Funky surface treatment and cracked bolt
A buddy of mine popped by with his fairly new (as in 3 months old, less than 1000 rounds fired) 16" carbine. It's of European manufacture, but I won't divulge the brand just yet. However, I popped it open to check carrier key staking etc and was struck by the funky gray finish - which also had started to wear off even where there's no contact between the BCG and the upper. After removing the firing pin and bolt I noticed the same on them - plus this:
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/1...bolt001.th.jpg http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/4...bolt002.th.jpg
How about that after less than 1000 rounds? :blink: What do you think? Some sort of messed up hard chrome that weakened the metal?
I'll post the brand once this issue has been resolved with the dealer.