BCL 102 Gen 2 ODG finally here, some issues...

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bananarama

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So after 7 months (august 4th order to March 5th delivery) here she is, let's call her a GEN2.1
A few comments:
After market Bolt and Bolt Carrier :
Areo precision Bolt Carrier will not close
Aero precision Bolt on BCL Bolt Carrier will close
Charging Handle:
Raptor needs dremeling of course
Pistol Mags:
Rob arms Pistol mags will not load using charging handle, but load using bolt release (strange)
Magpul mag loads using charging handle and bolt release
Factory Dust cover fit:
Dust cover covers 99% of the ejection port
Factory stock:
The supplied stock is not great, I removed it immediately, it was defective. I changed it with a BCM.
Factory firing pin:
I put in the aero precision firing pin, the factory one didn't inspire me confidence due to the presence of the spring, I didn't like that.
YEs there are imperfections due to machining marks. Does it bother me? no. Do I even care? no.
She is definitely not as refined as my g2, nowhere near it.

Further mods:
  • Hanguard is heavy, I will change it with a midwest super slim
  • Trigger is not great, it will be changed to a wilson combat.
  • Grip, will be changed with a bcm.
  • Compensator will be change with a m472.
  • I'll have a gunsmith verify headspace since I'm a bit weary of the aero precision fit due to the aero precision carrier not fitting. Headspace has been verified as good with the aero bolt in the BCL bolt carrier with the BCL barrel



Here she is next to the G2:
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Dr. Hunter said:
What was wrong with the stock to make you say it was defective? The stock sucks but didn't find anything actually wrong with mine
Click to expand...

I could not get it to lock into any other position, so after 5 minutes of trying I removed it and put in something that makes sense
 
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On mine I sometimes need to pull back on the handle and wiggle it a little for the stock to lock in position.
 
bananarama said:
So after 7 months (august 4th order to March 5th delivery) here she is, let's call her a GEN2.1
A few comments:
After market Bolt and Bolt Carrier :
Areo precision Bolt Carrier will not close
Aero precision Bolt on BCL Bolt Carrier will close
Charging Handle:
Raptor needs dremeling of course
Pistol Mags:
Rob arms Pistol mags will not load using charging handle, but load using bolt release (strange)
Magpul mag loads using charging handle and bolt release
Factory Dust cover fit:
Dust cover covers 99% of the ejection port
Factory stock:
The supplied stock is not great, I removed it immediately, it was defective. I changed it with a BCM.
Factory firing pin:
I put in the aero precision firing pin, the factory one didn't inspire me confidence due to the presence of the spring, I didn't like that.
YEs there are imperfections due to machining marks. Does it bother me? no. Do I even care? no.
She is definitely not as refined as my g2, nowhere near it.

Further mods:
  • Hanguard is heavy, I will change it with a midwest super slim
  • Trigger is not great, it will be changed to a wilson combat.
  • Grip, will be changed with a bcm.
  • Compensator will be change with a m472.
  • I'll have a gunsmith verify headspace since I'm a bit weary of the aero precision fit due to the aero precision carrier not fitting.
Click to expand...
bananarama said:
Am I reading this right? That aside from the fit of the stock, all the issues are to do with aftermarket parts? How did it operate and fire in original, out-of-the-box, form?
Click to expand...
 
Very nice.

A couple of things.

1) It's amazing that the BCG/Bolts etc have any interchangeability with these rifles. Most AR308 users don't mix/match their BCG and bolts. Or mix/match barrel extension types and Bolt/BCG.

2) The firing pin spring. This is a feature on the Armalite AR10 rifles and a few others (I have heard Larue also uses this). it's designed to prevent slam fires. I'm not opposed to this. My AR10 rifles work very well and are very accurate. So I don't see any negatives with the firing pin spring and it does seem to be a positive for a military grade semi auto. Plus it lends more support that the BCG is based off an Armalite AR10 design rather than a DPMS based one. Glad people are checking the head spacing. Because the AR10 and DPMS Bolts are very slightly different in their dimensions. Right now it's believed that the BCL 102 uses a DPMS style bolt and DPMS barrel extension. Possible AR10 BCG. But there is nothing official.

3) I hate that L shaped stock. The original when mine shows up was going to get junked anyways, but that L shaped one that now comes with it now just bugs me. It looks like it would work well. A frame, and you can do the support arm underneath ie marksman style. But I really hate the look. Plus it has snag on everything and anything written all over it. The only benefit I can see is if you had to use your BCL 102 as a crutch to get out of the bush and you happen to be a Smurf. Or maybe for using a nearby tree to hang your rifle on like a natural rifle rack.

4) The MI handguard. I have one for my GII as well. Note that flared end of both the GII and the BCL 102 before the handguard. I love the look of the MI on the GII. I also think it will likely look very good on the BCL 102. I'm not a fan of the SLR ones that most seem to be going nuts over. I just don't like the look. Plus while I'm sure they are sturdy, they look flimsy. The Mi one is solid and light.

5) On the close up I can see the machine marks just before the handguard. Just how obvious are they? On the normal distance photos you can't see them. Distracting in real life or not an issue? We know what we're getting so it's not a deal breaker for me. But I am curious as I wait for mine to arrive.

That's a nice looking BCL 102 you have. Thanks for sharing the photos.
 
