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Thread: 14.5 LW Carbine - DD or BCM - Best Quality

  1. #1
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    14.5 LW Carbine - DD or BCM - Best Quality

    Here's the meat of the question:

    I'm looking to buy a complete factory 14.5 P&W gun and can buy either a DDM4V7 SLW or a BCM BFH ELW for the exact same price brand new.

    The only real differences in the two are that the BCM has their Mod 1 comp, while the DD has a simple flash suppressor, and that the BCM is a set screw gas block while the DD is pinned.

    In terms of ruggedness, reliability, and quality is one objectively better than the other?


    Here's the fluff:

    I'm trimming back to just a Gen 5 Glock 19 and this new 14.5 gun as I just don't have tons of time to shoot or tinker anymore with one toddler and one on the way. I have no desire to change muzzle devices or even triggers at this point.

    Going to put my T2 and scout light on this carbine and be done.

    Hopefully shoot once a month if I'm lucky and otherwise just forget the gun exists other than when I need it like a hammer or channel locks. Battery change yearly and that's it.

  2. #2
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    14.5 LW Carbine - DD or BCM - Best Quality

    Ruggedness and reliability, objectively, the DD just for the fact that it’s gas block is pinned. That being said, I don’t recall ever hearing about a BCM gas block coming loose, and unless you’re shooting a lot of junkyard prone, I prefer hybrid muzzle devices. The BCM comp is my favorite (though I’ve only experimented with a few), so I’d absolutely pick that one.

    I think BCM’s barrel profile is a more gradual taper than DD’s, so maybe there is something to an argument about durability there? I don’t know, probably splitting hairs.

    ETA - I didn’t know DD did factory 14.5s with a p/w.

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    Last edited by Wake27; 10-29-19 at 07:47.
    Sic semper tyrannis.

  3. #3
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    I think the DD is a better gun and will have a smaller gas port and better accuracy out of their barrel. If your good with the furniture than I think I would go with the DD. If not, you need to weigh the cost of new furniture.

    I would also have a look at Sionics & SOLGW. If you don't mind going to 16" I think the FN 15 Tactical II is the gun to buy.

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    I would not worry about a BCM gas block coming loose. They use some kind of space age loctite compound similar to the stuff they use to keep Ruth Bader Ginsberg alive.

    I'm a big fan of BCM's ELW profile barrels. What I'm not a fan of is their Mod 1 comp over an A2 birdcage. It's more blasty and I could not tell the difference in recoil or muzzle rise. I'd opt for BCM's extended A2X if that's an option.

    To be honest, you could flip a coin and not make the wrong decision.

  5. #5
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    Funny OP because I’m super similar to your situation.

    In fact, I’m picking up a BCM 14.5 BFH ELW upper pinned with a mod 1 today from UPS.

    I also consolidated down a bit and carry a Glock 19 gen 5 and I’m putting a T2 on this BCM upper. It’s going on a BCM lower with an A5 buffer.

    I looked a lot in to different muzzle devices and the mod 1 seems legit because it’s more on the flash hider side of a compromise but reduces recoil by 25%, compared to say a battlecomp that reduces recoil more, but is also flashier and blastier.

    The DDs are nice and my dealer stocks them but have never seen a SLW in person. The dealers always stock v7s and v11s with govt profile barrels.

    Don’t think you can go wrong either way. If the gun was getting a scope and bipod, might say DD because the barrels are probably a little more accurate.
    Last edited by Walker_Texasranger; 10-29-19 at 09:44.

  6. #6
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    Also, I think the BCM barrel is a couple ounces lighter, and the weight is concentrated more towards the rear, where the DD is more of a straight profile and more weight out front.

    So on top of the couple ounces, the weight balance will feel different and the BCM will swing easier. Probably not a huge difference but it’s splitting hairs between 2 good companies anyway.

  7. #7
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    After spending some time shooting a friend's DD 14.5 SLW I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I were in the market for that style of AR. They are nice, solid, well build guns and his was softer shooting than I expected. No issues making hits @ 280 on an 66% IPSC with his Vortex UH-1.

    The DD rail probably has the edge in durability over the BCM, and is constructed in a way that you can swap it for another in their same line (so for instance go from key-mod to either m-lok or quad rail) with minimal effort, since they all share the same barrel nut and mounting hardware. All of the BCM aluminum rails I've messed with have required a heat gun for installation and removal.

    The pinned gasblock on the DD is also a nice touch, and that flash hider is definitely less blasty than a BCM comp, if that's important to you. You can also probably order the BCM with an A2X instead of a comp, but the price might not be the same as buying something off the shelf.

    Personally, I ended up with a Triarc 14.5 middy upper with a Surefire Warcomp, but would've probably just bought a DD if I'd been able to play with my buddy's rifle earlier.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tx_Aggie View Post
    After spending some time shooting a friend's DD 14.5 SLW I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I were in the market for that style of AR. They are nice, solid, well build guns and his was softer shooting than I expected. No issues making hits @ 280 on an 66% IPSC with his Vortex UH-1.

    The DD rail probably has the edge in durability over the BCM, and is constructed in a way that you can swap it for another in their same line (so for instance go from key-mod to either m-lok or quad rail) with minimal effort, since they all share the same barrel nut and mounting hardware. All of the BCM aluminum rails I've messed with have required a heat gun for installation and removal.

    The pinned gasblock on the DD is also a nice touch, and that flash hider is definitely less blasty than a BCM comp, if that's important to you. You can also probably order the BCM with an A2X instead of a comp, but the price might not be the same as buying something off the shelf.

    Personally, I ended up with a Triarc 14.5 middy upper with a Surefire Warcomp, but would've probably just bought a DD if I'd been able to play with my buddy's rifle earlier.
    How much time do you have on it? I'm definitely interested in hearing more about them.
    Sic semper tyrannis.

  9. #9
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    I wish I had that problem. I have each a DD and BCM, but not those. That said, qualitatively, as said earlier, flip a coin. If you can't decide, go with the lightest one.

  10. #10
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    OP, just picked up the 14.5 BCM and it seems really nice. I didn’t put it on the lower yet because I didn’t want someone calling the cops on me as I swing an AR around in a parking lot but feels really light, especially in the front. Balanced weight towards the receiver. Will probably put a lot of rounds through it this weekend.

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