mid-Length Upper Receiver Group - Initial Impressions

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

I have been a big fan of mid-lenght AR15 carbines for the last 6+ years. It’s been just within the last couple years that mid-lengths have started catching on with the masses.

One of the down sides to mid-length carbines (until recently) was that the selection was lacking. Just about every company that manufacturer’s AR15’s, makes a version of the M4. But if you wanted a mid-length, you only had a few options (until the last couple years). Most of the companies that were producing mid-lengths, many of them were lacking in quality and / or features that many shooters wanted (ie. 1/7" twist, M4 feed ramps, higher grade barrel steel, etc.)

Bravo Company USA came out with a line of uppers a couple years ago that had many features that shooters wanted and they were very competitively priced. Unfortunately for me, I missed out on the first run on Bravo Company’s mid-length uppers.

After 2 year wait, I was able to secure a Bravo Company USA 16" mid-length upper, Bravo Company M16 Bolt Carrier Group, and charging handle.

My initial impressions are I’m extreemly impressed with the features and the quality of the upper receiver group, especially when you consider the price point ($449 for the mid-length upper, $130 for the M16 bolt carrier, and $20.95 for the charging handle).

Here are a list of features for both the mid-length upper and the bolt carrier group that I borrowed from Bravo Company’s website:

Upper Receiver Features

-M4 Feed Ramp Barrel Extension (USGI)

-M4 Feed Ramp Flat Top Receiver

-T-Marked Upper Receivers

-USGI 1/7 Twist Rates

-USGI 5.56 NATO Chambers

-Mil-Spec 11595E - 4150 Grade Barrel Steel (CMV)

-Chrome Lined Bore and Chamber

-Manganese Phosphate Barrel Finish

-Mil-Spec F-Marked Forged Front Sights

-USGI Government Profile Barrels

-HPT (High Pressure Test) Barrels

-MPI (Magnetic Particle Inspected) Barrels

Bolt Carrier Group Features

-MPI Bolt (Magnetic Particle Inspected)

-Shot Peened Bolt

-Chrome Lined Carrier (AUTO)

-Chrome Lined Gas Key

-Gas Key Hardened to USGI Specifications

-Grade 8 Hardened Fasteners

-Key Staked Per Mil-Spec

-BCM™ Extractor Spring

-Black Extractor Insert

-Mil-Spec Crane O-Ring

For a more detailed description / definition of the features listed above read this document: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BCM-URG-MID-16&Show=ExtInfo

If you take a look at “The Chart” (produced by rob_s) and compare prices, it’s easy to see that you can spend more money on another brand and get less features / quality assurance. (The Chart used with the permission of rob_s)

“The Chart” (click on the link on the link below and then click on “Link to Google Document”)
http://www.tacticalyellowvisor.net/69016/68995.html

A little comparison shopping will quickly show you what a great value the Bravo Company (BCM) uppers are.

Bravo Company Mid-Length upper receiver, Bravo Company M16 bolt carrier group, and charging handle:

Right side of the upper receiver:

Left side of the upper receiver:

HP MP 1/7 5.56 NATO marking on the top of the barrel:

“F” Marked front sight base (proper height for flat top receiver):

M4 feed ramps (sorry for the poor quality pic):

Bolt carrier group and charging handle:

Bravo Company M16 bolt carrier group:

Properly staked gas key:

MP tested bolt:

Complete upper receiver on a LMT Defender 2000 lower receiver:

I found that the BCM upper receiver fit snug on several LMT lowers, as well as on a Stag Arms lower receiver. Color match wasn’t exact, but the BCM upper was very close to both the LMT and Stag.

S/F,
Jeff

2

Nice write up…I am hoping to snag a BCM Middy when the next batch comes out…hopefully:confused:

3

I concur, the BCM is the best damn middy available…

4

Couple that upper and one of Grant’s LMT custom lowers - you’re only looking at $940. Not a bad deal… Oh… more gun buying thoughts running through my head…

Spooky

5

Are there any draw backs from the lighter profile barrel? Aside from being heavier, would a N4 contour or a medium contour of say a GTS Operator barrel offer any advantages to a carbine class or competition?

