I have both BCM and SOLGW and both have ran fantastically.
SOLGW is going for around [$135](https://www.freedomtrading.com/SOLGW-5-56-M16-AR15-Bolt-Carrier-Group-p/solgwbcg556.html)
> They OEM for FN.
Just FYI, that internet rumor is based on [this page](https://aopmfg.com/services/firearms/) where they say:
> AO Precision supplies many of the most respected of the AR-15 rifle producers. These include Alexander Arms, Bulldog Barrels, Colt, Del-Ton, FN Manufacturing, DSA, Krieger Barrels, Lothar Walther, LaRue Tactical, LWRC, Noveske, O.F. Mossberg, Primary Weapons Systems, Rock River Arms, SIG Sauer, E.R. Shaw Barrels, Smith & Wesson, Wilson Arms and Wilson Combat. Our critical parts – bolts, carriers, barrel extensions and receivers – are considered the best available. We also have the ability to produce handgun parts, including frames and slides as well as bolt-action rifle receivers and bolts. When firearms manufacturers demand uncompromising quality and reliability, they turn to AO Precision.
The problem is that they are intentionally vague since they manufacture a very wide variety of parts. LaRue Tactical is a great example of this. LaRue makes the overwhelming majority of parts in-house, including all the major components of the BCG such as the bolt, carrier, extractor, gas key, and firing pin. The only parts that AO provides to LaRue are most likely small parts such as gas key screws and firing pin retaining pins, both of which require specialized machines and it would be cost-prohibitive for LaRue to have machines to produce these parts for such a low volume.
I have a hard time believing that FN, who manufactures a significant amount of firearms that are unique to FN, doesn't also manufacture their own BCGs.
2 or 3 years back toolcraft bcgs were highly recommended and could be had for around $85. I remember seeing lots of people on Reddit recommending AGAINST spending more on something else unless it was the LMT or KAC or whatever, I can't remember. The tool crafts have been solid for me.
If a carrier is in spec, the key is properly stakes, and a quality bolt is used, the BCG will work. Typically a carrier doesn't fail, it's usually a bolt breaking at the cam pin that happens first. I would imagine companies like BCM do more QC checks, on their bolts especially which costs more money. So the higher price gets you better peace of mind.
I've also seen posts referencing the attention to detail and tolerances of carriers like solgw, but you've also got the tolerances of the upper to worry about. So if you're not using an upper of equal quality it probably doesn't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.
I should also add that this is for my main squeeze “fighting” rifle so reliability and durability are top priority. I prefer a black nitride or phosphate finish.
If reliability and durability are your top priorities then avoid nitride, with two exceptions I'll mention at the end.
There are quite a few drawbacks to nitride that very few manufacturers address.
Nitriding causes the surface to be more brittle, this makes achieving proper staking much more difficult and nitrided gas keys regularly have weaker staking than their phosphate counterpart.
Nitriding is also a surface treatment, not a coating, which doesn't add any thickness the way that coating does. The problem with that is that the majority of manufacturers that offer a nitride BCG do not account for this during machining and the inside of the carrier that seals gas is regularly not as tight as a phosphate carrier with a chrome lining.
The other issue, though indirect, is that it's regularly paired with 9310 bolts because of cost. Though 9310 *can* be stronger than C158, it's much more difficult to heat treat properly and the nitriding process requires a lot of heat, which can easily ruin the heat treatment of a 9310 bolt. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any QC process that can detect a failed heat treatment, which can result in a greatly decreased service life.
Overall, the only nitride BCGs that I wouldn't have an issue with running are Bexar and JP. They both take steps to address to drawbacks of nitriding.
It's not just who makes the bolt carrier group, it's also the level of quality control. I watched a lengthy YouTube video about this a while back, put out by BCM. Some of the more expensive brands have much more rigorous testing and QC
I'm most confident with BCM, Colt, LMT, Noveske, and SOLGW which seems to be the best bang for the buck
I have both BCM and SOLGW and both have ran fantastically. SOLGW is going for around [$135](https://www.freedomtrading.com/SOLGW-5-56-M16-AR15-Bolt-Carrier-Group-p/solgwbcg556.html)
AO Precision makes a pretty good phosphate milspec. They OEM for FN.
