A friend pointed me to the least expensive complete AR15 that I've ever seen in the 30+ years that I've been in to guns. I the "Deals" section of Bear Creek Arsenal's website, they were offering a complete (minus sights and magazine) right side charging AR15 for $315 delivered. Even assuming that it's a turd, they've got to be losing money at that price. So, I decided to buy one that came with a melonited barrel. I've always wanted a side charging AR15 anyway. BCA doesn't exactly have the reputation as being a top tier manufacturer, so I wasn't expecting much. That said, I previously did a 7.62x39 build using one of their upper halves and it runs like a champ. In fact, the upper half runs 100% in full auto on my 16 lower. So even being a low tier manufacturer, I know they can make a rifle that runs. $25 wend to my dealer which put the out the door price at $340.
I got it home and looked it over. Immediately I discovered that the castle nut was loose. I grabbed my tool and tightened it. Needless to say, it wasn't staked. I then found that the collapsible buttstock was difficult to slide forward and backward. In fact, I had a difficult time sliding it off. Upon examination, I found that the part that goes up in to the holes in the receiver extension was screwed in too high. Therefore, I removed its retaining pin and screwed it out until it was flush in the receiver extension when I pulled the lever all the way down. I then reinstalled the retaining pin and the buttstock now functions as it should.
Other than that, what didn't I get for my $340? Upon examining the bolt and carrier I found that there was no chrome. The bolt is marked MPI though. The hammer appears cast, but I don't know if they're all typically made that way and then machined. For sure it appears different than all the others I've seen. I don't really care for metal handguard rails, but the one that came on the rifle looks decent. I won't be putting anything on them anyway. Magazines inserted and dropped without issue. When pulling back the charging handle, the sound of the spring contracting is pretty loud. I don't know if that means anything though.
The next time I go to the range I'll give it a run. I have an ACOG that I recently purchased for another rifle, but I'll try it on this BCA rifle first. After all, I wouldn't want to short change the potential of this rifle by running a cheap optic on it.
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