BCM History [Archive] - M4Carbine.net Forums

bear22

05-09-12, 09:19

C4IGrant

05-09-12, 09:31

It seems BCM's reputation preceeds itself. I watched their YouTube video on their site and read their (brief) company history as well.

I'm curious ... can someone give me the rundown on the company ... why and how they were founded, what their value prop is, etc.

I'm also interested in more information on anyone's experience with their lifetine warranty / customer service.

All information is appreciated.

I should probably answer this as I am personal friends with the owner (Paul).

The firearms industry is full of snakes, used car salesmen and just flat out liars. One of the VERY few people I would trust in this industry is Paul. Just a solid guy that has morals and believes in offering the best product he can.

I have known Paul to scrap thousands on top of thousands of dollars’ worth of products because they didn't live up to his standards, but would pass what the TDP allows. Not many companies would do this.

Their CS is excellent and they will cover whatever BCM products you buy for as long as you own it.

C4

bear22

05-09-12, 09:38

I should probably answer this as I am personal friends with the owner (Paul).

The firearms industry is full of snakes, used car salesmen and just flat out liars. One of the VERY few people I would trust in this industry is Paul. Just a solid guy that has morals and believes in offering the best product he can.

I have known Paul to scrap thousands on top of thousands of dollars’ worth of products because they didn't live up to his standards, but would pass what the TDP allows. Not many companies would do this.

Their CS is excellent and they will cover whatever BCM products you buy for as long as you own it.

C4

Indeed that is exactly what you'd want to hear as a prospective customer.

Thank you for the information.

How'd Paul come to start the company? What was his experience before BCM?

CLJ94104

05-09-12, 09:44

How'd Paul come to start the company? What was his experience before BCM?

This interests me as well.

BTW... As an owner of one of his BFH 16" middys I can say I am thoroughly impressed and satisfied with his product, OP.

C4IGrant

05-09-12, 09:45

Indeed that is exactly what you'd want to hear as a prospective customer.

Thank you for the information.

How'd Paul come to start the company? What was his experience before BCM?

I believe that after spending time as an 0311 in the Marines, he got his degree and being into guns, started Bravo Company USA. Back in the day, if you wanted a quality fighting AR, you either bought a Colt or nothing else. So there was an opportunity for someone to start offering quality BCG's, uppers, etc and Paul took advantage of this and formed BCM.

C4

bear22

05-09-12, 09:46

BTW... As an owner of one of his BFH 16" middys I can say I am thoroughly impressed and satisfied with his product OP.

Thanks for the validation, CLJ.
Did you go with the standard or LW?

bear22

05-09-12, 09:46

I believe that after spending time as an 0311 in the Marines, he got his degree and being into guns, started Bravo Company USA. Back in the day, if you wanted a quality fighting AR, you either bought a Colt or nothing else. So there was an opportunity for someone to start offering quality BCG's, uppers, etc and Paul took advantage of this and formed BCM.

C4

Did he apprentice anywhere?

C4IGrant

05-09-12, 09:51

Did he apprentice anywhere?

There really is no where to Apprenticeship for these types of things (at least back then).

Like me, Paul just learned how to build AR's on his own and then later validated his knowledge with armorer schools.

C4

Doc Safari

05-09-12, 10:21

I love reading threads like this. They validate my decision to go with Bravo Company over many brands I considered.

Everything I've ever gotten from them has been 100%.

My one beef is they couldn't take an order over the phone when my computer was having trouble letting me order through the website. Told me in an e-mail they weren't set up to take orders over the phone.

(Hey, gotta find some little something to criticize so I'm not a total fanboy). :D

I actually gave up a perfectly good Daniel Defense carbine in order to get a second BCM weapon. That's about as sincere an endorsement of BCM that I can think of. (No knock on DD. I just preferred the BCM's configuration as it came from the factory).

C4IGrant

05-09-12, 10:25

I love reading threads like this. They validate my decision to go with Bravo Company over many brands I considered.

Everything I've ever gotten from them has been 100%.

My one beef is they couldn't take an order over the phone when my computer was having trouble letting me order through the website. Told me in an e-mail they weren't set up to take orders over the phone.

(Hey, gotta find some little something to criticize so I'm not a total fanboy). :D

I am the same way (don't take phone orders unless I have too). The main reason for this is that it is VERY easy to lose an order or mix up what the customer wanted. So it is almost always in your best interest to order via a website.

C4

bear22

05-09-12, 10:48

C4, are you one of the primary dealers for BCM?

