Disappointed in Nickel Boron BCG - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Disappointed in Nickel Boron BCG

Posted: 8/8/2017 3:54:01 PM EDT

I bought a LH bolt carrier group from Stag with their Nickel Boron finish. After firing less than 100 rounds, I found the BCG did not clean up very well.
It cleaned up some, but no where near like new. There were also carbon deposits on the bolt as with any standard bolt. Was I wrong to think a BCG
with Nickel Boron finish cleaned up easily to like new condition?

Posted: 8/8/2017 3:57:54 PM EDT

[#1]

It's a firearm not a piece of art. There is no magic coating that is going to come back to factory new condition if you actually use your firearm.

Posted: 8/8/2017 5:22:54 PM EDT

[#2]

I had bad luck dealing with Stag. Nickel Boron is going to darken with use. It doesn't loose its lubricity though.
If you want easy cleanup here is MY experience.

Obsidian BCG by TR enabling cleans up super easy and is slick.

Cryptic Coatings Mystic Black. Easy clean up

If you want BLING and easy clean up

Young National Match BCG. Its chrome.

Salient Arms International BCG Easy clean up and its Gold.

These all clean up better than Nickel Boron.

Posted: 8/8/2017 6:36:24 PM EDT

[#3]

Good information. Thanks, TXLineman.

Posted: 8/8/2017 9:02:58 PM EDT

[#4]

I never had a NB type bolt/carrier, but I do have experience with Chromium Nitride finish on the JP Enhanced bolts. It turns black with use and no matter how much cleaner I put on it, it never turns back shiny.

Until I use Iosso bore paste on it. Then it's so shiny I could use it as a mirror.

Posted: 8/9/2017 6:58:57 PM EDT

[#5]

A NB BCG in a piston, is the bees knees, ya can clean it up with a cocktail napkin, or not even do that, doesn't need it really. In a DI, yeah it discolors. No biggie.

Posted: 8/11/2017 3:55:28 PM EDT

[#6]

If you want a rifle to stay new in the box.....then don't shoot it. If you shoot it, it'll get dirty. Don't expect a rifle to go back to new once you've fired it. Obsess about something more important.

Posted: 8/12/2017 9:59:45 AM EDT

[#7]

I think you'd need to go chrome. I have to Young chrome carriers and they clean up like new pretty easily. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

Posted: 8/12/2017 10:21:21 AM EDT

[#8]

Brasso and some elbow grease works wonders, OP.

Posted: 8/12/2017 1:57:57 PM EDT

[#9]

I have several K through NiB bolts and that does look like it stained early.

My FZ is almost completely black/charcoal FWIW after heavy use.

Posted: 8/12/2017 2:12:07 PM EDT

[#10]

BCG CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS

WMD NiBx Cleaning Tips

Posted: 8/12/2017 5:57:34 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
I had bad luck dealing with Stag. Nickel Boron is going to darken with use. It doesn't loose its lubricity though.
If you want easy cleanup here is MY experience.

Obsidian BCG by TR enabling cleans up super easy and is slick.

Cryptic Coatings Mystic Black. Easy clean up

If you want BLING and easy clean up

Young National Match BCG. Its chrome.

Salient Arms International BCG Easy clean up and its Gold.

These all clean up better than Nickel Boron.

View Quote

This is very true.

Posted: 8/12/2017 9:38:25 PM EDT

[#12]

That does look a bit prematurely stained. I have a Fail Zero NiB BCG in one of my carbines and it wipes clean pretty easily still. I have probably 400 rounds on it since I bought it.

Posted: 8/14/2017 8:41:52 AM EDT

[#13]

Judging from my BCG the forums wisdom that color change is not unusual, but does not affect function is correct.

Posted: 8/14/2017 8:57:51 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's a firearm not a piece of art. There is no magic coating that is going to come back to factory new condition if you actually use your firearm.

View Quote

My 50+ year old Colt hard chromed carrier group still looks pretty new after cleaning & it's probably been cleaned 1000+ times.

Posted: 8/14/2017 9:09:17 PM EDT

[#15]

Try cleaning it with mothers mag polish. fk in amazing

Posted: 8/31/2017 12:17:19 PM EDT

[#16]

Doesn't look dirty at all, just a darker color. I wouldn't worry about that at all.

Did you lube before shooting?

Posted: 9/4/2017 10:12:46 AM EDT

[#17]

It just isnt pretty but seems to be OK

Try some Mothers mag wheel cleaner on it and see if that helps if you want it to shine.

I've used that on my Nickel BCG and it works great

Posted: 10/24/2017 6:44:59 PM EDT

[#18]

I got an Anderson bcg with nib coating and its the same. After the first range trip with 150rds it was stained. I soaked it in carb cleaner and brushed it with no luck. It's clean just not new clean.

Posted: 11/4/2017 8:29:51 PM EDT

[#19]

I was told those are microscopic holes that carbon gets into. Happens on all of the Nickel Boron ones I've used.

Posted: 11/4/2017 8:48:54 PM EDT

[#20]

I have a 'premium' PSA Nickel Boron BCG and it cleans up quite nicely with very little effort, which I care little about.

What I care about more is that the coating has come off in flakes inside the bolt cam channel like little scabs. Lame.

Next time I'll just go with a milspec unit of reputable make, or perhaps chrome if I'm looking for bling.

Posted: 11/4/2017 9:09:30 PM EDT

[#21]

Unless you never shoot yer gun, its always gonna be dirty. Just varying degrees of......

What I don't get is this mania to make it "clean". More guns get ruined because some idjit used too much elbow grease cleaning. (seen that)
It ain't gotta be spotless.....

Posted: 11/5/2017 1:20:30 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have a 'premium' PSA Nickel Boron BCG and it cleans up quite nicely with very little effort, which I care little about.

What I care about more is that the coating has come off in flakes inside the bolt cam channel like little scabs. Lame.

Next time I'll just go with a milspec unit of reputable make, or perhaps chrome if I'm looking for bling.

View Quote

My advice would be never ever buy NiB unless it's done by WMD or UCT.

Posted: 11/22/2017 3:44:05 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

My advice would be never ever buy NiB unless it's done by WMD or UCT.

View Quote

Quoted for truth. UTC is the parent company of FZ. WMD and FZ are the only two companies with the deep experience, technical skill and quality control to do NiB BCGs right, IMHO. Eventually even they will stain. My WMD is a golden bronze color but still bright after several thousand rounds, now. But, I do wipe it down after each range session. I run virtually no lube, only a few drops of full synthetic oil. Any more just attracts and holds carbon, dirt and grit.

Posted: 11/22/2017 11:02:58 PM EDT

[#24]

Attached File

Attached File

This bolt has 4-5k on it. If you shoot it.. it's gonna stain. Still works as it should. I buy the no lube claims. I ran mine 1k dry as a bone this past July and it did great.

Toolcrafts EXO had the best finish IMO.

Attached File

Gave that one away as a gift but am gonna buy another. This one pictured had about 1k of .300blk and looked brand new.

Posted: 11/24/2017 2:48:41 AM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
<snip>
Toolcrafts EXO had the best finish IMO.
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/425939/20171122_190718-370624.JPG

Gave that one away as a gift but am gonna buy another. This one pictured had about 1k of .300blk and looked brand new.

View Quote

Damn, that Toolcrafts EXO looks awesome. Makes me want to go out and buy one. Thanks for the eye candy.