AR-15: BCM vs NiB Coated BCG

[Blu Falcon]

I recently scored a great deal on a full chrome RRA BCG from a member of this forum and I'm very pleased with the performance so far. It's currently being treated with Froglube and I hope to get a lot of miles off of it. I'm looking to upgrade the BCG on another AR and I've narrowed the choice down to the BCM BCG or a Nickel Boron coated type such as the WMD. Looking to get opinions from folks who have owned or used both. I realize that there is a noticeable price gap and I have heard folks say that an NiB coated BCG is really not worth the extra cost, while others claim otherwise. This will be a buy once, cry once investment for my next AR, so all opinions are welcome. Thanks.

 

[iHasCrabs]

I've purchased a couple bcm bcg this year and really like them, I might sell my nib spikes and WMD and switch to all bcm.

 

[Blu Falcon]

I've purchased a couple bcm bcg this year and really like them, I might sell my nib spikes and WMD and switch to all bcm.

I've read tons about the superior quality of the BCM BCGs. So in your opinion, the NiB coating really doesn't make that big a difference other than facilitate the ease of cleaning and perhaps smoother cycling?

 

[iHasCrabs]

I've read tons about the superior quality of the BCM BCGs. So in your opinion, the NiB coating really doesn't make that big a difference other than facilitate the ease of cleaning and perhaps smoother cycling?

I haven't put high round counts through my bcm or spikes nib in between cleanings but they both seem to wipe off easily, I run them with slip ewl. They both run well, bcm being a lot cheaper and I've never heard a complaint about them. A few friends who have taken high round count round classes and they have been dominated by bcm uppers and bcg and all ran perfect.


Edit: if your close to Balt county Westminster or owings mills and want to borrow a bcm and nib bcg for a weekend or whatever your more then welcome to run them

 

[JoeBobOutfitters.com]

BCM, LMT, Spike's, and handfuls of other companies make GTG BCG's. The NiB BCG's such as the WMD BCG are just an upgraded premium BCG. They are very smooth in operation and clean up a bit easier. I'd say the upgraded lubricity and hardness of the NiB is the advantage over the standard phosphate BCG. I really don't care if a BCG is harder or easier to clean, but I DO want it to work for a long time reliability.

Pick whichever BCG you want, as most name brand BCG's will serve you well. The WMD, Spike's, etc will just be a bit blingier and self lubricating. IMO, I like the NiB BCG's. I was always on the fence until actually using one. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it is definitely an upgrade. Much more of an upgrade than hard chrome, IMO.

 

[Blu Falcon]

I haven't put high round counts through my bcm or spikes nib in between cleanings but they both seem to wipe off easily, I run them with slip ewl. They both run well, bcm being a lot cheaper and I've never heard a complaint about them. A few friends who have taken high round count round classes and they have been dominated by bcm uppers and bcg and all ran perfect.


Edit: if your close to Balt county Westminster or owings mills and want to borrow a bcm and nib bcg for a weekend or whatever your more then welcome to run them

Thanks. Not very close to that area, but will consider the offer if I can find time to make it up that way.

BCM, LMT, Spike's, and handfuls of other companies make GTG BCG's. The NiB BCG's such as the WMD BCG are just an upgraded premium BCG. They are very smooth in operation and clean up a bit easier. I'd say the upgraded lubricity and hardness of the NiB is the advantage over the standard phosphate BCG. I really don't care if a BCG is harder or easier to clean, but I DO want it to work for a long time reliability.

Pick whichever BCG you want, as most name brand BCG's will serve you well. The WMD, Spike's, etc will just be a bit blingier and self lubricating. IMO, I like the NiB BCG's. I was always on the fence until actually using one. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it is definitely an upgrade. Much more of an upgrade than hard chrome, IMO.

I was thinking long term reliability as well. I think in a no s**t real world SHTF scenario I'd want something that will get me through the fight without having to worry about gun maintenance in the thick of it all. I've been in such situations during my combat tours and don't want ever want a gun failing on me when I need it most. Hence, my initial leaning toward the NiB treated carriers. But then again I figured a good quality BCM that has been properly cared for should perform equally as reliable in such a scenario. I honestly don't think I can go wrong either way, but I do appreciate the real world feedback from users. A buddy of mine I work with, and who is an avid recreational shooter and gun enthusiasts, flat out thinks the NiB carriers aren't worth the extra coin. I've handled them and can see the benefit of such an upgrade. Thanks guys.

