Bolt Carrier Assembly Brand

[biokillr]

Hi I am new to THR and would like to dig a little into the knowledge of some experts.
I have an AR-15 I had built from used parts by someone who is a very knowledgable gunsmith. The bolt carrier assembly is the oldest part and my first replacement. I am looking for a new assembly that is chrome plated and was wondering what brands i should look for.

Thank you,
I310k1LLr

 

[BBBBill]

You didn't specify upper or lower receiver and that's gonna be a little hard to do either way. With the very rare exception of a few cast stainless steel units, the receiver is aluminum. Aluminum can be chrome plated, but it is difficult and much more expensive as it requires plating with another substrate first. There's only one or two shops that will even attempt it. There are no commercially available chrome plated receivers.

Are you looking for a slick reflective finish? Your current receiver can be polished, but it will likely remove all of the protective hard anodized coating.

 

[biokillr]

Sorry i got my terminology wrong. I meant the bolt carrier assembly. It's a 5.56 chamber.

 

[blackDdefense]

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=377

 

[rskent]

Is there a point to chrome plating a bolt carrier or is it to look cool.
For the record, looking cool is a legitimate reason for doing it.
Steve

 

[BBBBill]

Hard chrome will reduce friction, make it much easier to clean, and it will reduce, but not eliminate, the possibility of corrosion.

 

[re_volt]

Do you think its worth the extra bucks to have a chrome bolt carrier?

 

[dirtyjim]

right now i have a les baer national match slick side carrier & a les baer bolt in mine but next time i think i'll get a gold plated b&c to match my gold tooth. both the bolt & carrier are chrome, they came with the rifle when i bought it and i can't really say if its an improvement or if i would have spent the money if i was the one who built it

 

[biokillr]

I got a Crome plated bolt carrier assembly and as far performance goes I haven't noticed a difference. On the other hand I haven't noticed much wear on the carrier or bolt compared to my old carrier. Cleaning has become easier and less time consuming with the chrome. Over all it's worth the money.

 

[Strykervet]

I can understand why you may want a chrome one, but I'd steer you towards JP Enterprises instead. They make a "Tactical" bolt carrier (I don't know what makes it tactical though) and that is the best one I've ever used. I build my own AR's, and from now on they'll all use that part. I also use JP Ent. small parts, the lower parts and stuff. Those are better quality than most too. The carriers are very, very well machined and finished, and they polish them and then coat them with something that is very slick. Feels slicker than chrome and I haven't seen wear yet and it is in a 6.5Grendel. The tolerances are much tighter and the bolt fits better than any other I've seen. Considering you get all this for just a little bit more than good milspec part, I think it was $170 for the complete carrier but no bolt, it is a great deal. And you can use whatever bolt, just make sure to use new gas rings.

 

[KansasPaul]

Save your money and buy a quality BCG - look for one that includes a mpi & pressure tested bolt. (Colt, Spikes Tactical, BCM, CMMG, Palmetto State Armory). My brother-in-law owns a POF with chrome BC that started to flake within 100 rounds - required dressing with a file and stone. I do believe that Spikes offers a nickel boron BCG but it is about twice the cost of their standard tested BCG.

blessings

Paul

 

[Strykervet]

If you do have your heart set on chrome, get hard chrome, not chrome plating. Plating will chip and flake, the hard chroming wont. It might not be as shiny as you like, I don't know, I don't use 'em.

But considering how much the chrome ones are, I'm sure they cost more than the milspecs I have, I'd definitely get the JP Tactical, no doubt about it.

If anyone has used this JP carrier and knows of a better one, please let us know.