Sons of Liberty vs BCM: AR-15 brands compared
BCM leads in 5 of 6 categories.
Sons of Liberty for muzzle devices. BCM for upper receivers, bolt carrier groups and buffer tubes.
From tens of thousands of real builds and live prices at 30+ retailers.
Our take
SOLGW makes duty style AR-15s in San Antonio and sells barrels, uppers, gas tubes and gas blocks on their own. SOCOM chose its MK1 for the Combat Assault Rifle program.
Lifetime warranty · SOCOM contract · Duty rifles
- Close to average prices
- Muzzle devices, picked 1.8x 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 13x as often
- Bolt carrier groups, picked 12x as often
Many builders mix them: 56% of Sons of Liberty builds add BCM, most often the bolt carrier group.
Biggest differences
"Picked" is the share of builds with that part that chose each brand.
| Sons of Liberty | BCM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price vs average | 19% cheaper | 24% pricier | Sons of Liberty cheaper |
| Share of builds | 5% | 37% | BCM 7x |
| Buffer tubes picked | 0.6% | 40% | BCM 67x |
| Handguards picked | 0.6% | 13% | BCM 21x |
| Uppers picked | 1.9% | 24% | BCM 13x |
| BCGs picked | 2.1% | 26% | BCM 12x |
| Muzzle devices picked | 5.7% | 3.1% | Sons of Liberty 1.8x |
Price: Sons of Liberty wins
For the same part, Sons of Liberty parts run 19% cheaper than average and BCM parts run 24% pricier than average.
Builder favorite: BCM wins
Sons of Liberty is in 5% of builds and BCM is in 37% of builds.
Receivers: BCM wins
Builders pick BCM lower receivers (1.7x) and upper receivers (13x) more often than Sons of Liberty.
Why BCM: BCM M4 uppers are machined from 7075-T6 forgings with a Type III hard coat anodized finish.
Internals: BCM wins
Builders pick BCM barrels (2.3x), bolt carrier groups (12x) and charging handles (17x) more often than Sons of Liberty. Builders pick Sons of Liberty muzzle devices (1.8x) more often than BCM. Gas blocks are about even.
Why BCM: The BCM bolt is Carpenter 158 steel, shot peened, high pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected.
Furniture: BCM wins
Builders pick BCM handguards (22x) more often than Sons of Liberty. BCM stocks and pistol grips are picked often, Sons of Liberty's rarely.
Shopper clicks: BCM wins
Of recent clicks through to a store for these brands, 63% went to BCM and 37% went to Sons of Liberty.
The full record
Everything we track for Sons of Liberty vs BCM, from builds, store listings and daily prices.
| Sons of Liberty | BCM | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of builds | 5% | 37% |
| Price tier | Mid priced | Premium |
| Parts listed | 562 | 776 |
| Part types | 29 | 34 |
| Retailers carrying | 16 | 17 |
| In stock now | 25% | 82% |
| Price change, 90 dayson the most picked parts | 6% higher | Flat |
| On sale now | None | None |