 

[ColonelHurtz]

None of those coatings are going to keep your gas key from coming loose or the bolt cracking at the cam pin hole after high round counts. Get a quality MPI tested bolt and lube it properly then shoot away. Those coatings are an expensive extravagance on a service rifle like an AR. AR's shit where they eat.
Your AR will run dirty as long as it is wet and obsessing over carbon on a non-critical, non-bearing surface like the bolt tail is a waste of time.

Spend your money on ammo and optics or apply the cost of that bolt to a good trigger.

 

[RW2111]

TiN Coating is also nice

 

[Kingjamez]

I'm a cheapskate, but after having a couple NiB-X BCG's I'll probably never buy a phosphate BCG again. The cost difference is marginal and the difference in the smoothness of the action is real. The clean up after a long day at the range is also much shorter making it a worthwhile investment for the cleaning time savings alone.

-Jim

 

[Blu Falcon]

None of those coatings are going to keep your gas key from coming loose or the bolt cracking at the cam pin hole after high round counts. Get a quality MPI tested bolt and lube it properly then shoot away. Those coatings are an expensive extravagance on a service rifle like an AR. AR's shit where they eat.
Your AR will run dirty as long as it is wet and obsessing over carbon on a non-critical, non-bearing surface like the bolt tail is a waste of time.

Spend your money on ammo and optics or apply the cost of that bolt to a good trigger.

I'm a cheapskate, but after having a couple NiB-X BCG's I'll probably never buy a phosphate BCG again. The cost difference is marginal and the difference in the smoothness of the action is real. The clean up after a long day at the range is also much shorter making it a worthwhile investment for the cleaning time savings alone.

-Jik

And these are the types of opposing views I was hoping to weigh one against the other. I guess it boils down to what you want in terms of performance. Whether that be a BCG that would survive a nuclear holocaust/alien invasion/zombie apocalypse or a one that would facilitate the ease of operation an maintenance. I suppose if you really want the best of both worlds you could buy the BCM and then send it off to WMD to have it NiB coated. So glad we at least have that choice to make.

Honestly, I don't mind putting in some work while cleaning a BCG. I've done it for over 17 years and counting while on active duty. But just like the wash and wear uniforms and suede boots, I welcome anything that saves times and requires low maintenance if it proves practical.

I've seen a lot of things break in my career, but I've never seen a broken bolt carrier. Other parts of the BCG sure, but not the carrier itself. The RRA I just picked up appears just as rock solid as any I've ever used and I don't anticipate catastrophic failure, but I suppose anything is possible.

BTW, trigger is the next upgrade.

 

[RW2111]

And these are the types of opposing views I was hoping to weigh one against the other. I guess it boils down to what you want in terms of performance. Whether that be a BCG that would survive a nuclear holocaust/alien invasion/zombie apocalypse or a one that would facilitate the ease of operation an maintenance. I suppose if you really want the best of both worlds you could buy the BCM and then send it off to WMD to have it NiB coated. So glad we at least have that choice to make.

Honestly, I don't mind putting in some work while cleaning a BCG. I've done it for over 17 years and counting while on active duty. But just like the wash and wear uniforms and suede boots, I welcome anything that saves times and requires low maintenance if it proves practical.

I've seen a lot of things break in my career, but I've never seen a broken bolt carrier. Other parts of the BCG sure, but not the carrier itself. The RRA I just picked up appears just as rock solid as any I've ever used and I don't anticipate catastrophic failure, but I suppose anything is possible.

BTW, trigger is the next upgrade.

Which trigger are you going to be going with

 

[iHasCrabs]

And these are the types of opposing views I was hoping to weigh one against the other. I guess it boils down to what you want in terms of performance. Whether that be a BCG that would survive a nuclear holocaust/alien invasion/zombie apocalypse or a one that would facilitate the ease of operation an maintenance. I suppose if you really want the best of both worlds you could buy the BCM and then send it off to WMD to have it NiB coated. So glad we at least have that choice to make.

Honestly, I don't mind putting in some work while cleaning a BCG. I've done it for over 17 years and counting while on active duty. But just like the wash and wear uniforms and suede boots, I welcome anything that saves times and requires low maintenance if it proves practical.

I've seen a lot of things break in my career, but I've never seen a broken bolt carrier. Other parts of the BCG sure, but not the carrier itself. The RRA I just picked up appears just as rock solid as any I've ever used and I don't anticipate catastrophic failure, but I suppose anything is possible.

BTW, trigger is the next upgrade.

I thinks it's safe to say that the bcm will go through hell and zombies. Here's an article on a bcm rifle, which is over 40k rounds now and has been cleaned once.m the bcg lasted almost 17000 rounds before being replaced and was only wiped down once.

http://www.slip2000.com/blog/s-w-a-t-magazine-filthy-14/

The nickel boron is nice and ill keep my WMD as a back up and sell my spikes. You wont go wrong with either, im going with bcm because of its proven reliability.

