BCA upper rail looks off

Mattj4867 · December 7, 2018, 08:11 PM

Hi all just got a BCA 450 bushmaster upper in. Im fairly new to ARs and this ones rail just looks a little off to me. It seems to be a bit lower than the “billet.” Should I complain about this. Thanks. Excuse me for any terminology misuse.
It’s also slightly loose on my lower and light can be seen on the other side. Again I’m hesitant to complain because it was only $260 after all
Here’s the link for pics

https://imgur.com/a/Td2f1OE

imashooter · December 7, 2018, 09:04 PM

Not bad. If there's any room to work with, you can loosen the handguard screws, take an accessory like an optic, etc, temporarily mount it where a part of it grabs the rail on top of the hg and the other grabs the rail atop your receiver. Retighten the handguard screws and see if it aligned it any better. Regarding the gap between the rcvrs, very, very, common. There are remedies but not needed. Short of a match-only weapon, it will have no impact on function or accuracy. Probably 9 out of 10 have that gap.

rickyrick · December 7, 2018, 09:09 PM

That does look not quite right to me as well. Might be ok if you only have an optic on the reciever itself, but if you have a sighting system that uses both rails you may have issues or run out of adjustment.

Most ARs will have some slop between the upper and lower. All of my civilian ARs have less slop than the M4/M16s I used in the army.

rickyrick · December 7, 2018, 09:13 PM

Quote:

take an accessory ...

I have a rail height adapter that was ugly and I never used it for its intended purpose that I use as an alignment tool for railed handguards.

stagpanther · December 8, 2018, 04:07 PM

Unless you're really serious about mounting a front sight as a primary sighting--I never worry about it. Aero precision is the manufacturer that seems to be the most obsessed about having rails that clock exactly to their uppers--I would look to them if that's a really big deal to you.

kymasabe · December 8, 2018, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stagpanther

Unless you're really serious about mounting a front sight as a primary sighting--I never worry about it. Aero precision is the manufacturer that seems to be the most obsessed about having rails that clock exactly to their uppers--I would look to them if that's a really big deal to you.

I can verify that. I have an aero atlas s-one handguard on a ballistic advantage upper and it's a seamless transition, a perfect match.

armoredman · December 9, 2018, 03:38 AM

Ditto - my Aero upper and handguard are almost monolithic looking in precision.

rickyrick · December 9, 2018, 08:36 AM

To me, the rail on the handguard looks lower and turned to the right as compared to the upper’s rail. If so, should be entirely correctable.

Mobuck · December 9, 2018, 09:06 AM

I wouldn't recommend using a clamp on HG rail for mounting a front sight (or anything that requires long term alignment). W/o a solid connection between upper and HG, there's only a modest chance things will stay lined up during handling.

MagnumWill · December 24, 2018, 09:34 AM

It looks held on with fasteners to me. Loosen its screws, and if you have any picatinny accessory that can clamp to the receiver and rail, clamp it on there and to tighten the screws.

That's how I've ensured both of the free-float rails I've installed are lined up. I've got an M4 carry handle that I can crank down on it, and get everything all lined up.

ed308 · December 24, 2018, 03:39 PM

I've got a Seekins SPRV3 handguard on my 3Gun that's the same or worse. The problems is the where the screws are drilled for attaching to the barrel nut. The more you move the holes toward the upper, the less chance is will fit. I could always shave the barrel nut down to get a close fit. But since it doesn't effect function or accuracy, why bother.

December 7, 2018, 08:11 PM	#1
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	BCA upper rail looks off Hi all just got a BCA 450 bushmaster upper in. Im fairly new to ARs and this ones rail just looks a little off to me. It seems to be a bit lower than the “billet.” Should I complain about this. Thanks. Excuse me for any terminology misuse. It’s also slightly loose on my lower and light can be seen on the other side. Again I’m hesitant to complain because it was only $260 after all Here’s the link for pics https://imgur.com/a/Td2f1OE

December 8, 2018, 04:07 PM	#5
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,743	Unless you're really serious about mounting a front sight as a primary sighting--I never worry about it. Aero precision is the manufacturer that seems to be the most obsessed about having rails that clock exactly to their uppers--I would look to them if that's a really big deal to you. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

December 24, 2018, 09:34 AM	#10
MagnumWill Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Central Colorado Posts: 1,001	It looks held on with fasteners to me. Loosen its screws, and if you have any picatinny accessory that can clamp to the receiver and rail, clamp it on there and to tighten the screws. That's how I've ensured both of the free-float rails I've installed are lined up. I've got an M4 carry handle that I can crank down on it, and get everything all lined up. __________________ Those who hammer their swords into plow shares will plow for those who didn't...

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December 7, 2018, 09:04 PM	#2
imashooter Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 395	Not bad. If there's any room to work with, you can loosen the handguard screws, take an accessory like an optic, etc, temporarily mount it where a part of it grabs the rail on top of the hg and the other grabs the rail atop your receiver. Retighten the handguard screws and see if it aligned it any better. Regarding the gap between the rcvrs, very, very, common. There are remedies but not needed. Short of a match-only weapon, it will have no impact on function or accuracy. Probably 9 out of 10 have that gap.

December 7, 2018, 09:09 PM	#3
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	That does look not quite right to me as well. Might be ok if you only have an optic on the reciever itself, but if you have a sighting system that uses both rails you may have issues or run out of adjustment. Most ARs will have some slop between the upper and lower. All of my civilian ARs have less slop than the M4/M16s I used in the army.

December 9, 2018, 03:38 AM	#7
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,295	Ditto - my Aero upper and handguard are almost monolithic looking in precision.

December 9, 2018, 08:36 AM	#8
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	To me, the rail on the handguard looks lower and turned to the right as compared to the upper’s rail. If so, should be entirely correctable.

December 9, 2018, 09:06 AM	#9
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I wouldn't recommend using a clamp on HG rail for mounting a front sight (or anything that requires long term alignment). W/o a solid connection between upper and HG, there's only a modest chance things will stay lined up during handling.

December 24, 2018, 03:39 PM	#11
ed308 Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2016 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,147	I've got a Seekins SPRV3 handguard on my 3Gun that's the same or worse. The problems is the where the screws are drilled for attaching to the barrel nut. The more you move the holes toward the upper, the less chance is will fit. I could always shave the barrel nut down to get a close fit. But since it doesn't effect function or accuracy, why bother.