BCL MRX Bison Bolt Action .223 - or 5.56

[johNTO]

Quick update.....
After sighting in my scope (and helping my buddy sight in his CZ 527) I blasted 70rnds without a single failure to fire. The side blast was very noticeable but not too annoying....at least to me.

I used my poly MFT 10rnd mag and it feed the 55gr Barnaul flawlessly. However, I did encounter an FTE issue. After approx 30rnds, the rifle experienced it's first failure to extract. It became more frequent to the point that my last 10rnds did not extract at all. I had to flip the rifle to allow the spent shell to fall out of the port each time. The strange thing is.... un-fired rounds could be extracted no problem.

When I got home I gave the bolt/extractor etc and chamber a good cleaning. I'll try some different ammo (brass case) next time I hit the range.

Other than the strange FTEs the rifle was a blast to shoot and a keeper....

 

[Can-down]

Quick update.....
After sighting in my scope (and helping my buddy sight in his CZ 527) I blasted 70rnds without a single failure to fire. The side blast was very noticeable but not too annoying....at least to me.

I used my poly MFT 10rnd mag and it feed the 55gr Barnaul flawlessly. However, I did encounter an FTE issue. After approx 30rnds, the rifle experienced it's first failure to extract. It became more frequent to the point that my last 10rnds did not extract at all. I had to flip the rifle to allow the spent shell to fall out of the port each time. The strange thing is.... un-fired rounds could be extracted no problem.

When I got home I gave the bolt/extractor etc and chamber a good cleaning. I'll try some different ammo (brass case) next time I hit the range.

Other than the strange FTEs the rifle was a blast to shoot and a keeper....

That's unfortunate, it seems to be an emerging pattern with some of the guns. Wolverine Supplies had the same issue in their review.
These types of bugs should have been worked out well in advance as they are exactly the issue BCL was looking to put in the rear view mirror..... they will need to be super proactive and quick to address this issue in my opinion.

[youtube]zvTGO4eYlAE[/youtube]

 

[tiriaq]

Extract or Eject?
Cases are positively removed from the chamber, but are not thrown clear of the rifle, or are left in the chamber when the bolt is opened?

 

[Can-down]

Extract or Eject?
Cases are positively removed from the chamber, but are not thrown clear of the rifle, or are left in the chamber when the bolt is opened?

I believe he was talking about ejection given that he had to turn the gun on it's side to spill the case out the port.... same issue Wolverine had by the sounds of it.

 

[johNTO]

Extract or Eject?
Cases are positively removed from the chamber, but are not thrown clear of the rifle, or are left in the chamber when the bolt is opened?

Correction....Ejection....just like in the vid by Wolverine.

I sent an email to BCL Support with my findings and I'll share them when they respond.

 

[driller212]

Yea that sucks, I hope they get that figured out for you. I have had no issues thus far, but I'll be selling it to be replaced by the rem 700 SB shorty as I much much prefer .308. Its gonna feel like going back to the stone age compared to the really nice action BCL have made. Oh well, I am stubborn and love .308

 

[hawk-i]

For anyone interested, go to the 9:00 mark of this video (it's pretty cool to watch in its entirety as they go through the production facility machines and show other models they are producing) and the Black Creek Labs President gives a walkthrough on the Bison prototype.

[youtube]lhD9ngn0wYc[/youtube]

Wow, how many time can one man say UMMMM in 20 minutes.....wow.

 

[thegazelle]

I was at one of my LGS this week and was asking the owner/manager about the Bison since I have been long considering getting one (hence my starting this thread). I have picked up other guns in the meantime and wanted to see others' experiences with this gun before considering the purchase. The owner/manage matter of factly told me to keep waiting - he has had two (2) instances where customers have brought back the rifle due to the bolt handle snapping off. I am like "are you serious?" He said yup, they are both at BCL right now for warranty repair.

I was pretty surprised - I own a few bolt actions and never have felt that the bolt handle was a weak point. Even with other guns like the semi auto WK180, I can visibly see how that charging handle could be a weak point (though I have one, and it hasn't sheared off...yet...). But a manually operated bolt action rifle having this problem? Not good. He told me there are better products out there at a better price and pointed me to a Ruger American bolt action ranch rifle (I didn't like the aesthetics of it). I told him I'd rather support Canadian...he told me, well, this is what you get...

