I just purchased a S&W M&P15 chambered for 5.56x45. This is the first AR i've bought. I want to take the factory BCG out and replace it with a fully chromed one not just chrome lined. Will any BCG with the gas key work or do I have to hunt down one specific to the M&P15? Also, does anybody have a suggestion on a particular brand or website that sells the best ones? Thanks for any help or suggestions you guys can give me. I appreciate it.

__________________
--Dexter K

A BCG is a BCG, regardless of what rifle you're putting it into. When you find one, buy it, and it will work.

Personal Opinion:

But why do you want a chrome one? The special coatings makes a negligible contribution to overall performance or functionality. Instead of getting a chrome one, consider getting a M16 BCG with a standard coating, along with an appropriate action spring and buffer. You'll be much happier.

__________________
*Aim small, miss small...

Better yet, upgrade to a great trigger. The stock, chrome lined BCG is more than "good enough" for a semi auto AR. The trigger will actually make it a better rifle.

The M&P15 is just an AR-15 made by S&W. If you need parts, simply shop for AR-15 parts.

Why? Since this is your first AR-15, where did you read that you need to do something as expensive and unnecessary as replace the BCG? The one that came in your M&P 15 is fine.

Why would installing a M16 BCG in an AR15 be advantageous? What's the advantage of installing a bolt from a full-auto rifle into a semi-auto rifle?

I'm not being sarcastic or facetious in any way, I really am curious to know why.

A FA bolt carrier is slightly heavier than a SA carrier. Some people feel this improves the timing of the action and very slightly improves reliability. Additionally, some older SA carriers did not fully shroud the firing pin. All FA carriers shroud and protect the firing pin during the entire cycle of the action.

^ Thank you sir for providing me with another piece of information I didn't have!

Dragon knows........ quite a bit!!!

I agree with the trigger vs BCG sentiment. You'd have to be a heathen to really work over a BCG in say 3 years' time. They are made of some very tough materials.

What dragon88 said. In addition, it smooths out the recoil pulse. Of course, changing to a mid-length or rifle-length barrel would help in this regard even more (not to mention improving the sight radius for iron sight usage).

MPDC suggested a trigger change, and that's a good idea too, but you can also get away with just changing to JP yellow springs, and the trigger will improve a lot just by doing that.

So there you have it - three better mods than changing to a fully chrome BCG.

0) M16 BCG with action spring/buffer

1) Trigger (cheapest if you just change springs)

2) Mid-length barrel (the most expensive of the three, because you also have to change hand guard and gas tube)

For what it's worth, I've done the JP yellow springs and M16 BCG to my M&P15, and I like it. My next change will be to a mid-length barrel. I already have a mid-length MOE hand guard for it, but I might just get a floater instead.

__________________
*Aim small, miss small...

If you just got the rifle, and it's you're first AR, why do you want to change anything, yet? How many rounds have you put through it? My advice would be to not change anything untill you've used the rifle enough to become comfortable enough with it to know what you want to change or improve. My sons love to mod' their weapons (usually just for showing off). I make them wait till they've put at least 1000 rounds through it before changing anything. And a fully chromed bolt carrier assembly only accomplishes showing off. Congrats on the new rifle.