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Thread: Are BCM Complete Pistol Lowers GTG?

  1. #1
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    Are BCM Complete Pistol Lowers GTG?

    I'm about to order a lower to assemble into an AR pistol. I've never owned a BCM but they seem generally well-regarded around here.

    I plan to put a Colt 11.5" upper on it. Could I run into any potential problems putting a Colt upper on a BCM lower? Generally I like to keep a gun all the same brand, but Colt doesn't put out a complete pistol lower as far as I can tell.

    Can I buy a BCM lower with confidence? This will be a truck and home defense weapon.

  2. #2
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    Different manufacturers won't matter and BCM lowers are typically awesome. However, some of them do exhibit issues with one specific type of magazine - the M3 PMAGs. If you don't use those mags, then no issues. If you do, the lower in question may or may not work with them. There is at least one or two other threads that discuss this. I prefer BCM over just about any other brand, but as I use M3 PMAGs almost exclusively, I will not buy anymore of their lowers unfortunately. I'm lucky that the one I have works.
    Sic semper tyrannis.

  3. #3
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    Different manufacturers won't matter and BCM lowers are typically awesome. However, some of them do exhibit issues with one specific type of magazine - the M3 PMAGs. If you don't use those mags, then no issues. If you do, the lower in question may or may not work with them. There is at least one or two other threads that discuss this. I prefer BCM over just about any other brand, but as I use M3 PMAGs almost exclusively, I will not buy anymore of their lowers unfortunately. I'm lucky that the one I have works.

    Oh. That is kind of a turn off. I do have gen3 Pmags for my 6920. I'm not sure I like the idea of owning a lower that might not reliably accept some of my magazines. I know mil spec isn't the be all end all, but I would prefer to have a lower that is strictly mil spec. There must be something different in the dimensions with the BCM then, if it won't accept certain types of magazines.

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    The issue isn't that all BCM lowers aren't compatible with M3 PMAGS, but at one point in the past, some of them were. It may have been a bad batch, or the spec changed and was then changed back. I've seen not real evidence to the reason.

    My BCM lower that was purchased a couple years ago works with all generations of PMAGS.

  5. #5
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    I have two BCM lowers and they both work with all generations of PMAGS.

  6. #6
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    I bought a pistol lower about 3 months ago and it does not work with the G3 PMAGS. Was a bit bummed about it, but I have plenty of standard GI and G2 PMAGS so wasn't a huge deal for me.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by SouthwestAviator View Post
    I'm about to order a lower to assemble into an AR pistol. I've never owned a BCM but they seem generally well-regarded around here.

    I plan to put a Colt 11.5" upper on it. Could I run into any potential problems putting a Colt upper on a BCM lower? Generally I like to keep a gun all the same brand, but Colt doesn't put out a complete pistol lower as far as I can tell.

    Can I buy a BCM lower with confidence? This will be a truck and home defense weapon.
    Why not go with a Colt carbine lower? You can then replace the butt with a SBA3, etc or replace the tube with a Shockwave Blade, Blade 2.0, or whichever manufacturer you prefer.

    At the federal level you'll be fine. The lower will be entered by your ffl person as "other". Does your state have goofy laws?

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    BCM is gtg

  10. #10
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    I have a bunch of BCM lowers and all of them work with Gen M3 Pmags. Sionics also has an excellent lower and it is available in a pistol configuration.
    "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

    - George Orwell

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