With the increased interest in B&T rifles since the AR ban, I thought I would write a short review on my experience with my APC 223. This is not a basic overview as there are plenty reviews on YouTube and the internet. This review talks more about the nuances and quirks of the rifle. I have had a great time shooting this firearm, but I also have some also run into some problems which I will discuss in more detail later in this article.
I acquired my APC 223 in August 2020. She was a mint Gen 2 version rifle with MLOK slots and a 10.4 inch barrel. So far, this rifle has seen approximately 2000 rounds of various 223 ammo.
A list of specifications can be found here
Current accessories on my rifle include:
- Vortex UH-1 Gen 2
- Vortex Micro 3x Magnifier
- Surefire M300V
- Surefire dual pressure pad
- Steiner OTAL IR laser
- BCM KAG 1913 foregrip
- Dan Haga APC 223 adapter with an ACR stock
The Good
1. The APC 223 is a beautiful rifle with great ambidextrous controls. The bolt stop/ release is my favourite control on this rifle. Pressing up locks the bolt back and pressing down released the bolt. A simple and effective design that allows for extremely quick reload.
2. The Surefire-like muzzle brake keeps the rifle shooting flat. There is a lot of flash and concussion, but it can be swapped out.
*Added*
A Surefire Warden can also be attached to the muzzle. The Warden can rotate as there is no notch to keep it in place, but does not impede function (use at own risk).
3. Charging/ racking the gun is effortless. It has an extremely smooth action. Everyone uses the “ball bearing” analogy and it is true. To give you some context, my wife can charge an AR with some effort, but cannot rack a X95 no matter how hard she tries. With an APC 223, she has no problem.
4. The integrated hydraulic buffer in the stock makes for a light and manageable recoil impulse.
5. It has the best out of the box trigger. About a 3mm take up, crisp brake with no mush and a very short and audible reset.
6. The grip is ergonomic and comfortable. It is somewhat on the thinner side, but I am able to get a solid hold and I quite like it. There is also a small compartment to store batteries or tools. The grip is not interchangeable; not a deal breaker as it has been well designed.
7. The tolerances are machined to perfection. Absolutely no creep or play in any parts of the rifle.
8. The abundance of accessories that came with my rifle - hard case, 2 magazines, vertical foregrip, backup sights, sling and 2 MLOK 1913 rail slots. Items may have changed so refer to your dealer’s page.
The Not So Good
1. The gas system can easily get fouled in carbon which makes it next to impossible to remove without a hammer. This part needs to be regularly cleaned.
*Added*
Rotate the gas system a few times after each range session to remove built up carbon.
2. With the SBR version, rail space is at a premium. No issues with only a light and a switch. However, once you add an IR device placement can become tricky.
3. The reciprocating charging handle can cause malfunctions if you are not careful about hand placement; however, it is reversible. Optics also have to be specifically placed as setting it too far forward can impede the ability to charge the rifle. LPVOs provide more of a challenge and the optic may have to be refitted on the mount.
4. The folding stock offers no padding to aid in recoil mitigation. It also comes loose after repeated use, but can be retightened with a hex key. I have since replaced the stock with a Dan Haga adapter and ACR stock. With this upgrade, there is little to no recoil and makes it extremely flat shooting.
5. Extremely stiff selector switch. It does not impede function and the click is audible, but I prefer a smooth selector switch like on AR. The stiffness has not changed even with hours of play.
*Added*
You can remove one of the springs and pins in the selector switch to make it easier and smoother to actuate.
The Bad - Updated
All fixed - rifle performs flawlessly.
Read below for more detail.
Original Problem
I have encountered a few failures including a stove pipe and a double feed. The primary problem are light primer strikes. Every since owning this rifle, I have been plagued with light primer strikes. It can occur anywhere from 1-4 times per 10 rounds. I should preface that statement by saying that it sometimes runs a mag without any problems, but there is a higher likelihood that you will run into a problem. For range shooting, it’s ok, but costly with the price of ammo increasing. At least I get to practice troubleshooting malfunctions and pistol transitions.
