Want opinions: 14.5 BCM vs 13.9 Criterion

[timewaster1700]

Looking to build/buy a high dependable AR I plan to put a lot of rounds down and run pretty hard. I currently own a Colt LE6920 I’ve had for years and has served me well. Looking for something wirh a more modern barrel profile and longer handguard for more modern style shooting stance.

I honestly think a 13.9” barrel with pinned and welded Dead Air flash hider would be the best length for me as it’s just past 16” and avoids the SBR restrictions but keeps most of the velocity of the cartridge and keeps a little weight off the end of the gun.

I’ve built (assembled) an AR before and feel confident in that however I have been listening to some YouTube videos with guys from Primary & Secondary including Mike from SOLGW and others that talk about how a bunch of guns out there aren’t gasses probably or are not built well and if you don’t know what you’re looking for then putting a bunch of random components together may not yield the best result. Reliability is my highest criteria for this build. So I’d like some opinions on which route to go.
For an upper:
1. Get criterion’s 13.9” CORE barrel which is a very similar profile to BCM’s medium weight enhanced profile. The criterion is chrome lined and is the perfect length and profile. I’ve spoke several times with criterion and they claim they did extensive testing with a variety of ammo to properly size the gas port. If I went this route I will pair it with a BCM stripped upper and BCM BCG and either a BCM MCMR handguard that I slightly trim the wings off the front and paint to clear a suppressor or another 13” rail like SLR, geissele, etc. the potential downside to this is if the build doesn’t work properly I assembled it so it could be very hard to determine which component(s) are at fault and I’m a little curious if the .223 wylde chamber will reliability chamber ammo when dirty compared to a standard 5.56 chamber. Criterion claims it does but I couldn’t find much info on the internet comparing its reliability to 5.56. Most people buying .223 wylde barrels are doing so for accuracy.
2. Buy BCM’s assembled 14.5 MCMR Enhanced Medium Weight Fluted and get a local shop to pin and weld a Dead Air Flash Hider. Downside of this is the extra 0.6” that is unnecessary to the 16” OAL which frankly doesn’t look as good in my eyes as having the handguard go right to the muzzle device. Upside is the BCM MCMR rail (13.4”) fits and is good to go and I really like this lightweight rail. Also if something goes wrong it’s backed by BCM.
3. Buy a 14.5” or 16” BCM upper and have it chopped to 13.9/14” and pinned and welded by Adco or similar shop. This kind of feels like #1 but I just have a BCM barrel with 5.56 chamber. Upside of this is the perfect length with all BCM components. Downside is potentially messing up with gassing of the system by shortening the barrel where BCM’s gas port was likely sized for that barrel specifically. I also am unsure if cutting a 14.5 down to 13.9/14 if there is enough material to cut off the old threads and add new threads. Does anyone know if you can do this? Seems the 14.5 would have the better gas hole size for 13.9 than 16 even though 16 gives the gunsmith more material to work with.

Finally I was planning to pair this upper with a lower I build. I already ordered an Aero M4E1 stripped receiver. I want a high quality dependable lower parts kit. I’d rather spend a little more for piece of mind than cheap out. I’m considering these:
-SOLGW
-Sionics
-ALG
-BCM

Pros of solgw, sionics, and ALG is when in stock they have kits without the FCG which would let me pair it with like a geissele SSA, etc.
should I be adding or subtracting from the above list?

Other questions:
-Would you trust a geissele SSA or SD-C in a duty gun or is a milspec trigger a better way to go?
-stocks are so hard because unless you handle them all it’s tough to know which one feels best. I own a magpul CTR and ACL-S. Thinking about either the BCM stock or B5 systems stock or maybe something similar. Anyone used multiple and have opinions on this?

[EHilderbrand]

Looking to build/buy a high dependable AR I plan to put a lot of rounds down and run pretty hard. I currently own a Colt LE6920 I’ve had for years and has served me well. Looking for something wirh a more modern barrel profile and longer handguard for more modern style shooting stance.

I honestly think a 13.9” barrel with pinned and welded Dead Air flash hider would be the best length for me as it’s just past 16” and avoids the SBR restrictions but keeps most of the velocity of the cartridge and keeps a little weight off the end of the gun.

