Hello y'all
First post and first Grendel rifle. I bought a BCA AR-15 Complete Upper Assembly, 18" 416R Stainless Steel Heavy Barrel, 6.5 Grendel, Mid-Length Gas System, 1:8 Twist w/ 15" MLOK Split Rail and fired three rounds of 100gr Wolf through it over Christmas. Afterward, while I was cleaning my rifle, I saw that the muzzle device was chipped or peeled symmetrically at the muzzle end of all five cuts. [ATTACH=CONFIG]15218[/ATTACH]I know this isn't supposed to happen, but I am wondering what exactly caused it. Has this happened to any of you?
01-02-2020, 03:45 PM (This post was last modified: 01-02-2020, 03:49 PM by Popeye212.)
What A5 said I took all the crush washers off mine and replaced with Accuwashers. Next replace the barrel with a group buy or another barrel from a quality manufacturer. I run Gamma VG65's (muzzle brakes) on mine.
01-02-2020, 04:23 PM (This post was last modified: 01-02-2020, 04:27 PM by lazyengineer.)
Wow.
Just... wow.
If ever there was a glaring demonstration on why BCA is viewed as a sloppy provider - this is it. I actually was thinking about buying some stuff from them. Uh.... maybe not so much now.
Just take it off, throw it in the trash, and start over. I personally LOVE the GAMMA .300 BO brake on the Grendel. Works amazingly well, yet is no bigger than an A2 flash-hider in dimension (And are much better made than BCA apparently!). Don't pay the $70 retail, you should be able to get it for about $40 if you shop around hard enough.
As to alternative brands for Grendel gear - I like PSA. My 20" complete upper cost me $299 delivered to the door, and doesn't jam. I won't say accuracy is great, but it's about on par for most non-premium Grendels (and better than many). That, and they do stand behind their gear.
El cheapo BCA flash hider.Chuck it.Does not do anything anyway.
If you want a nice muzzle break.Gamma VG65.$59 on Brownell.Free Ship.
As far as the BCA barrel,how does it shoot? They are budget priced mass produced barrels ,so it is hit or miss.Some guys claim their BCA barrels shoot sub moa consistently.I did not have that luck.I could not get consistency out of my BCA barrels.So,I replaced one with a Criterion.The other with a Bartlein.so it depends on what you want to spend.As far as PSA.Their barrels are a little better,but still not great.
I would still shoot the BCA barrel,just to see how accurate it is.After all,you own it.
I have only shot three rounds out of the barrel. (Desk pops over Christmas) I saw this and decided to wait until I could figure out if it was the ammo or BCA. I am going to some family land out in Alabama next week so I will let you know.
Might check the diameter of the muzzle brake almost looks like it was too small for the bullet and striking it? Course it may be shot out enough for the bullet to pass by now.
The pic just shows poor CAD and poor workmanship / quality. No evidence of bullet impact, just breakout where the metal was too thin. If the brake is concentric with the bore, run with it. For mounting muzzle things, I have started using jam nuts - clock the muzzle thing where you want it and tighten the jam nut against it and go play.
Get bad stuff out of your picture and off of your rifle. period.
Double dog ditto's on the VG65 gamma's.
Get a decent barrel, like a group buy, faxon, ballistic advantage, or step up a bit to criterion etc.
Ex-communicate all crush washers and use only jam nuts or accuwashers so the toruqe is evenly applied and not too high on the muzzle tip.
Final note, I personally would want a rifle length gas system on my 18"-ers, or at a minimum, the intermediate.
"Down the floor, out the door, Go Brandon Go!!!!!"
has 2 nice 18" BA barrels, good site to deal with.
You can get a good upper assembly from using either Aero upper Rcvr or BCM's, then use a matrix HG from joebob's.
Add gas tube and GB and you're off to the races.
Aero even has some complete uppers but I build my own.
"Down the floor, out the door, Go Brandon Go!!!!!"
treeclmr Wrote:Ok thanks for the feedback, I have a VG on the way and I am shopping around for a new barrel/upper. Any good deals going on rn for 18in?
has 2 nice 18" BA barrels, good site to deal with.
You can get a good upper assembly from using either Aero upper Rcvr or BCM's, then use a matrix HG from joebob's.
Add gas tube and GB and you're off to the races.
Aero even has some complete uppers but I build my own.
I’ve used BCA uppers minus the barrel for my own builds,and used many BCA parts in builds for others.The upper receivers and handguards are as good as any.Never had a problem w/BCA gas blocks or tubes either.Even the BCG works well.Chances are,you’ll probably need a different size gas block ,depending on nbarrel contour.
Two of my BCA uppers are 6.5 Grendel.I installed a custom 24 inch Bartlein heavy barrel in one and a 22inch pre fit Criterion HBar in the other.Both are tack drivers.The Bartlein is more accurate at longer distances.
I think any barrel from a reputable manufacturer is better than a BCA.I’d get the best barrel I can afford.In the $250-$300 rage,I have done well w/Criterion pre fits.I am thinking the barrels you recommended would be comparable.
I found that when I spring $550 for a Bartlein,I make it up in ammo.Because Bartleins and other high quality barrels require very little break in and are easier to hand load for.My Bartleins and Krieger shoot just about anything well.
Making a muzzle device is a lot more difficult than one might think.
The steel has to be of a strength and heat treat that will take the repeated explosive effects of hot gas blasting out within it once the projectile clears the barrel's muzzle, and that gas is pressurized enough to blow apart aluminum handguards.
There was another company a few years ago that said, "We can build AR15s too. It shouldn't be that hard!"
They sent rifle samples to a guy who is brutally honest in his reviews, and their imitation A2 muzzle devices blew apart repeatedly.
They were made from steel alloy, but either the wrong kind or not heat-treated properly.
It isn't a simple matter of of throwing stock in a CNC with a cool design and pressing GO.
There is actually some engineering and applied physics involved that need to be done correctly, otherwise the part will fail quickly under muzzle exit pressure and expanding gas effects.
The market is flooded with companies who are competent at making basic parts like muzzle devices.
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
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6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
![[Image: VG6-GAMMA-300BLK_1__46570.1504122926.JPG...mbypass=on]](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-g64i9l/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/1097/15485/VG6-GAMMA-300BLK_1__46570.1504122926.JPG?c=2&imbypass=on)
