View Full Version : Rubber City Armory BCG
immanuelrx
02-21-15, 15:15
I have been doing some research on good BCGs and I came across this one. Does anyone know if this BCG is any good or not. It seems like it but I don't know anyone who has purchased it and how it has fared after being used. Does anyone have experience with it? Thanks
If you search there is a whole thread on Rubber City. I have one; it's ok. Bolts are only MP batch tested. I prefer to use my known quality bcg's.
Colemanator
02-21-15, 16:00
I have been doing some research on good BCGs and I came across this one. Does anyone know if this BCG is any good or not. It seems like it but I don't know anyone who has purchased it and how it has fared after being used. Does anyone have experience with it? Thanks
I have a friend that has several thousand rounds with an RCA BCG and hasn't had any issues. He is also a clean freak and really has never gotten it super dirty. Seems to work fine.
immanuelrx
02-21-15, 16:04
If you search there is a whole thread on Rubber City. I have one; it's ok. Bolts are only MP batch tested. I prefer to use my known quality bcg's.
what are your known quality bcgs?
Sexual_Meatball
02-21-15, 16:09
what are your known quality bcgs?
I'll throw out rainier arms, bcm, lmt..
556BlackRifle
02-21-15, 16:31
I have one and so far so good. (<1000 rounds at this point.)
I messed around with one of their .308 BCGs last week. One thing I found interesting was that the extractor spring had two o-rings on it instead of just one, or none. Seemed nice but it was brand new and not tested yet.
I have one, my gas key became loose, and the extractor didn't work worth a squat until I changed it out for a BCM spring and insert. Barring those issues it's an okay unit.
immanuelrx
02-21-15, 17:35
The Rainer Arms BCG looks nice.
I have one, my gas key became loose, and the extractor didn't work worth a squat until I changed it out for a BCM spring and insert. Barring those issues it's an okay unit.
Assuming you have the 5.56 BCG, did yours have the two o-rings on the extractor spring? Or is that just a .308 thing?
Eurodriver
02-21-15, 18:40
I don't mean to come in here and ruin a good time. Admittedly, I have no experience with RCA parts but I still have to ask the following:
Why bother?
Quality BCGs are everywhere for less money. At least 90% of my AR15 shooting is done suppressed in both 5.56mm and 300BLK with high round counts in between mediocre cleaning sessions; I've never had an issue with USGI or similar (BCM, DD, etc) BCGs. It just doesn't make sense to use an unknown brand (that admittedly batch tests bolts)
Their website states
Blacknitride℠ processing and polymeric adsorption increase wear properties, steel strength and increase the life of all treated components
How does a coating increase the life of a broken bolt lug, and if it does, by how much? Bolts are rated for about 10,000 rounds at least. That's $3000 worth of ammo that you'll go through before your "standard" milspec bolt gives you an issue. I suspect many people running RCA BCGs have never fired that many rounds through all of their AR15s combined.
immanuelrx
02-21-15, 19:10
I don't mean to come in here and ruin a good time. Admittedly, I have no experience with RCA parts but I still have to ask the following:
Why bother?
Quality BCGs are everywhere for less money. At least 90% of my AR15 shooting is done suppressed in both 5.56mm and 300BLK with high round counts in between mediocre cleaning sessions; I've never had an issue with USGI or similar (BCM, DD, etc) BCGs. It just doesn't make sense to use an unknown brand (that admittedly batch tests bolts)
Their website states
How does a coating increase the life of a broken bolt lug, and if it does, by how much? Bolts are rated for about 10,000 rounds at least. That's $3000 worth of ammo that you'll go through before your "standard" milspec bolt gives you an issue. I suspect many people running RCA BCGs have never fired that many rounds through all of their AR15s combined.
Well, with anything in life, you put more time and effort into things you find important. I want to build a quality AR-15 with top notch parts. If you don't care, thats fine and you can put in whatever BCG you want. I want to put in a top notch BCG in my rifle because it is important to me at this point in time. I want to find out if the Rubber City Armory BCG fits that category. Im not trying to come across like a jerk (after reading this over it seems as much). To each their own.
I don't mean to come in here and ruin a good time.
I suspect many people running RCA BCGs have never fired that many rounds through all of their AR15s combined.
I would have rather a BCM BCG, or COLT, LMT, (insert other good carriers.) but I bought mine before I was 100% schooled on the subject matter.
I understand phosphate and the other standard finish process is great and all, but if it slides and has to deal with chemicals, I want it nitrided/melonite/qpq/what ever else they are calling it.
And no reason to kick people like myself in the balls, my rifle is my first AR pattern.
