BCM Lower

bbvette427 · #1 07-07-09, 17:01

Just received my BCM lower and am dissapointed in the anodizing. My PWA, Stag, Global Tactical lowers all match my BCM upper perfectly but my BCM lower does not. Anyone else have a poor match?

**M4arc** · #2 07-07-09, 17:03

No. In fact mine is perfect. It's nicer than my Colt, LMTs, PWA, & Mega lowers.

Can you please post pictures?

spamsammich · #3 07-07-09, 17:17

It is a real pain in the ass to get anodized pieces from different suppliers to match exactly. My advice is to worry about how your clothing and accessories match, not your receivers. There are bigger fish to fry.

Or pm me and I'll give you an address where you can ship the lower for proper disposal. ( somebody had to say it

)

urbankaos04 · #4 07-07-09, 17:22

I know that you want your stuff to match, especially when it's brand spanking new, but, seriously, you'll forget all about how it doesn't match after you start using it and start dinging shit up. Just watch.

Fire_Medic · #5 07-07-09, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbvette427

Just received my BCM lower and am dissapointed in the anodizing. My PWA, Stag, Global Tactical lowers all match my BCM upper perfectly but my BCM lower does not. Anyone else have a poor match?

Mine is ever so slightly off in color, but remember that your upper comes drenched in oil.

Bathe your lower receiver in CLP and let it sit and it should turn out very close to your upper.

bbvette427 · #6 07-07-09, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire_Medic

Mine is ever so slightly off in color, but remember that your upper comes drenched in oil.

Bathe your lower receiver in CLP and let it sit and it should turn out very close to your upper.

Already did this but still looks mismatched. I tried taking pics but the camera is not that good and pics came out poor.

**M4arc** · #7 07-07-09, 17:52

Is the anodizing poor or does it just not match your upper?

bbvette427 · #8 07-07-09, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4arc

Is the anodizing poor or does it just not match your upper?

Anodizing looks okay from what I can tell, but the dye is what makes it black. Was it not in the tank long enough to open up the pores so the dye will adhere? The lower is ligher in color with a purple hue, upper dark black.

spamsammich · #9 07-07-09, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbvette427

Anodizing looks okay from what I can tell, but the dye is what makes it black. Was it not in the tank long enough to open up the pores so the dye will adhere? The lower is ligher in color with a purple hue, upper dark black.

There are at least a dozen possible reasons why the colors don't match. I've had parts come back from the same anodizing house on two different days, 2 different shades of "black". This has happened with more than one vendor so I've taken to sending parts out and specifying that they be done in batches of 16 so I have at least 8 parts that match and some spares. the machine I build has 8 devices that the user can access and having them mismatched is a no go.

Jeep297 · #10 07-07-09, 20:15

I wouldn't worry about it at all. Both of my Magpul lowers don't match the Noveske uppers they came on (they're slightly "purple") but it doesn't bother me in the least.

Once you start shooting more you forget things like that. BCM makes top quality products and that's all that matters in the end.

Fire_Medic · #11 07-07-09, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeep297

I wouldn't worry about it at all. Both of my Magpul lowers don't match the Noveske uppers they came on (they're slightly "purple") but it doesn't bother me in the least.

Once you start shooting more you forget things like that. BCM makes top quality products and that's all that matters in the end.

+1!

GONIF · #12 07-07-09, 20:54

It's an AR ,as long as it is in spec and has no flaws who cares if the color is off slightly .

bigez1 · #13 07-07-09, 23:54

Mine arrived today and the color matches my upper pretty well not that it matter to me. There was a thread on another site where a guy was complaining about the lower not matching the upper and Paul from BCM chimed in. Here was his response.

Originally Posted By BravoCompanyUSA:
Great lookin' blaster. That is one of the first ones I have seen put togather (outside of our shop).
Thanks for your business!!

