While the going is good...best BCG bang for the buck.

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

We all, or most of us, remember how hard it was to find anything AR-related in the months after the Sandy Hook tragedy, especially 5.56 BCGs. So, since the going is good in the buyer’s world, I want to buy four tier 1 BCGs for long-term, back-of-the-safe placement. Obviously, Colt, BCM, DD, and LMT, are at the top of my list, but I am not entirely ruling out PSA and, potentially, Toolcraft. Whereas Colt, BCM, LMT, and DD prices are >$170 on average, PSA and Toolcraft are <$100. Rumors are some of the tier 1 manufacturers contract with Toolcraft for their BCG, and on paper Toolcraft appears to meet the specs of other tier 1 makers, but does not HPT their bolts prior to MPI, whereas PSA allegedly does.

BCM, for example advertises:

Features

Milspec Carpenter No. 158® steel
HPT Bolt (High Pressure Tested/ Proof)
MPI Bolt (Magnetic Particle Inspected)
Shot Peened Bolt
Chrome Lined Carrier (AUTO)
Chrome Lined Gas Key
Gas Key Hardened to USGI Specifications
Grade 8 Hardened Fasteners
Key Staked Per Mil-Spec
Tool Steel Extractor
BCM Extractor Spring
Black Extractor Insert
Mil-Spec Crane O-Ring

source: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Bolt-Carrier-Group-MPI-Auto-M16-p/bcm-bolt-carrier-group-auto-mp.htm

Toolcraft dealers commonly advertise:

Bolt Subassembly:
​Bolt: 158 Carpenter Steel per Government Spec
MPI Inspected
Extractor: Shot Peened Hardened D2 tool steel
O-Ring: Mil-Spec
Gas rings (3): Milspec
Manganese Phosphate per Government Spec

Bolt Carrier:
8620 steel
Heavy Duty M16 design
Grade 8 Gas Key Screws, Staked
Gas Key Material - 4140
Chrome lined gas key and carrier interior
Manganese Phosphate per Government Spec
The carrier DOES have the government contract 1B1B6 engraving.

Cam Pin:
8620 steel
Manganese Phosphate per Government Spec

Firing Pin:
416 stainless steel

source: http://www.wcarmory.com/toolcraft-bcg-223-5-56-bolt-carrier-group-mpi-black-1b1b6-158-carpenter.htm

and, PSA specs are:

Milspec Carpenter No. 158® steel bolt
Shot Peened Bolt
High pressure tested (HPT)
Mag particle inspected (MPI)
Chrome Lined Carrier (AUTO)
Chrome Lined Gas Key
Gas Key Hardened to USGI Specifications
Gas Key Grade 8 Hardened Fasteners
Gas Key Staked Per Mil-Spec
Tool Steel Extractor
Extractor Spring
Extractor O-ring Insert

source:http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/15174/

Wanting to save a couple of Franklins, am I making a mistake to even consider PSA and Toolcraft? Has anyone put 5-7 K through either the Toolcraft or PSA BCG? Are there other BCGs I should be looking at? I will happily settle for BCM, LMT, DD, or Colt (and possibly Sionics), if no others are truly tier 1, but will happily save money if others present as the same for less.

2

You could also add Centurion to the list.
I’ve had no issues with mine

3

LMT would be my first choice but wasn’t in your poll.

I’d flip a coin between BCM and DD. My sense is that they are about equal in quality, but BCM seems to have a bigger fan club and/or more people willing to pay a premium for it, for reasons not clear to me.

I’ve had a couple PSA BCGs and most have worked fine, but the first one I had wasn’t machined properly and had to go back because it was causing short stroking issues. (The cam pin track wasn’t quite right.) They fixed it, but with some growing pains back then - several years ago. I use PSA in their uppers but I don’t consider it a real “tier 1” any more than I would put the same label on AIM Surplus or many others. In fact, I’d probably stock up on AIM’s nicer BCGs before PSA.

