I bought one to try out in my DD upper which has a DD BCG currently. Just charging the gun theres a lot less grit, resistance, and you dont get the smell of matches. Havent shot it yet. Only thing I’ve done to it is froglube it w(my DD was also). Next time I get to the range I will compare the cleaning differences.
that right there is watcha call a HINT…
i can totally understand the allure and promise of NiB coatings - as a few others have said, if the BCG itself meets all the critical specs a lower-friction coating can only help.
what i can’t understand is why anyone would run an un-lubed AR unless air temp is too low for the lube on hand.
IMO, the coating is EXTRA lubricity and ease of cleaning, not a lube-free ticket (esp with corrosive 5.45).
for background on the importance of lube (and how relatively unimportant cleaning is), search on pat rogers and bcm filthy 14.
lube early, lube often. now, lube again.
I researched NiB and other BCGs for my S&W MP-15T. I went with a nitrided one from Rubber City Armory. Check it out.
https://www.rubbercityarmory.com/index.php
I haven’t compared the RCA to anything but the stock BCG, but it works great. FA. Seems to cycle smoother. Very nice quality. Smooth surfaces. Always found the phosphate BCGs annoying to clean. I use Froglube. The RCA wipes clean pretty easily.
Why not just use oil?
Instead of goofy stuff like Frog Lube and NibX and all other sorts of gimmicks marketed to people who are scared of OIL.
I’m not scared of oil. I use MPro7 on my HKs. When I bought the rifle, the LGS recommended it. Seems to work well. I’m no expert on lubrication or AR-15s, but I like the ease of cleaning and application.
why continue to use toxic oil when non-toxic CLP’s are available?
i mean, who’s afraid of asbestos - it works great!
Check out this thread
Specifically page 13 and WS6’s posts. Not very flattering review in the end.
I looked at this thread before deciding to get the RCA BCG. There are always some who don’t like something a lot of others like. I don’t know who WS6 is, and it really doesn’t matter. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have not compared it to any other BCG but the stock S&W. I’m no self-appointed “expert”, and I’m not saying it’s the best, but I happen to like it. Works for me.
I love the technology, but dimensional variances drove me to use their customer service. It was 100% honored, but I was asked by Chris Cerino*sp to “just write us off” —so I did. No use for 'em, and they don’t have one for me. That said, the very FIRST bcg groups I got from them were amazing. No sticky firing pin travel, no having to yank hard on the charging handle to unchamber rounds to make clear, etc. That I experienced with their newer offerings.
I bet they correct the problems with variance, but I’m done buying each successive bcg iteration hoping for it.
Sorry about your less than satisfactory experience. FWIW, I got mine a few months ago. Like I said, works fine. I’ve put around 400 rds through it. None of the issues you describe, but I didn’t measure it either.
I didn’t measure it until I was asked to because of it’s sticking in battery in two different rifles when I tried to clear them.
Yes, I have had BCG’s that work well from them in the initial run. They have a lot of variance. I’m glad yours works, but I don’t want to have a crap-shoot with another one for a while. I kept it, and might entertain buying another bolt for the carrier at some point in time when solid reports have been rolling in for a while.
Stacking tolerances maybe?
Glad the CS worked out for you in the beginning, but that isn’t a cool answer to your issues. I’ve got the NiB coating on a BCG of mine and it works good so I’m not opposed to coatings whether they are NiB or nitrided. But when you see posts with folks start having issues with a particular brand, you suspect them a tad.
I almost pulled the trigger on one myself, but saw your posts and figured I’d wait until they get their product stable.
The firing-pin sticking in the last bit of travel inside the bolt isn’t. They make the firing-pin and the bolt, or at least pair them.
The bolt in both of my weapons? Who knows. Swapping BCG’s between weapons didn’t cause an issue until the RCA BCG was included. Then I had to all but mortar them to administratively clear them from hand-chambering a round using the bolt-release.
I honestly think it’s a great product, or will be, once it gets ironed out. I’m just tired of getting product that I don’t feel is ready for prime-time. They have had a few humps, and I probably caught them on a bad day, but that doesn’t mean I’m cool with it. I’ve bought well over $1K in BCG’s from them, and to be treated that way, I was not impressed. Usually repeat customers that have spread your product to people (I’ve given 3 to friends, and sold one to M4C’s Robb) are not the kind of people you tell “I think you should just write us off”.
From what I gather the ONLY advantage NiB offers is ease of cleaning - not one iota in the department of added reliability.
What is far more important, better yet - essential - is the origin of the BCG parts- practical example: a while back I put together this BCG:
BCM carrier (keyed and staked) and small parts), FN bolt with no additional "upgrades.
Been running it in a Noveske/VLTOR SBR and Noveske N4.
No hiccups ever. Nothing, Nada.
Idem for two other BGS, all DD straight from the manufacturer.
Over multiple thousands of rounds with some pretty heavy firing schedules shooting cheap steelcase as well as brass there has not been a single malfunction that can be attributed to BCG failure.
I have yet to replace a single part - gas rings included.
As a matter of fact while the FN bolt still has tight gas rings, both DD’s are as loose greasy and dirty as a $2 hooker after servicing the 7th fleet, yet still run like the energizer bunny.
Been trying to get them to fail, not having much luck. (Cost of ammo isn’t helping either though)
Bottom line - unless one has a BCG of recognizable pedigree one would be pissing away cash.
Better to use that extra $$ for ammo/training IMHO.