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The bolt is DPMS/SR-25. It has an interesting 45 degree bevel at the case head/bolt lugs working back to the face of the bolt. The extractor is beveled at the claw similar to an AR-15 extractor, which will probably reduce its life expectancy with .308 (SR-25 extractor is more robust at the claw). The three gas rings look and feel a little weak, but should be compatible with one piece that fit SR-25 and LMT bolt.

The underside of the bolt carrier is cut differently than the SR-25 and LMT. iirc it looks to be a copy of a standard AR-15 (but scaled up appropriately). This ‘belly’ profile is presumably the issue with mag fitment on a closed bolt.

I would have liked for them to use a firing pin retainer pin that was captured or at the very least, long enough for the width of the carrier. (They used a standard AR-15 retainer pin which is a little shy).

Buffer is DPMS sized carbine, weight being 5.2oz. Same dimensions essentially as my LMT carbine buffer, but is undersized slightly in diameter, making for a little sloppy fitment within the buffer tube - we’ll see if it makes any difference firing. Again, looks to be made in-house.
The buffer spring is undersized when compared to the LMT carbine buffer spring, and even an AR-15 rifle length spring.
Presumably they did some testing with the intermediate gas and 18.5” barrel? Time at the range will tell.

The safety appears manufactured in house and is a three piece design with the selectors screwed on to the safety keyway on either side. Made of stainless and Kinda clunky. It begs the question why they didn’t just use a cheaply sourced AR spec one from down south as its compatible with standard AR-15 safeties.

Mag release appears to be made in house. I replaced mine with a Norgon ambi, and while it barely fits within the added width of the lower, it is adequate for now. BCL mag button has some weird and very sharp serrations cut into it. Not sure why they would spend effort or money doing this, but a standard AR-15 mag button works.

Trigger acts as a single stage that stacks up and breaks kinda mushily at around 6.5 lbs of pull. It’s usable, and adequate I guess for the price of these rifles.

Standard A2 pistol grip with a weird L shaped collapsing stock. The A2 grip is understandable, but the Stock is pure crap, maybe belonging on an air soft gun. I would have rather they knocked off 2$ off the price and kept their stock. Who am I kidding, I would have accepted 63 cents.
 
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Beltfed,

I was wondering about the buffer tube. I asked a buddy of mine if he could measure the interior length. I was suspect that they used an AR10 length tube externally while using DPMS internally.

The actual Bolt carrier description sounds AR10 rather than DPMS. Although we know the bolt works with barrels having DPMS barrel extension. Wondering if this is another mix/match. Or BCL QC is so bad their DPMS specs end up being AR10 instead. :p i’m Only kind of kidding here.

I’m waiting to hear about the trigger tech upgrade. If the price is right I will go this route from the factory.

They really need to release a current detailed FAQ/spec sheet.

For you guys building I give you full credit! The AR308 world is a pain to build from. That being said at least parts are available now. It took me two years to source my Armalite AR10 SASS. Glad to see those of us who are AR10/AR308 fans are no longer a fringe niche group!
 
Some critical dimensions compared to the LMT MWS with a 16” barrel with same 11” gas system:
LMT = BCL
Gas system length: 11” = 11”
Barrel length: 16” = 18 1/2”
Bolt weight: 1lb 4 oz. = 1lb 3 1/2oz.
Buffer weight: 5.3oz. = 5.0oz.
Buffer OAL: 3 3/16” = 3 3/16”
Buffer Spring OAL (uncompressed): 15” = 11 3/4”
Buffer tube OAL (external): 7 7/8” = 8 1/4”
Buffer tube OAL (internal): 7 5/8” = 7 9/16”


At first look, I’m of the belief, based on my not-so-extensive use of my LMT, that the BCL is undersprung.
But - I don’t know the gas hole dimensions comparable between the two and I’m not sure if that extra 2” of barrel adds much to the equation.
I’m going to shoot it before doing anything, and may switch out the two springs to see how it reacts to the LMT’s buffer spring.
 
beltfed said:
Some critical dimensions compared to the LMT MWS with a 16” barrel with same 11” gas system:
LMT = BCL
Gas system length: 11” = 11”
Barrel length: 16” = 18 1/2”
Bolt weight: 1lb 4 oz. = 1lb 3 1/2oz.
Buffer weight: 5.3oz. = 5.0oz.
Buffer OAL: 3 3/16” = 3 3/16”
Buffer Spring OAL (uncompressed): 15” = 11 3/4”
Buffer tube OAL (external): 7 7/8” = 8 1/4”
Buffer tube OAL (internal): 7 5/8” = 7 9/16”


At first look, I’m of the belief, based on my not-so-extensive use of my LMT, that the BCL is undersprung.
But - I don’t know the gas hole dimensions comparable between the two and I’m not sure if that extra 2” of barrel adds much to the equation.
I’m going to shoot it before doing anything, and may switch out the two springs to see how it reacts to the LMT’s buffer spring.
Click to expand...

i was going to do tge same wirh my g2, switch out the buffer and spring and put it in the BCL when Im at the range with both.
 
bananarama said:
i was going to do tge same wirh my g2, switch out the buffer and spring and put it in the BCL when Im at the range with both.
Click to expand...

I would not recommend this but it is up to you. (If I am reading this right)

Can you post a picture of the two buffers (DPMS GII and BCL102) side by side. There will be a noticeable difference.

Note: the LMT MWS appears to utilize the Armalite carbine recoil system as does the BCL102
 
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