For no-worries personal use, or resale in a shortage, I’d go with BCM, DD or LMT. For hobby/casual personal use, I’d try AIM or PSA. And for what it’s worth, I do not foresee a perfect repeat of the last couple of shortages, because there are so many people who own ARs now and so much of a glut of components I just can’t see another shortage. I’d foresee an ammo shortage as much more likely.

4

Look into the Sionics BCG, also. They come in at a good price and they are NP3’d.

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5

SIONICS NP3 BCG. All the similar specs and currently on sale.

http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/store/product.php?id_product=130

6

Toolcraft makes carriers for many in the industry. As far as MILSPEC type BCG’s go. There are actually only a few companies that make a cupply legit spec’d components.

I have seen enough issues with the PSA stuff and their bait and switch names to consider them for anything serious.

7

I snagged a pair of those for suppressed SBR builds. I’ll let you know how they work out.

Thanks for the heads up.

8

Someone I respect highly once told me that the barrel, bolt, and trigger are the most important things in an AR. He was talking mostly about accuracy, but still, I wouldn’t cheap out on the bolt at least. My two BCM BCGs have been good, and the others already mentioned have favorable reviews here, but there have been some troubles with PSA and I don’t recall reading about Toolcraft here. Usually I stay away if that’s the case, but obviously YMMV.

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9

Of the four choices you specified, I would say there is little to no difference in quality in three of the four. PSA puts out some good stuff at times and other times, not so much. Hit and miss with those guys too much to suit me. Whichever one of the other three you can get for the best price is the one to go with.

10

From your list, I’d go for the BCM off cost and customer service alone.

11

In regards to Toolcraft. All you need to do is look up their CAGE code 1B1B6. As I stated before they supply components to the military and others in the industry.

12

Pretty stand up.

I’ve owned Colt, BCM, PSA, Rainer’s house bcg, and a few others. The PSA had , at best, a “here we staked it” stake job.

I really like my FMOS with a BCM bolt. There’s a lot of options. Centurion doesn’t seem to put out anything thats bad and Sionics has me very intrigued and I’m very tempted.

13

I have two Centurion BCG’s and I put them on the same level as BCM and the others. If you’re buying a BCM upper, it’s a no brainer not to snag one of their bolt groups but other than that, I go with the best deal on the 5-6 quality groups out there. I’m going to buy one of the Sionics groups next. I like the price for a coated BCG.

14

Double post

15

Out of DD, BCM, and Colt I have never had an issue with any of them. Colt will always demand a premium so pick up another reputable brand when you come across them on sale.

My $0.02 any way . . .

16

KAC E3 BCG

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My cell’y

17

First, let me advise that I’m very much a beginner when it comes to AR parts.

What do you all think of the BCG WMD M16 Full Auto NiB-X Bolt Carrier Group - Polished Finish at Primary Arms on sale for $129.99? No, I won’t go full auto, but I understand this BCG will work in my Colt LE6920 and that’s it’s built very rugged.

Other than a spare BCG, what else would be advisable to keep on hand for spares?

Thanks!

Thanks!

18

Swapping your colt bcg for a wmd one would be a downgrade.

19

I’ve got both DD and BCM bcgs. I could only vote once so DD got my vote.

20

I voted BCM but for my Colts I always buy Colt parts. I have some Toolcraft BCGs in storage and I’ve been meaning to buy a couple or more Sionics NP3 BCGs but I’ve been buying all the ammo I can afford.

Abraham : Instead of the WMD NiB BCG why not take advantage of the Sionics NP3 BCG sale ? NP3 is better than NiB. As to the rest of your question regarding spare parts I recommend you buy a couple complete bolts, extractors with pin,spring & insert. A couple ejectors, with pin & spring, Several sets of gas rings, several cam pins, firing pins and firing pin retaining pins. Action springs, hammer, trigger and disconnector springs, and for good measure a couple LPKs (Lower Parts Kits). I also have several spare barrels but I’m a parts junkie. There’s not much that can break on a bolt carrier except the gas key and the bolts which secure it. I have a couple spares but the bolt will fail before the carrier