Bravo Company 14.5" Mid Length carbine short review [Archive]

View Full Version : Bravo Company 14.5" Mid Length carbine short review

Cameron

08-14-10, 22:55

markm did a great job reviewing a similar carbine from BCM here (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=56626) and I think it is valuable to see his assessment is not an anomaly, so here is a quick review of my wife's Bravo Company Manufacturing 14.5" Mid Length gas system carbine.

After my great experience purchasing a BCM MK12 SPR (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=54754), my wife had been bothering me for a lighter rifle that she would enjoy shooting. I have a penchant for long rails and UBR stocks and she wanted something just for her.

Previous to my first Bravo Company Manufacturing product I had bought other makers uppers and parts from BCM, and the customer service and pricing have been excellent. I have had uppers and lowers from Bushmaster:eek:, Colt, Daniel Defense, LMT and I have to say the guys at Bravo Company are top notch, the fact that they will actually produce intelligently thought out uppers with your preference for rails and muzzle devices makes all the difference. The quality of their components is second to none and, in my experience, exceeds offering from there other makers I have had experience with.

So taking the pros and Bravo Company's advice we went with a:

BCM Standard 14.5" Mid Length Upper Receiver Group with Daniel Defense LITE 12" rail (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-14--Mid-Length-Upper-Receiver-Daniel-Defense-p/bcm-urg-mid-14%20ddl12.htm) on BCM Lower Receiver Group (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Lower-Receiver-Groups-M4-AR15-s/117.htm).

They added BCM/Troy sights (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Folding-Battle-Sight-REAR-p/bcm%20rear%20sight%20troy.htm), BCM Auto bolt carrier group (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Bolt-Carrier-Group-MPI-Auto-M16-p/bcm%20bolt%20carrier%20group%20auto%20mp.htm), BCM Gunfighter charging handle (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-GUNFIGHTER-Charging-Handle-GFH-Mod-4-p/bcm%20gfh%20mod%204%20556.htm), and permanently installed a PWS FSC556 Tactical Comp (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Primary-Weapon-Systems-FSC556-Tactical-Compensator-p/pws%20fsc556.htm).

I have to say that, just like the BCM MK12 Mod 3X I bought a couple of months ago, this upper and lower arrived quickly and were absolutely flawless! I mean is arrived without a scratch on it, lubed test fired and well packaged.

Here is the wife's new carbine with Magpul's Foliage Green furniture (http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/SearchResults.asp?mfg=Magpul).

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4880929764_7c701111ae_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4880917059_3f7ed82e3b_b.jpg

BCM Gunfighter Charging Handle
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4880930456_0be87572ca_b.jpg

PWS FSC556 Tactical Comp perfectly permanently attached by BCM
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4880929512_ec15651606_b.jpg

BCM 14.5" Mid Length with the amazingly accurate BCM 18" MK12 Mod 3X-Bravo
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4880321333_ff829da6e1_b.jpg

This afternoon my wife and I had the opportunity to really wring this carbine out at the range (my wife blessed me a brand new baby girl only 8 weeks ago, so this was the first time back to the range for her in many months) so it was a perfect welcome back to shooting for her.

It is absolutely amazing how this carbine runs, it is nothing like my previous 14.5" carbine gas guns, it is even softer and smoother than my 16" mid-length. It shoulders, balances and moves extremely well. It is lively in the hands and is fast between targets, balanced, light weight and it just feels damn good!:)

We shot it with the stock H buffer that came with the BCM lower and also tried the H2 from my 16" mid length and the H3 from my BCM 18" rifle length. It is extremely soft shooting. I thought that the 16" mid length gas system was the sweet spot, but the guys at Bravo Company have caused me to re-think it!

At the range this afternoon Jen and I put 200 rounds of Federal value pack 55gr .223 through this carbine with zero failures, with any of the 3 buffers, the majority of shooting was done with the H3 buffer.