Speaking with fellow enthusiasts, apparently earlier production models of the APC 223 had spring issues causing light primer strikes, but that is mostly speculation. Here in Canada, I know of three people (including myself) that have encountered this problem - relatively small number. I have been in contact with a Canadian distributor of B&T products and they have advised that B&T will be shipping out parts in their next shipment to fix the problem.
Update September 2021
The Canadian distributor of B&T rifles asked if I could send it in for inspection and repairs.
After 13 days, I received an email stating that they have installed a few new parts, including:
- Hammer spring
- Firing pin and firing pin spring
- Polished the shoulder of the firing pin
Testing
Fired approx 80-100 rounds with a mixture of 223 American Eagle and 556 Federal bulk.
Results
1 FTE when zeroing my optic and may have been due to putting pressure on the magazine.
No other failures or problems after the sighting in process.
No failure with 220 rds in January 2022.
Read in testing section below.
Summary
The APC 223 has been a great rifle to own and shoot even with the light primer strike issue. This is definitely the most flat shooting and easy to control rifle I have shot, especially with an ACR stock. I can get rounds on my target faster than with my AR and mag changes are smooth. The number of problematic rifles seems to be minimal as I have not read or encountered many others who have reported issues. Support for this rifle is great. B&T and the Canadian distributor will do everything in their power to resolve your issue(s). I hope this article gives you a glimpse as to what it is like to own and shoot an APC 223. If you have any questions please post below and I will do my best to answer them.
—————
Customer Service - Inconsistent
Contact the Canadian distributor or call B&T’s customer service by phone for best results
I will be detailing my experience, as well as, my buddy’s experience with B&T’s customer service.
My overall dealings with B&T’s service departments have been less than stellar. I emailed B&T and B&T USA several times regarding my light primer strike problem to figure out if there was a solution, but never got a reply from either party. After a few weeks of communication silence, I decided to emailed their Canadian distributor (Wolverine Supplies) about the issue. After giving them my serial number they advised that B&T will be sending parts. Wolverine was great with contacting B&T and ordering the replacement items, and the whole process took 2 months before I received the parts.
The parts B&T included were a new firing pin, heavier firing pin spring and firing pin retaining pin. These new parts have a slightly darker anodized finish to them, and installing the parts were easy enough; though it does take a little finesse.
My buddy’s experience was very different. He sent an email to B&T with a general question about his bolt. After not receiving a reply, he decided to call them and was forwarded to the service department where they quickly answered his question. They also told him that they saw his email, but had yet to respond to it. The following day, he also received a reply to his original email.
Note: B&T’s office opens at 2300 hrs PST.
Overall, I gave B&T a mediocre score on their customer service due to their inconsistency and lack of communication. This is only a sample size of 2. If you have had a different experience please post below.
Update
My friend had his ejector brake on him in August 2021. He contacted B&T by phone and they sent him a new ejector, spring and pin. Parts arrived in two weeks.
—————
Testing
Replacement Firing Pin Parts
Ammo: Federal 55gr 223 ammo
Total: 260 rds
Results: 6 Light Primer Strikes/ 1 Failure to Feed
Month: February 2021
Installation of the replacement parts were easy, though I did have a little trouble removing the cam pin from the bolt. After the new parts were in, I also took the opportunity to fully clean the rifle as to minimize confounding variables.
During my range day, I fired 260 rds of bulk Federal 55gr 223 ammo. I experienced 6 light primer strikes and 1 failure to feed. Significantly less problems than before, however, still 7 failures too many. The failure to feed was also a new problem I had never experienced with this rifle.
Further testing will done with other types of ammo. Hopefully, these problems are due to ammo and not the rifle.
