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cwlongshot Wrote:Glad to read you have a good barrel now. Hope it shoots for ya!
I was able to fire my 20" sts fluted HB BCA Grendel barrel yesterday for the first time. (Just about 20 rnds of 123 & 95G Hornadys.)
I was concerned as the very first thing I did with my barrel was drop a loaded bullet into the chamber and when inverted...it did not fall out. :eek: But it was oil, not a bullet into the rifling... I ran a patch down and to my surprise I had powder residue. I ran 4-5 patches with solvent then a brush then two dry patches before It was coming clean. SO at the very least tis one was test fired.
Yesterday, I loaded it up and test fired... one round and altho it ejected, it didn't pick up a new cartridge... I repeated this three times. I swapped lowers, with my 25/45 and it ran fine. I checked and somehow used the wrong main spring. 
I did not measure the chamber, but 123 A-max and 95g SST's seated to 2.257 do not tough anything. Because of the MS issue I never really shot for accuracy, But the 123's produced single ragged hole and the 95g would touch holes at 50 yards.
CW
Glad you got lucky CW!!
I just emailed BCA back to see if they would allow me to just send them back the barrel out of the upper and they exchange it for a stainless. Seems to be less issues with the stainless barrels and if there was a throat issue, it would be simple enough to clean up with a throater. I wasn't going to attempt the throater with the melonite/nitride coating.
If they won't do the barrel swap, then I will just get another barrel from another maker.
Can't hurt to ask.
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06-11-2018, 08:36 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-14-2018, 03:08 AM by Splatt.)
Where did you get the idea a loaded round, (not a bullet!) , would just drop out of a chamber ?
I tried that with the first 3 bolt guns, in the front row, of a safe.
None fell out....
Never mind.
Those 3, I neck size for. That's probably why they don't drop out.
I'll pick another, and try later.
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Mine all do. Even my other calibers. Factory loads in general should not touch the lands and should be free to insert/fall out at will.
When you get into short throats, or custom handloads into the lands, that may be different, but I don't have any like that.
'Course I do an initial cleaning upon receipt before I try anything, that's part of my receipt inspection.
"Down the floor, out the door, Go Brandon Go!!!!!"
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ALWAYS clean a new barrel before firing.
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06-17-2018, 11:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-19-2018, 11:42 AM by cwlongshot.)
Splatt Wrote:Contacted Classic Firearms about my short throated BCA barrel, I bought from them.
They in turned contacted BCA, and they contacted me.
I explained the short throat issue, and they provided a return label.
They seem to be low on barrels, and gave me a choice of 3. I picked a "like" barrel. By like, I mean, another 18", 1:8 twist, nitrided, straight fluted, hb.
My returned barrel was 5r, this is not.
I received an email this morning, informing me, that my replacement barrel shipped this morning !
Now to screw it all back together again, and be back in the saddle !
Thank you BCA. You have a customer for life.
Now, I'm just hoping it was checked, and all is good !!
Well splat/ported45... Looks like i also have a short throated barrel...
Nosler BT 120 seated to 2.258 will not chamber.
Neither of the 140g loads I had with me
Would either. 95g SST AMD 123 ELD-X would chamber. None really shot great.
This is second range trip. Best group was 1” for three @ 100 but fourth and fifth opened the gropu to past 2”. The 95 g would not group at all either with Benchmark or AR-comp.
Seated the NBT 120 bullet to 2.230 and they chambered.
Guess I need to get corespondance going with Primary Arms. (Its a Bear Creek 20” HB spiral flute stainless barrel)
CW
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cwlongshot Wrote:Well splat... Looks like i also have a short throated barrel...
Nosler BT 120 seated to 2.258 will not chamber.
Neither of the 140g loads I had with me
Would either. 95g SST AMD 123 ELD-X would chamber. None really shot great.
This is second range trip. Best group was 1” for three @ 100 but fourth and fifth opened the gropu to past 2”. The 95 g would not group at all either with Benchmark or AR-comp.
Seated the NBT 120 bullet to 2.230 and they chambered.
Guess I need to get corespondance going with Primary Arms. (Its a Bear Creek 20” HB spiral flute stainless barrel)
CW
CW,
In your shoes I would work out the OAL length when each bullet just touches lands for each type of bullet I load. Keep that on file and expect that they will all grow as the barrel wears. If it is shorter than the mag length that might not be a bad thing as you get to decide exactly the jump-to-lands to maximise accuracy (as long as it is not ridiculously shorter than the mag length).
I would also have a reasonable expectation of how accurate and finished a cheap barrel is going to be.
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I received a email back form Primary last night.
They have offered a replacement or credit towards another which ever I prefer.
I of coarse will swap and continue. I am awaiting reply.
CW
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Just had the same problem of a short throat on a 20" BCA from Classic. The referred it to BCA and got an immediate email from them. I gave the measurements I made (2.231 max to the lands) and they sent a return slip. They were out of stock of that one so gave me the options of two. The original was the 20" nitrided/straight flute 5R but got a replacement sent(due in tomorrow) which is the 20" 5R 416R SS Straight Flute HBAR. I will measure it as soon as it arrives. My current 18" BCA 416R SS 5R goes out to 2.290 to the lands. I have a few rounds loaded out to 2.270(ELDM) in my ASC 10 rnd which takes it to a .020 jump, but have not tested any yet. I have to measure all of my mags to see which one is the longest. Kudos to BCA for the quick service.