Rayrevolver
02-21-15, 21:01
Well, with anything in life, you put more time and effort into things you find important. I want to build a quality AR-15 with top notch parts. If you don't care, thats fine and you can put in whatever BCG you want. I want to put in a top notch BCG in my rifle because it is important to me at this point in time. I want to find out if the Rubber City Armory BCG fits that category. Im not trying to come across like a jerk (after reading this over it seems as much). To each their own.
The Rubber City doesn't even come with C158 bolt, unless their website is wrong. So to answer your question, I would not call their BCG top notch, especially at $189.
I would get this for less money:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Bolt-Carrier-Group-MPI-Auto-M16-p/bcm-bolt-carrier-group-auto-mp.htm
These are still on sale and come in a shiny NP3 coating:
http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/store/product.php?id_product=130
Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Noveske source their bcg's from RCA?
what are your known quality bcgs?
BCM and Centurion. I bought the RCA because they were local and nothing else was available. There are just better bcg's out there for less money IMO.
Rayrevolver
02-21-15, 22:38
Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Noveske source their bcg's from RCA?
Very true, started not too long ago. I like Noveske as much as the next man, but I would not recommend anyone spend $195 on this:
http://www.shopnoveske.com/products/rca-black-nitride-bolt-carrier-group
Noveske also sells this 5.56 BCG for $150, but they do not include specs. Based on their complete upper/rifle descriptions, these 5.56 BCGs come with them and not the Black Nitride BCG?
http://www.shopnoveske.com/products/5-56-bolt-carrier-group
That said, my newest Noveske is from 2012. Was Rubber City around back then? I wonder where Noveske sourced their BCGs from before RCA?
immanuelrx
02-21-15, 23:18
The Rubber City doesn't even come with C158 bolt, unless their website is wrong. So to answer your question, I would not call their BCG top notch, especially at $189.
I would get this for less money:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Bolt-Carrier-Group-MPI-Auto-M16-p/bcm-bolt-carrier-group-auto-mp.htm
These are still on sale and come in a shiny NP3 coating:
http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/store/product.php?id_product=130
I appreciate it. This is exactly the type of info I am looking for.
SIONICS BCG uses correct components with the addition of a Sprinco enhanced extractor spring and the NP3 coating. Colt, BCM and LMT are also good and I have several of their BCGs in my personal carbines.
SIONICS BCG uses correct components with the addition of a Sprinco enhanced extractor spring and the NP3 coating. Colt, BCM and LMT are also good and I have several of their BCGs in my personal carbines.
NP3 from Robar comes standard with these?
That said, my newest Noveske is from 2012. Was Rubber City around back then? I wonder where Noveske sourced their BCGs from before RCA?
CMT/Stag
Whats everyone's issue with 9310?
I cant find bad info on it.
Whats everyone's issue with 9310?
I cant find bad info on it.
In short, it isn't mil spec/to the TDP. The long of it, is that the companies that generally are using it aren't the ones who you think of when you think high quality. While the fact that it isn't to the TDP may not be a huge issue since it can be argued that the 9310 is more durable for the carrier position to some, the fact that many, if not most, though far from all, the companies using it are less than great in their QC department or other rifle specs has most treating it as something to run from.
Singlestack Wonder
02-22-15, 14:50
Well, with anything in life, you put more time and effort into things you find important. I want to build a quality AR-15 with top notch parts. If you don't care, thats fine and you can put in whatever BCG you want. I want to put in a top notch BCG in my rifle because it is important to me at this point in time. I want to find out if the Rubber City Armory BCG fits that category. Im not trying to come across like a jerk (after reading this over it seems as much). To each their own.
Question answered....If you want to build a quality, tier 1 rifle, use a BCM, Daniel Defense, Centurion Arms, Colt, etc., BCG. If you don't care about the hard use capabilities of your rifle, any BCG (rubber city armory, dpms, bushmaster, rra, etc.) will work (at least for a while).
The long of it, is that the companies that generally are using it aren't the ones who you think of when you think high quality.
Spot on. This is the critical point. The material tells you something, but it doesn't tell you everything. If a kit-gun manufacturer known for competing on price and nothing else offered a Carpenter 158 bolt that checked all the bullet points (individually MPI'd, shot peened, HPT'd) I would still consider it suspect.
Likewise, if someone known for building things right (e.g. BCM) offered a 9310 bolt I'd consider taking a look at it if (and only if) they noted that it offered something besides cost cutting.