Ammo:
Federal XM193 Independence 55gr 5.56 - 130 rds
Federal 55gr 223 (bulk) - 95 rds
Federal 55gr 223 FMJ-BT (individually boxed ammo) - 20 rds
Total: 245 rds
Results: 3 light primer strikes with bulk 223 ammo
Month: April, 2021
Went to the range over the weekend. Fired in total 245 rounds of 223/556 ammo. Some very interesting results.
Order of ammo testing and results:
5.56 ammo - 65 rds: 0 failures
Bulk 223 ammo - 30 rds: 1 failure to fire
223 ammo (individually packed) - 20 rds: 0 failures
Bulk 223 ammo - 65 rds: 2 failure to fires
5.56 ammo - 65 rds: 0 failures
Further testing is needed on the individually packed Federal 223 ammo. 20 rounds is too small of a sample size to give an accurate indicator.
It seems like my APC223 does not like bulk 223 ammo and prefers 5.56 ammo. It may be due to the slightly larger casing of the 5.56 ammo which helps it seat more properly in the chamber, or maybe the new parts needed some breaking in time.
Ammo:
Federal XM193 Independence 55gr 5.56 - 45 rds
Federal XM193 AE 55gr 5.56 - 276 rds
Total: 321 rds
Results: 1 failure to fire with AE 5.56 ammo
Month: April, 2021
After inspection and repairs
Ammo:
Fired approx 80-100 rds (mixture)
American Eagle 55gr
Federal XM193 55gr
Results:
1 FTE when zeroing my optic and may have been due to putting pressure on the magazine.
No other failures or problems after the sighting in process.
Month: September 2021
Ammo:
American Eagle 55gr - 170 rds
Federal XM193 55gr - 50 rds
Total: 220 rds
Results:
I’m happy to report no failures or malfunctions when shooting from the bench or from standing.
Month: January 2022
Ammo:
American Eagle 55gr - 65 rds
Total: 65 rds
Results:
No failures or malfunctions.
Month: February 2022
Ammo:
American Eagle 55gr - 80 rds
Total: 80 rds
Results:
No failures or malfunctions. Functioning nicely.
Month: May 2022
—————
This review will be updated periodically as new information becomes relevant.
I acquired my APC 223 in August 2020. She was a mint Gen 2 version rifle with MLOK slots and a 10.4 inch barrel. So far, this rifle has seen approximately 2000 rounds of various 223 ammo.
A list of specifications can be found here
Current accessories on my rifle include:
- Vortex UH-1 Gen 2
- Vortex Micro 3x Magnifier
- Surefire M300V
- Surefire dual pressure pad
- Steiner OTAL IR laser
- BCM KAG 1913 foregrip
- Dan Haga APC 223 adapter with an ACR stock
The Good
1. The APC 223 is a beautiful rifle with great ambidextrous controls. The bolt stop/ release is my favourite control on this rifle. Pressing up locks the bolt back and pressing down released the bolt. A simple and effective design that allows for extremely quick reload.
2. The Surefire-like muzzle brake keeps the rifle shooting flat. There is a lot of flash and concussion, but it can be swapped out.
*Added*
A Surefire Warden can also be attached to the muzzle. The Warden can rotate as there is no notch to keep it in place, but does not impede function (use at own risk).
3. Charging/ racking the gun is effortless. It has an extremely smooth action. Everyone uses the “ball bearing” analogy and it is true. To give you some context, my wife can charge an AR with some effort, but cannot rack a X95 no matter how hard she tries. With an APC 223, she has no problem.
4. The integrated hydraulic buffer in the stock makes for a light and manageable recoil impulse.
5. It has the best out of the box trigger. About a 3mm take up, crisp brake with no mush and a very short and audible reset.
6. The grip is ergonomic and comfortable. It is somewhat on the thinner side, but I am able to get a solid hold and I quite like it. There is also a small compartment to store batteries or tools. The grip is not interchangeable; not a deal breaker as it has been well designed.