I’ve built (assembled) an AR before and feel confident in that however I have been listening to some YouTube videos with guys from Primary & Secondary including Mike from SOLGW and others that talk about how a bunch of guns out there aren’t gasses probably or are not built well and if you don’t know what you’re looking for then putting a bunch of random components together may not yield the best result. Reliability is my highest criteria for this build. So I’d like some opinions on which route to go.
For an upper:
1. Get criterion’s 13.9” CORE barrel which is a very similar profile to BCM’s medium weight enhanced profile. The criterion is chrome lined and is the perfect length and profile. I’ve spoke several times with criterion and they claim they did extensive testing with a variety of ammo to properly size the gas port. If I went this route I will pair it with a BCM stripped upper and BCM BCG and either a BCM MCMR handguard that I slightly trim the wings off the front and paint to clear a suppressor or another 13” rail like SLR, geissele, etc. the potential downside to this is if the build doesn’t work properly I assembled it so it could be very hard to determine which component(s) are at fault and I’m a little curious if the .223 wylde chamber will reliability chamber ammo when dirty compared to a standard 5.56 chamber. Criterion claims it does but I couldn’t find much info on the internet comparing its reliability to 5.56. Most people buying .223 wylde barrels are doing so for accuracy.
2. Buy BCM’s assembled 14.5 MCMR Enhanced Medium Weight Fluted and get a local shop to pin and weld a Dead Air Flash Hider. Downside of this is the extra 0.6” that is unnecessary to the 16” OAL which frankly doesn’t look as good in my eyes as having the handguard go right to the muzzle device. Upside is the BCM MCMR rail (13.4”) fits and is good to go and I really like this lightweight rail. Also if something goes wrong it’s backed by BCM.
3. Buy a 14.5” or 16” BCM upper and have it chopped to 13.9/14” and pinned and welded by Adco or similar shop. This kind of feels like #1 but I just have a BCM barrel with 5.56 chamber. Upside of this is the perfect length with all BCM components. Downside is potentially messing up with gassing of the system by shortening the barrel where BCM’s gas port was likely sized for that barrel specifically. I also am unsure if cutting a 14.5 down to 13.9/14 if there is enough material to cut off the old threads and add new threads. Does anyone know if you can do this? Seems the 14.5 would have the better gas hole size for 13.9 than 16 even though 16 gives the gunsmith more material to work with.

Finally I was planning to pair this upper with a lower I build. I already ordered an Aero M4E1 stripped receiver. I want a high quality dependable lower parts kit. I’d rather spend a little more for piece of mind than cheap out. I’m considering these:
-SOLGW
-Sionics
-ALG
-BCM

Pros of solgw, sionics, and ALG is when in stock they have kits without the FCG which would let me pair it with like a geissele SSA, etc.
should I be adding or subtracting from the above list?

Other questions:
-Would you trust a geissele SSA or SD-C in a duty gun or is a milspec trigger a better way to go?
-stocks are so hard because unless you handle them all it’s tough to know which one feels best. I own a magpul CTR and ACL-S. Thinking about either the BCM stock or B5 systems stock or maybe something similar. Anyone used multiple and have opinions on this?

In regards to the BCM Enhanced Medium Weight - I have a little write up here on M4C. People discussed this barrel about two years ago. Just my thoughts and experiences. I still shoot it regularly. I've shot everything from Wolf to FGMM through it and have been very pleased with the accuracy of it. Obviously, it's not a precision barrel, but for my needs it is highly adequate. It balances well also, considering most of the weight is closer to the center of the rifle.

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...-Weight-Fluted

Current configuration:

[timewaster1700]

In regards to the BCM Enhanced Medium Weight - I have a little write up here on M4C. People discussed this barrel about two years ago. Just my thoughts and experiences. I still shoot it regularly. I've shot everything from Wolf to FGMM through it and have been very pleased with the accuracy of it. Obviously, it's not a precision barrel, but for my needs it is highly adequate. It balances well also, considering most of the weight is closer to the center of the rifle.

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...-Weight-Fluted

Current configuration:

Thanks for the response. What can and muzzle device are you running on that?

[EHilderbrand]

Thanks for the response. What can and muzzle device are you running on that?

SilencerCo ASR Flash Hider, suppressor is a Specwar 556K.

[Clint]

Our 14.0" OPTIMUM MPC would be a good match for your requirements, either as a barrel or complete upper.
It is setup for use with and without a suppressor.
https://blackrivertactical.com/WP/BR...rel-p114601787
https://blackrivertactical.com/WP/BR...oup-p139143321

[Mercs]

Be careful with buying new manufactured barrels now, a little birdy told me that due to to strain on inventory, inferior blanks are coming in from an unnamed foreign country now to fill orders. Look into it more yourself, but I’m being told to stick with only certain high end barrels for now


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[Disciple]

Be careful with buying new manufactured barrels now, a little birdy told me that due to to strain on inventory, inferior blanks are coming in from an unnamed foreign country now to fill orders.

not_this_shit_again[4].jpg

[scooter22]

Be careful with buying new manufactured barrels now, a little birdy told me that due to to strain on inventory, inferior blanks are coming in from an unnamed foreign country now to fill orders. Look into it more yourself, but I’m being told to stick with only certain high end barrels for now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You're going to need to provide more information to substantiate an esoteric post like that.

[Mercs]

You're going to need to provide more information to substantiate an esoteric post like that.

I don’t know if I will be doing that, but you could also start looking into yourself. Maybe start by asking someone like Criterion if their using 100% US steel right now?


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[JediGuy]

I don’t know if I will be doing that, but you could also start looking into yourself. Maybe start by asking someone like Criterion if their using 100% US steel right now?


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Not how that works. The person making the proposition generally is the one expected to make the case for it.