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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Grover Oathkeeper

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.

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.

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.

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Grover Oathkeeper

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

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S&W M&P Armorer
S&W LE Distr.

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

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S&W M&P Armorer
S&W LE Distr.

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.

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...

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

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S&W M&P Armorer
S&W LE Distr.