7. The tolerances are machined to perfection. Absolutely no creep or play in any parts of the rifle.
8. The abundance of accessories that came with my rifle - hard case, 2 magazines, vertical foregrip, backup sights, sling and 2 MLOK 1913 rail slots. Items may have changed so refer to your dealer’s page.
The Not So Good
1. The gas system can easily get fouled in carbon which makes it next to impossible to remove without a hammer. This part needs to be regularly cleaned.
*Added*
Rotate the gas system a few times after each range session to remove built up carbon.
2. With the SBR version, rail space is at a premium. No issues with only a light and a switch. However, once you add an IR device placement can become tricky.
3. The reciprocating charging handle can cause malfunctions if you are not careful about hand placement; however, it is reversible. Optics also have to be specifically placed as setting it too far forward can impede the ability to charge the rifle. LPVOs provide more of a challenge and the optic may have to be refitted on the mount.
4. The folding stock offers no padding to aid in recoil mitigation. It also comes loose after repeated use, but can be retightened with a hex key. I have since replaced the stock with a Dan Haga adapter and ACR stock. With this upgrade, there is little to no recoil and makes it extremely flat shooting.
5. Extremely stiff selector switch. It does not impede function and the click is audible, but I prefer a smooth selector switch like on AR. The stiffness has not changed even with hours of play.
*Added*
You can remove one of the springs and pins in the selector switch to make it easier and smoother to actuate.
The Bad - Updated
All fixed - rifle performs flawlessly.
Read below for more detail.
Original Problem
I have encountered a few failures including a stove pipe and a double feed. The primary problem are light primer strikes. Every since owning this rifle, I have been plagued with light primer strikes. It can occur anywhere from 1-4 times per 10 rounds. I should preface that statement by saying that it sometimes runs a mag without any problems, but there is a higher likelihood that you will run into a problem. For range shooting, it’s ok, but costly with the price of ammo increasing. At least I get to practice troubleshooting malfunctions and pistol transitions.
Speaking with fellow enthusiasts, apparently earlier production models of the APC 223 had spring issues causing light primer strikes, but that is mostly speculation. Here in Canada, I know of three people (including myself) that have encountered this problem - relatively small number. I have been in contact with a Canadian distributor of B&T products and they have advised that B&T will be shipping out parts in their next shipment to fix the problem.
Update September 2021
The Canadian distributor of B&T rifles asked if I could send it in for inspection and repairs.
After 13 days, I received an email stating that they have installed a few new parts, including:
- Hammer spring
- Firing pin and firing pin spring
- Polished the shoulder of the firing pin
Testing
Fired approx 80-100 rounds with a mixture of 223 American Eagle and 556 Federal bulk.
Results
1 FTE when zeroing my optic and may have been due to putting pressure on the magazine.
No other failures or problems after the sighting in process.
No failure with 220 rds in January 2022.
Read in testing section below.
Summary
The APC 223 has been a great rifle to own and shoot even with the light primer strike issue. This is definitely the most flat shooting and easy to control rifle I have shot, especially with an ACR stock. I can get rounds on my target faster than with my AR and mag changes are smooth. The number of problematic rifles seems to be minimal as I have not read or encountered many others who have reported issues. Support for this rifle is great. B&T and the Canadian distributor will do everything in their power to resolve your issue(s). I hope this article gives you a glimpse as to what it is like to own and shoot an APC 223. If you have any questions please post below and I will do my best to answer them.
—————
Customer Service - Inconsistent
Contact the Canadian distributor or call B&T’s customer service by phone for best results
I will be detailing my experience, as well as, my buddy’s experience with B&T’s customer service.
My overall dealings with B&T’s service departments have been less than stellar. I emailed B&T and B&T USA several times regarding my light primer strike problem to figure out if there was a solution, but never got a reply from either party. After a few weeks of communication silence, I decided to emailed their Canadian distributor (Wolverine Supplies) about the issue. After giving them my serial number they advised that B&T will be sending parts. Wolverine was great with contacting B&T and ordering the replacement items, and the whole process took 2 months before I received the parts.
