Since most factory AR’s source their components from OEM manufacturers and then assemble in house, who do you trust to #1 source quality components, #2 have the best QC, #3 quality workmanship, #4 warranty and customer service? To me BCM ranks at the top of checking all those boxes and then some. BCM has built brand recognition not only with the items listed above but also in the area of product development and T&E. I also like the fact that they put their products in the hands of professionals for feed back. A couple of other consideration are their track record, they seem to have a solid position to weather the fluctuations in a volatile industry and quality is consistent regardless of the market highs and lows.
I’m not saying they make “the best AR”. But looking at the AR landscape in terms of a milspec duty grade weapon and/or a trusted source of components if you want to put your own carbine/pistol together I think you can buy with confidence and peace of mind.
There are probably several brands out there right now that won’t be around 10 years from now.
There’s been a lot of discussion lately about brand name AR’s and out sourcing components. Nothing new perhaps other than a lot of interest in who the actual OEM manufacturers are and wanting to know specifics such as gas port sizes.
I make my purchases from companies I trust. Bottom line is your are not going to know where every component on the gun is coming from most of the time so I go with vetted companies that have a good reputation for quality. There are quite a few out there. Some places disclose more than others as far as materials composition, testing, etc. I would personally order from
BCM
LMT
DD- just barrels
Sionics
Centurion
Knights
you could include Colt in the past but have been wary lately
I don’t own all of the above, but wouldn’t complain. I would probably put DD last because they value isn’t there compared to the others, but they are shooters
Frankly, I would list LMT, KAC, and LaRue Tactical at the top of most every list as they manufacture most everything in-house as well as assembly and QC. All three produce top-notch factory ARs. LMT and KAC have been manufacturing ARs and affiliated products for nearly 30 years. LaRue Tactical is a lot more limited on what they offer when it comes to complete ARs. I would follow up with BCM and a few others to include the likes of those mentioned by everready73, but I would also include LWRC and POF.
But… But… According to BCM, Gen 3 PMAGs just aren’t mil spec! Never mind that every other milspec lower brand has no problem accepting Gen 3 PMAGS across the board, and never mind that G3 PMAGs are literally mil spec because the Marines adopted them. It’s Magpuls fault, BCM can do no wrong! Their overtorqued, locktite’d barrel nuts are a feature, not an indicator of mediocre workmanship.
BCM is overrated and overpriced and I hope people are realizing that now.
I may have been a little hyperbolic. There’s no doubt BCM’s run great, are combat-grade, and will never fall apart on you. I just think that for the price, little issues like that shouldn’t be present in their products.
Did they? Until I see an announcement like “All BCM lowers after SN xxxxxxx are fully compatible with Gen 3 PMAG’s” I will lump them with all the older Colt lowers with oversized pivot pins, sear blocks, oversized FCG pins etc. and I don’t have much use for bad lowers. I like their uppers and other parts but face it good lowers are a dime a dozen, and their attitude about what is a easy fix turned me off.
Same here. Several years ago I would almost not have owned anything but BCM, but Pmags are so ubiquitous now that if a lower doesn’t work with them it might as well be an AK that doesn’t accept mags from different countries–in other words about useless.
