Favorite flavor BCG for AR-15 build?

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PisgahPlinker

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I'm working on my first "build" from scratch and am a bit hung up on which BCG to choose. There are options from $50 to $500. Right now I'd be leaning toward a ~$75 toolcraft unit, but it's tough to cut through the BS with all the coating types, "enhanced" versions, full auto ratings, etc.

I do not anticipate having access to use on a full auto lower, but I'd like it to be plenty durable for years of semi auto use.

Does anyone have a strong recommendation? or am I trending in the right direction with the toolcraft?
 
AR15DISCOUNTS.COM had Toolcraft BCG’s that were DLC coated for around $125 not to long ago. DLC is an ion bond type coating that has excellent resistance to buildup and is pretty slick also. The good thing is AR15DISCOUNT.COM is a NC company who tries to keep stuff in stock and at a decent price.
 
I've personally seen 2 recent PSA bcgs that were out of spec. Not sure if toolcraft is making "all" of theirs or not. But I would not buy another PSA bcg.
 
Cole_McD said:
I've personally seen 2 recent PSA bcgs that were out of spec. Not sure if toolcraft is making "all" of theirs or not. But I would not buy another PSA bcg.
Click to expand...
What was out of spec?
there are several varieties of PSA BCGs, which flavor had the issue?
 
My understanding is that Toolcraft is the OEM for several other companies, including a few "high end" brands that people pay extra for. I have no complaints about my Toolcraft BCGs and never heard of any significant problems with them, but wouldn't be shocked if some lemons got cranked out during the covid + election scare.

Magnetic particle inspected and carpenter 158 steel bolts for durability.

Nitride will be easier to clean, more durable, and runs better with less lubrication, as it is naturally slicker. Although there's nothing "wrong" with phosphate, there's millions or tens of millions of phosphate BCGs holding up for long periods of time.

NiB looks cool, is naturally lubricious, and easier to clean, but sometimes has a tendency to discolor or flake away depending on how well it's coated.

Between nitride or phosphate I wouldn't feel bad about owning either one.
 
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booboo51 said:
What was out of spec?
there are several varieties of PSA BCGs, which flavor had the issue?
Click to expand...
One has extreme wear a long the cam pin path and has become overly loose within a hundred rounds of so.

The other one appears to have an out of spec carrier. It's shedding gas rings and new gas rings are obnoxiously tight.
 
Cole_McD said:
One has extreme wear a long the cam pin path and has become overly loose within a hundred rounds of so.

The other one appears to have an out of spec carrier. It's shedding gas rings and new gas rings are obnoxiously tight.
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I’d be interested to see pictures of the cam pin path and the bore of the carrier, I’d suspect the carrier bore may have a poor surface finish. Unfortionately the hyperlink I had to the drawings is dead now or else I’d share them so you could compare numbers, assuming you had the gauges to inspect.

If anyone hasn’t seen the SOTAR bolt physical/autopsy Videos then I highly suggest you check them out.

Regardless, the Microbest BCG that PSA offers is a top-tier product.… some of the others they offer may not be up to par, but that specific product is.
 
I prefer nitride Toolcraft and NiB Failzero, both full auto profile for the added mass. That said, I use everything from PSA & Combat Armory, to BCM & LMT with no issues.
 
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booboo51 said:

try and find a better deal
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Got a Geissele M4A1 BCG from Primary Arms a couple weeks ago for $99. Same exact specs as this. As long as it’s tested and inspected, the gas key is staked properly, and it’s got the finish you want…hard to go wrong. However, if you’re a high volume or suppressed shooter, one with a coating might be a good option


I really like Rainier Arms’ BCG:
www.rainierarms.com

Rainier Arms AR-15 Precision Match Grade BCG - Nitride

Rainier Arms AR-15 Precision Match Grade BCG - Nitride The Rainier Arms Precision Match Grade Phosphate BCG - 5.56 Nitride is machined and finished to a higher standard to meet and exceed all Mil Spec. It is machined using the most precise equipment in th
www.rainierarms.com www.rainierarms.com

Thoroughbred Armament’s in house BCGs, whether phosphate or nitrided are also very good. Never used a PVD coated one but I imagine it cleans up easily.

Bolt Carrier Groups and Components

Bolt Carrier Groups BCG
www.thoroughbredarmco.com


CMC has a nice enhanced BCG out now but my absolute favorite, and why they discontinued it I do not know, is the hard chrome M16 BCG by Daniel Defense. Doesn’t tarnish like Nickel Boron, is slicker than goose crap on a fairway at Augusta National…
danieldefense.com

Complete Bolt Carrier Group, Chrome Plated(5.56mm)

Daniel Defense 5.56 NATO (5.56x45mm & .223 Remington) / 300 Blackout (7.62x35mm) chrome plated, full-auto compatible, M16 Profile, complete bolt carrier group assembly.
danieldefense.com danieldefense.com
 
I'm currently split between the DLC and chrome BCG camps ATM. Both cleanup easily and with the exception of a very small chip on one of my DLC carriers the wear seems nonexistent without any weird discoloration or staining common to other finishes.

