Picking up a new AR, just need a simple reliable gun out of the box, kinda as a “general purpose” rifle with a 1-4x optic.
I’ve narrowed it down to the DD M4 V7 and the BCM Reece 16 KMR-A. I’ve found places selling both of them at roughly the same price. I can get a $150 rebate for credit from DD right now as well.
Looking at the specifications, they’re both really similar. Is one objectively “better” than the other? Or is the quality roughly the same and it just boils down to personal preference?
I’m leaning heavily towards the DD M4 V7 currently any reason I should get the BCM instead?
I’ll be honest I was leaning towards the DD because of the M-lok hand guard. I figured if the specs were so similar, it would just boil down to the accessories.
I was very much considering both dd and bcm for a long time until I realized I wanted an spr (so got a compass lake upper and lower)
Doing research there are some differences. Bcm comes with a good charging handle, which can easily be changed on the DD. Furniture Wise it’s up to you. DD pins and welds their gas block bcm does not, however this isn’t as big of a deal. Reliability: both of them are pretty top tier and if you had any issues they fix them.
Accuracy: probably Daniel defense. I have seen some good grouping even with the hammer forged chrome lined barrels, not to say bcm doesn’t have accurate barrels.
So, if I were you I would get the ddm4v7 UNLESS you really wanted that bravo company stock and grip over dds stock and grip.
I’d actually be replacing the stock/ grip on both rifles. I really dislike DD’s furniture, I also dislike the magpul stock on the BCM.
However I won’t be touching the rail on the DD, and I figure replacing the Keymod is going to be $200ish ($100 if I sell the Keymod).
I’ll spend roughly… $80 or so on a ACS stock and a K2 grip for the DD then a BCM gunfighter vert grip for a bit more.
I get $125 rebate from DD (Typo not 150), but I have to use it on their website. I figure I’ll either pick up irons, some mags or maybe another BCG and sell it for cash.
But relatively speaking I’m more concerned about performance than I am about looks, I am looking for somewhat of a “general purpose” rifle so accuracy is pretty important for me.
I didn’t go with a Lightweight barreled AR for that reason.
I’m gonna look into it a bit more, but i think I’m going to go with the DD, the cost is essentially the same for the both of them
I’ve got a RECCE 16 with the original KMR and the BFH ELW barrel, and my dad has a DDM4v5 lightweight upper with their quad rail sitting on a PSA lower. Neither of us have complaints with our rifles. My rifle is noticeably lighter because of the different barrel profile and the rail, but you said weight isn’t your primary concern. We both have CTR stocks on our rifles, which i believe is the ACS without storage. I wanted to like the gunfighter stock, but it loosened up after a few months and I hate rattle.
If I could have a do-over the only thing I’d change would be the barrel. I’d pay the extra $30 for barrel flutes.
I don’t think you can go wrong with either, maybe go somewhere that has both and put your hands on them? It sounds like it’s just going to be your preference since you’ll change out the furniture anyways.
I have Magpul, BCM and DD furniture and like the BCM for me as far as pistol grips. The DD is second and magpul third. it’s just okay. Now when I build I use the BCM LPK that have the pistol grip because I know I like them.
As far as shooting goes I can’t compare because my DD is an 18" with rifle length gas and the BCM is a mid length 16".
Oh shoot I meant to just say pin, not weld lol. Whenever I say “pin” something I am usually thinking about pinning and welding a muzzle device onto a 14.5" barrel.
Well I kind of have the exact setup you are talking about. I took my older (tube rail) DDM4V7 and put a 13" BCM rail on it with a Steiner P4Xi and turned it into a RECCE style build and I absolutely love it. I have not bench rested it and measured my groups with calipers but it is extremely accurate.
Both are nice guns, but if it were. E I would roll bcm just because it’s about the same price and with the bcm you get more bang for the buck with the bcm trigger, comp, charging handle, and I prefer their furniture over the Daniel defense.
Have you felt either of them? I have felt the dds furniture and like the feel, so I would give DD a chance on at least their grip.
As for the bcm. If you are set on mlok but want the bcm furniture then I’d say get a bcm lower w/ said furniture and then get an upper with the mlok handguard. I just ordered an upper w/ mlok (not bcm) and can’t wait to try it on out.
Really either is a fine choice. I absolutely love my BCM, and personally think you get more for your money, as others have mentioned with the comp trigger and CH. I also like BCM’s flared magwell. The DD has a very so-so milspec trigger, and late model ambi safeties really suck to be honest. I work and and LGS so I handle a lot of them, and they are very sticky. Not a huge deal overall as its easily swapped, but it bugs me. I do think DDs barrels are somewhat superior to BCM’s.
I LOVE the KMR handguard, but if you like Mlok, DD’s new Mlok handguard is really quite nice as well.
I’m starting to have doubts about wanting the DD now, I think I may go with the BCM and swap the handguard later.
Looking at the specs more in depth… it seems like the DD is kinda… overpriced?
To my understanding the DD has a standard milspec trigger, standard charging handle and a standard A2 flash hider right?
While… the BCM has an upgraded trigger, upgraded charging handle and a mod 0 compensator.
To me right now the BCM actually seems like a better rifle if the quality is so similar. I’ve seen claims of the DD’s barrel being more accurate, but how much more accurate? Is it a night and day difference?
I’m thinking I might just get the BCM and toss on a midwest industries Mlok for $200 and sell the Keymod for $100.
And I hate to say, but I’m not 21. Therefore I cannot purchase a stripped lower from an FFL.
To make matters worse, I’m in Washington… where all sales must go through an FFL, so I can’t even get a lower in a private sale.
(That’s why I’m doing a goddamn 80% G19…)
Oh and did I mention we are blessed with a 10.1% sales tax for all out of state transfers? yay
I’m thinking about just going with the BCM REECE 16 KMR A, then replacing the rail with a Midwest industries 13" Mlok. Ill keep the BCM grip and stock for now, its really similar to the furniture I want to get, which is a Magpul K2 grip and ACS stock.
yay