Bashing won’t be useful, and yes I’ve read the forum; however, I’m old and can’t keep it all straight. If I were to buy an earlier generation rifle, what parts would I need to replace to make the rifle functional? Has it been a matter of poor engineering, poor part sourcing, or do these rifle just need a work in period? Do they hate certain ammo types? I’m self isolated and bored, so am easy pickin’s for the dealers, drooling over semi-auto .308 rifles.
Bcl 102
- Thread starter noelb
- Start date
NorthernCX
CGN Regular
- Location
- In My House
Watching for interest. Just got one myself, brand new but pre-Mk7. First range trip I went through 110 rounds, was running it VERY wet. Quite a few stovepipes, a couple double feeds but seemed to get better as the round count climbed. Was using the factory 5-round and 5, 10-round pistol mags identical to the factory mag, same manufacturer. I have a feeling it's a combination of break in and possibly over-gassing, was running surplus Hirtenberger ammo, took it home, stripped it and cleaned thoroughly. I too get lost in all the bashing posts to find out what the common fixes are, so I'll post my own results here also when able.
Roll the dice then and troubleshoot as you go
walleyed99
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- I'm not telling, Sask
I have a gen2 that I traded on A good deal. Based on th face that it didn't like 150 grain soft point but everything else was good. It didn't shoot anything I loaded for it, or hirtenberger. After the second rebuil kit for the bolt, it seems better in limited shooting. Gonna get out and run a few rounds through it this weekend and see how it runs. So far so good.
Pretty much that and some are going for sub $1000. I went with the Mk7 myself as I wanted a garantee.
I went with the mk7 as well
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
While I haven't had any hands on experience with one, I have followed the drama from the beginning. My impression is that while there are examples of poor engineering, most of the problems stemmed from production quality, with in-house machining and assembly operations being to blame for a lot of the issues.
Like yourself, as the prices on the older versions come down I am getting tempted to jump in on one. I know the AR design pretty well and figure I would be able to get one running without too much trouble, though replacing defective parts could start to add up.
Biggest problem with the early ones is the ejector and ejector spring. Mine is sub-00150 serial and once I replaced those $12 worth of parts it's been spot on.
I have a Mk2. I think I paid somewhere in the $1500 range new from SFRC.
When I got it I went through it before I cleaned it up and strapped glass to it.
In the initial field strip I was met by take down pins that seamed loose and a just a little too wonky with the detent. That's where it started.
The mag release and the safety didn't feel right and the trigger was mushy.
I pulled the butt stock off as I didn't care for the one that came with it and pulled out the buffer and spring.
I took the floating hand guard off and was met by some mis-alignment with the gas block and tube.
There is clear evidence that some of the small parts were made in-house, and other stuff I'm going to assume is chinese knock-off AR parts. Who knows for sure?
What I do know is that the fit and finish felt like it was 2 degrees off from 'ON'.
I took it out for a function shoot and it do ok for the whole 40 or so rounds I put through it (from memory).
I then proceeded to do a semi-complete tear down replacing the buffer spring, trigger, safety, mag release and most internal small parts and springs.
I spun off the barrel, inspected everything and put the upper receiver back together.
The upgrades I put into it are: lower parts are CMMG, Giselle trigger, Norgon ambi mag release, Magpul UBR2 rear stock, BCM pistol grip, AAC brake.
I don't have a lot of rounds through it now (less than 1000), but I'm happy where it is at.
If I didn't have the knowledge or the tools to go about overhauling it, it would have been sold off as it came for a considerable loss.
Even now, If I was to sell it, I'd strip it of the parts that were added, put it back to oem (if I can find the parts that were removed) and sell at a considerable loss, or part it out.
Either way, I suspect that the value of this rifle has probably lost upwards to almost $1000 of it's original purchase price.
