|
|
12-02-2012, 09:57 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 186
Likes: 32
Liked 67 Times in 41 Posts
|
|
Bolt Carrier Group Coatings
Alright, so I searched the forum and didn't see anything. Searched the internet and didn't see anything definitive or combined.
Looking at buying or building a 300blk upper for my rifle so I figured now is a great time to upgrade the BCG in my regular .223 upper. I've heard great things about NiB coatings, but then I ran across TiN coatings and Diamond coatings. From what I understand, better natural lubricity and easier cleaning for all of them. How would you rank them though in terms of best to worst?
|
12-02-2012, 10:31 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Northern, MO
Posts: 203
Likes: 215
Liked 88 Times in 59 Posts
|
|
I have a Spike's Tactical Nickel Boron BCG. It cleans up great after a day at the range. They say it works without oil but before I head to the range I add a very small layer of oil. In fact that oil helps it clean up even better.
|
12-03-2012, 07:05 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Orange County, NY
Posts: 224
Likes: 91
Liked 196 Times in 104 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by LbulletM
Alright, so I searched the forum and didn't see anything. Searched the internet and didn't see anything definitive or combined.
Looking at buying or building a 300blk upper for my rifle so I figured now is a great time to upgrade the BCG in my regular .223 upper. I've heard great things about NiB coatings, but then I ran across TiN coatings and Diamond coatings. From what I understand, better natural lubricity and easier cleaning for all of them. How would you rank them though in terms of best to worst?
|
NiBx or TiN BCG is one of the last places I would spend $200 on an upgrade to an AR. A new build? Might give it a go, otherwise I just don't see the value. Approaching 1k rounds on my OR, not a very fastidious cleaner, never an issue.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-03-2012, 07:43 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: God's Country
Posts: 4,711
Likes: 1,235
Liked 3,535 Times in 1,770 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stebo
NiBx or TiN BCG is one of the last places I would spend $200 on an upgrade to an AR. A new build? Might give it a go, otherwise I just don't see the value. Approaching 1k rounds on my OR, not a very fastidious cleaner, never an issue.
|
Agreed. It's your money, spend it where you want. Old fashioned parkerizing and CLP work well for me.
The AR platform runs just fine if lubricated properly. It doesn't really have to even be cleaned that much.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-04-2012, 03:05 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 186
Likes: 32
Liked 67 Times in 41 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stebo
NiBx or TiN BCG is one of the last places I would spend $200 on an upgrade to an AR. A new build? Might give it a go, otherwise I just don't see the value. Approaching 1k rounds on my OR, not a very fastidious cleaner, never an issue.
|
It wouldn't be a strict upgrade. I'd be taking the old bolt (less than a thousand rounds) out of the .223 and using it exclusively in the 300blk upper and putting the new 'upgraded' bolt in the .223 upper in order to avoid the premature wear from swapping it back and forth.
|
12-04-2012, 09:53 AM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wylie, TX
Posts: 4,670
Likes: 1,075
Liked 3,823 Times in 2,040 Posts
|
|
Using the old bolt in the new upper is not recommended due to wear and headspace issues. I would just buy a new bolt for the new upper if it were me.
|
12-04-2012, 01:58 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ford, Ks
Posts: 4,216
Likes: 5,343
Liked 2,270 Times in 1,273 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by LbulletM
It wouldn't be a strict upgrade. I'd be taking the old bolt (less than a thousand rounds) out of the .223 and using it exclusively in the 300blk upper and putting the new 'upgraded' bolt in the .223 upper in order to avoid the premature wear from swapping it back and forth.
|
Explaining it like that makes perfect sense. Having a dedicated bolt to an upper is the safest and best way to go. Using a new barrel with a used bolt is acceptable. Using a used barrel with used bolt is not nor is it safe.
__________________
Grover Oathkeeper
|
12-04-2012, 02:23 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Northern, MO
Posts: 203
Likes: 215
Liked 88 Times in 59 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stebo
NiBx or TiN BCG is one of the last places I would spend $200 on an upgrade to an AR. A new build? Might give it a go, otherwise I just don't see the value. Approaching 1k rounds on my OR, not a very fastidious cleaner, never an issue.
|
So true it is a big expense for my Sport, but I am fastidious cleaner. I like keeping my AR clean after ever day out at the range, this BCG just makes it easier for me clean which I like a lot. I guess I was willing to spend the money for that and have a big wallet.
