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

Lumen Aid

With not much room remaining for accessories, I removed the BCM Kinesthetic grip and replaced it with a short KeyMod section of M1913 type rail on the bottom front of the handguard.  On this rail I attached a RailGrip from RM Equipment.  This is the “Switch watch” of vertical fore grips and it comes with its own equally fine light mount for any 1-inch diameter weapon light.  I attached the SureFire G2 light.  This system allows the user to hold the RailGrip and operate the light with the support thumb and NOT the index finger.  On the grip itself I mounted a MANTA sleeve for extra hand purchase.

I also removed the Vortex Viper red dot optic and replaced it with a Micro Laser module from LaserMax.   By mounting the front sight a little farther to the rear, the Micro Laser could also be mounted at the front of the top rail.  Either setup would provide the ability of easily identifying a target beyond 50-yards at night and use the laser as an aiming point.  The BCM4 SBR was now ready for the range.

When I targeted the SBR from sandbags at 100-yards using a 10X scope, bullets impacted a few inches high and left on the 6-inch center, so I left the reticle there.  Using Black Hills and Hornady .223 factory loads with bullets ranging from 55- to 65-grains, 5-shot groups ran from 1.56” to 2.34” with no malfunctions.  A match trigger group might have provided better accuracy, but for most, trigger let-off on a patrol or home defense carbine should be kept no lighter than about 4- or 5-pounds.  The issue BCM trigger on this gun was heavier than that, but I found it to be safe and fine for serious work.

Lucid Optics

Lastly, I obtained two additional add-ons for the BCM SBR, a M-7 Micro Red Dot Optic from Lucid Optics and a Redi-Catch/Redi-Release from Boonie Packer Products. The Lucid M-7 is a super lightweight robust red dot sight loaded with features including an automatic shutoff after 2 hours of run tine and a common
AAA-battery power source.  The Lucid standoff base put the sight at the perfect height and the SBR’s BUIS co-witnessed the red dot with the LaserMax Laser remaining in front of the front sight.  Lucid also makes a 2X screw-on and a 1-4X variable extender for the M7.

The Boonie Packer Redi-Catch/Release is a fast system offered singular or in tandem.  The Redi-Catch allows the user to depress the magazine release to release the magazine and lock the bolt back at the same time by pulling back the charging handle while holding in the magazine release, and then releasing the charging handle.   Consisting of a strong alloy lever extending through the trigger guard, the Redi-Release is simply pressed down by the right index finger to release the bolt carrier to feed a new round, and the lever stays out of the way of the trigger.  Made of the best materials, this is a fast, effective system for a speed reload.  Whatever additional options one might prefer can be easily installed on BCM’s Key-Mod hand guard.

BCM offers a great selection of outstanding AR type rifles and accessories.  Check them out for yourself.  And remember, if you ever need a gun and don’t have one, you’ll probably never need one again!  To keep your BCM4 and the rest of your guns, JOIN THE NRA… DO IT NOW!  GPJ 1*

Specifications: BCM SBR
Caliber: 5.56x45mm.
Muzzle Velocity: 2,800 fps (867 m/s).  
Operation: Direct gas transfer, semi-automatic.
Barrel Length: 12.5 inches (317.5mm).
Overall Length: 27-1/4”  (692mm) to 30-1/2” (774.7mm).
Weight: (gun alone) 6 pounds (2.7 kg).
Feed Device: Any AR-15 magazine.
Safety: Selector safety.
Sights: Flip-up/adjustable.
Stock: 6-position length of pull.
Finish: Mil-Std black anodize.
Price: Contact BCM.

Contacts:
BCM

Black Hills Ammunition

Blue Force Gear

Boonie Packer Products

Gemtech

Hornady Ammunition

LaserMax, Inc.

Lucid Optics

MANTA Rails

Magpul Industries

RM Equipment

SureFire, Inc.

VG6

Vortex Optics

About the author:

Having fired his first shot at the age of 5 by killing a pig his uncle was going to butcher, Gary Paul Johnston began a lifelong interest in firearms, hunting and shooting. Beginning a 28-year in law enforcement in 1963, Gary worked every division, always favoring uniformed patrol where the action was. He began writing in 1976 with nearly 2,000 articles on firearms published to date, along with two books, Custer’s Horses and co-authoring The World’s Assault Rifles. Having attended more schools on shooting and tactics than he can count, Gary is still learning, He says that if he can pass on even a little to others of what he has learned he will have achieved a worthy goal. Gary and his wife, Nancy, also a retired police officer, live in Colorado, are both Life Members of the NRA and strong 2nd Amendment advocates. Gary is also featured on MidwayUSA’s Gun Stories.

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