Best AR-15 Bolt Carrier Group For The Money…Who Ya Got??

WeR0206

WeR0206

Sergeant of the Hide
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Feb 23, 2024
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Northern Cal
#1
Was putting together a list of best BCG’s for the money for a buddy of mine. Here’s my list, I'm curious what everyone else likes.

In general for the finish/coating I try to stick with full chrome or phosphated with chrome plating

My fav: SOLGW (bolt already comes with sprinco ejector & extractor springs)

Other good ones:
  • BCM
  • Sionics
Best “budget” options:
  • AO Precision
  • Microbest / Expo Arms
 
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#4
For milspec phosphate BCG: BCM, DD, and one LMT (the FA not the enhanced)
For coated BCG: I moved away from coated BCGs after trying some years back and not being impressed with the long-term results. Then recently tried the Sionic NP3 coated BCG, and saw some more detailed testing on them online. Those IMO are worthwhile, have two of them now.
 
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#7
The important part of the bolt carrier group is the bolt....
The carrier can be made of steel, aluminum, or titanium , with slick coatings or not...by many vendors.

The bolts themselves are only made by a few vendors out of a choice of usually 2 steels, on CNC equipment, to the same specs, and heat treatment, and same inspection. Making them all basically identical.

A few will add dual ejectors, smaller firing pin holes, a bit more champher, or radius on the lugs, then give them fancy names, like high pressure or enhanced, and fancy company logos...but they are still all basically identical from the same few manufacturers.

You can throw any milspec bolt in any in print carrier and expect it to work, every day, all day long, many thousands of rounds....even full auto.
 
#16
The best for the money is a phosphate milspec wherever it's on sale. Microbest would be my first choice but Toolcraft is fine too.

Southpaw357 said:
Sionics for upgraded BCG, Microbest for Milspec bang for buck.
Click to expand...

Those are both microbest.

If you dig into it you'll find the vast majority of retailers are using the same 2-3 OEMs and then adding their own sales shtick like we assemble our own BCG/test fire them/use different fasteners that are stronger/other stuff. Lots of people get burned by poor parts/service so they are willing to pay a little extra for what is essentially the same part as long as the retailer promises more QC/better warranty service.
 
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#19
N_Turs said:
Jp, RCA is all I run, always whip clean easily and wear seems minimal on all after alot of rounds.
Click to expand...
I’ll def be adding BCA to my list. I don’t have any experience with them but only hear great things. I do have a headspaced BCA bolt coming with my Osprey barrel that I should hopefully have on hand within a few weeks.
 
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#20
Although there are a few who claim to have built a better mouse trap, I don't think I've ever had a bolt related failure that wasn't due lack of maintenance. I mean, I've never had something happen and think... "that wouldn't have happened with an XYZ bolt."

Everything needs maintenance and everything wears out. Unless I'm just in the mood to check out one of those better mouse traps, I typically stick to Toolcraft, AO Precision and Microbest. Getting them for $100 or less is a good bang for the buck.

Of the 3, I like the Microbest more than the others. I just think the name sounds cool.
 
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#21
WeR0206 said:
I’ll def be adding BCA to my list. I don’t have any experience with them but only hear great things. I do have a headspaced BCA bolt coming with my Osprey barrel that I should hopefully have on hand within a few weeks.
Click to expand...
I run one of their light weight Ti carries in a match rifle I have and its pretty awesome. Run it with a jp bolt and unrivaled buffer set up. Shoots amazing flat.
 
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#22
N_Turs said:
I run one of their light weight Ti carries in a match rifle I have and its pretty awesome. Run it with a jp bolt and unrivaled buffer set up. Shoots amazing flat.
Click to expand...
Nice!!
giphy.gif
 
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#23
BCP said:
The best for the money is a phosphate milspec wherever it's on sale. Microbest would be my first choice but Toolcraft is fine too.



Those are both microbest.

If you dig into it you'll find the vast majority of retailers are using the same 2-3 OEMs and then adding their own sales shtick like we assemble our own BCG/test fire them/use different fasteners that are stronger/other stuff. Lots of people get burned by poor parts/service so they are willing to pay a little extra for what is essentially the same part as long as the retailer promises more QC/better warranty service.
Click to expand...
Sionics replaces the carrier key screws with OCKS, applies an NP3 coating to just about everything, adds a Sprinco extractor spring, and applies permatex gasket sealer to the carrier key. This is not the same as a Microbest. They may start with a microbest but those upgrades are worthwhile. As I stated, Sionics for an upgraded BCG and Microbest for mil-spec.
 
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