BCM's New 16" Light Weight Middy's are out!

[C4IGrant]

BCM has released their newest variation of their 16" LW upper. It features a true .625 "F" Marked FSB.


C4



http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/BCM/16_Mid_LW.jpg

http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/BCM/16_Mid_LW1.jpg

[ForTehNguyen]

besides the obvious FSB diameter difference is the barrel still the same profile behind the FSB as the .750 LW?

[Dos Cylindros]

Looks like the same barrel dia. after the FSB. No real reason to replace your current BCM LW middy just to get this one.

[Stickman]

I think I need one, that is about perfect as a GP carbine upper.

[rychencop]

I think I need one, that is about perfect as a GP carbine upper.

agreed...

[GermanSynergy]

Nice!

Must...resist.....urge....to...place...immediate...order..... :D

[dp0350]

Is there significant weight savings of BCM's LW uppers compared to their BFH or normal configurations?

[TonyM]

Grant,
Do you know if they will release this in a 14.5 barrel? :D

[dp0350]

According to their website new 14.5" middies are coming out on a daily basis. I would expect most of the 16" line to be duplicated in the 14.5".

[TOrrock]

Damn that looks nice.

[seb5]

Grant,
Do you know if they will release this in a 14.5 barrel? :D

+1 That interests me.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Ok then lets compair it to the DD uppers we have all been drooling over.

[500grains]

Very nice product. And BCM's prices have always been reasonable.

1. Is it a slightly, perhaps very slightly, heavier profile than the DD lightweight?

2. Doesn't the DD come with the FSB pins loose so that the user can put on his preferred rail foreend? I may be wrong, but in the pic it looks like the BCM ones have the FSB solidly pinned.

3. Who makes BCM's hammer forged barrels? I think it was explained on another thread that DD has their own hammer forging machine and makes their own, while FN makes the hammer forged barrels for Centurion and Noveske. But I have not heard whether BCM has their own hammer forge machine or if another company makes the barrels for them. Anyone know?

[ForTehNguyen]

Is there significant weight savings of BCM's LW uppers compared to their BFH or normal configurations?

about 4.3 oz if i remember correctly from another thread. Plus its 4.3oz at the end of the barrel which was removed, so balance is greatly improved too

[Sherman A. House]

Very cool! I need a new upper!

[C4IGrant]

besides the obvious FSB diameter difference is the barrel still the same profile behind the FSB as the .750 LW?

I believe so.


C4

[C4IGrant]

Is there significant weight savings of BCM's LW uppers compared to their BFH or normal configurations?

Yes.


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[dp0350]

So what are the cons of the LW barrels? Just heating up slightly quicker than the full weight counterparts?

[C4IGrant]

So what are the cons of the LW barrels? Just heating up slightly quicker than the full weight counterparts?

No cons.


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[Stickman]

So what are the cons of the LW barrels? Just heating up slightly quicker than the full weight counterparts?


Heats up quicker, cools down quicker.

[Jimbo45]

Must be only 1 left. I tried to put 2 in my cart and it won't let me.

I wonder how one goes about getting a couple directly from BCM, with the .625 FSB? I didn't see it listed on their site yet.

[SpeedRacer]

I'd love to see a weight comparison against their other (.750 FSB) lightweight middy. Is the difference really significant enough to warrant an entire new variation? Or is this replacing their current version?

[rob_s]

I'd love to see a weight comparison against their other (.750 FSB) lightweight middy. Is the difference really significant enough to warrant an entire new variation? Or is this replacing their current version?

I believe the change from .750 to .625 has more to do with market demand than actual weight savings. Some people were just obsessed with the idea of a "real" lightweight barrel. Given the choice, I'd generally prefer it as well. BCM's reason for the .750 was that gas blocks were easier for customers to come by in that size, but with the explosion of interest in lightweight guns over the last few months and the availability of high quality barrel options in that profile more companies are making .625" gas block options.

What is lost on many that insisted on the smaller diameter is that even now most options for gas blocks wind up just putting most of the weight back on as they are the exact same part as the .750 model just with a smaller hole drilled through.

[SpeedRacer]

I believe the change from .750 to .625 has more to do with market demand than actual weight savings. Some people were just obsessed with the idea of a "real" lightweight barrel. Given the choice, I'd generally prefer it as well. BCM's reason for the .750 was that gas blocks were easier for customers to come by in that size, but with the explosion of interest in lightweight guns over the last few months and the availability of high quality barrel options in that profile more companies are making .625" gas block options.

What is lost on many that insisted on the smaller diameter is that even now most options for gas blocks wind up just putting most of the weight back on as they are the exact same part as the .750 model just with a smaller hole drilled through.

That's what I figured. I'm still curious if this will be an option, or a complete replacement for the .750 configuration.

Good point about the gas blocks, I guess I won't lose any sleep over my .750 lightweight middy. :D

[Jimbo45]

Order complete! ;)

[ForTehNguyen]

I'd love to see a weight comparison against their other (.750 FSB) lightweight middy. Is the difference really significant enough to warrant an entire new variation? Or is this replacing their current version?

The main reason I would keep a .750" is the availability of .750 gas blocks. I doubt there would be any significant weight savings to warrant a change.

[dp0350]

No cons.


C4

Wow, weight savings with no trade off. I'll have to try one out when they release a 14.5" middy version.

[CarlosDJackal]

So what are the cons of the LW barrels? Just heating up slightly quicker than the full weight counterparts?

It'll sag quicker than thicker barrels plus it's resonance tends to be less dampened than thicker barrels or ones with fluting. But since this is not meant to be used for DMRs or as Match Rifles; that really shouldn't matter as much.

[sovereign]

3. Who makes BCM's hammer forged barrels? I think it was explained on another thread that DD has their own hammer forging machine and makes their own, while FN makes the hammer forged barrels for Centurion and Noveske. But I have not heard whether BCM has their own hammer forge machine or if another company makes the barrels for them. Anyone know?

?



.

[jasonhgross]

Also waiting for the 14.5" lightweight middy with fixed supressor.

[3CTactical]

Does anyone know what the profile of this BCM is before and after the FSB and what the DD 16" mid-length lightweight profiles are? Is one slightly lighter than the other?

[500grains]

I think elsewhere on this forum somebuddy said that the DD is a bit lighter. But I could be wrong.

[3CTactical]

Ok - found the profile dimensions for the DD lightweight barrel in the DD lightweight thread as follows - quote from Grant:


Under the HG's, it goes from about .677 down to .599. So it is a gradual taper.

I front of the GB, the barrel does down to .572.

So how about the BCM lightweight profile?

[rob_s]

best info I have (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0Ajl2UPK0UHPsdGlBeGN1eERSWHVhaHRHejVRMURKUmc&hl=en&output=html)

[.45fmjoe]

BFH version to follow?

[ghostman1960]

Now all I need is a replenished bank account!:D

[Jimbo45]

Just got two of these for my kids' builds! Just a quick mock up, still waiting on some Magpul middy MOE handguards and another DD rear sight, and need to install the side sling adapters.

This just might be the perfect all around 16" carbine setup! It handles great with an M4 stock! Can't wait to get to the range! Thanks Grant!

Edit: Looking at the pic, the bottom rifle looks like its fatter than .625, but it must be a shadow. Sorry for the crumby pic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/jimbo45/100_2455.jpg

[C4IGrant]

They look nice!


C4

[ra2bach]

best info I have (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0Ajl2UPK0UHPsdGlBeGN1eERSWHVhaHRHejVRMURKUmc&hl=en&output=html)
nice.

thanks...

[armakraut]

Also waiting for the 14.5" lightweight middy with fixed supressor.

+1 on that.