Hi guys, have some questions on fully hard chromed BCGs. My apologies if it’s been asked already but search just isn’t working for me lately and I can’t find objective info on this on other sites.
Some early Colts seem to have them, have seen pics and seen one in person. Is it true they were discontinued because of increased wear on the upper somehow caused by the chrome plated bolt carrier?
From my experience shooting IPSC in the past, hard chrome really makes parts easier to clean. It would seem they would make great sense on a BCG which is directly exposed to the gas and carbon. I see Young’s and probably some others selling hard chrome plated BCGs but they don’t seem too popular. Is it because of the above? If not, why so?
I bought a chrome carrier during the panic because it was all Rainier Arms had in stock at the time.
Even though i’ve since acquired a Denny’s GTS bolt carrier group as a spare, i’ve kept the chromed BCG in one of my rifles because it makes clean up about 50% easier/faster, and is GREAT for suppressor use.
Only downside is the extra cost, and the fact that it’s not “tactical” I guess…
Check out BCM’s M16 Ionbond coated BCG. Just got one and its impressive. Very slick plus you know its built right. Has a properly staked key, Black extractor, and is just a very well constructed BCG. Ionbond coatings are very thin and are very hard. They have self lubricating qualities and are very resitent to wear.
I bought a FailZero BCG for one of my shorty uppers, and it works fantastic. Uses"EXO" technology that claims to be 40% better than chrome-plated BCGs.
In the Magpul videos they cover jams and how to clear them. One of the steps is to rotate the rifle to inspect the position of the bolt to see what is going on. I noticed that Travis’s rifle was sporting a chromed BCG and thought it was really easy to see as it was not just another black part in an all black rifle.
I don’t know the truth behind this but the stated claims have to do with the hard chromed items being so much harder than the aluminum receiver. And unless the underlying surface is smooth, a chromed rough metal surface is not slicker…
I have read the claims. I do not know if there is any validity to them. I was just passing on the basis that I have read for the claims in order for you (generic you) to evaluate them. And I was trying to give the impression that they were just claims, and not necessarily fact. I have no clue myself.
The one or two I have actually handled did not seem slicker to me. But they could have been crap pieces. You take a rough finished metal and chrome it it is not automagically slicker (and may be detrimental as the roughness will not wear down as quickly). You take a good slick metal and chrome it it may very well be slicker. So the pieces I held (a long while back) may have just been sub tier to begin with.
I am interested myself in the Fail Zero stuff. Eventually. When I have some discretionary funds
I have not noticed any extra wear on my SPR-ish/gun gaming rifle with the chromed bolt carrier group. My chromed YNM bolt carrier group is a LOT smoother feeling and better machined than a standard bolt carrier… There is definitely increased weight as well.
As stated earlier, cleaning is a breeze on this BCG compared to my rifle with a standard BCG, and this becomes especially noticeable when running a can, when there is a massive increase in the amount of carbon and junk that gets dumped into the receiver.
I’ve never handled a Fail Zero BCG. I’d consider a Fail Zero/Chrome/Ion bonded BCG if I was going to be running a suppressor frequently, as the blow back and extra carbon makes short work of most lubrication. After just 200 rounds, my formerly soaking wet BCG is now covered in a thick carbon sludge.
I bought a used DPMS chrome carrier BCG from a young man he used in his shooter rifle. He didn’t lube it much due to the chrome being “slicker”, one of the gas rings was 1/3 gone and the bolt had wear.
It was easier to clean since you could readily see the carbon. I sold it along with a 14.5" DPMS upper. I don’t feel they warrant the extra cost to me.
