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Posted: 8/27/2010 11:27:15 AM EDT
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Any downside to running a chromed BGC?
Do they "dry out" any faster than a non-chromed BCG? |
| Do you mean chrome interior? or chrome exterior? Chrome interior on the carrier is OK. Having the exterior of the carrier chromed is not a good idea. From what I've read, the military tried that on the M16A1's. They found that the chrome bolt carriers wore out the upper receivers prematurely. These rifles were used as trainers only. They were not to be issued to troops. |
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As stated, the military did away with chrome bolt carriers due to cost. Also, back in those days, the chrome plating process was not as good as today, so they had a problem with hydrogen embrittlement, and the chrome would start to flake. I have some of the original bolts and carriers from back them, and some of the bolts have started to flake, but I have not seen the bolt carriers flake. It is a myth that the chrome bolt carrier wears out the upper faster. Chrome is harder, but you are not beating the two surfaces together. Chrome has a lower coefficient of friction, and that means less friction between the bolt carrier and the inside of the upper and that means less wear. The parkerized bolt carriers are somewhat porous to the touch, and this causes more friction and wear even if lubricated. It is also a myth that the military got way from the chrome bolt carriers due to their being shiney. That is what the dust cover is for. You close the dust cover to keep dirt and crap out of the chamber and that covers the shiney bolt carrier. Once you fire the weapon, the dust cover does open and exposes the chrome bolt carrier, but once you are firing the least of your worries is that the enemy will see your chrome carrier. I used to build M16's and did a lot of R & D for companies making products for SWAT and military. One of the experiments I did was to take two Colt M16's with 11.5 inch barrels. Both were the same in every way except one had the chrome bolt carrier and the other did not. Me and a friend of mine fired them side by side with Norinco ammo, which is fairly dirty. At about 700 rounds, the carbon buildup in his weapon made him have problems with reliability. He finally had to field strip the weapon and clean it. Mine with the chrome bolt carrier kept going well beyond 1000 rounds with no reliability problems. (Oh, the good old days when ammo was so cheap we could do this type of experimenting.) I only use chrome bolt carriers in my AR's and M16's.
Charles Tatum |
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