I have a chrome bolt carrier and bolt. After owning the rifle a month, the chrome BC sticks out like a turd in punch bowl when the dust cover is open. Of course I figured it would but just bugs me now since it's the only thing on the rifle that isn't black that can be seen. Just wondering if there's any way to darken it that will last. If not, then I may wind up trading it.

I bet you could easily trade it on the Equipment Exchange for a new black one.

There are plenty of people who haven't come to your conclusion yet.

If I need something blackened, I use a black permanent marker and I call it "sharpie-anodizing", but I don't think I'd try that on a bolt carrier.

www.blackicecoatings.com/

I sent you an IM about your carrier.

I don't know WHY you have a chromed bolt carrier.  

They're worse than regular bolt carriers, as they can put significant extra wear inside upper receivers.  Military got rid of chromed b/c assy's in 1960s due to this.  And the funny thing is, many of the current crop of chromed bolt carriers are _not _ chrome-lined on the inside where the bolt goes (which is the way a milspec carrier should be.   So many of these carrier mfgrs made the bolt doubly worse!!

Sell your chromed carrier to some other sucker and just get a good std carrier from a reputable company (Colt, Bushmaster, Stag/CMT, Armalite, etc.)  These quality milspec carriers will be chrome-lined inside where the carrier accepts the bolt and will have a dull finish on outside.


Bill Wiese
San Jose CA