Is Colt now outsourcing their bolt carrier assemblies? I purchased a "Colt" assembly but there are no "C" markings.
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Is Colt now outsourcing their bolt carrier assemblies? I purchased a "Colt" assembly but there are no "C" markings.
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The BCG's from the Colt expanse rifles aren't marked. But all the colt BCG's I have bought have the "C" stamped on side of carrier.
Not sure about distributors but while looking on Gunbroker some sellers would mention they are Colt BCG's but not stamped with "C" and I always looked for description and picture showing the stamped "C".
There have been several factory colt rifles (not expanse... 6920 ect) that have come without the C on the carrier recently. IIRC someone called Colt and they assured him these are the same bcgs made in the colt factory.
ETA: This is the quote from an armsunlimited rep: "We've had numerous people call us to complain about this so we inquired with Colt. Colts answer to us was our carriers aren't always marked, only the bolt itself has the C marking"
I've never had a Colt bolt that only had a "C" on it. All have been marked "MPC" and with a white dot. I would be returning it but that's just me
wasn't AU parting out expanse rifles not to long ago ?
i remember one of their ads a little while back selling complete colt lowers for $399 or so , i believe they were expanse lowers but not advertised as such.
FWIW, Chris Bartocci, a former Colt employee, thinks they are outsourced and not manufactured by Colt.
That's impossible. Everyone on here knows that each manufacturer has their own forge and are making their own BCG's along with their own QC and HP/MP process.
Anyone bought a 6920 recently and checked their bolt/BCG for proper markings?
Just received this email from Arms Unlimited:
Hello Jason, all products that we advertise as Colt products are indeed Colt manufactured and are shipped in bulk packaging direct from Colt. Colt does not put the C marking on their bolt carriers anymore. Here is our direct Colt contact if you would like to verify. alacolin@colt.com
I have a recently purchased Colt upper with no C on the carrier, but the bolt has the white dot and is marked MPC. However, my 2 6720s and 6960,all purchased as complete rifles at different points over Mid 2016 to now, have a C on the carrier...go figure...
Well what the puck
Lately I've had marked and unmarked carriers in new from the factory rifles. The Bolt is always marked.
Side note:
I highly doubt Colt produces their own BCGs, like most parts.
If they aren't produced in Hartford, does this mean the quality isn't the same as older rifles? Do Colt's suck now? Is it smarter to buy a DPMS?
With Colt trying everything to save a penny and cut costs, i wouldnt be suprised the only thing your paying for is the rollmark.
I checked my OEM 2 I bought from grant. Bolt is marked MPC. No markings on the carrier and no white dot anywhere.
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In the world of manufacturing, "Lean" is the practice of the day. This means cutting cost by eliminating "non value added" steps in processes. One of the very first usually looked at, is markings...why they are there, and are they needed.
I don't know, as I don't work for Colt, but it is likely that the markings once served a purpose that is no longer needed...and so the added time and cost of putting them on a part goes away to save money.
In one of my departments at work, we used to hand build a certain product, and the parts needed to be marked for the customer to assemble correctly. We have since automated that product's manufacturing process, making the components more precise in relation to each other, eliminating the need for the markings.
I'd suspect the Colt markings being absent now is due to something similar.
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I thought my 6920 purchased in 2013 had no "C" marking on the carrier until I happened to see it when looking at the carrier at an angle. The C was lightly marked and hard to spot, but it was there.
Anyone able to get in contact with someone at Colt? Grant?
I just got off the phone with Colt customer service. They confirmed that they are dropping their C markings. They're going through a transition period right now and some may or may not have them. But in the future, their carrier assemblies will no longer have C markings. They are still being manufactured in house.
That shouldn't add any confusion.
And/or Colt could tell the customer they still make their BCG's and Bolts in house and outsource them.
I'm thinking this is the case. In a flooded market with a "just as good as" mentality, their profits are probably way down.
Or they don't have a quality/process/assembly reason to continue with the markings, and like every sane manufacturer in the world have dropped the unnecessary, costly step.
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So I just looked at a new 6920 from a local shop. Has the C on the upper receiver with a box instead of the keyhole, MPC on the bolt and C on the bolt carrier group. The C on the carrier looks like it was etched into the bolt similar to the bolt "MPC" markings, not cut out like the last one I picked up. Made in Hartford?
Edit: no white dot I don't believe.