Several times I've helped others with their BC-611s.  Range was always limited, but in some cases of extra-poor range, I recall checking the alignment and finding it way off.  I think the radio had previously been on some other frequency and the only thing that had been done was to put crystals in it for ops on 3885 kHz.  Once tuned up they ran much better. 

Oh, and in one instance, the crystals had been changed but not the associated coil which was for a different range if memory serves  (and alignment was off)