Is Nickel Boron worth it?

[sentry1]

So, I get that NiB has a higher 'lubricity', but is it worth getting on an AR? Say, a MATEN costs 10% more with the NiB coating. What tangible benefits or functional improvements am I buying? Does it require a NiB coated BCG for best performance?

Actually, let's say 25% more cost, because, let's face it, I'm going to pay someone to Cerakote that shiny sumbitch. Suddenly, I'm thinking the regular receiver is a better choice.

 

[deadly0311]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

You can run it dry

...there is absolutely no need to NiB a gun, its a highspeed low drag sales gimmick....

If it floats your boat then get it, but if you are going to have it cerakoted why not just get a regular anodized receiver set? Ask about the Cerakote Microslick

 

[CUSTOM1911FAN]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

Brother, you know its better if it costs more!! Gawd!

Nah, just kidding. I guess it depends of how much you hate cleaning. I've had a POF that was all coated with some sort of shiny silver shit, and the damn bolt carrier would fall out every time I opened up the action for cleaning. It was easy to clean, I guess. I've also got a rifle with a chrome lined barrel, plus full Fail Zero BCG, hammer, and receiver that is coated with shiny shit as well, and it runs like a raped ape and is easy to clean also.

But then again, my life got a whole lot better when I got an air compressor with a water trap on it. Now, cleaning mostly consists of liberally dousing the crap out of my gun with gun scrubber, then attacking the remaining carbon with a copper brush, stainless if need be. After its bone dry, I douse it with TW25 liquid and a touch of TW25 grease, and it is good to go til the next cleaning. I find that as long as you douse your gun with lube (use a barrel cap, close dust cover and always leave a mag in, if you carry it) that it is easy to clean-I guess the lube gives the carbon something to stick to.

So, like the guy above me said, if you dig it, go ahead, but I don't think it makes the gun that much easier to clean and I don't think it extends the life of and AR that much. My Fail Zero rifle runs bad ass, but it is showing a ringed, or striped pattern in the receiver walls where it seems like the coating is wearing away quickly. I think the already hard bolt surface against the soft aluminum will cause wear, regardless. I really dig coated 1911s, where the frame and slide are made of quality steel and the coatings add lubricity and extend the life of the gun. I suppose you have to wear through the coating before you get metal on metal friction? Go talk to USPSA shooters see how long hard chromed guns last. Yeah, I know, I said hard chrome, not NiB, but to me anything other than a typical military parkerized finish does pretty much the same thing-protect from corrosion, lubricate, and extend the life of the machine part that it is applied to.

On that MicroSlick thing, I am genuinely intrigued by that. My pals at Alamo Tactical have been doing that on bolt carriers and it comes out with a cool grey sheen and is doing what it is supposed to do, and I don't think it was expensive, either. I wonder how it would work on a whole pistol?? Hmm, maybe I need to find a donor gun......

YMMV, have fun.

 

[346ci]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

My NiB ARP carriers are much easier to clean, never tried the receivers. I didn't pay out the arse for them either as I see other brands charging, so YMMV.

 

[sentry1]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

If I got it, I'd only have the outside Cerakoted, NiB does me no good on the outside. But considering all the excess costs, vs the benefits I'd get, I think NiB is a luxury I can live without.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deadly0311</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
If it floats your boat then get it, but if you are going to have it cerakoted why not just get a regular anodized receiver set? Ask about the Cerakote Microslick </div></div>

 

[jakhamr81]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

If you are shooting unsuppressed then I would go with a standard mil-spec carrier and anodized receiver. If you are going to be shooting suppressed I would consider upgrading to a nickel boron coated carrier at a minimum.

They are much easier to clean, you have to do little more than wipe them down. I still use a small amount of TW-25, I don't care what the guys an ARFCOM say.

 

[sentry1]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

Thanks for the advice Brian.

Anyone know who makes NiB coated BCGs for the AR10? Does Young's Manufacturing offer NiB coated N/M BCGs?

 

[jakhamr81]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

WMD is planning on having them in future. In the meantime, you can send your own carrier into them and have it coated.

http://www.wmdguns.com/content.cfm?cmd=62

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

been shooting the same AR for 14 years wihout all that with zero issues, do I need it nope, not then, not now. I have 11 AR's now and not one of them as that stuff on it and i can't tell it needs it but if it makes you feel better, go ahea and get it.
cheers.

 

[RufDog]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

Black Rain Ordnance supplies nickel boron/"norgard" bolts. Its not a necessity but I do really like mine. If you like clean parts, it does clean dramatically easier.

 

[drakeky]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

I have a nickle boron spikes BCG and only bought it cause I got a great deal on it a year or so ago and it is extremely easy to clean up. Do you need it, nope.. But do you I need 11 Ar's, Nope.. But then where would the fun be buying only stuff we needed?

 

[clarkarchery]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

+1 on the so much easier to clean

 

[sentry1]

Re: Is Nickel Boron worth it?

Thanks for the input guys.

I went with the plain MATEN ambi set. In the end, the extra cost for the NiB receiver, + eventually Cerakote-ing the outside just didn't make sense.

I think I'll be getting a Young's N/M AR10 BCG to go with it. Those are chrome plated, if I remember correctly.