Subject says it all.  After not finding anything in search I decided to just ask.

I am compiling the Ol'Christmas list to turn into the Missus, I mean Santa, and am willing to compromise on a few parts in order to get a couple.  Originally I was wanting a  BCM versions of these parts but for the sake of getting it done I will compromise.

Specifically I am looking at the Full-Auto rated BCG and the 16 inch midlength SOCOM barrel.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Radical_Firearms_5_56_300_AAC_Melonite_M16_AR15_BC_p/magmeln-bcg556.htm

https://www.primaryarms.com/Radical_Firearms_16_Mid_Length_Barrel_1_7_Twist_p/rf1617m.htmhttps://www.primaryarms.com/Radical_Firearms_16_Mid_Length_Barrel_1_7_Twist_p/rf1617m.htm

Thanks for any help.

spend 4 bucks more on this one.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=XAIMBCGN3BDG&name=AIM+AR%2fM16+.223%2f5.56+Nitride+9310+MPI+Bolt+Carrier+Group&groupid=723

jse has some barrels in that range. depends on if the socom profile really matters. hbar for 4  bucks less if you just wanted a heavier barrel.

If someone gave me a Radical barrel I'd give it away before I put it on an AR of mine.

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There are dozens of threads here about Radical.  Probably read of more problems with them then any other manufacturer lately.

i put RF and PSA in the same category of "jank shit i wont buy"

Ummm no, PSA is GTG especially their premium line.

You keep living in your fantasy land.

 

rofl.

My Radical barrel has problems, my PSA and PTAC shit works fine

I own nothing fom PSA but even I say you are way off base on that comparison.

Every company has issues including BCM, PSA, Colt, etc but Radical seems to have many more of them than their market share should dictate.

Here is another good alternative, probably up there with aim. Same stuff material wise, and the staking looks good.

https://dsgarms.com/dsghbcg006

Ran me $90 with a "good guy" discount. I ordered from DSG since aim was OOS.

DSG has never disappointing me in the past. The customer service is very nice too, if something breaks I know they will make it right.

After the threads I was shown the other day, in the looking for a budget barrel thread, I will not own a RF barrel. I even planned on buying one soon but I'd rather spend the extra money on something that is proven good quality.

Ok so consensus is RF needs to be resmelted and sold to PSA/Spikes/BCM as bar stock, thanks.

While my RF barrel has been good, especially for the price, I would stay away from them because of all the issues people have been reporting.  PSA is GTG in my book!

Go back to GD, this forum is for big boys that aren't trolling.

My RF upper is solid and my friend has one also both work good with no problems we got lucky. I also bought it from primary arms because I could always rely on their customer support if I had problem.   RF is hit or miss

I'm not an RF fan.  If I got one of their barrels I would first attempt to twist off the barrel extension.  If it held, I would keep using it.



Bolts are harder to check.  I would probably just shoot it to failure.  I wouldn't use it in my go to rifles.

GTG?

no

I have used 7 of their barrels, at first the ones i got were great, stacking bullets at 50 yards, well my 6th barrel wouldn't group worth crap, 7 or 8" at 100. I ordered through Primary Arms so they took care of me and sent another, that one took around 150 rounds before it "broke in" and started shooting decent but i was getting dang close to sending that one back as well.. But to be honest i am pretty hesitant to buy another one.

What i have found is if i want a bolt carrier i go to aim, barrels i use "critical components" and they have been lights out.

Which version of their barrels did you get?

For barrels I wouldn't look any further then Ballistic Advantage

http://www.schuylerarmsco.com/product.16-556-government-profile-mid-length-barrel-modern-series-62-993

That one is on sale for $95 right now and they are 10 times better then RF.  They are just as good as about any other barrel out there.  I love mine and plan on buying quite a few more from them.  They cost a little more directly from Ballistic Advantage but if you want one with the FSB and everything included already you can go to their page and check out what they have.  They also have a 10% off discount code, think it is save10now.  But if you just want a stripped barrel I would get the one from Schuyler.  