 

[booker]

I debated this decision for a while.. several months.

Eventually took the plunge on a $250 Fail Zero NiB BCG (in a BCM upper). It comes with a NiB hammer, too.

For the extra $100 (over a premium non-NiB BCM), I am happy as a clam and will probably never run another non-NiB BCG again.

If you have $100 in your budget, I'd recommend you go for it.

JoeBob makes a good point below.. FZ sources milspec MPI-tested BCMs to a separate company for the NiB deposition. They are very "open kimono" about it, however, and you can read all about it on their site. Basically the separate company does coatings and treatments, but doesn't sell products. FZ is the retail storefront.

 

[JoeBobOutfitters.com]

Very few companies make their own BCG in-house (Hint, Spike's, BCM, WMD, and RRA don't make their own). As long as a company is not getting the "seconds" (which none of those would be) then they should be good to go. They're all being bought from a handful of BCG makers most likely. The biggest thing, IMO, you should look for, is individually MPI testing. Most of the quality bolts have this. That tells you at least that BCG shouldn't have any premature stress cracks. Spike's, WMD, and BCM should all be individually MPI tested. RRA I BELIEVE are just batch tested, FWIW. Any company or manufacturer can have a bad product slip through, but a quick MPI test should weed most if not all of them out.

 

[t0tln00b]

This may be slightly off-topic but right now it looks like the only BCM bcg's available are the M16 Auto ones - there is a ton of debate on whether this is legal (ie make it a machine gun) but noone can give a definitive answer, and I would prefer not to be a test case. I picked up one of the WMD's from JoeBob's but am already planning another build and wanted to pick one of these up - you know, for testing - in the interest of science....

 

[vin]

This may be slightly off-topic but right now it looks like the only BCM bcg's available are the M16 Auto ones - there is a ton of debate on whether this is legal (ie make it a machine gun) but noone can give a definitive answer, and I would prefer not to be a test case. I picked up one of the WMD's from JoeBob's but am already planning another build and wanted to pick one of these up - you know, for testing - in the interest of science....

ATF has written the opinion that they do not constitute specific machine gun parts. Buy away. I have one and am not worried in the slightest, and everything I read says they are the most reliable bolt carriers.

 

[t0tln00b]

ATF has written the opinion that they do not constitute specific machine gun parts. Buy away. I have one and am not worried in the slightest, and everything I read says they are the most reliable bolt carriers.

Awesome! Thanks - didn't even think to check with the actual ATF...my google-fu is weak today.

 

[BenL]

Very few companies make their own BCG in-house (Hint, Spike's, BCM, WMD, and RRA don't make their own). As long as a company is not getting the "seconds" (which none of those would be) then they should be good to go. They're all being bought from a handful of BCG makers most likely. The biggest thing, IMO, you should look for, is individually MPI testing. Most of the quality bolts have this. That tells you at least that BCG shouldn't have any premature stress cracks. Spike's, WMD, and BCM should all be individually MPI tested. RRA I BELIEVE are just batch tested, FWIW. Any company or manufacturer can have a bad product slip through, but a quick MPI test should weed most if not all of them out.

Yeah, I was always under the impression that only a few companies actually *manufactured* BCGs. I thought most are just re-branded CMT/Stags, Colts, or LMTs.

 

[EMS_92]

Either way your gonna have to keep it lubed
The NiB should extend how many rounds it takes before things become sluggish, thats all. I have no experiance with the NiB BCGs so I may be (and probly am ) wrong. But as long as its a quality BCG, you should be fine. With that said, id lean towards the BCM.

 

[JoeBobOutfitters.com]

Yeah, I was always under the impression that only a few companies actually *manufactured* BCGs. I thought most are just re-branded CMT/Stags, Colts, or LMTs.

Basically, yeah. The vast majority of the markets components are sourced from a handful of sources (Barrels, BCG's, forged uppers/lowers, etc).

Either way your gonna have to keep it lubed
The NiB should extend how many rounds it takes before things become sluggish, thats all. I have no experiance with the NiB BCGs so I may be (and probly am ) wrong. But as long as its a quality BCG, you should be fine. With that said, id lean towards the BCM.

Sorta. The NiB BCG is noticeably smoother in operation even without lubrication on it. One could possibly run it without lube, but I wouldn't mess with it. I always run my BCG with lube .

However, decreased surface resistance=increased reliability, IMO. A good BCG is always going to be a good BCG, the NiB coating is an upgrade, but not a miracle coating.