I am putting together new (first) AR.
I already have a complete BCM lower with added KAC ambi Selector, and mag release.
I was going to mate that with a BCM complete upper which will run me around $800 (with ambi charging handle)
primary arms a cheaper upper that would save me $300 with ambi
My question is - as a novice shooter should I spend that cash on optics? Will I even notice the height quality or is it just name recognition?
The Radical Firearms 16" SOCOM MCSR Upper Receiver Group is a flat top, comes complete and assembled with Upper Receiver, Forward Assist, Ejection Port Door, Barrel Nut. 16" SOCOM Profile Barrel and A2 Flash Hider. Bolt Carrier Group
Features
16" SOCOM Melonite Barrel
4150V Chrome Moly
1 in 7" twist rate
HPT/MPI
5.56 NATO Chamber
M4 Feed ramps
Low Profile Micro Gas Block
DGI Stainless Carbine-length gas tube
Direct Gas Impingement
Mil-Spec A2 Flash Hider
Seekins Precision 12 Inch MCSR Keymod Handguard
Integral Keymod and Picatinny Rail for Mounting Lights, Lasers, Bipods & Sights
Forged Upper Receiver with Forward Assist, Shell Deflector
Made in Houston, Texas U.S.A.!
Includes M16 cut Bolt Carrier Group & Forged Charging Handle
If you’re going to do it, do it right. Pass on the Radical and buy the known good BCM upper. It’s your first AR, don’t start cutting corners trying to save a few bucks. You can always save up for optics and ammo down the road. You could also rein your build in a little bit and buy a basic BCM SOCOM 16 inch upper for $533.95 which includes the ambi charging handle. You can add a rail as you wish down the road but for the meantime put a 20 buck set of basic hand guards and have at it. Hopefully one of these days BCM will do their “free bolt carrier group” sale again.
Do yourself a favor and go with the known quality. You won’t go wrong with BCM, and you already have a BCM lower, which just sweetens the pot. Buy once, cry once.
Probably get tarred and feathered, but you can’t go wrong with a psa chf fn upper. Or their “premium hpt/mpi” bcg for that matter. The specs are great and they use the same forgings as BCM, a better barrel unless you are getting BFH barrel (then it’s the same barrel…) toolcraft bcg is legit… then just buy your charging handle of choice.
If you don’t want to pick up a screwdriver or Allen wrench or are terrified of changing a barrel nut down the road, bcm is the way to go.
Personally, I would go with the BCM. As mentioned, you already have a BCM lower so that would just make sense. Also, if you decide to sell down the line, BCM will have a better resale value.
I know I would pick a Palmetto CHF Premium upper over the Radical upper every day of the week. I think PSA’s Premium line is certainly a step above the “plinking” status Grant gives it, but opinions are like belly buttons though. I wouldn’t hesitate to own one, oh right, I do own one along with two BCM’s and an LE6920. In my Palmetto’s defense, it does have a BCM bolt carrier group and Gunfighter ambi charging handle in it though.
QC and QA are important aspects when buying AR’s. Does the manufacturer have $10,000 dollar gauges and jigs that test the parts and pieces they are assembling?? Do they proof test in house and then have a private (certified lab) doing the MPI? If the answer to these questions are “I don’t know” or “I think so” then they are not in BCM’s class. So not really an “opinion.”
I’ve got thousands of rounds thru mine, in harsh desert/snow enviros, shooting the cheapest ammo I can find (usually steel) and I havent had one malfunction after the first mag of break in. Not one. It’s all the best spec parts. Assuming they assemble it right (they get a lot of practice I think??) it should be just as good as any other AR
I think there might be a lower probability of getting a lemon with some higher end manufacturers, but once it’s in hand and proven to run, these psa premium uppers are probably just as good as anything else for 99% of people. It’s an inconvenient issue to address for industry folks with vested interests in brands that do more as far as advertising etc.
FN barrels = legit
toolcraft bcgs = come in different flavors, but psa uses the best steel option they have, 158.
FN barrels and Toolcraft bcgs have sent plenty of Hajis to thr great snack bar in the sky, good enuff for me.
Right, but once you have a verified working sample in hand, it should be pretty much just as good as anything similar, right?
I have heard of bcm CS telling people that the rail on the receiver and handguard are supposed to be at different Heights, so it’s not like they’re “perfect” either. I can find the thread later, it was funny.
Been to the M4C Equipment Exchange? Don’t cheap out when you can buy a new Colt upper for $550 and used BCM uppers for a little more. Hell, save that lower for something else and buy a complete Colt Rifle for $799.
Last week in my San Antonio AR15 Armorers Course we had a factory new PSA upper that had the gas tube (most likely the barrel nut was overtorqued) installed incorrectly and a carrier would not move freely.
There have also been past issues with out of spec gas ports, etc…
Hopefully one of these days BCM will do their “free bolt carrier group” sale again.