Midwest Industries vs BCM: AR-15 brands compared
BCM leads in 4 of 6 categories.
Midwest Industries for handguards. BCM for upper receivers, stocks and internals.
From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.
Our take
Midwest Industries makes AR-15 handguards, sights and mounts. Their Combat Rail is a slim 1.5 inch free float handguard.
Free float handguards · Limited lifetime warranty · Iron sights
- Close to average prices
- Handguards, picked 3x as often
BCM makes mil-spec AR uppers, barrels and bolt carriers, and it test fires every complete upper and bolt carrier group before it ships.
Mil-spec parts · Test fired uppers · Chrome lined barrels · Veteran founded
- Paying more: about 24% above average
- The more popular pick: in 37% of builds
- Upper receivers, picked 71x as often
- Stocks, picked 8x as often
Many builders mix them: 58% of Midwest Industries builds add BCM, most often the bolt carrier group.
Biggest differences
"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.
| Midwest Industries | BCM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price vs average | About average | 24% pricier | Midwest Industries cheaper |
| Share of builds | 9% | 37% | BCM 4x |
| Uppers picked | 0.3% | 24% | BCM 80x |
| Handguards picked | 39% | 13% | Midwest Industries 3x |
| Parts listed | 543 | 776 | BCM 1.4x |
| Retailers carrying | 17 | 17 |
Price: Midwest Industries wins
For the same part, Midwest Industries parts run about average and BCM parts run 24% pricier than average.
Builder favorite: BCM wins
Midwest Industries is in 9% of builds and BCM is in 37% of builds.
Receivers: BCM wins
Builders pick BCM upper receivers (71x) more often than Midwest Industries. BCM lower receivers are picked often, Midwest Industries's rarely.
Why BCM: BCM M4 uppers are machined from 7075-T6 forgings with a Type III hard coat anodized finish.
Internals: BCM wins
BCM bolt carrier groups picked often, Midwest Industries rarely.
Why BCM: The BCM bolt is Carpenter 158 steel, shot peened, high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected.
Most picked Midwest Industries internals
Rarely picked
Furniture: Split
Builders pick Midwest Industries handguards (3x) more often than BCM. Builders pick BCM stocks (8x) more often than Midwest Industries. BCM pistol grips are picked often, Midwest Industries's rarely.
Why Midwest Industries: The Combat Rail is 6061 aluminum with a Type 3 hard coat anodized finish and a heat treated 4140 barrel nut.
Shopper clicks: BCM wins
Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 79% went to BCM and 21% went to Midwest Industries.
The full record
Everything we track for Midwest Industries vs BCM, from builds, store listings and daily prices.
| Midwest Industries | BCM | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of builds | 9% | 37% |
| Price tier | Mid priced | Premium |
| Parts listed | 543 | 776 |
| Part types | 24 | 34 |
| Retailers carrying | 17 | 17 |
| In stock now | 68% | 82% |
| Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts | 12% higher | Flat |
| On sale now | None | None |
