To end the NiB argument once and for all...

[Shao]

Let me first start by stating that I own and run two NiB carriers. They're shiny. They feel nice.
I see questions popping up about NiB coating and its durability and possible enhanced function on gun parts.

While perusing some military documents, I found a very in-depth .PDF on some very in-depth torture testing procedures (millions of cycles) done comparing NiB coated parts with their uncoated, chemically polished, and mechanically polished counterparts. The results may surprise you:

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a583849.pdf

It appears as if the NiB coated parts are not much better if better at all than uncoated, straight ground parts. I know that this confirms many peoples' suspicions, but this is the first time I've seen such extensive, controlled, and scientific testing done. I wish they had included polished nitrocarbed, chrome plated, and phosphated parts in the test, however. Will I ever buy another NiB coated BCG? Probably not. Will I keep shooting the ones I have, definitely.

Remember folks, these tests were done in the tens of millions of cycles - it's unlikely that your bolt, carrier or any part of your rifle will see that much action. I have posted this for informational purposes. NiB does hardly anything to reduce the friction co-efficient of steel parts. Again, this does not show the difference between phosphated and NiB components - phosphated parts would probably score lower than the polished parts. You'd probably be better off polishing your BCGS on a buffer wheel with some jeweler's compound.

For those of us who are addicted to the bling of a silvery BCG, NP3 or chrome may be a better choice. I have nothing to base this on however. I am not an expert - just someone who spent entirely too much time reading a .mil engineering study paper.

[Airhasz]

Slick coatings are good at making people's money.

[Shao]

Slick coatings are good at making people's money.

Taking you mean?? Anyway, they sure are purty...

[Iraqgunz]

NP3 is much better from what I have seen.

[Shao]

NP3 is much better from what I have seen.

Gunz, could you recommend a solid NP3 BCG or just carrier that meets your approval?

I admit that I have the dreaded shiny carrier disease and my rifles without them just don't feel as special. My Young Mfg. M-16 NM Chromed BCGs are holding up great and still look "shiny" when cleaned up. The WMD has discolored slightly, and the other NiB carrier (expensive and made by a respectable company) hasn't been fired enough to tell - it still looks new.

[Digital_Damage]

good luck on the "once and for all" part.

[markm]

Gunz, could you recommend a solid NP3 BCG or just carrier that meets your approval?

Check the SIONICs website. I think Gunz mentioned they were having a deal on carriers soon.

[Digital_Damage]

I just took a look, Not a very good study as it relates to firearm parts. It did not start with a real world baseline or introduce environment variables typically found in the operating environment.

This is just wear study of uncoated (varying degrees of polish) vs. coated. They also constantly lubricated during testing.

A mirror quality surface that is in a constant state of lubrication is always going to out perform a coated product that generates friction.

You would not find NIB/chrome/np3 on a ball bearing for instance.

Would have been better to introduce a baseline such as a phosphate component.

[markm]

Study? We don't need no stinkin studies!

My first hand experience with Nib taught me that... hey... it sucks! It should be called "Carbon gripper". Because it grabs carbon fouling and won't let go.

[Shao]

I just took a look, Not a very good study as it relates to firearm parts. It did not start with a real world baseline or introduce environment variables typically found in the operating environment.

This is just wear study of uncoated (varying degrees of polish) vs. coated. They also constantly lubricated during testing.

A mirror quality surface that is in a constant state of lubrication is always going to out perform a coated product that generates friction.

You would not find NIB/chrome/np3 on a ball bearing for instance.

Would have been better to introduce a baseline such as a phosphate component.

But it does show that NiB is prone to chipping away and barely produces less drag than plain ground steel. They do test plates by rubbing them together, so it's not all gear wear as the article title would suggest.

According to the tests it barely affects lubricity. It flakes off under wear circumstances - I don't need it in my gun. I get where you're coming from but a coating is a coating... Has anyone noticed any phosphate from their BCGs flaking off into their guns? Someone needs to come out with highly polished stainless carriers or something. I'll look into NP3 and Sionics.

Edit: ..and please, before commenting, read the entire .PDF - dry testing was done as well. NiB came out behind in almost every category and I believe that the first test that they conducted was an excellent analog to NiB wear in firearms.