Alteratively titled, “FSP and carbine-gassed Colt upper OR free-floated mid-length BCM upper?”
Assuming these were the same price, which would you prefer for a “do-it-all” upper (HD and around the farm) and why? I’m only looking at putting a light and an optic on it.
Thanks in advance,
Herk
Colt is the standard and a great all around carbine, hard to go wrong with. For the same money, to get a LW, free float, and a mid length, with equal or better quality, I see no reason not to get the BCM. I have two or three myself.
BCM 16" ELW Middy with 15" KMR. That’s what I did. If your plans include an optic why would you even consider a FSP?
And they sure are purrrddyyy…
I own both so I amy be able to comment.
All of my guns wear Aimpoint optics. I have a pair of BCM 14.5" ELW-f barrels with 13" KMR rails. the only difference between the two is one had an Aimpoint T-1 and the other an Aimpoint PRO.
My 6720 has an Aimpoint PRO.
When thinking of my reply to this, I will compare the Colt and BCM that both wear the same optic and light, so that the only difference is the actual gun itself.
I used Colt 6920’s for a long time as my “all around go-to” gun. even carried one at work as a Patrol Rifle. They are still a solid choice.
The 6720 brings everything to the table that the 6920 does, just with a gun that is more balanced and “lively feeling” due to the barrel. For the all around use being HD and farm usage, I think the 6720 is a solid choice. You are talking about something that will be carried a lot. When shots are fired, we’re not talking about multiple magazines worth, but a few at most. So the thin barrel heating up is a non-issue.
As much as I like the Colt 6920 and 6720, I now use the BCM guns I described as my all around go-to guns. This is due to my long arms and style of shooting that favors the 13" rail. I prefer this setup when deploying the gun in the urban environment that I work in. When shooting while moving and shooting multiple targets such as a shoot house type of training, I just perform better with this gun than I do with a carbine length gun with a fixed front sight.
The downside of the BCM uppers I am talking about is the cost. I have about as much money in the factory built BCM uppers as what I can buy a new 6720 for.
I own a 6720 that I have outfitted with MagPul’s new SL hand guards and stock. This keeps the weight of the gun down, and still permits me to mount a white light. Whenever I travel on vacation by car (I prefer not to fly if at all possible) this 6720 accompanies me. I call it my “vacation gun”. I do this because if something were to happen to the gun, I have less money invested in the gun. Yet it is still reliable enough that I would trust it, should the need arise.
IF the price of both the 6720 and a BCM gun with a ELW barrel and a KMR rail were the same, then I would say go for the BCM. BUT they are not the same.
So to the OP, it depends on wether the price difference is worth it to you, considering your needs.
The upside to this discussion is that given that you have limited your choices to these tow guns, you really can not go wrong. Either gun is an excellent choice for your intended purpose.
Come see us next weekend at the show brother!
Thanks for the responses, guys. I really appreciate your taking the time.
GH41–Apologies for being unclear. In my mind, I mean “red dot” when I said optic. My understanding (from only reading about it, as I’m currently an iron sight guy), is that the fixed FSP is a non-factor there and above 2x, should I later switch to a variable.
Beat Trash–Thanks again for the detailed write-up. It’s helpful hearing from someone who has both. I had just about decided on the BCM w/ the 15" KeyMod, but I have heard the 6720’s praises sung a good bit lately around here, so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something.
A FSP is not an issue with a magnified optic. I use a 1.5-5x with a FSP, has never been an issue.
A farm carbine needs to be free-floated. Every shot is different, taken from a different position and POI changing is a real problem.
Personally, I would opt for something like a ‘mini-recce’ for a farm gun. I have a ranch and I use an AR for everything. An SPR or a mini-recce is the most practical setup.
An as-issued m4 clone is next to useless as the accuracy is not adequate to make clean kills on the type of animals you’ll shoot, at the common distances you’ll be shooting.
I went with both. Colt 6720 with 13" BCM Keymod Rail.
Both are top-tier rifles. Colt has the name behind it and a good track record, but BCM definitely makes top-notch rifles. I’d say Colt, BCM, DD, Noveske are some of the best manufactured rifles out there in terms of reliability and quality control.
Personally, I went with the BCM 16" midlength ELWF with 13" KMR - I don’t like FSPs, as I run red dots on my rifles and the FSP is distracting to me; yes that’s a Vortex, currently saving coin for the T-2 Micro. I went with the steel MBUS PRO from magpul, as you don’t need a sight tool to adjust elevation since there’s a drum for elevation at the front of the sight. The KMR is pretty solid, feels nice in the hand, and is LIGHT.
Either would serve you well.
Don’t many or the majority of professionals prefer a ffs with red dot.
JG007, I had picked up that impression in my forum searches as well, which is one reason I asked the question.
The BCM comes with rail. That blows away Colt with no rail. BCM !
I love mine, So light feels toy like, a Matell…
RWH24;
What is your package above and weight?
Thanks.
David