The parts B&T included were a new firing pin, heavier firing pin spring and firing pin retaining pin. These new parts have a slightly darker anodized finish to them, and installing the parts were easy enough; though it does take a little finesse.
My buddy’s experience was very different. He sent an email to B&T with a general question about his bolt. After not receiving a reply, he decided to call them and was forwarded to the service department where they quickly answered his question. They also told him that they saw his email, but had yet to respond to it. The following day, he also received a reply to his original email.
Note: B&T’s office opens at 2300 hrs PST.
Overall, I gave B&T a mediocre score on their customer service due to their inconsistency and lack of communication. This is only a sample size of 2. If you have had a different experience please post below.
Update
My friend had his ejector brake on him in August 2021. He contacted B&T by phone and they sent him a new ejector, spring and pin. Parts arrived in two weeks.
—————
Testing
Replacement Firing Pin Parts
Ammo: Federal 55gr 223 ammo
Total: 260 rds
Results: 6 Light Primer Strikes/ 1 Failure to Feed
Month: February 2021
Installation of the replacement parts were easy, though I did have a little trouble removing the cam pin from the bolt. After the new parts were in, I also took the opportunity to fully clean the rifle as to minimize confounding variables.
During my range day, I fired 260 rds of bulk Federal 55gr 223 ammo. I experienced 6 light primer strikes and 1 failure to feed. Significantly less problems than before, however, still 7 failures too many. The failure to feed was also a new problem I had never experienced with this rifle.
Further testing will done with other types of ammo. Hopefully, these problems are due to ammo and not the rifle.
Ammo:
Federal XM193 Independence 55gr 5.56 - 130 rds
Federal 55gr 223 (bulk) - 95 rds
Federal 55gr 223 FMJ-BT (individually boxed ammo) - 20 rds
Total: 245 rds
Results: 3 light primer strikes with bulk 223 ammo
Month: April, 2021
Went to the range over the weekend. Fired in total 245 rounds of 223/556 ammo. Some very interesting results.
Order of ammo testing and results:
5.56 ammo - 65 rds: 0 failures
Bulk 223 ammo - 30 rds: 1 failure to fire
223 ammo (individually packed) - 20 rds: 0 failures
Bulk 223 ammo - 65 rds: 2 failure to fires
5.56 ammo - 65 rds: 0 failures
Further testing is needed on the individually packed Federal 223 ammo. 20 rounds is too small of a sample size to give an accurate indicator.
It seems like my APC223 does not like bulk 223 ammo and prefers 5.56 ammo. It may be due to the slightly larger casing of the 5.56 ammo which helps it seat more properly in the chamber, or maybe the new parts needed some breaking in time.
Ammo:
Federal XM193 Independence 55gr 5.56 - 45 rds
Federal XM193 AE 55gr 5.56 - 276 rds
Total: 321 rds
Results: 1 failure to fire with AE 5.56 ammo
Month: April, 2021
After inspection and repairs
Ammo:
Fired approx 80-100 rds (mixture)
American Eagle 55gr
Federal XM193 55gr
Results:
1 FTE when zeroing my optic and may have been due to putting pressure on the magazine.
No other failures or problems after the sighting in process.
Month: September 2021
Ammo:
American Eagle 55gr - 170 rds
Federal XM193 55gr - 50 rds
Total: 220 rds
Results:
I’m happy to report no failures or malfunctions when shooting from the bench or from standing.
Month: January 2022
Ammo:
American Eagle 55gr - 65 rds
Total: 65 rds
Results:
No failures or malfunctions.
Month: February 2022
Ammo:
American Eagle 55gr - 80 rds
Total: 80 rds
Results:
No failures or malfunctions. Functioning nicely.
Month: May 2022
—————
This review will be updated periodically as new information becomes relevant.
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