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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Backup BCG for Colt SOCOM?

Posted: 4/28/2015 12:29:34 PM EDT

I just want to have one around just incase. I have a few options but I don't know whats best. I am assuming I will NEVER have an issue with my BCG but if I did, Id want one right there. I also figure that if I buy a complete BCG its a quick change vs diagnosing and stripping the BCG. I also know that the firing pin is the most likely to fail then the bolt and never the carrier... So I have options:

-Complete Colt BCG $200
-Aftermarket APF $120

-Aftermarket bolt only $60
-Aftermarket pin $8

-Backup complete upper DD $750

-Buy a whole new AR for backup and use a scope on it vs the Eotech on my SOCOM

I am sure there are opinions and other ideas. I like the idea of just getting a complete Colt BCG to drop in and never 2nd guess it and buy an extra pin while Im at it but the chances of failure are so small that a cheaper aftermarket BCG is just as good of an option.

Posted: 4/28/2015 12:40:29 PM EDT

[#1]

What happens when a round of ammo blows out and splits your BCG open, cracking your lower? I think you need a complete spare lower too!

Hell, why not a complete spare rifle? :)

Posted: 4/28/2015 1:10:57 PM EDT

[#2]

Colt, FN, BCM, CMT, DD etc.....

Posted: 4/28/2015 1:24:05 PM EDT

[#3]

I have a spare rifle to back up my spare rifle which backs up my other spare rifle which backs up my main rifle. You never know. All jokes aside just get a BCM bcg and spare parts for it and your good.

Posted: 4/28/2015 1:37:13 PM EDT

[#4]

I would just get spare bolts; through normal use you will never wear out a carrier.

The standard milspec bolt develops cracks between 3k-6k rounds ("harsh" duty cycle) and all bolts ("normal" duty cycle) will have cracks by 6k-10k and are on borrowed time thereafter. The thing may go to 25,000, but you can't count on it.

Posted: 4/28/2015 2:15:04 PM EDT

[#5]

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Quoted:
I would just get spare bolts; through normal use you will never wear out a carrier.

The standard milspec bolt develops cracks between 3k-6k rounds ("harsh" duty cycle) and all bolts ("normal" duty cycle) will have cracks by 6k-10k and are on borrowed time thereafter. The thing may go to 25,000, but you can't count on it.

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Good advice. Plus you can keep a spare bolt in your rifle, depending on your setup.

Posted: 4/28/2015 2:22:16 PM EDT

[#6]

I got like 8 spare rifles for back up cause you never know.

Posted: 4/28/2015 2:26:46 PM EDT

[#7]

One is none, Two is one

AR parts are super cheap, now is the time to build

Posted: 4/28/2015 2:30:44 PM EDT

[#8]

you wont need more than a bolt. carriers dont tits up, your $$ tho

Posted: 4/28/2015 4:41:09 PM EDT

[#9]

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Quoted:
you wont need more than a bolt. carriers dont tits up, your $$ tho

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This.

If you ever have a failure that you need the carrier it's going to take out the gun to.

Posted: 4/28/2015 4:47:49 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
What happens when a round of ammo blows out and splits your BCG open, cracking your lower? I think you need a complete spare lower too!

Hell, why not a complete spare rifle? :)

View Quote

QFT
Have you noticed how many Kabooms are posted on this site?

Posted: 4/28/2015 4:50:37 PM EDT

[#11]

Spare rifle.

If you buy just a part, it will become a rifle (or 12)

Ask me how I know.

Posted: 4/28/2015 5:26:02 PM EDT

[#12]

Colt BCG's $149.00 on gunbroker.com
In original sealed bag best price I could find.

Posted: 4/28/2015 5:56:42 PM EDT

[#13]

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Quoted:
Colt BCG's $149.00 on gunbroker.com
In original sealed bag best price I could find.

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That's a good price. I ordered one direct from that store. Thanks

Posted: 4/28/2015 7:01:02 PM EDT

[#14]

Backup BCG.....kinda like buying a factory wheels to replace the ones on your car when your tires wear out.

Your money though

Posted: 4/28/2015 7:07:38 PM EDT

[#15]

I have several spare bolts, and ONE spare carrier. A spare carrier can be swapped in while you repair/replace the gas key and you're down for minutes rather than hours. This is a great strategy for shooting matches or carbine courses. You can take "two is one, and one is none" way too far.

It's important to think out what sorts of failures you are likely to encounter - or that anyone may encounter. I don't see a lot of failure potential in a basic carrier. The key could get bent or broken, but the carrier is really just a well made chunk of steel. Bolts, on the other hand, have multiple parts that could fail, as could the bolt body itself in various locations. Spare bolts make sense, but spare BCGs? It's almost as quick to swap a bolt into a carrier as it is to just swap complete carrier groups, and spare bolts are a lot more affordable than spare groups.

Posted: 4/28/2015 11:40:25 PM EDT

[#16]

Anyone have a source for a colt bolt?

Posted: 4/29/2015 4:06:05 AM EDT

[#17]

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Anyone have a source for a colt bolt?

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I always see em for sale here in the EE section. FN is another quality option.

Posted: 4/29/2015 9:06:38 AM EDT

[#18]

Kind of off topic but will a no wake infidel upper work on a colt lower?

It's a different gas system Not sure if that matters.

http://www.greyghostgear.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=37821

Posted: 4/29/2015 9:49:12 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

Kind of off topic but will a no wake infidel upper work on a colt lower?