For BCG I would get this one made by toolcraft
http://www.wcarmory.com/toolcraft-bcg-223-5-56-bolt-carrier-group-black-c-158-mpi-complete.htm

Or for a few bucks less you can get this one from PSA, it's a great BCG I have one that runs great
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/2321/

If you want one coated AIM is a good option as well, they have a cheaper one then this too but I think it is worth the extra
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=XAIMBCGV2&name=AIM+v2+BLACK+NITRIDE+.223%2f5.56+AR%2fM16+C158+Bolt+Carrier+Group&groupid=723

ToolCraft also has coated ones on the first place listed too, for a little more.  I actually think there is a good chance AIM and maybe even PSA BCG are made by toolcraft too but I couldn't be for sure.  I would stick with the ones that have the C158 bolts instead of the 9310 bolts.  

With the items I listed they will cost about the same, maybe even less then the ones you want and you get twice the quality.  

I hope to have a real-world answer for you and not a bunch of heresay here in the next few days.  Built a rifle as a gift and since the ability to sterilize a gnat at a 100m wasn't a priority I got them the barrel, gas block, and tube Primary Arms had on sale for Columbus Day.  In this instance I need 2-3moa, capable of killing pigs within 200 yards and it should be fine for that.  

I will say it looks fine, is melonited, as is the gas block.  Their BCG is all melonited as well.  

The only real problem I had with the build was the fact that Andersen put an AR10 bolt catch in the AR15 LPK.  Couldn't figure out WTF was wrong that the catch was hitting the inside of the upper.  Had the fiance' take it all back to PA and show them, and they figured out it was the wrong catch and replaced it and said they needed to take that issue up with Andersen.  Because I wasn't sure what was wrong I hadn't torqued anything on the upper, and she got them to do all that as well.  Got the rifle back ready to test fire, which I'll probably do this weekend.

All in all it's a nice rifle with PA's microdot for about $785.  That's Aero upper and lower, Andersen's LPK, the barrel, block, tube, and complete BCG from Radical, with a Hogue grip, Magpul CTR stock, and Seekins m-loc PA-specific rail. He can upgrade the barrel down te line but having never owned an AR it will be the greatest ever to him.

I'll get pics up after I get it tested.

schuyler arms has some screaming deal on Ballistic Advantage Barrels right now

I am not going to say not to buy Radical Firearms barrels or bcg if it is a good deal and it is all you can afford.  And I am not saying they are junk.  But from the reviews I have read you have a greater chance of getting a poor quality product then elsewhere.  And I think you would be making a really big mistake especially when the Radical Firearms parts cost more then the ones I listed.  That Ballistic Advantage barrel will be 10 times the quality for a cheaper price!  I would put up any Ballistic Advantage barrel to the standard BCM ones and figure they would outlast them with their melonite treatment, and shoot better as well since they aren't chromed.

I haven't gotten a chance to shoot the Ballistic Advantage one I have too much but the other day sighting it in I was shooting some 62 grain Lake City and it is only a 11.5" barrel.  At 100-110 yards I was averaging about 1.5" 5 shot groups with a Nikon scope.  With the best group having 4 out of 5 rounds within half an inch and the other being a flier making it 1.5".  That is how most of them were, usually all but 1 round would be within .5 inch-1 inch and typically 1 random shot making it a 1.5" instead of under 1".  But I only shot it about 5 times on paper grouping it like that.  I believe with some good ammo and rest it would shoot under an inch all day.   I can't say enough good about that barrel.  I love the smooth finish on it from the melonite treatment.  The surface is very hard and smooth and looks great.  And for the price I will always buy a barrel from them if they have what I want.  I do wish they had some more choices for lightweight barrels instead of the government profile most of them are.  

I haven't read much about their BCGs but I would still take a ToolCraft or PSA or AIM BCG over theirs any day and they are all about the same price or even cheaper.  I am not going to say that ToolCraft is as good as the BCM bolt carrier but I bet you would never tell the difference.  I'd bet it is at least 9/10ths as good as the BCM if not more and I wouldn't be afraid of taking it into combat if I had to.  

I just can't understand why anyone would order the RF parts at the prices they are when there is better quality out there for cheaper.  Grab you a ToolCraft BCG and BA barrel, save you a few bucks from the RF stuff and have something that is on par with the top brands out there.

I have the 16" midlength socom barrel that PA had for $65 and a couple of their BCG's. No issues after 300 rounds but I will keep an eye on the extension.