I like the info and experiences that I’m reading about the Nickel Boron BCG. Many have said that they run it without lube. I don’t know that I could run an AR with no lube. I’m too trained. If I put just a wee bit of lube (Slip 2000 EWL), will it cause any issues?
Lube will forever be your friend. It’s nice to have the advanced coatings for instances where, for whatever reasons, there is no lube.
I asked FZ and Spikes before, and they both said that a bit of lube is always a good thing.
In this case, as well, if you don’t install the included coated hammer because you have a two stage trigger, you will have to use some lube.
Or when running a suppressor, and lubricants burn/blow off or are quickly fouled with carbon.
I’m not using an advanced coating, but just the chrome plated YNM carrier makes a big difference for me.
I have the new spikes NiB BCG and it is super slick, did a range test with it completely degreased and ran 200 rounds with it and ran without a problem, But i will apply alittle oil for now on. just wanted to see if it would do what it claimed. Either way they are alot nicer than milspec bcg. I dont know if it is worth the extra 100 dollars but time will tell.
I ordered a Spikes Nib BCG 2 weeks ago. From what I have learned, they are virtually IDENTICAL to the Fail Zero, other than price. They are coated by Fail Zero, they are machined by a large unnamed government contractor for Spikes, and have all the right specs for all of us picky customers:
-great staking
-Hardened gas key
-Carpenter 158
-8620 Tool steel
-Shrouded Firing pin
-Tool steel extracter
-Coated with EXO inside and out.
I am really looking forward to getting my filthy and wiping it down the first time. I will surely run it with a few drops of Slip 2000 ewl.
I do not know the surface temperatures of the bolt in a standard BCG vs one that is ran dry, but I do know what even a small amount of lube should have a tremendous difference in the amount of friction heat that is built up. That being said, I am not sure of the temperature contribution of the friction alone, but the fancy coating combined with lube cannot be a bad combination. Without a complete understanding of the application, I would also prefer to run a small amount of lube to keep any crud in suspension, just to play it safe.
I think the “wetter is better” continues to apply. I will talk to one of our PhD engineers here who happens to be studying some firearms (as a non-shooter).
Isn’t this coating just a teflon nickle? Or is this something different?
Brick
Nickel Boron. Not the same as Teflon Nickel. Reportedly harder and longer lasting that Teflon Nickel.
I would like to know the difference between Nickel Teflon, and Nickel Boron.
My LWRCi gun has Nickel Teflon coated internals, and they hold up awesome.
I keep them liberally lubed though, if the lube burns off, then whatever. But I start off wet.
When my lube burns off though, they’ll continue firing though.
Guess I’ll have to look that one up.
Thanks,
Brick
LWRCi also recently switched to Nickel Boron from the Teflon Nickel: http://soldiersystems.net/tag/lwrci/
So far, I’m not seeing how this is better than chrome. I’ll have to stop by the local plater and pick his brain.
Brick
Friction reduction. Boron Nickel is much slicker than Hard Chrome, and requires very little lubricant at all to function for extended periods.
Irony!
I just spoke with a guy over at Fail Zero (who coats Spike’s BCG’s for them) about this very issue. I haven’t purchased yet, but here is what he told me (he is current active LEO as well):
NiB is harder than Hard Chrome by about 40%
It is slicker on the surface than HC
NiB application is also more uniform than HC, thus negating the need to polish after application
The FZ/ST NiB BCG will make your gun “run like it’s on ball bearings” with a few drops of Slip 2000 EWL/EWL30. Using the included hammer further reduces drag and friction in the system. Incidentally, the hammer also improves/smooths the trigger pull noticeably.
I have a buddy who uses the Young NM M16 BCG in hard chrome and he loves it…I’ve also felt the newer LWRCi BCG (it was def NiB…and also coated by FZ) and it is literally so slick, it makes you wonder whether your fingers are wet or have oil on them. I was impressed and will be buying a NiB BCG from FZ/Spike’s as soon as my wife/commander-in-chief allows (basically a payperiod or two).
I see no downside, as they use properly manufactured mil-spec hardware with all the check boxes. Vuurwapen’s blog also showed reduced heat on the bolt face by between 13 and 17 degrees F using the NiB carrier and bolt in the exact same gun.
http://vuurwapenblog.com/2010/05/10/does-nickel-boron-reduce-heat/
I consider it gilding-the-lily for my BCM middy setup, but for a suppressor on a SBR DI gun…this could be the Holy Grail.
You already asked this in a thread you started which I merged in the Spike’s “questions” thread.
Keep them there—
Won’t happen again. -Tacmedic 556
High Temp Coatings happens to be one of my “special interests” and while I like NiB it’s “soft” compared to W DLC (i.e., plasma-assisted amorphous Tungsten Diamond Like Carbon). I believe their friction properties may be similar. An example of the application of W DLC: Internal Engine Components for F1, Sports Prototype, NASCAR, Top Fuel and “Funny Car”, Superbike, Super Sport, etc., etc. It can be readily found on cam followers, for example. It’s a super thin layer (maybe 5 to 7 microns). For our applications a thin layer of electroless Nickel is applied first then the W DLC on top.
Google it.
However, ANY of the current coatings listed in this thread is better than parkerizing and should assist. I’d STILL use lube, however, just as some have been saying.
Hope this helps.
Looks like I’ll be buying another M6A3, after I get rid of my A2, and 6.8 A3.
(Selling them to co-worker.)
… 
It appears I don’t know anything about BCG finishes.
My carrier/bolt/etc. already has this finish, as Nickel Teflon was gone with the two-piece bolt carriers.
High Temp Coatings happens to be one of my “special interests” and while I like NiB it’s “soft” compared to W DLC (i.e., plasma-assisted amorphous Tungsten Diamond Like Carbon). I believe their friction properties may be similar. An example of the application of W DLC: Internal Engine Components for F1, Sports Prototype, NASCAR, Top Fuel and “Funny Car”, Superbike, Super Sport, etc., etc. It can be readily found on cam followers, for example. It’s a super thin layer (maybe 5 to 7 microns). For our applications a thin layer of electroless Nickel is applied first then the W DLC on top.
I’m interested in this technology. I did some research online but I have not found any specific reference to the coating being used by race teams. Are there any companies that offer this coating on gun parts?? Thanks.
I don’t trust any rifle with any coating without lube.
I bought into POF’s line that you don’t need lube with their proprietary coatings. After about 1000 rounds through a carbine course, I started getting malfunctions.
A quick cleaning and a little lube and all has been well since then.