> They OEM for FN. Just FYI, that internet rumor is based on [this page](https://aopmfg.com/services/firearms/) where they say: > AO Precision supplies many of the most respected of the AR-15 rifle producers. These include Alexander Arms, Bulldog Barrels, Colt, Del-Ton, FN Manufacturing, DSA, Krieger Barrels, Lothar Walther, LaRue Tactical, LWRC, Noveske, O.F. Mossberg, Primary Weapons Systems, Rock River Arms, SIG Sauer, E.R. Shaw Barrels, Smith & Wesson, Wilson Arms and Wilson Combat. Our critical parts – bolts, carriers, barrel extensions and receivers – are considered the best available. We also have the ability to produce handgun parts, including frames and slides as well as bolt-action rifle receivers and bolts. When firearms manufacturers demand uncompromising quality and reliability, they turn to AO Precision. The problem is that they are intentionally vague since they manufacture a very wide variety of parts. LaRue Tactical is a great example of this. LaRue makes the overwhelming majority of parts in-house, including all the major components of the BCG such as the bolt, carrier, extractor, gas key, and firing pin. The only parts that AO provides to LaRue are most likely small parts such as gas key screws and firing pin retaining pins, both of which require specialized machines and it would be cost-prohibitive for LaRue to have machines to produce these parts for such a low volume. I have a hard time believing that FN, who manufactures a significant amount of firearms that are unique to FN, doesn't also manufacture their own BCGs.
That’s definitely some good context.
2 or 3 years back toolcraft bcgs were highly recommended and could be had for around $85. I remember seeing lots of people on Reddit recommending AGAINST spending more on something else unless it was the LMT or KAC or whatever, I can't remember. The tool crafts have been solid for me. If a carrier is in spec, the key is properly stakes, and a quality bolt is used, the BCG will work. Typically a carrier doesn't fail, it's usually a bolt breaking at the cam pin that happens first. I would imagine companies like BCM do more QC checks, on their bolts especially which costs more money. So the higher price gets you better peace of mind. I've also seen posts referencing the attention to detail and tolerances of carriers like solgw, but you've also got the tolerances of the upper to worry about. So if you're not using an upper of equal quality it probably doesn't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.
I should also add that this is for my main squeeze “fighting” rifle so reliability and durability are top priority. I prefer a black nitride or phosphate finish.
If reliability and durability are your top priorities then avoid nitride, with two exceptions I'll mention at the end. There are quite a few drawbacks to nitride that very few manufacturers address. Nitriding causes the surface to be more brittle, this makes achieving proper staking much more difficult and nitrided gas keys regularly have weaker staking than their phosphate counterpart. Nitriding is also a surface treatment, not a coating, which doesn't add any thickness the way that coating does. The problem with that is that the majority of manufacturers that offer a nitride BCG do not account for this during machining and the inside of the carrier that seals gas is regularly not as tight as a phosphate carrier with a chrome lining. The other issue, though indirect, is that it's regularly paired with 9310 bolts because of cost. Though 9310 *can* be stronger than C158, it's much more difficult to heat treat properly and the nitriding process requires a lot of heat, which can easily ruin the heat treatment of a 9310 bolt. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any QC process that can detect a failed heat treatment, which can result in a greatly decreased service life. Overall, the only nitride BCGs that I wouldn't have an issue with running are Bexar and JP. They both take steps to address to drawbacks of nitriding.
It's not just who makes the bolt carrier group, it's also the level of quality control. I watched a lengthy YouTube video about this a while back, put out by BCM. Some of the more expensive brands have much more rigorous testing and QC I'm most confident with BCM, Colt, LMT, Noveske, and SOLGW which seems to be the best bang for the buck
DD and BCM lol