EDIT: Now Happy! (See post #17)
There was a thread here about complete Bear Creek Arsenal uppers being on sale for $270, so I ordered one. It's a side charger. I know they've had a less than stellar reputation in the past but I had actually heard some good reviews recently. I bought one of their rifles when they first came out and it wouldn't even function, the lower was out of spec. The dealer I bought it from took it back. I don't live that far from them and I've always hoped they would come around and be a local business to be proud of.
Well, so much for that. My upper came in today, and it appears to be out of spec, and just looks like shoddy workmanship all around. I only have one AR now and this upper won't work on my existing lower. It closes OK on the lower with some downward pressure, but then the BCG is locked in place, won't budge. Moves OK when it's not on a lower. Also when I first looked down at the chamber I saw what looked like a wad of hair, I figured it was something from one of my pets I had gotten down in there trying my other BCG. I pulled it out with some needle nose and it was metal shavings. You can see some bits left over in this pic but I couldn't find the "wad" to get a pick of after I dropped it somewhere. It looks like they used some red sealant crap when torquing the barrel on and didn't even wipe it off the exterior. Also, check out that premium fit & finish where the receiver meets the rail.
And now, for the pièce de résistance:
I hope I never have to use the bolt release, it won't push in at all like that. And oh yeah, the gas key was not really staked at all, I mean the dents don't even contact the screws.
I know the AR I currently own is not high end, and it's possible that it's out of spec, but I'll take 20 to 1 odds it's the BCA. Now I've got to decide if I send it back not knowing if the next one will fit or see if they'll let me take it to them and fit one to it, or just get my money back. I'd been wanting a 300BLK upper for a while and $270 is a darn good price, I'm not expecting good fit an finish, etc. at this price point, but it has to work.
There was a thread here about complete Bear Creek Arsenal uppers being on sale for $270, so I ordered one. It's a side charger. I know they've had a less than stellar reputation in the past but I had actually heard some good reviews recently. I bought one of their rifles when they first came out and it wouldn't even function, the lower was out of spec. The dealer I bought it from took it back. I don't live that far from them and I've always hoped they would come around and be a local business to be proud of.
Well, so much for that. My upper came in today, and it appears to be out of spec, and just looks like shoddy workmanship all around. I only have one AR now and this upper won't work on my existing lower. It closes OK on the lower with some downward pressure, but then the BCG is locked in place, won't budge. Moves OK when it's not on a lower. Also when I first looked down at the chamber I saw what looked like a wad of hair, I figured it was something from one of my pets I had gotten down in there trying my other BCG. I pulled it out with some needle nose and it was metal shavings. You can see some bits left over in this pic but I couldn't find the "wad" to get a pick of after I dropped it somewhere. It looks like they used some red sealant crap when torquing the barrel on and didn't even wipe it off the exterior. Also, check out that premium fit & finish where the receiver meets the rail.
And now, for the pièce de résistance:
I hope I never have to use the bolt release, it won't push in at all like that. And oh yeah, the gas key was not really staked at all, I mean the dents don't even contact the screws.
I know the AR I currently own is not high end, and it's possible that it's out of spec, but I'll take 20 to 1 odds it's the BCA. Now I've got to decide if I send it back not knowing if the next one will fit or see if they'll let me take it to them and fit one to it, or just get my money back. I'd been wanting a 300BLK upper for a while and $270 is a darn good price, I'm not expecting good fit an finish, etc. at this price point, but it has to work.
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