Here is Jen getting a feels for the carbine, remember she is part pixie so makes any carbine larger.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4891984077_b50d73cb84_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4892163465_cb2701679f_b.jpg

Working it, notice the ejected cases.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4892132174_338d9b5acb_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4891533427_bf7a422147_b.jpg

I have always thought that a correctly built rifle should zero close to the mechanical zero of the sights, and this carbine needed just 4MOA of windage adjustment to be right on, elevation was perfect, right out of the box.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4891926889_dec7f28726_b.jpg

My wife was absolutely giddy about her new carbine...
[VIDEO]
http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac61/gstuffnow/th_BCM145Jen.jpg (http://s886.photobucket.com/albums/ac61/gstuffnow/?action=view&current=BCM145Jen.mp4)

Here I am running Lamb's basic 1-5 drill, I gave the last target and extra round just to be sure.
[VIDEO]
http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac61/gstuffnow/th_BCM15drill.jpg (http://s886.photobucket.com/albums/ac61/gstuffnow/?action=view&current=BCM15drill.mp4)

I think I see another Bravo Company 14.5" mid length in my family's future.

Cameron

M4Fundi

08-15-10, 00:07

Rifles are beautiful, wife is beautiful great write up! Now all we need to see is that 8 week old blessed Lil'Future M4 Wielder! Congrats on the daughter!

God Bless

mrbieler

08-15-10, 00:11

Great video. Thanks for the review.

Congratulations on the little girl. :)

SeriousStudent

08-15-10, 00:27

Congrats to you both on the new baby. May she bring you many years of joy.

Aren't those PWS comps great? I have one on a 6920, and really do love the lack of muzzle rise.

BufordTJustice

08-15-10, 02:08

Great post Cam. Advancing the art of the tactical carbine one more step.

C-grunt

08-15-10, 04:12

Good video man. That rifle looks really good. I was eyeing the 14.5 middies and was wondering if they would under gas the system. But if it runs well with a H3, I guess not.

Congrats on the daughter. They are lots of fun!

Tell your wife she looks great for just having a baby. Surely is a trooper to be doing drills in the sun 8 weeks after labor.

kbi

08-15-10, 08:58

Thanks for posting the video's so we could all see how smoothe the 14.5 upper is .

I luv the lack of muzzle rise and how steady the rifle is when being shot quickly.

I dont think now I'll be able to hold out til the end of the year for a BFH 14.5 upper and I may just have to get a std upper now :shout:

Rated21R

08-15-10, 09:02

Thanks for the write up. Congrats on your baby girl (my wife blessed me 8 weeks ago too, 21 June to be exact). I need to get her out to the range to shoot some now. As I said in another thread you have me getting closer and closer to purchasing a 14.5 middy. :D

markm

08-15-10, 09:29

Very cool. It's good to see a female shooting long gun without the usual LEAN BACK and CHICKEN WING posture. That's the FIRST thing I corrected when my woman tried out the carbine.

The H3 buffer is crazy isn't it???? I want to get a video of the weapon sitting on my pack, un-shouldered and just fire it with one hand on the pistol grip to shot how it just sits there when fired.

RogerinTPA

08-15-10, 11:12

Great review Cameron....excellent videos and that 1x5 drill was the shee-it!

Eurodriver

08-15-10, 14:01

arizonaranchman

08-15-10, 14:05

Nice! Great pics too, I like the action shot with the brass in the air.

I'm putting together a BCM 14.5 Mid now. When complete it'll be a KISS carbine: C8 standard handguards, Troy BUIS, a T1 and SureFire 600 mounted on the left side of the front sight. Short, light and simple.

Cameron

08-15-10, 14:57

What ammo were you using?

I ask because Im debating whether or not to get a 14.5" ML or 14.5" carbine, and I don't want issues with having to buy certain ammo to make the gun function, i.e. walmart .223 for plinking.

At the range this afternoon Jen and I put 200 rounds of Federal value pack 55gr .223 through this carbine with zero failures, with any of the 3 buffers, the majority of shooting was done with the H3 buffer.

Put another 150 rounds through it this morning, with H and H2 buffers without any problems. It is not ammo sensitive and is superior to the carbine length gas system.

Cameron

carshooter

08-15-10, 15:08

Thanks for the review.

Congratulations on the new additions to your family, (both your newborn daughter and the new carbine)

As others have already said, your wife certainly is a trooper.

Eurodriver

08-15-10, 20:38

Put another 150 rounds through it this morning, with H and H2 buffers without any problems. It is not ammo sensitive and is superior to the carbine length gas system.