I plan to keep it and shoot the crap out of it with a healthy supply of Santa Barbara, IVI, Hertinburgler and IMI surplus 7.62
Now, I actually enjoy wrenching on ARs - others may not. If you don't have the tools or the inclination to dive in and diagnose problems with it or just want a rifle to shoot and not worry about, this is not the rifle for you imho.
Also consider the market for NEA - if you buy one, even at considerable savings, you may want to think about a limited market for re-sale and selling it at a loss.
If you want something you can shoot 10000 rounds through and don't mind the maintenance and possible (probable?) issues with it, then go for it.
DSC02041 by M J, on Flickr
When I got it I went through it before I cleaned it up and strapped glass to it.
In the initial field strip I was met by take down pins that seamed loose and a just a little too wonky with the detent. That's where it started.
The mag release and the safety didn't feel right and the trigger was mushy.
I pulled the butt stock off as I didn't care for the one that came with it and pulled out the buffer and spring.
I took the floating hand guard off and was met by some mis-alignment with the gas block and tube.
There is clear evidence that some of the small parts were made in-house, and other stuff I'm going to assume is chinese knock-off AR parts. Who knows for sure?
What I do know is that the fit and finish felt like it was 2 degrees off from 'ON'.
I took it out for a function shoot and it do ok for the whole 40 or so rounds I put through it (from memory).
I then proceeded to do a semi-complete tear down replacing the buffer spring, trigger, safety, mag release and most internal small parts and springs.
I spun off the barrel, inspected everything and put the upper receiver back together.
The upgrades I put into it are: lower parts are CMMG, Giselle trigger, Norgon ambi mag release, Magpul UBR2 rear stock, BCM pistol grip, AAC brake.
I don't have a lot of rounds through it now (less than 1000), but I'm happy where it is at.
If I didn't have the knowledge or the tools to go about overhauling it, it would have been sold off as it came for a considerable loss.
Even now, If I was to sell it, I'd strip it of the parts that were added, put it back to oem (if I can find the parts that were removed) and sell at a considerable loss, or part it out.
Either way, I suspect that the value of this rifle has probably lost upwards to almost $1000 of it's original purchase price.
I plan to keep it and shoot the crap out of it with a healthy supply of Santa Barbara, IVI, Hertinburgler and IMI surplus 7.62
Now, I actually enjoy wrenching on ARs - others may not. If you don't have the tools or the inclination to dive in and diagnose problems with it or just want a rifle to shoot and not worry about, this is not the rifle for you imho.
Also consider the market for NEA - if you buy one, even at considerable savings, you may want to think about a limited market for re-sale and selling it at a loss.
If you want something you can shoot 10000 rounds through and don't mind the maintenance and possible (probable?) issues with it, then go for it.
DSC02041 by M J, on FlickrI have a mk2 that works great. I had a feed problem early on where it would fire and chamber the next round but the trigger wouldn't reset. I was told by a gunsmith to separate the upper receiver from the lower and continually work the hammer while I was watching TV one night to wear it in properly. Now it works like a charm. I don't know why the BCL 102 is getting such a bad rap. I love mine.
No?
This is why. Your trigger was and probably is, to put it bluntly, sh!t.
They used sh!tty parts to lower their overhead and widen their profit margin.
It wasn't just ill fitting parts, it was quality assembly and quality control too.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Bucket list project .. and I was able to get a Gen2 version at a fair price. Swapped out the barrel for a McGowen match barrel in 22 Creedmoor. Trigger is now a Timney TARGA 2 stage which works great. Magpul buttstock. Rest is BCL
The bolt got the updated extractor and spring. Still fussing to get 100% ejection but it may be a gas related issue.
Very accurate...
The goal is to build a PRS suitable rig and get out to a match... I really like the goofy oversized barrel nut and forend. It has proven to be very rigid
Jerry
Attachments
So, if the older gen sold by sfrc come with all the updated part’s, then I would assume they should after a proper break in and lube job, shoot as well as the mk7. So then the question remains, what are the differences between the two rifles? I have a shotgun for sale a a buyer in the breech, getting close to pulling the trigger.