What it's made of is important, but what keeps getting lost is who made it is just as important. I can wake up Cletus from his latest moonshine binge and ask him to groggily "individually inspect" every Carpenter 158 bolt I whittled out on harbor freight mill with used bits. That doesn't mean what I'm selling is better than a batch-tested S&W bolt made of substitute materials.
immanuelrx
02-22-15, 16:55
Question answered....If you want to build a quality, tier 1 rifle, use a BCM, Daniel Defense, Centurion Arms, Colt, etc., BCG. If you don't care about the hard use capabilities of your rifle, any BCG (rubber city armory, dpms, bushmaster, rra, etc.) will work (at least for a while).
I appreciate it! This is some good info to have.
SIONICS BCG uses correct components with the addition of a Sprinco enhanced extractor spring and the NP3 coating. Colt, BCM and LMT are also good and I have several of their BCGs in my personal carbines.
Guns, is the NP3 coating on the SIONICS BCG much better than the NiB coating? The research I have looked at is that in theory it should be better. I have not been all that impressed with the NiB coating on my AAC BCG but do see the value when running suppressed and I am hoping the SIONICS BCG would be a step above.
Guns, is the NP3 coating on the SIONICS BCG much better than the NiB coating? The research I have looked at is that in theory it should be better. I have not been all that impressed with the NiB coating on my AAC BCG but do see the value when running suppressed and I am hoping the SIONICS BCG would be a step above.
NP3 is a step above to many, and PVD/CVD is potentially the best currently available but at a much higher cost than NP3.
NP3 is a step above to many, and PVD/CVD is potentially the best currently available but at a much higher cost than NP3.
Googled it and it seems interesting. The NP3 is an awesome finish but I wonder if this is more abrasion resistant? i.e. you have to be careful what you clean the NP3 with as a standard bronze/brass brush will remove the finish. Price-wise the link looks to be reasonable and the specs are GTG.
http://www.crypticcoatings.com/coated-bolt-carrier-group/
Googled it and it seems interesting. The NP3 is an awesome finish but I wonder if this is more abrasion resistant? i.e. you have to be careful what you clean the NP3 with as a standard bronze/brass brush will remove the finish. Price-wise the link looks to be reasonable and the specs are GTG.
http://www.crypticcoatings.com/coated-bolt-carrier-group/
2 weeks ago I was involved with a 10,000 round endurance test by a local rifle mfg (NDA prevents me from disclosing their information at this time), and my rifle as well as one other had the Cryptic Coatings BCG's in the Black Mystic/CVD finish. My rifle's test was one shot every two seconds for 90 rounds, let barrel cool down to ambient temp, and then wipe down and re-lube with slip2000 every thousand rounds for 10,000 documented rounds. The other rifle with the Cryptic Coatings BCG was a dry test where all parts were degreased prior to testing, and one shot every two seconds for 90 rounds, cool to ambient, for 2,000 documented rounds.
Here is the BCG from my rifle at the documented 10,000 rounds after a quick blast from gun scrubber and a wipe down. There was almost no wear on the contact points.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8644/16432171620_8083c645bd_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r34b8N)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/r34b8N) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8660/16411894607_351fe2cd1b_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r1gfu8)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/r1gfu8) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8660/16618069291_0cb3e331d0_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rjtX34)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/rjtX34) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8573/16432179560_c4110c5602_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r34duG)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/r34duG) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
Here is the BCG from the 2,000 round dry test.
BEFORE
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8645/16618044611_a8da913445_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rjtPGx)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/rjtPGx) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8663/16433371589_d0ab236a09_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r3ajQV)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/r3ajQV) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8612/16593209266_bb9891e214_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rhhx1W)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/rhhx1W) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
AFTER
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/16619198165_a0c6ae1543_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rjzJBp)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/rjzJBp) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8634/15999430393_a5470a7179_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qnPgfa)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/qnPgfa) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8569/15999419713_e42cba6172_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qnPd52)Cryptic coatings bcg (https://flic.kr/p/qnPd52) by jprizz237 (https://www.flickr.com/people/123872002@N08/), on Flickr
Even after 2K rounds caked on most of the carbon literally wiped off with a rag. Now there was more wear marks on the dry test than the 10K lubed test, so even with fancy coatings and treatments lubrication is needed, however the PVD/CVD finish was by far the superior treatment. There was also some NiB bcg's being tested and they showed significantly more wear than the PVD/CVD carries, and clean up was barely improved over the phosphate coated ones. To me NiB is a worthless finish, but the NP3 and PVD/CVD show promise.
VIP3R 237,
What was the bolt tail like on both the lubed and unlubed as far as cleaning was concerned? I ask because that is definitely the toughest area to clean on a BCG. Was it easier than phosphate? Did it need scrubbing? Is the finish hard enough (unlike NP3) to use a regular brass/bronze brush on it?
