Advice: BCL102 vs XCR-M

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Hey guys, looking to buy one or the other. I’m looking for some advice, and some tangible experiences on both platforms. Looking for reliability out of the box and relatively little tinkering around and extra $ spent making it cycle a round or work as it should.

Not really interested in debates on:
-pre order wait times (meaning I don’t care how long it takes to get my hands on a BCL and is not a deterrent) or
-price (money spent isn’t a deterrent—mods etc—just extra money out of the box to get it to function reliably <—that is something I don’t want) or
-**weight** or
-***Accuracy: 1/4 moa at 500 yards (haha for the serious types, I’m being sarcastic here, but I’d go with something else, more upper shelf bolt action if I wanted precision accuracy). Reasonable expectations assumed. Unless something is exceptionally noteworthy.

Important to me:
Reliability (first and foremost)//serviceability//warranty support//will it shoot a spam can of NATO and cycle it reliably?//does it shoot without having to put another 1000 into it (I’m shifting my eye at the BCL here—rightfully so? well I don’t know, can only go off what I read here). Discussion on ergo’s is always good: a compare and contrast between the two—ok fine, but not a deal breaker at all.

So looking at you guys for some sound advice in spending some money.

I’m always, always, exceptionally terrified of writing a post here on this site. Getting raked over the coals for misspelling one word, or saying something “stupid” or asking a silly question isn’t exactly what I had in mind for typing this out. Just some *helpful* *constructive* advice with something tanglibe to back it specific to the topic.

Thanks in advance guys!
Mitch
 
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I got a bcl102 gen 2 no mods and it worked through about 5 Xcr pistol mags and 5 Pmag of chinese spam can ammo on paper at about 47.83 yards all standing shots with a vortex red dot and 3x magnifier. One fail to eject about half way through. I’m confident enough for now. Most of the shells were landing way behind me. That’s all I can input
 
I have the M. I have it set up as a DMR style rifle. Accurate enough for what it is. Don’t shoot it a lot as I prefer AR style rifles. And .308 is pricey. Gun has been reliable. Needs to be lubed for smooth cycling. Heavy though!

I love the AR compatibility of the 102 but the NEA name has me staying away. My buddy has the BCL. Is an amazing rifle but the money and mods he put into it to make it perfect might make it cost prohibitive to a lot of people.
 
Xcrm = great reliability and accurate enough, more expensive.
Bcl102 = ok reliability and good to great accuracy, less expensive.

My bcl and nea rifles have been great. Nea/bcl is hit and miss it appears and it maybe possible that i just have been lucky.
 
If you don't wanna wait start emailing dealers who carry the BCL to see if they have one. That's what I did and within a week soley outdoors had one for me.
 
I’d recommend going to CSC and handling both. Pick up nearly any other 20” barrelled AR-10 (with the possible exception of the DPMS G2) to replicate the feel of the BCL-102.
Try them out on the range if they have rental guns available.
 
Have an xcr-l, and a 102. Both have been great for me.

XCR, though an L model has been very good to me. Has around 2000, the first 1000 were federal bulk, through it. Can remember two failures both were stovepipes, put blame on lowest gas setting and my light reloads. Last few times out has fired off a few hundred and flawless. Can hit metal plates at 200 yards with my 4x scope basically every shot so accurate enough for me.

BCL has worked well. Haven't changed much, trigger being largest mechanical change. Has fired 240 round of hinterberger surplus and a box or two of cheaper 308. Has only had one failure when a mag wasn't fully seated. The issues was with the trigger guard causing mags to be tight and feel seated and prevented from dropping free. Few minutes with a file, mags go in nicely and freely drop. Call this a QC issue and can sometimes be a problem when dealing with nea/bcl. Accuracy wise, can hit the 250 yard plate with my 6x scope basically every time. I'm happy enough with the accuracy with the hinterberger surplus. My biggest complaint so far with the 102, weight, this thing is a tank. Could definitely use a diet if going to be used anywhere outside of bench shooting, carrying it around very long will get old fast.
 