I would like BCM guns to never be known for being pretty. The BCM program was originally designed for the need created by the PSD communtiy. They desired GI quality but were no longer in the GI supply chain. They are built for the battlefield. A tool with an industrial grade finish. A weapon of war. High quality materials. No shortcuts. The quality of a BCM will not show up in photos, but is seen after you have run it hard time after time after time.

Thanks!
Paul

SeriousStudent · #14 07-08-09, 00:35

My BCM lower and my BCM middy upper both have a uniform coating of dust from the range today.

So both halves match.

And there are scratches on the side of the Aimpoint H-1, and the Vicker's sling is fraying a bit, the carbine's in horrible shape....... And I would not trade it at all.

My goal is to have it looking like Jeff or Derek's guns by the end of the year.

SWATcop556 · #15 07-08-09, 02:19

I only have one true safe queen (and its because it was a gift for academy graduation). Every other AR I own is a fighting weapon.

If it is meant to be a safe queen then the "fit and finish" should be important. If its a fighting weapon, it won't matter after some use whether or not the upper and lower match in color.

Or there is always Gunkote or some other aftermarket finish.

Iraqgunz · #16 07-08-09, 03:55

bbvette427,

If you truly believe that it isn't up to snuff then I would talk to someone about sending it back. I always encourage people that get a "lemon" Bushmaster, DPMS, Oly, RRA whatever to send them back and make them set it right, so the same rules should apply to Colt, Noveske, LMT, BCM, etc... Having said that. If the only issue was the color not matching I would care less because as soon as I have the chance my stuff gets painted anyways.

Remy · #17 07-08-09, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iraqgunz

bbvette427,

If you truly believe that it isn't up to snuff then I would talk to someone about sending it back. I always encourage people that get a "lemon" Bushmaster, DPMS, Oly, RRA whatever to send them back and make them set it right, so the same rules should apply to Colt, Noveske, LMT, BCM, etc... Having said that. If the only issue was the color not matching I would care less because as soon as I have the chance my stuff gets painted anyways.

I agree totally with what Iraqgunz says regarding returning the lower for replacement. If you are not happy with a top-of-the-line product like a BCM lower.....then you need to take steps to remedy the situation.

I know that many of the guys say that you should zip your lip and forget about it, but I feel that for what you are paying for Tier 1, you definitely need to be satisfied with it.

Jeep297 · #18 07-08-09, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remy

I agree totally with what Iraqgunz says regarding returning the lower for replacement. If you are not happy with a top-of-the-line product like a BCM lower.....then you need to take steps to remedy the situation.

I know that many of the guys say that you should zip your lip and forget about it, but I feel that for what you are paying for Tier 1, you definitely need to be satisfied with it.

Tier 1 guns have absolutely nothing to do with fit/finish. If that's your main concern get a RRA. The top companies like Colt, Noveske, KAC, LMT, BCM, etc are considered in the

top because of their quality components and how they perform. Most of them could care less how "pretty" they look. My Colts came with scratches, my magpul lowers are

purple and my KAC has midlength spelled wrong (ht instead of th) on the rail but I could care less because I know the quality is where it counts.

BravoCompanyUSA · #19 07-08-09, 13:41

The features and specification that are exhaustively listed for the BCM product line are focus on a standard of quality materials and features. Costmetic QC is no more stringent than what Uncle Sam would receive.

The BCM standard (and TDP) for anodizing is to be finished per MIL-A-8625, TYPE III, CLASS 2. FINISH SHALL BE LUSTERLESS (FLAT), APPROX BLACK, NO. 37038, TABLE IX BUT NOT LIGHTER THAN GRAY, NO. 36076, TABLE VIII OF FED-STD-595, AND SEAL.

.45fmjoe · #20 07-08-09, 13:43

Mine is a pretty close match to my mid-length upper, but as the others who understand a "fighting gun" have pointed out the fit and finish doesn't matter.

As I said on arf, I know Paul wouldn't sell me a product I couldn't bet my ass on, and that's what matters. Period.