Range Report – BCM 14.5” Mid Length
As you will read here, I have a major issue with this new upper. My goal with this post is not to bash BCM (I’m sure they will make this right) but rather to share my experience and perhaps get some insight as to what the problem may be. I intend to contact BCM as soon as I get a “sanity check” here.
The upper is a new 14.5” mid length with a PWS FSC556. It is using a complete new BCM bolt group (ordered separately, not with the upper), an Aimpoint M2L in a BOBRO mount and a Larue BUIS. The hand guards are Cav Arms.
The lower is a Bushmaster which I have owned and used for many years. With my old BM M4gery upper and their pinned-on “Izzy” brake, the BM rifle held under 2 MOA all day, and was capable of 1.25” groups at 100 yards from the bench with a Trijicon Mini ACOG using XM193 ammo. Recent changes to the lower include a Geissele Super Semi-Automatic Trigger, an ambidextrous safety and Grant’s Magpul Industries CTR Carbine Stock MIL-Spec Package.
For reference, here is a photo of the completed rifle in question;
My first shots fired at the range this morning were to get the irons sighted in at 50 yards. Target used was NRA international 50 foot. With the Aimpoint off, I fired my first 3 round group, which was reasonably centered but low and scattered. I made adjustments until the group was generally in the center of the target, but was still scattered.
Knowing that my eyes aren’t what they used to be, I turned on the Aimpoint and made my initial adjustments based on the iron sights. I fired four more 3-shot groups, which were generally centered on the target but still scattered.
OK, maybe I need to bear down and the poor grouping is my fault. I had been shooting off a bench, under cover with the front of the rifle supported on sandbags. I hunkered down, supported the rear of the rifle too and fired some 5-shot groups, using only the Aimpoint. Once again, I was unable to get a grouping.
At this point I wanted to eliminate the possibility that the Aimpoint was loose or the dot was not holding zero. I shot four more 5-shot groups, using both the irons and the Aimpoint. Since I am set up for absolute co-witness, I made a few small tweaks to my iron sights so that the dot sat perfectly on top of the front post. Using the small aperture and keeping an eye on the dot in relation to the irons, I shot more groups. The dot never moved in relation to the irons – the sight picture remained rock solid and the dot did not shift off the top of the front post. This IMO eliminated the possibilty of loose sights.
Luckily, the guy I was with is a NRA high power shooter (goes to Camp Perry every year). He had his 20” NM AR with him and some 77 grain handloads that hold sub-MOA from his rifle. I tried a 5-shot string of those too, but the results were the nearly same and remained completely unacceptable – even for a “service grade” rifle.
Below are the best 50 yard targets of the session using my best bench rest skills and a fully supported rifle. Bottom line, this upper cannot hold 12 MOA with quality ball ammo (XM193) or 10 MOA with handloads using match bullets.
I will be contacting BCM and ask for a replacement – unless someone here can suggest something I’m missing. What could possibly be the cause for this upper to shoot so poorly?
BTW, the rifle functioned flawlessly, and just as smooth as been reported by other users. The SSA trigger is awesome, breaks cleanly. The rifle functioned perfectly and is a joy to shoot...other than the unusable accuracy.
Title edited for clarity.--gotm4
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