TFB Review: BCM ARMK2 RECCE 14

The AR-15 is undisputedly America’s rifle. With that title comes a host of companies offering their version of Eugene Stoner’s masterpiece, enough to breed a constant onslaught of inquiries as to which is best for the money. While I don’t claim authority on the subject, I have shot and appreciated the AR-15 for over three decades and worked for a manufacturer personally. I’d need more than two hands to count how many companies you can get a fantastic rifle from, but this isn’t one of my “Top 10” lists. This is me choosing one brand of rifle I have always been able to depend on, having everything I need, no silly gimmicks, and knowing that the tool I purchased punches considerably above the price I paid. Without further ado, the Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) MK2 RECCE 14.

A Little History

BCM was founded by United States Marine veteran Paul Buffoni in 2003. Like many great American companies, the dream would have its humble beginning in the basement of his home. At a time when the AR-15 market was nowhere near what it is today, dominated by Armalite, Bushmaster, and Colt, Buffoni saw the need to develop high-quality parts to military specifications for use by overseas contractors, law enforcement officers and law-abiding Americans who take personal responsibility for the preservation of life. Buffoni doesn’t see his firearms as sporting gear but as part of a life-saving industry. There is no such thing as “good enough” in the halls of BCM’s Wisconsin-based facility as the company is a powerhouse of quality control, making it their moral obligation to enhance the capabilities and survivability of the modern warfighter.

Backed by its network of BCM Gunfighters, a program formalized over 15 years ago, the company benefits from information provided by former military professionals and current tactical trainers, turning field testing and feedback into genuine product development. Since BCM products are designed for the defensive space, the company promotes end-user training as much as its products, oftentimes more. 

In 2022, Bravo Company was reorganized as an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program) company, where Paul continues as CEO, but employees benefit from and actively partake in the company’s success. This program formally molds the folks at BCM into a team that thrives by focusing on the end-user. And there lies a window into BCM’s quality control apparatus.

The Rifle

The BCM RECCE 14 follows a familiar pattern I look for personally in a firearm. It is that old faithful, straightforward AR-15 that focuses its attention on a high level of functionality and performance, so much so that it doesn’t require any distractions to make it stand out.

Lower Receiver

The receiver set is machined from 7075-T6 Aluminum Forgings and Hardcoat Type III Anodized to military specification. Its low shelf facilitates installation of an auto sear and accommodates an Accuwedge, which I could never see myself using as fit from the factory is nothing short of perfect. BCM’s mil-spec 7075-T6 receiver extension houses a USGI H Buffer and is secured by a staked M4 castle nut.

The RECCE 14 ships from the factory with BCM’s PNT (Polished - Nickel - Teflon) Trigger Assembly. Modern manufacturing combined with aerospace coatings ensures longevity in the precision machined investment cast trigger and hammer following military specifications for the M16/M4 family of rifles. The trigger and hammer undergo a 3-step heat treatment and case hardening process, optimizing grain structure alignment for strength and wear resistance. Sear engagement surfaces are ground and hand-polished with a combination of electroless nickel finish with Teflon-embedded particles, creating a slick, corrosion, rust, and oxidation-resistant reduction in friction beyond anything you’d expect from a mil-spec trigger.

How does it feel? This single-stage trigger operates without discernable creep and has a crisp, consistent break with an almost immediate tactile reset. I couldn’t find my trigger gauge to test the pull weight, but my educated guess is between 5 and 5.5 lbs. This is a fighting rifle, and the trigger delivers all the performance I could ask for while remaining deliberate. Fire controls follow the “keep it simple”mil-spec pattern, something I am thankful for as I’m still haunted by customer service calls and emails about lost or broken ambidextrous selectors in a former life.

Moving on to furniture, the MOD 4 reduced grip angle is a simple feature you’ll see on countless AR-15s as a common upgrade but comes standard on the RECCE 14. BCM has also applied a comfortable yet aggressive texture, getting into fine details to enable exacting fire control ergonomics. Additionally, the BCM MOD 0 SOPMOD lightweight stock is rock-solid with zero play on the receiver extension, providing a pronounced cheekweld and contoured design that is comfortable and prevents snagging on gear. The stock also features ambidextrous QD swivel sockets and a modular VBOST (Vehicle Borne Operations Sling Tab) that interfaces with a band or bungee to secure your sling when the rifle is not in use, a common application when operating inside a vehicle.

Upper Receiver

The BCM MK2 upper receiver is everything you’d expect, from M4 feed ramps to its laser T-markings, with quality control following the same meticulous pattern. The MK2 improves upon the mil-spec M4, increasing rigidity by repositioning the forward assist to beef up the ejection port area of the receiver and modifying the internal design to minimize barrel deflection, increasing accuracy and harmonic performance.

These advancements encouraged optimization of the MK2 charging handle, featuring upper, lower, and side exhaust channels venting gas away from the shooter. The new design also eliminates load on the pivot pin, concentrating energy on the centerline and providing a smooth engagement surface with no pinch points to induce snagging and malfunctions during manipulation. Each MK2 charging handle is manufactured from mil-spec grade forgings and machined from 7075-T6 aluminum with a hardcoat Type III anodized finish.

The full-auto bolt carrier features a parkerized exterior and chrome-lined interior, including a chrome-lined mil-spec gas key that is heat-treated and secured to the carrier via USGI domestic

Grade 8 fasteners and staked per military specification. The bolt is machined from mil-spec Carpenter 158 Steel, shot peened, and HPT/MPI (High-Pressure Tested/Magnetic Particle Inspected) for increased strength and longevity, including a tool steel machined extractor, ejector, and a BCM-specified extractor spring, increasing extractor tension and maintaining reliability. Of course, all BCM Bolt Carrier Groups are test-fired at the factory to ensure consistency and quality control.

