Turning BCM middy into VTAC

Condition Yellow · #1 08-04-09, 19:17

Line upon line, precept on precept ...

5 years ago my lovely wife bought me a 20" HBAR Bushmaster. A year or two later I put a Burris 3-9 and Wilson mount on it. That soon got sold off in exchange for a TR-21 & LaRue mount. A year ago I sold the Bushy upper and put a 16" BCM carbine upper on. It has been flawless.

... Checking Grant's site almost daily, I have been trying to decide if I want to go with an RDS, but -poof- he had a BCM middy in stock, and somehow it wound up in my basket. My biggest concern has been what to put on for a handguard (I'm not a big fan of railed handguards). WHY won't Magpul come out with a mid-length MOE?

Yesterday I handled a S&W VTAC. Sigh. I have always liked the JP/VTAC handguards, and really liked the JP trigger in the Smith. With this subliminal inspiration, I shipped my trigger group off to Bill Springfield this morning for some trigger work, and then it hit me--I can have a mid-length VTAC. Of course this revelation came after my upper shipped. I'm thinking of putting a rifle-length VTAC free-float on it, and replacing the FSB with an Vltor gas block. Grant does not have any JP/VTAC handguards in stock (in fact, neither JP nor Viking Tactical have them--go figure). However, Ranier Arms has them. Does anyone have experience with their work? Does this sound like a viable build?

IrishDevil · #2 08-04-09, 19:30

The inside dimensions of the VTAC tube are pretty generous. I personally would trim down the FSB you already have since it's pinned. You have to remove it to install the rail, while it's removed chop off the tower, bayo lug, and clean it up. Coat it with Alumahyde and reinstall along with the rail. A rifle length handguard will cover it. You'll have a better setup overall and cheaper.

luxor · #3 08-04-09, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Condition Yellow

Line upon line, precept on precept ...

5 years ago my lovely wife bought me a 20" HBAR Bushmaster. A year or two later I put a Burris 3-9 and Wilson mount on it. That soon got sold off in exchange for a TR-21 & LaRue mount. A year ago I sold the Bushy upper and put a 16" BCM carbine upper on. It has been flawless.

... Checking Grant's site almost daily, I have been trying to decide if I want to go with an RDS, but -poof- he had a BCM middy in stock, and somehow it wound up in my basket. My biggest concern has been what to put on for a handguard (I'm not a big fan of railed handguards). WHY won't Magpul come out with a mid-length MOE?

Yesterday I handled a S&W VTAC. Sigh. I have always liked the JP/VTAC handguards, and really liked the JP trigger in the Smith. With this subliminal inspiration, I shipped my trigger group off to Bill Springfield this morning for some trigger work, and then it hit me--I can have a mid-length VTAC. Of course this revelation came after my upper shipped. I'm thinking of putting a rifle-length VTAC free-float on it, and replacing the FSB with an Vltor gas block. Grant does not have any JP/VTAC handguards in stock (in fact, neither JP nor Viking Tactical have them--go figure). However, Ranier Arms has them. Does anyone have experience with their work? Does this sound like a viable build?

Yes this is a very viable build. I have two Rifles done this way. Both of them are midlength.

I took the uppers up to Robb at Va Arms and he did the milling work on the front sight post. I will not use a gas block that is not pinned. I will try and post a picture.

Warg · #4 08-04-09, 21:09

I have installed a VTAC rifle length on a middy and really like the setup. One point worth mentioning is that the outer receiver nut (the nut that the handguard attaches to, not the barrel nut) has to be installed using red Loctite, so if you ever want to swap handguards it's going to be a royal PITA to do so.

RyanS · #5 08-04-09, 22:23

Interesting. I've been mulling over this very set up as well. I also think that milling down the FSB is the best option.

Robb Jensen · #6 08-04-09, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by luxor

Yes this is a very viable build. I have two Rifles done this way. Both of them are midlength.

I took the uppers up to Robb at Va Arms and he did the milling work on the front sight post. I will not use a gas block that is not pinned. I will try and post a picture.

Thanks for the compliment. I've 'shaved' a metric ton of FSBs, I can easily make them fit under JP/VTAC tubes, LaRue rails, DD Lite Rails/RIS II rails and just about any rail. The absolute tightest is the DD Omega which I don't want to attempt again as it's not really worth the effort vs. price point.