VIP3R 237,
What was the bolt tail like on both the lubed and unlubed as far as cleaning was concerned? I ask because that is definitely the toughest area to clean on a BCG. Was it easier than phosphate? Did it need scrubbing? Is the finish hard enough (unlike NP3) to use a regular brass/bronze brush on it?
On the lubed one I could scrape it off with my fingernail, I was kind of in shock in all honestly at how it just flaked off the tail. The unlubed one took some soaking in some solvent but then came off with out much effort. According to Cryptic Coatings it is a very hard finish but I never had the opportunity to use a brush on it as it was never needed. Maybe if I am invited again to help them out i'll try it.
Before people start getting confused, PVD/CVD IS NOT the coating. It's the process used to coat whatever material they're applying. It's like calling a "chrome-lined" barrel an "electro-plated" barrel.
PVD and CVD aren't the same things either. PVD sputters a material that lands on the target to form a coating and CVD flows gasses onto the material which cause surface reactions to deposit material.
Before people start getting confused, PVD/CVD IS NOT the coating. It's the process used to coat whatever material they're applying. It's like calling a "chrome-lined" barrel an "electro-plated" barrel.
PVD and CVD aren't the same things either. PVD sputters a material that lands on the target to form a coating and CVD flows gasses onto the material which cause surface reactions to deposit material.
Thank you for the clarification. The Black mystic is CVD, and there is a Bronze Mystic that is PVD that we also had there that produced similar results.
SIONICS BCG uses correct components with the addition of a Sprinco enhanced extractor spring and the NP3 coating. Colt, BCM and LMT are also good and I have several of their BCGs in my personal carbines.
Why does it come with the O-ring?
I would've never been in favor of a coated BCG, until I got my Ionbond DLC BCG... I'm really digging it.
What is the question?
NP3 from Robar comes standard with these?
Why does what come with an O-ring?
Why does it come with the O-ring?
Why does what come with an O-ring?
I think scooter is asking about the Sionics BCG
What is the question?
Is the NP3 coating on the Sionics BCG done by Robar?
Eurodriver
02-23-15, 06:27
Has there ever been a documented failure due to contact point wear on a USGI BCG?
Forgive me for being "old school" and "stubborn", but I'm just not understanding the cost/benefit here. A brush soaked in some solvent and a rag wipes the BCG clean in under a minute.
Ned Christiansen
02-23-15, 06:39
As to the RCA stuff I have one and it's been just fine, but not a ton of rounds on it yet.... I think 6-800.
I will say that it's the easiest-cleaning BCG I've had and I am a believer in the nitriding process as a post-heat-treat enhancement.
ScatmanCrothers
02-23-15, 11:14
As to the RCA stuff I have one and it's been just fine, but not a ton of rounds on it yet.... I think 6-800.
I will say that it's the easiest-cleaning BCG I've had and I am a believer in the nitriding process as a post-heat-treat enhancement.
Same here and I've taken one past the 5k mark without issue. Both of mine are with the original C158 bolts (not sure when the 9310 switch happened) but honestly are 9310 bolts failing since gaining popularity?
Rubber city has been dogged since they came out, especially here. Thing is their products are actually good performers. Especially the C158 bolt versions. Same materials and testing standards as the Centurion BCG's with the additional benefit of nitriding yet Rubber City is garbage and Centurion is GTG. Not sure how that happens.
There is no need for that because the carbon wipes right off.
Googled it and it seems interesting. The NP3 is an awesome finish but I wonder if this is more abrasion resistant? i.e. you have to be careful what you clean the NP3 with as a standard bronze/brass brush will remove the finish. Price-wise the link looks to be reasonable and the specs are GTG.
http://www.crypticcoatings.com/coated-bolt-carrier-group/
We include it because people asked why there wasn't one when we didn't it.
I think scooter is asking about the Sionics BCG
Mail Clerk
02-24-15, 10:15
I have been doing some research on good BCGs and I came across this one. Does anyone know if this BCG is any good or not. It seems like it but I don't know anyone who has purchased it and how it has fared after being used. Does anyone have experience with it? Thanks
immanuelrx,
I bought one last year to be used in another rifle cuz that bolt was giving me trouble. I replaced the entire carrier due to the key leaking gas during my firing phase. Now that it's been repaired with good results I now have Rubber City version as a spare. Overall it has an excellent finish (shiney black) and all sharp corners rounded. Very well made BCG. Currently building another AR and will use this bolt when I'm ready.
Mail Clerk
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