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I'm actually not trying to be pedantic at all. If you have bought the parts and assembled many AR-15s then you have more experience than I do and it would be nice to learn from you. Maybe you buy the cheapest deal you can find and you have great luck, I don't know. I just don't think I would want to risk buying the cheapest BCG I can find (not saying you do).
You have posted several times in this thread and not once said which finish or brand or anything that you like. I get it, if it works it works, but that could mean anything.
If you can read this, you should go back and read my other posts a few more times, it seems you still haven't gotten the message I'm conveying. They're certainly not crypitc or written in another language making it difficult to comprehend.
I don't know how much experience you have assembling any thing, I'm just relating my experiences, and not suggesting you do anything either.
I'm actually not trying to be pedantic at all. If you have bought the parts and assembled many AR-15s then you have more experience than I do and it would be nice to learn from you. Maybe you buy the cheapest deal you can find and you have great luck, I don't know. I just don't think I would want to risk buying the cheapest BCG I can find (not saying you do).
You have posted several times in this thread and not once said which finish or brand or anything that you like. I get it, if it works it works, but that could mean anything.
If you can read this, you should go back and read my other posts a few more times, it seems you still haven't gotten the message I'm conveying. They're certainly not crypitc or written in another language making it difficult to comprehend.
I don't know how much experience you have assembling any thing, I'm just relating my experiences, and not suggesting you do anything either.
Have a great, gun carryin', Kenpo day
Clyde
I read over your 5 posts in this thread and my guess is phosphate. That would have been a great 1st post in this thread.
Any particular brand? I saw some cheap ones like NBS on AR-15 Discounts on sale before for $50 or so. I've never heard of this brand and I would be weary of it. If you have suggestions though let me know what you purchase. I know I started this thread about finishes but brand/quality matters too.
I read over your 5 posts in this thread and my guess is phosphate. That would have been a great 1st post in this thread.
Any particular brand? I saw some cheap ones like NBS on AR-15 Discounts on sale before for $50 or so. I've never heard of this brand and I would be weary of it. If you have suggestions though let me know what you purchase. I know I started this thread about finishes but brand/quality matters too.
I've got some NB, some Nitride, some Phosphate, and I honestly can't tell the difference in performance, unless it breaks suddenly, which, BTW, hasn't happened yet, and I shoot mostly steel case. You're gonna buy what you believe is the best by someone else telling you about their experiences, just as I've related mine. My knowledge of metallurgy is very limited, and I don't need a degree to find something that works consistently. My opinion of this subject will have little to no value to you, but, it's free, take it for what it's worth. I've gotten far more value out of some things than I thought possible, especially folding blades. My $5 Wally World specials have been holding up a hell of a lot longer than I thought they would, so, I'm not going to spend huge money on something that won't give me the exact same, or slightly better performance. If my blade cuts and performs like a very spendy microtech, why would I buy anything else?
I've had just as much fun with my $100 Escort Slugger as I do with my $1200 Tavor TS12. Performance and fun, that's what I buy, not "tactifool" stuff that costs a fortune and no one can discern a difference when using it.
I read over your 5 posts in this thread and my guess is phosphate. That would have been a great 1st post in this thread.
Any particular brand? I saw some cheap ones like NBS on AR-15 Discounts on sale before for $50 or so. I've never heard of this brand and I would be weary of it. If you have suggestions though let me know what you purchase. I know I started this thread about finishes but brand/quality matters too.
I've got some NB, some Nitride, some Phosphate, and I honestly can't tell the difference in performance, unless it breaks suddenly, which, BTW, hasn't happened yet, and I shoot mostly steel case. You're gonna buy what you believe is the best by someone else telling you about their experiences, just as I've related mine. My knowledge of metallurgy is very limited, and I don't need a degree to find something that works consistently. My opinion of this subject will have little to no value to you, but, it's free, take it for what it's worth. I've gotten far more value out of some things than I thought possible, especially folding blades. My $5 Wally World specials have been holding up a hell of a lot longer than I thought they would, so, I'm not going to spend huge money on something that won't give me the exact same, or slightly better performance. If my blade cuts and performs like a very spendy microtech, why would I buy anything else?
I've had just as much fun with my $100 Escort Slugger as I do with my $1200 Tavor TS12. Performance and fun, that's what I buy, not "tactifool" stuff that costs a fortune and no one can discern a difference when using it.
Have a great, gun carryin', Kenpo day
Clyde
Thank you! Good to know they all hold up with steel case ammo too. I haven't had a bolt or BCG break yet but another member posted (in another thread) that he had 2 bolts break on him. I don't remember the details though.
Speaking of cheap knives, I have some Big 5 specials that have held up for years and they were like 8 bucks, and if I lose one, oh well.
Thank you! Good to know they all hold up with steel case ammo too. I haven't had a bolt or BCG break yet but another member posted (in another thread) that he had 2 bolts break on him. I don't remember the details though.
Speaking of cheap knives, I have some Big 5 specials that have held up for years and they were like 8 bucks, and if I lose one, oh well.
I've had very good luck with "budget" items, red dots, knives, watches, etc., very inexpensive but take mega abuse. I buy them in multiples in case they break, most don't, and now I've got drawers full of duplicates of the ones I'm still using. What's best, I still haven't spent the $$ I would've for "name brand" by buying multiples of the inexpensive ones, which, I can replace at no additional costs.