Condition Yellow · #7 08-04-09, 23:41

Rob,

E-mail sent.

gfelber & Luxor, I'd really like to see any pics you may have of the set-up.

Warg · #8 08-05-09, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Condition Yellow

Rob,

E-mail sent.

gfelber & Luxor, I'd really like to see any pics you may have of the set-up.

Sure. This is my 6.5 Grendel that's been waiting for mags since March. Please excuse the messy workspace as we were remodeling our home at the time

One

Two

Three

Let me know if you'd like more.

Cheers,

Gene

Condition Yellow · #9 08-05-09, 01:25

Gene,

Thanks. That's a nice looking rifle. A few questions: How well does the top rail on the handguard line up with the rail on the receiver (it looks like a perfect match) ? How do you add rail sections once the handguard is on? It that a rifle-length handguard? Bbl. length?

Warg · #10 08-05-09, 01:42

Thanks! I was just about finished, but have recently torn it apart again to address potential reliability issues per recommendations from this site. The handguard is not an issue, BTW.

The top rail lines up perfectly with the upper. I used the Brownells handguard alignment tool when I loctited the outer nut. I think it was worth $60 for piece of mind.

This is a rifle length handguard on a 16" BBL. The compensator makes the barrel look longer, obviously, and is approx 4".

The handguard comes without rails. I purchased it with the full upper rail ($75 for the damn rail) as I knew it was required to properly index with the upper upon installation. The upper rail is screwed directly into the handguard which is tapped for the screws that are provided with the rail. However, you add other rails using tapped nuts that fit behind and in between the horizontal slots. Here are some good pics from JP Rifles.

ruf · #11 08-05-09, 13:34

Any reason for the rifle length and not a 5M midlength handguard and keep the fixed front sight? Viking Tactics has them in stock.

Condition Yellow · #12 08-05-09, 18:46

Ruf,
I've considered it, although to me it looks cleaner w/out the FSB, if not as practical. Does anyone have pics of the VTAC with the FSB still on?

Has anyone had issues with the screws that hold the handguard on loosening up with a lot of shooting? Is is difficult to add the tapped nuts for rails behind and in between the slots?

Warg · #13 08-05-09, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Condition Yellow

Ruf,
I've considered it, although to me it looks cleaner w/out the FSB, if not as practical. Does anyone have pics of the VTAC with the FSB still on?

Has anyone had issues with the screws that hold the handguard on loosening up with a lot of shooting? Is is difficult to add the tapped nuts for rails behind and in between the slots?

Pic of Noveske upper with VTAC and FSB.

To add rails you remove the six torx screws mounting the handguard to the receiver nut, install rails and reinstall the handguard. Probably takes all of five minutes.

Use a dab of blue loctite on the torx screws. Lots of folks use the VTACs in three gun and I haven't heard of loose screws being an issue.

Fire_Medic · #14 08-05-09, 21:02

I am very interested in these rails now leaving in my FSB, if I could find them in FDE that would be great.

Condition Yellow · #15 08-05-09, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire_Medic

I am very interested in these rails now leaving in my FSB, if I could find them in FDE that would be great.

How about OD? However, they are the rifle length ...

http://http://www.jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPHG-1M-OD

Fire_Medic · #16 08-06-09, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Condition Yellow

How about OD? However, they are the rifle length ...

http://http://www.jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPHG-1M-OD

Yeah I saw it over on their site, but thanks. I need FDE and I have a BCM middy. Will wait and see what happens.

David Thomas · #17 08-06-09, 02:27

Both of these started life as BCM midlength uppers. GotM4 expertly shaved the FSB and installed a VTAC rifle length handguard on one and a PRI Gen III tube on the other.

SWATcop556 · #18 08-06-09, 03:15

The bottom rifle is bad ass!!!! I would love to see some more photos of that setup.

Condition Yellow · #19 08-11-09, 22:34

If anyone is interested, Midway has all three length handguards, and the price is quite reasonable.

Robb Jensen · #20 08-11-09, 22:44

Thanks guys, I do my best and appreciate the kind comments.