Cameron

Sorry, I read your thread yesterday and my account didn't get approved till today.

longrange18

08-16-10, 02:41

Awesome write up and congratulations on the baby girl.:happy:

I've been contemplating the purchase a 14.5" mid-length but I've been wandering how soft the upper shoots with a Perm A2X instead of a FSC. Anyone running this configuration?

Magic_Salad0892

08-16-10, 05:25

Congrats on the little girl.

The carbine is boring....ly reliable. :p

Mr. Goodtimes

08-16-10, 08:28

Icculus

08-16-10, 13:23

Very nice. I'm really digging this build. I didn't see it a weight listed in this or the markm review. Any chance you could through it on the scale just as you have it configured with all the xtm's?

Congrats on both of the new additions.

BufordTJustice

08-16-10, 14:08

I've been running an H3 buffer in my BCM 16in middy for about 6 months now. Shooting federal 55gr value pack and 63gr Brown Bear, I've yet to have an issue. Between the Surefire MB556 and the H3 buffer, the gun has virtually no muzzle rise.

This is very good news, Mr. Goodtimes. What buffer spring do you use? Standard? Springco Blue? Tubbs Flatwire?

Cameron

08-16-10, 14:43

Icculus

08-16-10, 14:59

Right on 7lbs

Cameron

Thank you. I'm trying to make my next build a little lighter and more manageable. The decisions include whether to hold off for the BCM 14.5" lightweight middy and then also whether to go with the 12" DD Lite rail or save about 4 oz. and go with the 11" TRX extreme (I still have some questions about it durability though for hard use)

Quentin

08-16-10, 17:34

Nice rifle, Cameron! And congrats on the little one!

Like Icculus I'm on the fence deciding between this upper and the soon to be released LW 14.5" midlength. (It'll be for my wife also.)

Does BCM list the weights of both uppers? Hope someone knows since I haven't found them. I'm guessing about half a pound difference but would like to be sure. If it's less than that, no reason to wait.

Cameron

08-16-10, 18:25

Thank you. I'm trying to make my next build a little lighter and more manageable. The decisions include whether to hold off for the BCM 14.5" lightweight middy and then also whether to go with the 12" DD Lite rail or save about 4 oz. and go with the 11" TRX extreme (I still have some questions about it durability though for hard use)

I think the whole counting ounces thing is over rated, you can see my wife is part pixie, at 5'4" and 120lbs and has no problem with an 8 or even 9lb rifle. Performance parameters should trump weight.

Cam

Mr. Goodtimes

08-16-10, 22:52

This is very good news, Mr. Goodtimes. What buffer spring do you use? Standard? Springco Blue? Tubbs Flatwire?

Just a standard spring. I get em cheap and replace em often. I'm thinking about trying a Springco.

BufordTJustice

08-16-10, 23:02

QuadBomb

08-17-10, 11:38

Thanks for the write-up, congrats on the baby!

I've been thinking about a 5.56mm upper, and BCM looks like the way to go.

Mr. Goodtimes

08-17-10, 12:05

I hear ya.

If you decide to test-drive the springco, I'm assuming you'd use the 'blue' standard power spring? I'd love a range report if you do try it out.

I can't get a straight answer on whether the blue spring is truly 'standard power' or if it's slightly stronger than a stock buffer spring.

I want to try a Blue and Red spring with various buffers and see what happens to the recoil impulse. I'm pretty sure a Red spring and H3 would be too much but I'd like to see what a Red spring and an H or H2 does and a Blue spring with H3.

BufordTJustice

08-17-10, 15:07

I want to try a Blue and Red spring with various buffers and see what happens to the recoil impulse. I'm pretty sure a Red spring and H3 would be too much but I'd like to see what a Red spring and an H or H2 does and a Blue spring with H3.

That makes two of us. Let me know what you discover.

The Archangel

08-17-10, 22:55

Thanks for the write up and videos. So from what I've read, I take it that the H3 is the buffer that will give this weapon the lightest recoil? What were your impressions of the H, H2 & H3 with the BCM 14.5 Middy?

BufordTJustice

08-17-10, 23:32

Posted this link in the 'AR-15 Buffer Hi-Speed video' thread:

http://www.heavybuffers.com/ar15carbine.html

Found some super heavy buffers there. Anybody use them or know anybody else who does?