It's a different gas system Not sure if that matters.

http://www.greyghostgear.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=37821

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It doesn't matter what gas system length it has. It's just an upper. If it had a piston system, then you couldn't use a Colt BC most likely

So yes, it will work on your Colt.

Posted: 4/29/2015 11:51:22 AM EDT

[#20]

You can get Toolcraft BCGs for $93. Mil-spec and arfcom tells me that the gov't buys these to drop in as replacements for .mil guns.

Posted: 4/29/2015 12:00:55 PM EDT

[#21]

COLT - FN -

Posted: 4/29/2015 12:13:43 PM EDT

[#22]

Problems with just the carrier are rare, gas keys and screws seem to come up a lot relatively speaking.
The fastest way to fix a key is to swap carriers.
I keep several since they keep getting used in builds anyway.
Keep a weapon long enough and you will replace the bolt sooner or later.
The carbine class thread would seem to indicate there are plenty of lower quality BCG’s out there.

Posted: 4/29/2015 12:58:10 PM EDT

[#23]

Don't forget to get the bolt's small parts too, they need to be replaced when worn before the bolt get replaced.

Check your bolt extractor insert and spring more or less every 2,500 rounds interval.

Replace your extractor insert, extractor spring, extractor, gas rings, and action spring every around 5K rounds (more than that if not used much).

Replace the bolt assembly more or less about 10K rounds.

I've had good luck with mil-spec BCG like Colt, LMT and BCM, others that I had not tried yet but are also mil-spec and should be as good are Daniel Defense, and other military suppliers.

Posted: 4/29/2015 8:09:06 PM EDT

[#24]

I can see the rings or extractor springs going bad but th actual extractor piece? I can't even find a bcm part for just the piece. You can rebuild a bolt for $30 or replace it for $80 at bcm.

Posted: 4/29/2015 8:56:53 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:

I can see the rings or extractor springs going bad but th actual extractor piece? I can't even find a bcm part for just the piece. You can rebuild a bolt for $30 or replace it for $80 at bcm.

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$80 is retarded for just a bolt.

Get a CMT(Stag), Toolcraft, or any other properly built and tested bolt for around $40-$50.

Posted: 4/29/2015 11:49:00 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
I can see the rings or extractor springs going bad but th actual extractor piece? I can't even find a bcm part for just the piece. You can rebuild a bolt for $30 or replace it for $80 at bcm.

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I had been a Colt AR owner for 44 years now and had worn out six (four rifles and two carbines) anywhere from 15K to over 20K+ rounds, had not broken the bolt extractor, but anything could break, take a look at this thread of "What Parts Break in a Carbine Course" (got to pages 48 and 49 for summaries).

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/360169_What_Parts_Break_in_a_Carbine_Course_____Thread_summaries_are_on_pages_48_49.html&page=1

Posted: 4/30/2015 10:57:50 AM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:

I had been a Colt AR owner for 44 years now and had worn out six (four rifles and two carbines) anywhere from 15K to over 20K+ rounds, had not broken the bolt extractor, but anything could break, take a look at this thread of "What Parts Break in a Carbine Course" (got to pages 48 and 49 for summaries).

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/360169_What_Parts_Break_in_a_Carbine_Course_____Thread_summaries_are_on_pages_48_49.html&page=1

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I can see the rings or extractor springs going bad but th actual extractor piece? I can't even find a bcm part for just the piece. You can rebuild a bolt for $30 or replace it for $80 at bcm.

I had been a Colt AR owner for 44 years now and had worn out six (four rifles and two carbines) anywhere from 15K to over 20K+ rounds, had not broken the bolt extractor, but anything could break, take a look at this thread of "What Parts Break in a Carbine Course" (got to pages 48 and 49 for summaries).

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_118/360169_What_Parts_Break_in_a_Carbine_Course_____Thread_summaries_are_on_pages_48_49.html&page=1

Thanks. I have also talked to a few Marines who used M16 and 14s and they all said that they never experienced a malfunction or an issue that wasn't due to just being dirty. One who served recently said that he got jams but only on bursts and never on semi. None of them replaced a firing pin or bolt but obviously cleaned it everyday. I guess having 1 BCG as a backup covers everything. The carrier is probably not needed but it would be a quick swap if there was a bolt issue and I went down.

Posted: 4/30/2015 12:05:36 PM EDT

[#28]

Armsunlimited has Colt BCG in stock for $150. I've ordered from them several times and have no complaints.

https://www.armsunlimited.com/Colt-M16-AR15-Complete-Bolt-Carrier-Group-Assembly-p/sp64028.htm

Posted: 4/30/2015 4:26:39 PM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:
Armsunlimited has Colt BCG in stock for $150. I've ordered from them several times and have no complaints.

https://www.armsunlimited.com/Colt-M16-AR15-Complete-Bolt-Carrier-Group-Assembly-p/sp64028.htm

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That's where I ordered from. They don't sell the bolt only though.

Posted: 4/30/2015 5:02:27 PM EDT

[#30]

Spare? AIM surplus complete BCG for $80

Posted: 4/30/2015 6:02:29 PM EDT

[#31]

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Quoted:

Spare? AIM surplus complete BCG for $80

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This. Or just their bolt for $30-$40.

Unless you have a catastrophic failure, the carrier isn't going to fail.... And if you do have a catastrophic failure you're probably going to need a whole new upper if not a whole new gun.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Backup BCG for Colt SOCOM?

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