Last edited by Plazzman; 12-04-2012 at 02:25 PM.
|
12-05-2012, 11:45 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Greenwood, IN USA
Posts: 446
Likes: 18
Liked 67 Times in 49 Posts
|
|
I have an MOE (S&W) and with the exception of optics and a MI quad rail, it is as it came from the factory. I have put over a 1000 rounds of cheap Russian steel case ammo and close to that in brass case ammo and have not had a single bobble. I do keep it clean, but unless you really want to spend $200 + for the latest bolt, I would keep it as is.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-05-2012, 08:06 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ford, Ks
Posts: 4,216
Likes: 5,343
Liked 2,270 Times in 1,273 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyphertext
Using the old bolt in the new upper is not recommended due to wear and headspace issues. I would just buy a new bolt for the new upper if it were me.
|
You can safely use an old bolt in a new upper, the wear issues are in the locking lugs. The new uppers locking lugs will wear in to match the old bolt. The problem comes in when you take an old barrel extension that has worn into a bolt and then take an old bolt that has worn into a barrel extension and combine them. then you have locking and unlocking issues. As my gunsmith has told me headspace only really comes into the game when both items are not just used but well used, if they are used it becomes a rotational problem, if they are well used then you can have the headspace problem you mentioned.
__________________
Grover Oathkeeper
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-06-2012, 10:42 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 365
Likes: 2
Liked 112 Times in 68 Posts
|
|
The two main ones you see today are Nickel Boron and Ion Bond. Melonite will become more the norm soon I think.
Out of the three, I have seen more problem with Nickel Boron than the other two (FTE).
C4
__________________
S&W M&P Armorer
S&W LE Distr.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-06-2012, 02:29 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Northern, MO
Posts: 203
Likes: 215
Liked 88 Times in 59 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4IGrant
The two main ones you see today are Nickel Boron and Ion Bond. Melonite will become more the norm soon I think.
Out of the three, I have seen more problem with Nickel Boron than the other two (FTE).
C4
|
I have ran 3000 rounds are more through my Sport with Nickel Boron BCG. No jams, no flaking from the coating and no discoloring. Seems to work good for me. Besides my original BCG will not go to waste, I will use it on a new build.
|
12-06-2012, 02:38 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 365
Likes: 2
Liked 112 Times in 68 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Plazzman
I have ran 3000 rounds are more through my Sport with Nickel Boron BCG. No jams, no flaking from the coating and no discoloring. Seems to work good for me. Besides my original BCG will not go to waste, I will use it on a new build.
|
Oh, ya I have seen a lot of them work. I have two sitting on my desk that don't.
C4
__________________
S&W M&P Armorer
S&W LE Distr.
|
12-06-2012, 08:35 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Upper Midwest
Posts: 133
Likes: 13
Liked 43 Times in 30 Posts
|
|
The only coating on a bolt I have tested or tried is Robar Np3 and it works exactly as advertised. I have my VTAC bolt done with it and I have no regrets.
|
12-06-2012, 08:42 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 186
Likes: 32
Liked 67 Times in 41 Posts
|
|
Well with the assurance that the old bolt+new barrel would be fine (which I thought was correct from a thread someone put up a while ago) it was added to my Christmas list! Now just to build a .300 upper since the DSA one won't be guaranteed to ship for Christmas...
|
12-07-2012, 04:01 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Northern, MO
Posts: 203
Likes: 215
Liked 88 Times in 59 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4IGrant
Oh, ya I have seen a lot of them work. I have two sitting on my desk that don't.
C4
|
Sorry to here that. I have been using mine and had know trouble with it at all. Can you describe the reason why they are sitting on your desk? I guess I was one off the lucky ones. Who knows.
|
12-07-2012, 11:37 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 365
Likes: 2
Liked 112 Times in 68 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Plazzman
Sorry to here that. I have been using mine and had know trouble with it at all. Can you describe the reason why they are sitting on your desk? I guess I was one off the lucky ones. Who knows.
|
Yes I can. They do not work. We get FTE with them.
My guess is that the dimensions changed just enough to make an AR that ran, not.
C4
__________________
S&W M&P Armorer
S&W LE Distr.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|