6

If you want, I’d be happy to test that upper on my Noveske lower for you :wink: You know, just to help you be even more thorough with your write up.

7

I want one… NOW!

8

Are you running the middy with the Crane upgrade in the bolt?

9

I’m definitely in for the BCM middy. My big decision now is if I want to go with the standard FSB or with an extended Larue rail with flip up sights. I’m thinking of running a Surefire X300 at the 12 o’clock. Decisions!

10

i like mid length uppers especially in 6.5 & 6.8—

going to pick one up in 5.56 one of these days.

:cool:

11

Thought I would chime in as well. These are a pair of my mid-length guns. Top gun is a BCM from a few years ago, bottom gun is a Sabre. They are both great shooters, and have been very reliable. I’ve been running both with the BCM extractor spring/o-ring kits.

Carl15,

You shouldn’t see any downside to the lighter profiles. Both of these guns shoot well past 400 yards after getting smoking hot. I’ve shot the Sabre gun through an EAG course, and been using it in a little 3-gun and rifle matches. The guns are more than capable, which makes me the limiting factor.

12

I prefer lighter barrels and have never seen any difference in accuracy between simular barrels (ie. 16" Govt profile chrome lined barrel vs. 16" HBAR chrome lined barrel … made by the same company, using the same ammo, same twist rate, etc.) … but my experience is limited to using a 4x - 10x optic on a 100 yard range, comparing accuracy of two different rifles on the same day. I shoot competition with a mid-lenght that has a Govt profile barrel on it and I shoot competition with a mid-lenght that has a Medium profile barrel on it (out to 425 yards) and I can’t tell a difference in accuracy between the two barrels.

I have (4) complete Noveske N4’s, :wink: I didn’t mention the Noveske lowers because they are not as readily avalibe as Stag and LMT.

The color and fit of the Noveske lower / Bravo Company lower was about the same as the Stag and LMT.

Complete BCM extractor spring / black insert, minus the “O” ring. I have a couple other mid-lengths that I have been running for years without the “o” ring.

For approximately a decade I ran nothing but factory insert (most of the time it was the blue insert) and a Wolff extra power extractor spring in ALL of my AR’s (14.5" - 20") and never had any extraction problems.

It’s just been within the last couple years that I’ve installed the BCM extractor upgrade kit into almost all of my guns. I’ve got a couple Mid-Lengths that I’m running with out the “O” ring and have had no issues.

It was explained to me by someone much more knowledgeable than me that the “O” ring was developed for the M4 gas system, but is not needed on the Mid-Lenght or Rifle-Length gas systems. Hopefully someone more knowledgable than me will chime in.

UVvis,

    Very nice!!!!! ;)

BCM Mid-Lenght upper receiver group on a LMT Defender 2000 lower receiver:

S/F,
Jeff

13

What’s the difference in the feel of the BCM build compared to your Noveske N4s.

14

Thank you for your input.

15

I can’t give you an “apples to apples” comparison between the BCM and the Noveskes, because I have already installed LaRue 9.0’s on the Noveske mid-lengths.

S/F,
Jeff

16

To me… the downside to the midlength uppers is the LACK of a decent set of standard handguards.

I don’t want to have to equip an upper with an expensive rail system.

17

S/F,
Jeff

18

You’ve had a bad experience with Calvary Arms? They seem serviceable enough.

19

Anyone Have any BCM Middy’s in Stock right now?

I have a Saber Middy, But I want a BCM sooooo bad.
I have about 5 lower’s sitting around just waiting on a new upper.
All the Pics and write ups make just loose sleep…

Thanks

Dave

20

Negative Ghostrider

Email Grant at G&R Tactical and he’ll put you on his list.

sales@GRTactical.com