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What xdmer said - I own an XCR-M. I'm very happy with it, but it took some time to get accurate...

The older ones had accuracy issues related to the gas system being a bit loosey-goosey. But the newer ones are much better.

I owned an older one, and it shot about 4 to 6 MOA with cheap ammo at first. Wolverine Supplies retrofitted the new gas system on to it, and it tightened up to 2 to 3 MOA with cheap ammo, even better 1.5 to 2 MOA with match grade factory ammo. I have yet to work up the right handload for it, but I expect I can get below 1 MOA.

The reason I mention it is if you're considering a used one, make sure to ascertain whether it's got the new or old gas system. Also the newer generation folding buttstock is more rigid. If you buy from Wolverine, all their new models should have the new gas system and new folding buttstock, but if you buy from other retailers, they may still have old models up for sale.

Also, get the Keymod upper. The barrel (heavy vs light profile, 18.5 vs 20 inches) is your preference, but the keymod upper is WAY lighter than the quad rail upper. (It's just a tragedy they don't make an MLOK upper yet)
 
One is an AR10 and easily to upgrade and takes 99% of AR Parts

One used to be cool when they was no NR AR10's

Stock BLC 102's are junk , Buy a stripped receiver set and build your own. You can get them to 8Lbs with all the proper parts :)
 
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I find the XCR-M is more reliable and the ergos are better. In stock form, it's only slightly less accurate than the BCL. I would get a light barrel and keymod upper the balance is so much better. I did have a heavy barrel and quad rail and that was awful in comparison.

The BCL you can customize and has much more potential than the XCR-M. If you put the extra money you'd pay for the XCR-M into the BCL it would be a much better gun. I have had no reliability issues with my BCL.
 
bcl...way more options. build it from a receiver set. I have a Gen 1 complete and a gen 2 receiver set with 3 uppers in total, no issues with gen 1 in stock form but swapped the bbl and bcg to a faxon/Brownells. I will use the bcl bcg in my gen 2 receiver set. Non restricted lego
 
I while back I owned an XCR-L and 3 AR15s. The clear winner was a Colt AR15 which was simply a better rifle in so many ways.

This year, I was looking for a semi 308 and considered XCR-M and BCL-102.
I went for the BCL-102 a month or so ago and except for the trigger which is awful MIL-spec, and inexpensive stock, I absolutely love the rifle.
Now equipped with Giessele trigger, Magpul stock and Ergotech grip, it's simply awesome and 100% reliable with 110gr, 155gr and 180gr ammo.
The accuracy seem to be 1.5 MOA with 155gr ammo but might be better with 168-175gr match ammo.

Final point, the lousy trigger got me started in AR amateur gunsmithing and it's a much fun (but much more expensive) as playing with Legos ;)
(I consider this a huge plus of the AR15 and AR10 platform)
 
AlexF said:
I while back I owned an XCR-L and 3 AR15s. The clear winner was a Colt AR15 which was simply a better rifle in so many ways.

This year, I was looking for a semi 308 and considered XCR-M and BCL-102.
I went for the BCL-102 a month or so ago and except for the trigger which is awful MIL-spec, and inexpensive stock, I absolutely love the rifle.
Now equipped with Giessele trigger, Magpul stock and Ergotech grip, it's simply awesome and 100% reliable with 110gr, 155gr and 180gr ammo.
The accuracy seem to be 1.5 MOA with 155gr ammo but might be better with 168-175gr match ammo.

Final point, the lousy trigger got me started in AR amateur gunsmithing and it's a much fun (but much more expensive) as playing with Legos ;)
(I consider this a huge plus of the AR15 and AR10 platform)
Click to expand...

Hmm good to know. My biggest thing is reliability out of the box (besides some reasonable upgrades). Other people make some good points and a lot of food for thought. Maybe the BCL isn’t as much of a lemon as I read on forums.
 
I think in the percentage of people that have had problems out of the box it's probably not as high that some people would want you to believe
 
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