Lets talk AR BCGs

[JF89]

Are any of the coatings (Cryptic, chrome,NP3, Nickle Boron, etc) really worth it? What are some of the pros and cons of the coatings?

[unforgiven]

I have Nickel boron Aero .308 bcg and same in 5.56 , also Nitrate cleans easier. Just my 2 mags.

[jtallen83]

1 hour ago, JF89 said:

Are any of the coatings (Cryptic, chrome,NP3, Nickle Boron, etc) really worth it? What are some of the pros and cons of the coatings?

I am not a big fan of the coatings, messes with tolerances and I have seen chipping and flaking in the hard contact areas. I much prefer the nitride/QPQ treatment, I don't see the coatings having a big advantage over these for cleaning and lubricity.

[98Z5V]

4 hours ago, jtallen83 said:

I am not a big fan of the coatings, messes with tolerances and I have seen chipping and flaking in the hard contact areas. I much prefer the nitride/QPQ treatment, I don't see the coatings having a big advantage over these for cleaning and lubricity.

This.  It's a surface treatment that gets into the metal.  Not a coating. It doesn't affect any tolerances.  I'll take Nitride (and any other name for it) over anything else, and phosphated BCGs suck now, because of the developments in this area. 

Are they worth it?  Hell yeah, they are.  

[JF89]

5 hours ago, 98Z5V said:

This.  It's a surface treatment that gets into the metal.  Not a coating. It doesn't affect any tolerances.  I'll take Nitride (and any other name for it) over anything else, and phosphated BCGs suck now, because of the developments in this area. 

Are they worth it?  Hell yeah, they are.  

What companies make a good QPQ BCG?

[98Z5V]

Toolcraft, and several others.  Toolcraft is the manufacturer for so many aftermarket companies and OEM suppliers, it's not even funny.  Search for them, from many vendors, because the deals are out there.  3 of my Grendel BCGs are Toolcraft nitrided, and I got them for $74 each from Huckleberry Arms.  Great company to deal with. 

[COBrien]

RightToBear.com has the best prices on ToolCraft BCGs I've come across. Especially if you're looking for a 5.56 BCG...

[Ravenworks]

1 hour ago, COBrien said:

RightToBear.com has the best prices on ToolCraft BCGs I've come across. Especially if you're looking for a 5.56 BCG...

They have an excellent combo going with an Aero upper & Toolcraft BCG

[98Z5V]

Since I started building Grendels, the Toolcraft BCGs are my go-to BCGs.  For everything.

[Slevin182]

All my AR-15s have had the WMD NiB BCGs. NiB was the hotness when I first got into the platform, claimed to clean easier, so I went with that. I place much less emphasis on it now. Would probably go with a nitride finish as a few have mentioned, or the Ionbond that BCM has if I was to get a new one right now. The WMDs have been fine and I guess clean a bit easier than standard, but to be honest I don't have thousands of rounds on both so can't give a long-term comparison. I have a Failzero Exo-coated BCG in my AR-308 and it's been fine. About 700 rounds on it so far, cleans up alright. First AR-10 platform rifle however so can't compare it to anything else. I might go for a JP carrier the next time around, as I'm starting to place more emphasis on good barrels with matched bolts.