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Posted: 11/6/2024 5:11:38 PM EDT
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I'm about to get another BCG and it's going to be Sionics. I'm mainly concerned about durability/longevity, not so much about it sticking or not. Does anyone have any long term/high round use out of an NP3 to know if they hold up better than phosphate? I read that a good NP3 will have its dimensions slightly reduced since the coating does add a tiny bit of thickness. My understanding about phosphate is that it's not a coating and is instead a treatment, therefore does not need modification to the dimensions. If all that's true, then my concern is that if the NP3 were to wear off, that it would no longer be within proper tolerance, right? So, question is, is there any real longevity or durability increase to the NP3 vs the Phosphate? |
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Originally Posted By Paradoxical-Reality: I'm about to get another BCG and it's going to be Sionics. I'm mainly concerned about durability/longevity, not so much about it sticking or not. Does anyone have any long term/high round use out of an NP3 to know if they hold up better than phosphate? I read that a good NP3 will have its dimensions slightly reduced since the coating does add a tiny bit of thickness. My understanding about phosphate is that it's not a coating and is instead a treatment, therefore does not need modification to the dimensions. If all that's true, then my concern is that if the NP3 were to wear off, that it would no longer be within proper tolerance, right? So, question is, is there any real longevity or durability increase to the NP3 vs the Phosphate? I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that quality phosphated carriers are chrome-lined, which may be a harder, more durable coating compared to NP3, and if not, is beyond acceptable as that is MilSpec. |
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Probably Phosphate is the most well documented one especially usgi ones. I would just get a toolcraft one or a colt brand one. It's hard to say what longevity means. There's a good chance once you get into the 1000s area that you will need to monitor for anything breakages. I never had a catastrophic breakage myself but minor things like gas key, gas rings, bolt springs, etc might need to get replaced every so often. Based on my own personal experience, I think once you hit the 5-10k mark, you better start looking for parts replacement. If you consider the cost of that though, at .50-60 cents per 5.56/.223 round you're talking about spending 2-5k in ammo cost. If you can't afford the replacement parts, then you can't afford the shooting cost and have nothing to worry about. |
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I have had my Colt M16a1 for quite a few years now, and I really like the nickel boron coated bolt from Fail Zero. Cleans quite easily, although I've never had a chrome one to compare to. Only problem I had was a few failures to extract due to extractor spring. On my M16a1 and my registered receiver MP5, I always carry a spare bolt when shooting. Only had to use it once on each firearm, but it saves the day and let's you do repairs at home. RCA |
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Originally Posted By kingoftheriver: I have had my Colt M16a1 for quite a few years now, and I really like the nickel boron coated bolt from Fail Zero. Cleans quite easily, although I've never had a chrome one to compare to. Only problem I had was a few failures to extract due to extractor spring. On my M16a1 and my registered receiver MP5, I always carry a spare bolt when shooting. Only had to use it once on each firearm, but it saves the day and let's you do repairs at home. RCA My fail zero NiB would destroy the firing pin retainer. The bolt tail to carrier bore had too much clearance causing gas to slam the firing pin into the retainer. You could not stand the BCG up on the bolt without it collapsing. That was the last time I spent money on anything besides a quality chrome lined phosphate BCG. |
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