One of the DLC carriers gets beat on pretty good in an upper that is used exclusively on a FA lower. Primary Arms chrome BCG's are manufactured by Microbest and since DD no longer offers them is arguably the best chrome option available.

I think PSA offers good value but the only out of spec BCG I've ever dealt with was a PSA, it wouldn't trip the sear in a M16 lower, their CS made things right and exchanged it. Not bashing them as I do buy from them.
 
I’ve transitioned all my newer builds to Toolcraft, no issues out of any of the PSA I’ve owned previously

Honestly I just search around to see who has what on sale and buy the one I prefer that’s currently the cheapest
 
So far to date, my favorite is a toss between JPLomos and Cryptic. I have about 3k rds on my current Cryptic and will absolutely buy another. Has been a toss-up on the easiest BCG to clean and run suppressed so its quickly becoming my favorite. I also have a couple of Young manufacturing Chrome that are my trusty reliable go-tos. I always try and budget out on my hard use guns for a quality BCG its worth it-

I typically run M16 BCG not AR15 cut. Tho I do have one skeleton cut Spikes. If you can pick up a cheaper DD, BCM, Fail Zero, WMD they are decent too. I'm not a huge fan of the Aero bcgs and I have one Lantac that is okay but not worth the covid /current sale price I paid to have it. I've seen two Aeros out of spec and one crazy cam failure. If it were me and it was going into a build I was planning on keeping or upgrading I would personally be looking at Young Manfacturing, CrypticCoatings or JP based on my own use and experience the extra cost is worth it for me.
 
Putting together a Sharps DLC carrier with a NP3 bolt and gas key right now. Hopefully it will be a nice combo for a dirty 300blk
 
PisgahPlinker said:
I'm working on my first "build" from scratch and am a bit hung up on which BCG to choose. There are options from $50 to $500. Right now I'd be leaning toward a ~$75 toolcraft unit, but it's tough to cut through the BS with all the coating types, "enhanced" versions, full auto ratings, etc.

I do not anticipate having access to use on a full auto lower, but I'd like it to be plenty durable for years of semi auto use.

Does anyone have a strong recommendation? or am I trending in the right direction with the toolcraft?
Click to expand...
Snagged a brt bcg a while ago and will be switching over to them completely. Super well done and slick as greased crap on ice
 
I just keep the BCG that came with the rifle when I bought it. My DD ARs have DD BCGs. My Radians have Radian BCGs. ZEV has ZEV BCG, etc etc. One day when I finally get my KAC it'll have a KAC BCG. If I were doing an Aero build I'd do an Aero BCG. Pretty much the only BCGs I'd bother changing that for would be the LMT, Geissele or JP BCGs because those are spiffy. I figure, keep the BCG in the same quality vein as the rest of the rifle by just sticking to the same manufacturer as the rest of the rifle/upper. Unimaginative I know, but I haven't had any problems going this route yet, knock on wood.
 
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Don't think you will find a much better value than this. Toolcraft nitride for $69

ar15discounts.com

Toolcraft .223/5.56/300BLK M16 Profile Bolt Carrier Group - Black Nitride

The Toolcraft 5.56x45/.223/.300BO M16 Profile MPI Inspected Bolt Carrier Groups features a Black Nitride finish, 8620 Steel Bolt Carrier, 9310 Steel Bolt, Mil-Spec chromed firing pins, Mil-Spec gas keys with Grade-8 staked screws that are sealed w/ Permatex No.3, and shot-peened case-hardened D2...
ar15discounts.com ar15discounts.com
 
The toolcrafts are real nice with the c158 bolts and dlc coating and often show up on sale. I've got a faxon TiN that I love. Cleans so easily and is quite slick. I think I got it for around 150. The BEST I have is a sionics and it was quite expensive. Don't know what the coating is, but dang is it slick and you can wipe the thing clean without even using clp. I use it in my suppressed 300blk and wish I had one for all my rifles. I want to say it was in the $300 range.
 
PSA has Toolcraft in Nickle Boron on sale this weekend for $79.90.
I've never had one but I'm about to see how well they do since I ordered 2 of them.

eta; Mods tagged my thread along to this one. 👍 It does fit well here.
 
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I can’t say I’ve had a problem with anything I’ve tried, but I’m partial to the sionics, especially the NP3 version. Cleans up easily.
 
Aero, BCM, FN, Colt, you can't go wrong with. And they can be found at reasonable price points if you shop around. Like any other component, buy quality at the beginning, saves the head ache later.
 
It depends on what the intended purpose is for the rifle but I am going to assume you are looking to build an all around 16” M4 ish style rifle.
I would look at Aero Precision and Faxon, bot I have used with good results. Both are priced in the $140 range so budget friendly.
Other choices like BCM you will be happy with as well but I think after the $150 price point you are getting diminishing returns.
 
Always had good luck out of Toolcrafts until the last one I bought.Fit so tight in two separate uppers that I had to force it in.Tried to get a refund or replacement and got the run around and never got it replaced or a refund.I’ve since switched all mine over to FailZero and have had no issues for several thousand rounds.
 
Toolcraft. NC made, lifetime warranty.
 
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