CZ Trail vs BCL MRX Bison
- Thread starter LeoSky
- Start date
The operating rod broke clean off at the notch where it grabs bolt. 2 minute fix with a replacement part but currently almost 6 months and still waiting for the part. The warranty gunsmith for Troy said this was the first time an issue like this has happened so it’s likely a manufacturing defect. I do have a hunch that the parts will come with the next Troy shipment if it ever comes.
I've got 2 Bisons 1 in 5.56 & 1 in 300 BLK. The 5.56 is a BCL Bison Recon, never had a single issue with it. Shoots 1 - 1.5moa consistently. My 300BLK is an earlier model and did have the firing pin light strike issue. Contacted them and had the replacement parts at my door in 3 days, no questions asked. Absaloutley amazing service from the guys at BCL. I would say give the Recon a look.
I have the bison in the 7.62x39
I was getting light primer hits with steel cased surplus ammo but bcl supplied a spacer for the firing pin spring in the box which gives it more hitting power for the surplus primers and it hasn’t missed a beat since I put that in
Rifle is accurate to 100 yards I haven’t shot it past that
It’s loud as hell though with the short barrel and brake so be aware of that
I was getting light primer hits with steel cased surplus ammo but bcl supplied a spacer for the firing pin spring in the box which gives it more hitting power for the surplus primers and it hasn’t missed a beat since I put that in
Rifle is accurate to 100 yards I haven’t shot it past that
It’s loud as hell though with the short barrel and brake so be aware of that
I have a CZ600 Alpha in 7.62x39…. Not really a “tactical” rifle but it shoots so well, I would chose CZ any day over a BCL product. Accuracy is 0.8” at 100 yards with my hand loads, 1.1” with PPU FMJ and I am getting 1.4” with Norinco red box. Beautiful trigger.
My BCL 556 is fine shoots great - no issues here, over 1000 rds now ...
To each his own - I think they are nice + good shooters ✔ But so is my BCL. Seperate specs, platforms, components and fitment. Both are wins for me and I shoot both.
CZ Trail for the win in the compact utility rifle category. I had the .223 rifle, but was disappointed by CZ's decision to nix their swap-barrel/caliber feature as I wanted both .223 and .300 Blackout using the same rifle/trigger/optic. In the end, I opted for the .300 Blackout version of the rifle and gave up on my switch-barrel dreams as it apparently takes a gunsmith to get "replacement" Barrels. I went with the .300 Blackout because I wanted a wilderness protection rifle capable of taking on predator threats within 200m. Accuracy with supersonic 150gr loads is decent (1.5 MOA) out to 300m, at which point the velocity and trajectory both begin to rapidly fall off. It is basically the equivalent of the Russian 7.62x39mm ammo or .30-30 Winchester, but reliably feeds from standard AR magazines. I use the hybrid Lancer AW 5/20-round Magazines wiith the steel-reinforced Feed Lips, which function fine in the CZ Trail despite it being advertised as synthetic Magazines only. Mission First 10-round "Pistol" Magazines work very well also.
Did some testing and ammo workups with the BCL Bison. This one has the 1-7" twist and the BCL folks suggested heavier bullets work the best. I had some 55gr, 69gr, and 77gr factory ammo to test with, and some 55gr Hornady to reload with. I then got some 69gr and 77gr Sierra Match King HPBT to reload with. Definitely it's liking the 77gr best so far. Test fired and chrono'd at 50y, and did a quick test at 100y.
initial 50y testing of PMC 55gr, Sig 77gr, 69gr Federal Gold Medal Match, and Hornady 55gr FMJ with H335 load workups
50y testing with 77gr & 69gr Sierra Match King HPBT and H335 Workups
A quick 100y test. Will do more of this and 200y testing now that I have my loads narrowed down. I'm using front & rear sand bags, but the variable is still probably me lol. I did turn the stock Triggertech trigger down to 3lbs.
Tried some lower speed 55gr 5744 loads to see if the lower speed would help the 55gr Hornady group better. It does help, but still not great at 50y
My chrono data
Overall thoughts on the Bison so far is it's a great rifle for bench shooting. Can be very accurate with the 77gr bullets. I have some 90gr bullets I'll do some load workups with, but that will take a single shot sled adapter as the reloads would be too long for a magazine.
initial 50y testing of PMC 55gr, Sig 77gr, 69gr Federal Gold Medal Match, and Hornady 55gr FMJ with H335 load workups
50y testing with 77gr & 69gr Sierra Match King HPBT and H335 Workups
A quick 100y test. Will do more of this and 200y testing now that I have my loads narrowed down. I'm using front & rear sand bags, but the variable is still probably me lol. I did turn the stock Triggertech trigger down to 3lbs.
Tried some lower speed 55gr 5744 loads to see if the lower speed would help the 55gr Hornady group better. It does help, but still not great at 50y
My chrono data
Overall thoughts on the Bison so far is it's a great rifle for bench shooting. Can be very accurate with the 77gr bullets. I have some 90gr bullets I'll do some load workups with, but that will take a single shot sled adapter as the reloads would be too long for a magazine.
I have a BCL MRX and a TRX both are easily under 1 moa rifles. Got my best group with a 308 TRX ever, one ragged hole. Just shot the MRX today an had several sub MOA groups. Had one issue with the TRX firing pin, but BCL sent me an upgraded part the next day. Target on the left is at 200 yards and the on the the right is 100, disregard the lower two groups as I was just adjusting zero.
coldboremiracle
Member
This is my first foray into rifle load development. The 45-70 I reload is just for range fun and our indoor range is only 17y anyhow lol. This Gordon's Reloading Tool looks great! I'll try using it to develop some lower speed 55gr loads to see if I can get those to stabilize better in the Bison's 1-7" twist barrel. Load development with the 69gr and 77 gr bullets is coming along great, but I do have a large flat of the 55gr hornady's I want to use up in either this Bison or the Ruger American with a 1-8" twist. I'm thinking if I can develop loads 2200-2600fps, maybe one of those would group better in these fast twist barrels.