The bolt carrier group combines with the barrel, creating the heart of any AR-15. BCM uses independently certified mil-spec 11595E steel with a Manganese Phosphate finish protecting the 14.5” 1:7 twist government profile barrel. Each USGI 5.56mm NATO barrel features chrome lining throughout the bore and chamber and is also high-pressure tested and magnetic particle inspected. The rifle’s mid-length gas system aptly reduces felt recoil while improving reliability with any ammunition, reducing component wear, increasing longevity, and making it a solid choice for shooters who don’t wish to compromise between manageability and functionality.

Capping off the MK2 RECCE 14 is a BCM MOD 3 compensator with cleverly tuned slots and ports that do an excellent job with both recoil mitigation and flash signature reduction. The MOD 3 is designed to minimize side pressure and create less noise than that of a typical compensator, and in the case of the RECCE 14, it is pinned and welded to give the barrel a legal 16” length, avoiding pistol and SBR red tape.

While the MOD 3 does exactly what it states and does it well, it was the only aspect of the rifle I chose to alter, permanently affixing a Surefire 3-Prong flash hider to the end of the barrel as my choice of suppressor adaptor. I know I must sound like a broken record to frequent readers as I complain about the tinnitus in both of my ears, but it’s a tough reality to live with and one I choose to address by suppressing pretty much every firearm I come in contact with. Sticking with my old faithful ways, I chose the Surefire SOCOM RC2, a rugged suppressor that has never let me down and that I am sure will outlast me. I encourage everyone who lives where it is legal to pursue your passion and protect your hearing at the same time to check out the Surefire SOCOM RC2.

 While I wouldn’t call myself a warfighter, I’ll confess to LARPing pretty hard around the ranch, patrolling the fence line, taking a stroll through the woods and pastures, clearing the barns, and generally having fun, even when the weather dips below zero as it has for this review. It’s important to note that stealth is a key factor when navigating around the chicken coop during nap time, and the silence from the lack of a single rattle in the RECCE 14 is almost deafening.

Like a child ripping his toy from the wrapping, I was quick to mount an optic, light, and my RC2, heading out into the South Dakota winter and dismissing the idea that moving parts may need a bit of oil to function properly. Spoiler alert: the BCM MK2 RECCE 14 didn’t care. I ran a combination of 56gr FMJ, HOP (House Of Payne) Munitions 55gr FMJ, and AAC 77gr OTM without a single hiccup.

As I type this, it is -7 degrees Fahrenheit outside, which is great when you mean to treat a rifle inhospitably and see how it does, but it is not ideal for any bench-type shooting. Nonetheless, I did try to get some data while out in the blistering cold. With the rifle as warm as it would be from shooting steel and my LARPing shenanigans, I took the MK2 RECCE 14 out on two different yet equally chilly days, once with the Elcan Specter 1x/4x and next with the 1-10X MIL-R SFP LPVO and GPM mount from Griffin Armament. Both ran great, but if I’m being honest, I’ll take the added magnification and built-in diopter of the LPVO for the win. 

I gave myself one magazine of AAC 77gr OTM to shoot from the bench, sparing myself the seated position for too long and trips back and forth to the target while my eyelashes froze and broke off one by one. It performed remarkably well, with my best 5-shot group at 100 yards breaking the sub-MOA barrier at .9”, my worst opening up to 1.3”, and a 10-shot group opening up to just a hair under 1.5”, which would have been 1.2” if it wasn’t for a single flier, that or I was shivering and pulled the shot. Next year I’m building a heated shack to shoot from!

The frigid cold made the entire experience a bit taxing despite the calming effect that comes over you in the pristine nature, but the BCM RECCE 14 is as good as it gets for an outdoor companion. The well-tuned mid-length gas system kept me on target for fast follow-up shots on steel, even out past 200 yards, and I appreciate whatever fairy dust BCM uses to ensure the MK2’s manners, as the rifle hardly spits any gas back into my face, even when shooting bill drills. The RECCE 14 gas system is reliable under adverse conditions without sacrificing a smooth shooting experience, and it shines in the fact that it is idiot-proof, running suppressed and unsuppressed, with no discernable need for an adjustable gas system and one more thing to remember.

The BCM MCMR handguard is another part of this rifle I enjoy. While I don’t think I’d complain about any amount of heat coming off the gun in this review, I have to say that it is a well-vented handguard with plenty of M-LOK slots on seven sides, which I much prefer to tons of lightening cuts that honestly go too far on some rifles and never feel right in the hand. The MCMR is quite the opposite, as its diminutive circumference and smooth consistent feel make it a pleasure to handle with and without gloves. Speaking of gloves, BCM also provides an enlarged trigger guard to facilitate that cold weather gear. I’m throwing my recommendation in on BCM’s vertical grip to go with the rifle, and yes, I know I mount it backward, but it works great as a hand stop and helps drive the buttstock back into my shoulder for a solid shooting platform.

BCM says their rifles are professional-grade life-saving tools. I’ve got no argument there. Throw away your tier charts and cast aside thoughts of anything bougie because the BCM MK2 RECCE 14 is all business. Here’s one of the best parts. This no-compromise, no-frills, straight-to-the-point, everything-you-need, and nothing-you-don’t high-performance rifle you can depend on sells for $1695. While that is still a healthy chunk of change, my experience with BCM is that you not only get what you pay for, but you get a hell of a lot more, especially when it comes to quality and peace of mind, both of which come standard in the box.

If you want to know just how much I love this rifle, at the end of the shooting portion of this review, I called them and bought myself a second. Two is one, one is none!