It seems the heaviest anybody has used have been the H3 so far (the 9mm buffer not having reciprocating weights and not being usable for 5.56 AR's due to bolt bounce).

shooter521

08-18-10, 08:14

(the 9mm buffer not having reciprocating weights and not being usable for 5.56 AR's due to bolt bounce).

:confused:

I am currently using 9mm buffers in my 16" M4 and 10.5" SBR (both 5.56) with no problem at all. I thought "bolt bounce" was only something encountered with select-fire guns?

BufordTJustice

08-18-10, 08:37

:confused:

I am currently using 9mm buffers in my 16" M4 and 10.5" SBR (both 5.56) with no problem at all. I thought "bolt bounce" was only something encountered with select-fire guns?

I would encourage you to read this thread (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?p=735901&posted=1#post735901) and scoot on over to http://vuurwapenblog.com to see the really neat (and informative) high speed video tests. The 9mm buffer displayed the highest amount of bolt bounce of any buffer tested (Carbine, H, H2, H3, 9mm, Rifle, Spike's ST-T2).

The H2 and H3's offered less perceived recoil and the lowest levels of bolt bounce in a carbine stock setup.

stifled

08-18-10, 10:10

I saw this rifle over in the AR-15 pictures thread and really like it. Good choices on parts and configuration, and it looks good to boot.

All that and a wife with trigger control to boot.

Cameron

08-18-10, 16:05

The H2 and H3's offered less perceived recoil and the lowest levels of bolt bounce in a carbine stock setup.

While these mid length gas carbines run very smoothly and seem to work well with the heavier buffers, always remember that the heavier buffers can lead to short stroking with ammo that may be under powered.

Cam

Cameron

08-18-10, 16:10

I saw this rifle over in the AR-15 pictures thread and really like it. Good choices on parts and configuration, and it looks good to boot.

All that and a wife with trigger control to boot.

I can't take the credit for this carbine, the professionals at Bravo Company spec'd it out and put it together for my wife. She literally asked BCM for a light, soft shooting weapon this is what they recommended.

Cameron

markm

08-18-10, 18:29

I take it that the H3 is the buffer that will give this weapon the lightest recoil? What were your impressions of the H, H2 & H3 with the BCM 14.5 Middy?

The H3 ran and locked the bolt back with Hornady Steel Cased practice ammo. But it was really close to the short stroke realm... I mean you could definitely tell by feel.

H buffer was functional, H2 felt close to the H buffer and functioned just as well so I'm sticking with the H2. H3 would likely run great on full powered ammo, but H2 runs good across the board.

DBake

10-15-11, 22:13

Is a 1x9 optic to much for a 14.5?

warlord260

10-16-11, 01:15

Nice rifle, and you just got to love that color. I take it you bought direct? Whenever i have contacted them, great service.

Cameron

10-16-11, 04:22

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6085/6077819680_fbd7c80e79_b.jpg

LRB45

10-16-11, 07:25

Do you like the muzzle brake or does it get annoying? Seems like some people think the muzzle blast is excessive.

Nice rifle!

rob_s

10-16-11, 08:35

Do you like the muzzle brake or does it get annoying? Seems like some people think the muzzle blast is excessive.

Nice rifle!

I have a similar upper, with that brake, and it is a bit concussive. I suspect that most people buying today would opt for the Battlecomp because of it's reputation for less side-blast.

markm

10-16-11, 09:39

Do you like the muzzle brake or does it get annoying? Seems like some people think the muzzle blast is excessive.

It's more annoying to the people you're shooting with. We had some broads out with us one time when I first got mine. And even they were complaining when I fired up that gun.

The PWS is cute at first, but I eventually swapped it out for an A2 flash hider.

MrSmitty

10-16-11, 09:45

I have the same setup with a permed PWS FSC556. There is almost no muzzle rise but it is exceptionally loud. I always wear ear pro, with it you can feel a nice concussion, without it my ears feel like they're going to bleed. I ripped off a few rounds last night and I regretted it.

hghlndr85

10-19-11, 19:22

i want i want

QuietShootr

11-01-11, 13:38

BufordTJustice

11-01-11, 22:50

That dude kinda pisses me off. I invented the Q buffer (hence the name), had him prototype it, and he has never given me a dime.

Ouch, brother. Well, based on your info, I may need to pull my personal endorsement of him.

Like I stated, my experiences have been very positive...but I'm not down with stealing other people's shit. I'm sorry to hear that happened.