BRAVO’S BCM4 Short Barrel Rifle – A Very Special SBR

BCM Accessories

Since our BCM4;’s hand guard was the KMR KeyMod, it required Key Mod accessories, which have become plentiful, and BCM furnished several with the SBR.  These included both a standard vertical fore grip and BCM’s QD fore grip, a QD sling mount, a side light mount, a kinesthetic grip and an angled optical mount.  These proved to be of very high quality and they come with either KeyMod feet or with an additional locking stud for extra strength against recoil should heavy gear be attached.

To install these accessories, simply loosen the hardened bolts with the wrenches supplied, insert the KeyMod feet into the holes, slice them all the way forward and hold while they are tightened.  A thread locking solution can also be applied, but I did not find it necessary.

After experimenting with several positions, I found BCM’s QD foregrip worked well with the light mount on the left side.  A SureFire light was installed in this mount to be operated by the left thumb.  On the right rear of the handguard I attached BCM’s short offset rail and mounted a Vortex Viper Red Dot on it.  This rugged optic weighs virtually nothing and its bright, adjustable dot is super clear.

MANTA RAIL “POLYTANIUM”

A few days after using the above setup I received a sample of the new TAC WRAP Grip from MANTA.  Introduced at the 2015 SHOT Show, this device is one of the most utilitarian AR accessories I’ve seen.   Made from essentially the same secret material used in MANTA’s suppressor, grip and rail covers, the TAC WRAP is of a slightly different consistency.  Manta’s Frank Michaels ran me through the workings and installation of the TAC WRAP where he jokingly dubbed the super strong, but flexible material as “Polytanium.”

The TAC WRAP comes with all components to mount it on virtually any of today’s AR handguards by following the instruction.  Once on it provides the most comfortable, sure hand guard grip I have ever used.  Once the TAC WRAP was on the BCM4 SBR I had to re-evaluate where I which accessories I would mount and where.

I relocated the BCM offset mount and the Vortex Viper Red Dot all the way forward on the right side of the forend and removed the light mount from the left side.  In its place I mounted the BCM QD Sling Mount in order to use a Blue Force Gear Victory Sling mounted there and to the left side of the BCM GUNFIGHTER MOD 0 buttstock.
The Vortex Viper Red Dot proved far better for me and others when it was replaced farther forward, as it was faster to get on the dot when rotating the rifle 45 degrees to the left.  Such a set up is normally used in conjunction with a top-mounted magnified optic, which would not be my choice with an SBR.

One thing I was anxious to do was to evaluate the BCM GUNFIGHTER MOD 1-556 Compensator, which both reduces recoil and dampens muzzle flash.  It did dampen flash, especially with commercial ammunition, and it truly reduced recoil by an estimated 75%.  However, I wanted to compare this muzzle brake with the Gamma 556 from VG6 Precision, that company’s shortest muzzle brake.  Being about the same length as the BCM MOD 1-556, the VG6 performed equally well.

“Hush Now!”

However, as great as SBR’s are for close range and tight spaces, they are LOUD and I wanted to check this BCM4 SBR out with a sound suppressor.  Since a short rifle needs to remain as short and lightweight as feasible, I chose the TREK-T 5.56mm suppressor from GEMTECH.  This superb titanium suppressor is not only 56% the weight of steel, but is also ear safe!

Since there was not enough barrel exposed on the SBR, I had to first remove the SBR’s BCM KMR Handguard.  This is not difficult with minimal gunsmithing ability, but it is important to follow instructions available from BCM.  Once the MOD 1-556 muzzle brake was removed using a padded barrel vice. I reassembled the handguard and then compared the two muzzle brakes as hand tightened.  I then attached the TREK-T suppressor, screwing in on by hand with the help of the (sure grip) MANTA Suppressor Cover I had installed on it.

After using the special barrel vice of my friend, Jim Carroll, of Carroll Targets, we stepped out onto the overlook of his private range in the half-mile canyon below his home.   Jim suggested that I kill two birds with one stone by shooting at one of his steel torso targets 163 yards below.   I had not yet fired the BCM4 SBR for accuracy and the BCM iron sights were as delivered, and had not been readjusted.  What’s more, my magazine was loaded with surplus M855 ammunition, not known for its accuracy.

I had simply wanted to hear the report of the TREK-T suppressor, but I shouldered the SBR, and decided to aim chest high on the target, which was at about 30 degrees down and 163-yards out.  I pressed the trigger and heard a soft clapping sound followed by the typical tearing, sonic sound of the bullet and a “PING” about two seconds later.

I couldn’t believe my ears, so I followed up with two more “PINGS” and handed the SBR to Jim, telling him where I aimed.  He duplicated with three “PINGS” of his own on the same target.   We were both elated.  Several law enforcement officers were also extremely pleased with the BCM4 SBR along with a friend who is a retired USASF, 5th Grp. Captain.  After shooting the BCM4 SBR, he remarked that he wished he had had one in Afghanistan instead of his issue M4.  This man happens to be one of the thirty-six Special Forces operators who rode borrowed Afghan horses into battle there in 2011.

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