Anyone getting in on these? Fostech echo!

[Sten]

I just received my Gen 3 BFS. Tested with a .22 upper and 5.56 upper. Worked fantastic, much better than my expectations. In comparison to my M16 it's probably as fast or possibly faster. I don't have a shot clock to compare yet. I haven't tried it with the 7.62x39 or 5.7 upper, but that's next on the list. Overall very easy to install and functions much better than a slide-fire type mechanism. Have not shot for accuracy, but I'm expecting it to be similar to the M16.

 

[supperman]

Pair an Aim surplus lightweight BCG and Wolf extra power buffer spring with that bfs3....and watch your ROF hit 900s

 

[Z06]

My 10.3" LE6945CQB upper runs like a raped ape with the heavier spring that shipped with the BFS III. Very accurate too. The 11.5" upper ran very well too but was a bit harder to keep on target. Next test is my Rick Keuhl 5.5" SS HB .22 kit. Can't wait!

This set up has turned out to be a GREAT fill-in for the M16A1 I sold.

 

[Sten]

Yah, I might have not purchased my M16 if this had come out a few years ago....but still, pretty happy either way. Just installed the heavier spring, will try it on my 10" POF and see. So far it worked with the current spring, but we'll see what more power brings. I'm anticipating a higher rate of fire. I love the flexibility of black lego guns....mix and match and all kinds of fun. How do you like that RK .22 kit? I've never seen one. Made due by building a custom 4.5" dedicated upper which works pretty well, 95% reliable so far. For some reason, .22 is just finicky sometimes.

 

[Concorde]

I like that my Franklin BFS 3-equipped lower stays "complete" with its higher power buffer spring regardless of what upper I put on it, where with the Fostech Echo you have to move the special bolt carrier assembly around with every upper. Not a *big* deal, but still an extra step with the Echo.

 

[Z06]

How do you like that RK .22 kit? I've never seen one.

In 2002 (when I first got my M16) I went nuts buying different caliber/bbl. length uppers to run in FA.
In PHX we have the annual 3-day SAR gun show featuring the "kings" of Title II stuff, guns and EVERYTHING that you could want to go with them for sale. I met Rick at this show and ordered a custom configured upper from him a year or two later. Turns out it was one of the very last units he ever made.
His upper was really fun on the 16 and always a requested item when letting family & friends shoot FA. Later I had 2 UZI SMGs and an AC556K that had .22 kits that got MORE use than the RK/16 set up. So the RK languished in the safe for years. Now with my new SBR/BFS3 combo the Keuhl is coming out to play. I'll report back after a range trip.

 

[Sten]

Took a friend out today for him to see how it worked and he was very impressed. We tried .300 Blk in Sub and super, more .22, .223, .45, 7.62x39 and 9mm.
Seems to work with everything we could install as an upper. He's going to get one and install in his MGI Hydra. Great day shooting, apart from all the melting snow and rain.

 

[West_Texas_King]

with the Fostech Echo you have to move the special bolt carrier assembly around with every upper. Not a *big* deal, but still an extra step with the Echo.

You can modify any M16 carrier to work with the Echo.
So unless you have an M16/DIAS hanging around, you can set up all your AR uppers to work with the Echo.

 

[mikillium]

Mine came in Friday! I had preordered April 15 last year. It's pretty damn cool. Was 12 degrees this weekend here in Texas so I spent most time hunting. I had a chance to run a few mags and take some pics. Someone email me who can post stuff and I'll send it to you to put up, I can't ever seem to get links to work.

 

[mikillium]

I'll try to post
http://vid1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb363/mikillium/IMG_1426.mp4

 

[Concorde]

I have some custom lowers being made under our FFL, specifically for our builds with Fostech or Franklin binary triggers...
the selector markings are "SAFE - FIRE - FRENZY" and we're putting our stylized "Dragonfire" logo on them. It seems appropriate.

They should be through anodizing and here in about 3 weeks.

 

[yzfchet]

I've been following this thread for the last year (Happy Birthday, thread!!) and I can't get an accurate feel as to which of the 2 now-available units is best for AR-15/5.56mm application: the Franklin Armory BFSIII or the Fostech Echo trigger groups.

The Fostech has a 6 month backlog right now and the BFSIII has a 6 week backlog. That's one plus/minus attribute to compare, but what about actual everyweek use? Especially for you guys that owned RR M16s previously or currently.

* Which unit has more precise control?
* Am I correct in understanding that both units can be enabled for single shot only via selector lever?
* Which unit is the most reliable? i.e. doesn't in and of itself cause misfeed or misfire of FTE due to timing?

It's time I spent some gun money, and your comments have convinced me that this is where it should be thrown. Now, which one??

Thanks!

 

[89lx]

I thought this was a good video comparison of the two. Full disclosure, I have the Echo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5NGraApjL0

And full, full disclosure. I have two Echos with a third on back-order. I also have an RLL that I use in several hosts.

Watch the video.

 

[BlackBelt]

Just an update for anyone who missed it, Fostech upgraded the Echo to the 2nd generation version so that it now doesnt require the special bolt carrier from Fostech. It does require a full-auto bolt carrier to function correctly.

They redesigned it, and those of us with the older Echo units can buy the upgraded piece and swap it out ourselves for $25 + $6 shipping.

My Echo doesnt run well enough for me to justify spending any more money on it.
I took it out of my AR and installed the Franklin Armory BFS-3 and have had no issues with it.

 

[taymag]

Yah, I might have not purchased my M16 if this had come out a few years ago....but still, pretty happy either way. Just installed the heavier spring, will try it on my 10" POF and see. So far it worked with the current spring, but we'll see what more power brings. I'm anticipating a higher rate of fire. I love the flexibility of black lego guns....mix and match and all kinds of fun. How do you like that RK .22 kit? I've never seen one. Made due by building a custom 4.5" dedicated upper which works pretty well, 95% reliable so far. For some reason, .22 is just finicky sometimes.

Shhhhhhh.. I'm sitting over here reading comments waiting on my first m16 to be approved ound hahahah

 

[marcoc]

Always wanted an AR that goes pew, pew, pew so I put in the Echo in a SOPMOD Blockhead build. It's somewhat a fix but not quite the real thing.

 

[Concorde]

Just an update for anyone who missed it, Fostech upgraded the Echo to the 2nd generation version so that it now doesnt require the special bolt carrier from Fostech. It does require a full-auto bolt carrier to function correctly. They redesigned it, and those of us with the older Echo units can buy the upgraded piece and swap it out ourselves for $25 + $6 shipping.

Thanks for the info -- I subsequently ordered and just received that upgraded part.

 

[Hey...]

I'm able to bump fire a standard AR from the shoulder almost perfectly.

If I have a BFS binary trigger, I'm thinking I'm going to definitely have hammer follow, and if I use the Echo I may actually not get full-auto effect because the 2nd shot binary timing while competing with my bump fire will cause the sear to hold and I miss the timing window.... so in effect I wont be able to bump fire while in binary.

Curious to know if anyone has ever tried to bump fire from the hip while set on binary.

 

[Mackjack]

Ordered echo 2 Sunday. Shipped Wednesday. Hopefully have Friday or Saturday. Not really a wait time anymore.

 

[89lx]

Not really a wait time anymore.

That's good to hear.