View Full Version : Looking to buy my first AR-Shop recommendations
I am interested in buying a complete BCM rifle. Any know a shop in the Denver metro area or north to Fort Collins who stock a good selection of Bravo Co? One that doesn't mind answering a bunch of questions from a newb.
I'd say go talk to Rob @ Bowers. Can't really go wrong w/ BCM. But you might be able to build (have rob build) exactly what you want for cheaper.
I don't know anyone who stocks BCM.
Batteriesnare
12-03-2015, 14:16
Second for Bowers.
http://store.machineguntours.com/manufacturer.bravo-company
They can order pretty much anything as well.
If you weren't opposed to a Colt instead, several of the local shops have the ones without the furniture in stock for a reasonable price. Bowers Tactical and Damage Factory come to mind.
http://store.machineguntours.com/manufacturer.bravo-company
They can order pretty much anything as well.
Yeah but they're dicks about it all..
funkymonkey1111
12-03-2015, 16:43
Yeah but they're dicks about it all..
that's for sure.
OP, you could just order one from BCM.....
Great-Kazoo
12-03-2015, 17:28
Yeah but they're dicks about it all..
IMO there's no 1 perfect gun store. I've had great interaction at shop A. Then weeks later feel like that "help" never existed. There's one shop people suggest. The 3 phone calls to them were to get my order corrected. That's After the owner said they would handle it, 2 weeks prior to it supposedly being in transit .
that's for sure.
OP, you could just order one from BCM.....
I'm definitely considering an online purchase, but it would be nice to handle one before buying. Especially since I'm new to ARs and don't really know what I like. My decision is based off of reviews and what I think looks good.
My advice is build your lower how you want it. Then you will be able to reconfigure when you change your mind on how you want it.
Buy a complete upper from BCM and pin it on top of your lower. Get lots of ammo and figure out what works for you and the type of shooting you will be doing.
Save money for your next upper. You will get one. It is your destiny. [LOL]
funkymonkey1111
12-04-2015, 11:31
My advice is build your lower how you want it. Then you will be able to reconfigure when you change your mind on how you want it.
Buy a complete upper from BCM and pin it on top of your lower. Get lots of ammo and figure out what works for you and the type of shooting you will be doing.
Save money for your next upper. You will get one. It is your destiny. [LOL]
this is spot on. if you have even the slightest bit of dexterity, you can build your own. if you can't find good videos on youtube, let me know and i'll send you some. if you take your time, you can have it done within 30 minutes.
then, slap the BCM upper on it, and you're gold. you can order BCM stocks, grips, bolts, charging handles, foregrips, etc. and have it set up how you like.
and honestly, the BCM upper isn't going to feel much different (if at all) in the store than any other AR. You aren't going to pick up a BCM and think "man this feels 100X better than that crappy colt"
oh, and i'd look at the 14.5" with a pinned muzzle device--with the longest rail you can fit on it. i prefer keymod, others may life M-Lok, MOE, or plain picatinny. pick one and go.
if you just want to get the feel of ARs--5280 generally has the largest selection of ARs in the metro area. this is not an endorsement of 5280 (mentioning which is often akin to shitting on the dining room table during dinner)--but they simply have the largest inventory--so you can get the feel of rails.
but, if you go to bowers, they'll often let you handle their own rifles so you can see the differences (that's where i go for AR stuff, but they may have 4 or 5 total ARs in stock.
http://store.machineguntours.com/manufacturer.bravo-company
They can order pretty much anything as well.
They need to update their site. Just called and they don't carry complete BCM rifles. They do have some stripped uppers, but that is all.
kidicarus13
12-04-2015, 19:30
Buy a complete upper from BCM and pin it on top of your lower.
then, slap the BCM upper on it, and you're gold.
https://www.ar-15.co/threads/152700-WTS-BCM-Mid-length-16-quot-Factory-Upper
G&R Tactical http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?display=home
Good guy to deal with, reasonable prices and a liberal first responder discount.
Direct from BCM is not bad either, you get hats, stickers, DVDs with your purchase.
I would buy from a shop. I personally like Bowers. Any extra you pay, which won't be much if any, is more than worth it for the knowledge you will gain from going through the selection and assembly process with them. For your first time, that knowledge is worth its weight in gold.
DangerLee_Industries
07-28-2016, 01:19
Not in your area but that's what I do here so if I can help let me know.
SA Friday
07-28-2016, 12:46
I don't know who is actually doing the manufacture of BCM upper and lowers, but they are forged 7075-T6 mil-spec. Short of the engraving they are not really different from Aero or Spikes or many others who have decent quality control forged mil-spec receivers. They are great product. BCM uses FN cold hammered forged chrome lined barrels, great product. BCM KMR rails are made by Bootleg Inc. under a BCM owned patent, great product. BCM charging handles are also manufactured by VLTOR, great product. Don't know who makes their BCG and bolts, but we suspect they are made by FN and they are just mil-spec, great product.
See the trend here. BCM is great product. It's all made by outside sources and then assembled and sold under the BCM name. So, you really can't go wrong with buying a pre-assembled BCM upper and them making your lower as long as what you want is available and you can afford it. You can also assemble an equal rifle with equal parts fairly easy. Just depends on where you want to go with it and how much you desire specific markings on your gun. How it looks is not something to overlook. If you want it to be a matching BCM rifle, then doing an assembly isn't what I would recommend. You many have to wait for what you want, but it's worth it's the gun you want. The quality in the product is there. Then again equal quality can be assembled pretty easy.
I know it's a zombie thread, but this is good info for people to reference. In the AR world, and the gun world as a whole, they companies are all in bed with each other. There are actually a lot less variety in the parts underneath the markings than you think.
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