C4IGrant

05-09-12, 10:53

C4, are you one of the primary dealers for BCM?

We were their FIRST Distributor and are probably one of their largest as well.

C4

bear22

05-09-12, 11:31

We were their FIRST Distributor and are probably one of their largest as well.

C4

If you were pressed to say something constructive about how to improve the company or product, what would you say?

C4IGrant

05-09-12, 11:42

If you were pressed to say something constructive about how to improve the company or product, what would you say?

Get more inventory (as they are always running out of stuff)!

C4

bear22

05-09-12, 11:45

Get more inventory (as they are always running out of stuff)!

C4

Likely a by-product of their strick quality standards.

Thanks!

Doc Safari

05-09-12, 11:52

Likely a by-product of their strick quality standards.

Thanks!

Undoubtedly. In my nearly 50 years of life I have watched standards go to Hell more than once when a high-quality low-volume shop suddenly increased its capacity.

So every time you have the temptation to complain about lead times, remember that it's better to have it done right than have it done quickly. ;)

MASSIVE

05-09-12, 18:24

Get more inventory (as they are always running out of stuff)!
I'll second that -- Been waiting for my M4 for months... :sad:

One of these days...

CLJ94104

05-09-12, 18:39

Thanks for the validation, CLJ.
Did you go with the standard or LW?

Standard.

bear22

05-09-12, 22:34

Standard.

If not going NFA and putting, say 5,000 rounds, through it every year is there any reason you would not buy the LW?

Iraqgunz

05-10-12, 02:11

I have purchased numerous BCM products over the years and have used them as the foundation to build plenty of AR's (either for myself or for people that I know).

I have found that the quality to be top notch. Paul is also an extremely knowledgeable person and generous as well. I know quite a few guys that are using BCM latches and other products overseas because of his generosity.

I also have to echo what Grant said. He is definitely one of the good guys in the business.

polymorpheous

05-10-12, 03:22

I actually gave up a perfectly good Daniel Defense carbine in order to get a second BCM weapon. That's about as sincere an endorsement of BCM that I can think of. (No knock on DD. I just preferred the BCM's configuration as it came from the factory).

I did the same.
I sold a Daniel Defense upper and bought a BCM upper.

My only gripe with BCM is that I can't do a local pick up.
Small potatoes in the grand scheme of things though.

Achilles11B

05-21-12, 18:05

Before I ordered my upper from them, I browsed their website and wondered why every other item they have is out of stock.

Then I completed my rifle and after running it, I have no complaints whatsoever and their CS is phenomenal. Now I know why their rifle components are sold out, because people generally do have a high demand for high quality.

John Hearne

05-21-12, 21:43

I'm attending IALEFI and was discussing AR's with a gentleman from S&W. I mentioned that I've been running a rifle in a near identical configuration to what they had. He asked me whose upper I was running and I said BCM. He responded that Paul makes the best AR's in the business. I thought it was a very classy exchange.

C4IGrant

05-21-12, 22:00

Watrdawg

05-22-12, 16:31

I don't know Paul but when I started research into AR's and came to this site and then eventually BCM I knew I had come upon a quality product. I ended up purchasing a 14.5" Middy upper to mate up with a LMT lower. I couldn't be happier with my BCM upper. My next purchase will definitely consist of at least a BCM upper. Probably in a SPR setup. I've also purchased other items from BCM. Customer service and quality are top notch! to concur with Grant my only complaint is that they do not carry enough inventory.

Red Rezin

07-23-12, 15:31

Based on many quality comments about BCM I ended up with their Mid16 Mod2 complete rifle. Quality is excellent and it's been 100%. Only issue I had was the wrong screw was inserted in the front of the Troy quad rail which caused some problems - I suspect this might have been J&G sales since they shipped me the wrong rifle originally. Troy sent me some extra screws and in perfect shape now. Package was missing the BCM hat as well, but called up Bravo Company and they were great and sent me a hat. :D

Glad to be a part of helping BCM continue to offer top quality rifles.

Red Rezin

skyugo

09-15-12, 01:04

when did BCM start doing complete rifles and uppers? I feel like i became aware of them in 08 or so... but that might just be because someone finally clued me in that they make great stuff.

Hmac

09-15-12, 08:13

The firearms industry is full of snakes, used car salesmen and just flat out liars. One of the VERY few people I would trust in this industry is Paul.

You would know better than I, but I have to say from a consumer standpoint...I've found the firearms industry, at least the outlets that I deal with, to consistently have some of the most honest and bend-over-backwards customer service of any group of retail merchants and manufacturers I've ever dealt with.