From the initial reviews/feedback from new owners of the Bison, they do seem fairly positive. Hoping that these instances with the bolt are merely outliers, in the whole scheme of things.

 

[tiriaq]

The bolt is fabricated, assembled from a number of pieces. Looks as if the bolt handle shank is a rod, perhaps 5/16" in diameter, attached to a stump on the bolt body, with a knob added to the end. Threaded attachment? I can see how the shank could be snapped.
Some things to think about, with a new bolt action... How does the design handle escaping gas from a blown primer? What happens in the event of a catastrophic case failure? How many actions were tested to destruction during the course of development?

 

[*MALICE*]

he has had two (2) instances where customers have brought back the rifle due to the bolt handle snapping off.

I Totally called this. Bolt handles that are threaded onto the body are destined to break.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...4846-BCL-s-New-Rifles?p=17822974#post17822974 post #10

 

[johNTO]

Register your BCL FA within 3 months of purchasing it there is a Lifetime Warranty on the product.
Not gonna make me happy if it's always getting fixed for the rest of my life .....or the Company is gone in a couple years.

 

[thegazelle]

I Totally called this. Bolt handles that are threaded onto the body are destined to break.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...4846-BCL-s-New-Rifles?p=17822974#post17822974 post #10

That's a good call.

What concerns me is that the Bison just came out this year and already just at one single local gun store, two warranty cases on this already on the same part. It's not like these were in the field for years and then wear and tear contributed to the weakening of the bolt handle.

 

[tiriaq]

It is not unusual for bolt handles to be attached like this in .22 rifles.
A centerfire bolt with 60 degree uplift will result in more force being applied to the handle.

 

[thegazelle]

It is not unusual for bolt handles to be attached like this in .22 rifles.
A centerfire bolt with 60 degree uplift will result in more force being applied to the handle.

I recently bought a Savage Axis II Precision and noticed that the bolt handle is one piece with the ring that circles the bolt. That is a .223 too....weird that the companies don't all make it all one piece given the force that is going to be applied.

 

[*MALICE*]

It is not unusual for bolt handles to be attached like this in .22 rifles.
A centerfire bolt with 60 degree uplift will result in more force being applied to the handle.

I'll rephrase;

Bolt handles that are threaded onto the body, in anything other than a rimfire, are destined to break

 

[tiriaq]

Many (most) modern bolt action centerfire rifles have separate handles attached to the bolt body, either permanently or as a removable unit.
Remington 700s, post '64 Winchester 70s are examples of the former. Savages have removable handles.
A one-piece bolt can be more expensive to make. Ruger 77s have one piece bolts, but those are cast.
I have seen handles broken off both one piece and fabricated bolts.

 

[*MALICE*]

The difference is the method of attachment/engagement (vs threading).

Remington - silver soldered
Savage - keyed
Tikka - dovetail

 

[tiriaq]

A well designed mechanical attachment will work just fine.
So will an induction brazed joint, if properly done.
The Post '64 Winchester combines a ring collar with the braze. Very strong.
A pegged in system may not be great - 788 Remington.
I have a Nielsen MN300 target rifle action. The bolt handle is a simple rod threaded into the rear of the bolt body. Has worked for years without issue.

 

[GimpyGolden]

He told me there are better products out there at a better price and pointed me to a Ruger American bolt action ranch rifle (I didn't like the aesthetics of it). I told him I'd rather support Canadian...he told me, well, this is what you get...

Look at Maple Ridge Armory Renegade.
This is the direction I am going for Canadian made, short barrel, Non Restricted and AR compatible so you can jazz up as you like.

 

[thegazelle]

Look at Maple Ridge Armory Renegade.
This is the direction I am going for Canadian made, short barrel, Non Restricted and AR compatible so you can jazz up as you like.

Hee hee...I just bought an MRA Renegade just last Saturday and picked it up directly from MRA. It is generation one (MK1) so no bolt catch/release (kind of used to that with my WK so no big deal). I did notice that the straight pull bolt on the Renegade is attached by a torx screw (so not threaded in like the WK is), but the handle also has two other dimples that fit into holes beside where the handle is torxed in, for some added reinforcement.

I cannot believe how light that Renegade is (I did get the 16" version, so not as light as the 12" but lighter than most things I own). I got the last one they have at a decent discount, so pretty happy. Still trying to determine what optic to put on it.