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So I couldnt resist a $60 BCA barrel from primary arms on Memorial Day so Im putting a Grendel upper together. I know you get what you pay for but I figured it would be worth a shot. Anyways I dont need this to shoot sub moa, just looking for a hog gun with more stopping power than 556. Ive built 4-5 ARs in the past and I know all about putting them together but I dont know a thing about checking if theyre in spec or not. What do I need to check on this barrel to make sure its not a total pos? Itll be a couple more weeks before I can shoot it.
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Take a factory load, drop it in the chamber, make sure that it is fully seated, muzzle up and see if the round falls out or needs assistance with a cleaning rod from the muzzle. I would take the bolt with the extractor removed and use it to make sure it goes into battery.
Short throats have been the issue with BCA. Factory ammo gets jammed into the lands. Not good at all. If it fails this basic test, either have a gunsmith ream it for another $90, or send it back, and buy an Odin or Faxon barrel.
If you reload then you hopefully know how to measure where the lands are, then you will know for sure.
Sticks
Catchy sig line here.
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Mine went back on there dime last Friday.
Hopping I get a better one. If not I'll request to BCA personally.
CW
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Need to change the title of the thread to "Bear Creek rises to the top...like a turd that just won't flush"
Gonna take an awful lot for them to regain the trust of a lot of members here.
There was a thread started by Frontier Gear about barrel MFGs. Need to flag BCA and BSF as NOT Good to Go.
Sticks
Catchy sig line here.
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Sticks Wrote:Need to change the title of the thread to "Bear Creek rises to the top...like a turd that just won't flush"
Gonna take an awful lot for them to regain the trust of a lot of members here.
There was a thread started by Frontier Gear about barrel MFGs. Need to flag BCA and BSF as NOT Good to Go.
I'll never purchase from them again. Not worth the aggravation.
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cwlongshot Wrote:Mine went back on there dime last Friday.
Hopping I get a better one. If not I'll request to BCA personally.
CW Barrel was replaced and back to me in 10 days!
I shot it yesterday using same ammo that did not "work" before. Not getting my hopes up just yet... but I shot many groups with bullets touching. VERY HAPPY with this PA 4.5x14x44 Scope!! But the gun feels and handles SO SOLIDLY I really like shooting it.
No pics as its first shooting and noting to "brag on" really. But shooting well for a brand new barrel!
CW
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cwlongshot Wrote:Glad to read you have a good barrel now. Hope it shoots for ya!
I was able to fire my 20" sts fluted HB BCA Grendel barrel yesterday for the first time. (Just about 20 rnds of 123 & 95G Hornadys.)
I was concerned as the very first thing I did with my barrel was drop a loaded bullet into the chamber and when inverted...it did not fall out. :eek: But it was oil, not a bullet into the rifling... I ran a patch down and to my surprise I had powder residue. I ran 4-5 patches with solvent then a brush then two dry patches before It was coming clean. SO at the very least tis one was test fired.
Yesterday, I loaded it up and test fired... one round and altho it ejected, it didn't pick up a new cartridge... I repeated this three times. I swapped lowers, with my 25/45 and it ran fine. I checked and somehow used the wrong main spring.
I did not measure the chamber, but 123 A-max and 95g SST's seated to 2.257 do not tough anything. Because of the MS issue I never really shot for accuracy, But the 123's produced single ragged hole and the 95g would touch holes at 50 yards.
CW
Just got barrel #4. They swapped me a stainless 5R for the Melonite conventional rifling with the short throats again. Both were 20" straight fluted. This one is 2.304" to rifling with the Nosler 120 BT and a factory Hornady Black drops all the way in and slides out on its own! Finally!!
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ported45 Wrote:Just got barrel #4.
You had me at #2... or should I say lost me...?
Nothing kills the incentive of men faster than a healthy sense of entitlement. Nothing kills entitlement faster than a healthy sense of achievement.
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Kswhitetails Wrote:You had me at #2... or should I say lost me...?
It was a journey of frustration!
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ported45 Wrote:Just got barrel #4. They swapped me a stainless 5R for the Melonite conventional rifling with the short throats again. Both were 20" straight fluted. This one is 2.304" to rifling with the Nosler 120 BT and a factory Hornady Black drops all the way in and slides out on its own! Finally!!
JB,
Please let us know how it shoots. Sometimes things appear good on the outside (disassembled)...
Thanks, Dinny
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Dinny Wrote:JB,
Please let us know how it shoots. Sometimes things appear good on the outside (disassembled)...
Thanks, Dinny
Loaded up some 129 Hornady SP, 129 Nosler ABLR, and 120 Nosler BT last night to give 'er a go when I get a chance. Also going to take along that box of Hornady Black.
I'm not gonna hold my breath that I get great groups, but we are starting out better than any of the previous three barrels so far!!
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Final update from me on BCA. The stainless barrel had an appropriate length neck in it, but that didn't help much.
It shot so bad that I thought my scope had given up on me, so I replaced it with a new Nikon. Still spraying rounds. 5.25" group with the Hornady Black. BCA says that they are giving me a full refund when they get the upper back in their hands.
I'M DONE!!!! Four tries is plenty for me. Spent in excess of $200 in bullets, brass, powder, gas, and factory ammo on this endeavor.
Congrats to all those who accidentally got a good barrel from BCA. Pretty sure that is not the norm.
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