02-12-2020, 04:35 PM
I still occasionally buy BCA barrels and test them.
For reference, every single build I do has the following done:
1. Lap/square the upper receiver
2. Use stainless steel shim stock to ensure a very tight fit between upper receiver and barrel extension
3. Upper receiver barrel nut threads greased with Aeroshell 33
4. Threads seasoned by torquing barrel nut on/off 3x before final torque value of 30-80 lbs/ft
5. Ensure perfectly straight and aligned gas tube with no interference.
6. Crush washer pre-crushed to allow muzzle device to be torqued on 1/16th of a turn past hand tight.
7. Scope properly installed and tightened with blue loctite several days before the range trip.
8. Lower receiver has an accuwedge for a super tight fit between upper and lower, and a 4 lb, polished adjusted trigger.
9. All shots conducted from a concrete shooting bench using sandbags and a rear squeeze bag
I've purchased a BUNCH of BCA barrels, and most do pretty well for the money. A few shoot lights out, but most are pretty....rack grade.
I bought a Parkerized 16" m4 profile Grendel barrel. It was turning in groups of about 3 MOA with ELD Match, 7-8 MOA with 123 SST, and about 12-13 MOA with Wolf Steel cased.
It was so bad that I thought there was no way it was the barrel. I changed out scope and scope mount. Same results.
I went home and tore the entire upper receiver down and rebuilt it, making sure everything was perfect. Same results.
I sent the barrel back to BCA and they replaced it with the same model.
This one shot SLIGHTLY better, only slightly. 123 ELD shot similarly, and Wolf Steel 100's shot into about 9-10 MOA.
I sent the barrel back and got an 18" heavy profile fluted 1:8 5r rifle barrel.
This barrel shoots acceptably. It still hates 123 SSTs, but it shoots 123 ELD-M into about 1 MOA, and Wolf Steel 100's into about 3 MOA. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. Further, as it breaks in, it's really tightening up groups.
The thing with BCA you have to understand, is you ARE the QC when you buy their products.
they're generally fine, and most barrels will shoot 1.5 MOA with good ammo, but there are ridiculously bad barrels that make their way out the door too, and it happens more often than most places.
I've made something of a hobby out of shooting their cheap offerings to find something I like, but YMMV.
For reference, every single build I do has the following done:
1. Lap/square the upper receiver
2. Use stainless steel shim stock to ensure a very tight fit between upper receiver and barrel extension
3. Upper receiver barrel nut threads greased with Aeroshell 33
4. Threads seasoned by torquing barrel nut on/off 3x before final torque value of 30-80 lbs/ft
5. Ensure perfectly straight and aligned gas tube with no interference.
6. Crush washer pre-crushed to allow muzzle device to be torqued on 1/16th of a turn past hand tight.
7. Scope properly installed and tightened with blue loctite several days before the range trip.
8. Lower receiver has an accuwedge for a super tight fit between upper and lower, and a 4 lb, polished adjusted trigger.
9. All shots conducted from a concrete shooting bench using sandbags and a rear squeeze bag
I've purchased a BUNCH of BCA barrels, and most do pretty well for the money. A few shoot lights out, but most are pretty....rack grade.
I bought a Parkerized 16" m4 profile Grendel barrel. It was turning in groups of about 3 MOA with ELD Match, 7-8 MOA with 123 SST, and about 12-13 MOA with Wolf Steel cased.
It was so bad that I thought there was no way it was the barrel. I changed out scope and scope mount. Same results.
I went home and tore the entire upper receiver down and rebuilt it, making sure everything was perfect. Same results.
I sent the barrel back to BCA and they replaced it with the same model.
This one shot SLIGHTLY better, only slightly. 123 ELD shot similarly, and Wolf Steel 100's shot into about 9-10 MOA.
I sent the barrel back and got an 18" heavy profile fluted 1:8 5r rifle barrel.
This barrel shoots acceptably. It still hates 123 SSTs, but it shoots 123 ELD-M into about 1 MOA, and Wolf Steel 100's into about 3 MOA. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. Further, as it breaks in, it's really tightening up groups.
The thing with BCA you have to understand, is you ARE the QC when you buy their products.
they're generally fine, and most barrels will shoot 1.5 MOA with good ammo, but there are ridiculously bad barrels that make their way out the door too, and it happens more often than most places.
I've made something of a hobby out of shooting their cheap offerings to find something I like, but YMMV.