My guns are not for showing to friends, they are strictly for use, which BTW, is why I would rather sell my 1966 Python than keep it. I don't even own .357 ammo, I had to get some from RJ just to test fire it. On top of that, if I should ever have to use my firearm for self defense, the cops will get it as evidence, and, better chance than not, I won't ever see it again. I'm not spending huge money on something I may lose when I can buy just as reliable a gun for half the price.
campinginaz wrote: ↑June 17th, 2023, 2:08 pm
I didn't know there were this many coatings! What do you guys like best? I have nitride and phosphate but was looking into nickel boron.
My kid is a bit of a tech and research nerd, and when he built his second AR and was building with what his research told him was the best value / high quality parts (so not "the most expensive high-zoot race stuff - but the stuff that he found to be "very high quality and highly reliable") he chose a Sharps Rifle nickle boron coated BCG. The guy in the video that DrMark posted does not like nickle boron - but others do - and it sounds like the guy's objections are more around the thickness of the coating as opposed to how it functions as a "slick" protective coating.
I also tend to over-think things - so... my view regarding the "what is my favorite" is that... "it depends." My "favorite" will change based on the purpose of the rifle and associated with that, the cost of the item relative to its purpose is a big chunk of what should be considered "the best" unit for purpose.
I tend to divide the question into two families... plinking guns, duty / competition guns...
Plinking guns - if you are building a plinking rifle that will get taken out to blast cans a few weekends per year - I'd buy a very basic / inexpensive BCG from a reputable source that will warranty it if there is a manufacturing defect that makes it fail to function when you take it out the first time. If it works when you buy it (and it probably will) you win... The $79.99 nitrided BCG from PSA, if it works when you shoot it the first time and clean / lube it every once in a while will very likely give you decades of "shoot a couple hundred rounds on a Saturday a few times per year") - and you can buy a few of them for the price of a very high end BCG. The $160 that you save by buying a basic BCG can be turned into two more BCGs for other plinking guns - or maybe a bunch of rounds or reloading materials.
Competition and Duty guns - If you are a building a gun for competition or duty and are going to shoot
a LOT - like thousands of rounds per week then durability is key - as well as reliability as a function of durability. In this case - I'd probably buy either a chromed or DLC coated BCG. That said - I'm speaking here mostly as a keyboard warrior (I only own one chromed BCG and I don't own a DLC plated BCG but I think my next gun is getting one).
Again - for a duty / competition gun, before worrying about coatings, I'd put emphasis on the quality of machining and the base materials that they are made from first - then worry about the coating.
FYI, Wright Armory is dropping introductory pre-sale pricing on their NT-7 (nickel teflon) coating later this month. No idea what prices will be or when it will start, but I'd bet the intro pricing will be a pretty good deal. They told me today it would drop "later this month".
Awesome video! Thank you for posting I learned a lot! Before I started this thread I only knew of phosphate, nitride and chrome, and I just don't like the looks of chrome on anything I own lol..
On a side note I also really liked how he had a BCG cut in half and explained things about it.
campinginaz wrote: ↑June 17th, 2023, 2:08 pm
I didn't know there were this many coatings! What do you guys like best? I have nitride and phosphate but was looking into nickel boron.
My kid is a bit of a tech and research nerd, and when he built his second AR and was building with what his research told him was the best value / high quality parts (so not "the most expensive high-zoot race stuff - but the stuff that he found to be "very high quality and highly reliable") he chose a Sharps Rifle nickle boron coated BCG. The guy in the video that DrMark posted does not like nickle boron - but others do - and it sounds like the guy's objections are more around the thickness of the coating as opposed to how it functions as a "slick" protective coating.
I also tend to over-think things - so... my view regarding the "what is my favorite" is that... "it depends." My "favorite" will change based on the purpose of the rifle and associated with that, the cost of the item relative to its purpose is a big chunk of what should be considered "the best" unit for purpose.
I tend to divide the question into two families... plinking guns, duty / competition guns...
Plinking guns - if you are building a plinking rifle that will get taken out to blast cans a few weekends per year - I'd buy a very basic / inexpensive BCG from a reputable source that will warranty it if there is a manufacturing defect that makes it fail to function when you take it out the first time. If it works when you buy it (and it probably will) you win... The $79.99 nitrided BCG from PSA, if it works when you shoot it the first time and clean / lube it every once in a while will very likely give you decades of "shoot a couple hundred rounds on a Saturday a few times per year") - and you can buy a few of them for the price of a very high end BCG. The $160 that you save by buying a basic BCG can be turned into two more BCGs for other plinking guns - or maybe a bunch of rounds or reloading materials.
Competition and Duty guns - If you are a building a gun for competition or duty and are going to shoot
a LOT - like thousands of rounds per week then durability is key - as well as reliability as a function of durability. In this case - I'd probably buy either a chromed or DLC coated BCG. That said - I'm speaking here mostly as a keyboard warrior (I only own one chromed BCG and I don't own a DLC plated BCG but I think my next gun is getting one).
Again - for a duty / competition gun, before worrying about coatings, I'd put emphasis on the quality of machining and the base materials that they are made from first - then worry about the coating.
My 2 cents...
Great points here! Thank you for posting. I agree the overall quality of machining and materials used is very important when it comes to certain items such as a BCG. I'd rather buy from a reputable company than a no name company. PSA makes good products with a lifetime warranty so it's hard to go wrong there.
PVD are by far the best coatings. but they arent really aesthetic to most firearms. unless you like blingy s***. trying to make a coating that is thin, worth a f***, and black. aint easy.
