BCM Standard 16" Carbine (LIGHT WEIGHT)

[Artsville]

Hi All

Yes...it is another AR question. I am sort of new to Calguns, but have been a lurker for about 10 months or so. I am building my first AR and want to keep it semi-light. I am not too worried about recoil differences but want the gun to be well balanced. I was checking out BCM's site and they have this carbine "light weight". I am wondering what exactly are the differences between a std upper and the "light weight" upper? Pros and cons?

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Standard-16-LIGHT-WEIGHT-Upper-Receiver-p/bcm-urg-car-16lw.htm

thnx so much for the comments...and yes...my search fu was weak today....


art

[djleisure]

BCM rifles are a great choice any way you cut it. The major difference I can think of that MIGHT concern you (but probably not) would be the thinner barrel will heat up quicker with shots fired. When your barrel starts getting hot, it also starts getting less accurate due to the flexing nature of heated metals. BUT, it would take quite a bit of rapid fire for the average person to start noticing any drop-off in accuracy...

I'm sure others will be along with more/better info than I have provided...

[tomd1584]

the barrel profile is the difference.

http://ar15barrels.com/profiles.shtml

I personally like the lightweight barrels. Maybe its just cuz I hate the M4 barrel profile, and why I put a 12" rail on my 14.5" carbine.

A lightweight barrel will heat up faster, but will also cool down faster.

[Toast]

What type of shooting are you planning on doing? Unless you're going to be shooting from a bench trying to squeeze out as much accuracy as possible then a thinner barrel profile will serve you just fine, and the lighter weight will make it easier to handle. They heat up faster, but they also cool down faster. For a semi-auto the heat really isn't a huge deal, the POI will shift slightly but not as much as some people would lead you to believe.

[Artsville]

thnx guys....yeah i would shoot some bench but not really for precision. It will be used mostly for fun not found at the range. It may someday become part of my 3gun maybe. First build and wanted everyone in the family to be able to shoot it.

So does that mean the recoil would be about the same as most carbine length ARs?

anyone else??

[Omega13device]

If you're shooting from a bench then why a lightweight barrel? You'll be shooting from a supported position anyway (elbow on the bench or upper resting on something) so the weight doesn't really matter.

[Artsville]

that is why my main shooting will not be from a bench......

[gemini1]

Get the midlenght lightweight barrel in midlenght instead of carbine, recoil is less and parts last longer the carbine.

[Artsville]

i thought i read somewhere that parts issue was an urban myth?? Can someone elaborate on this thought?

[tomd1584]

what parts issue?

Midlength system is less harsh than the carbine system. No urban myth about it.

[djleisure]

what parts issue?

Midlength system is less harsh than the carbine system. No urban myth about it.

Yep, basically this. It has to do with the amount of gas pressure coming from the gas port. The carbine is basically extremely over-gassed, thus it uses way too much force to cycle the gun. The mid-length system puts the gas port further out, which relieves some of that pressure and is more gentle on the BCG and moving parts, so they last longer.

Here's a decent read on the subject, if ya wanna learn more and got the time!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=199626

[GutPunch]

Hi All

Yes...it is another AR question. I am sort of new to Calguns, but have been a lurker for about 10 months or so. I am building my first AR and want to keep it semi-light. I am not too worried about recoil differences but want the gun to be well balanced. I was checking out BCM's site and they have this carbine "light weight". I am wondering what exactly are the differences between a std upper and the "light weight" upper? Pros and cons?

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Standard-16-LIGHT-WEIGHT-Upper-Receiver-p/bcm-urg-car-16lw.htm

thnx so much for the comments...and yes...my search fu was weak today....


art

Hey I just built my first AR using this barrel. Works great. I do bench shooting with the gun at the range and I'm also getting into the tactical stuff as well. I love my 12" DD rails. I'm also not having the issues that some report with carbine hot gas due to the midlength.

[djleisure]

Hey I just built my first AR using this barrel. Works great. I do bench shooting with the gun at the range and I'm also getting into the tactical stuff as well. I love my 12" DD rails. I'm also not having the issues that some report with carbine hot gas due to the midlength.

I don't think anyone is going to be having "issues" with their carbine, it is a tried and true system that works great! I'm guessing it is intentionally over-gassed, so that it will reliably cycle with a variety of ammo and under extreme circumstances. The midlength gas system will recoil slightly less and your AR parts will technically last longer. Meaning, you may have to replace something in 20k rounds with a carbine, but it might last to 30k rounds in a midlength... just talking generalities here - either one will work just fine! Hell, get both!

[Artsville]

Meaning, you may have to replace something in 20k rounds with a carbine, but it might last to 30k rounds in a midlength... just talking generalities here - either one will work just fine! Hell, get both!

this was my thinking as well......anyone else care to comment?

[littlerocket]

I got a regular carbine while my bro got a lite weight middy, both 16" barrels. The liteweight feels lighter. I don't have numbers, but it is noticeable. I wish I got the liteweight, but when I ordered it, they didn't have the liteweight option.