Thanks to PSA I now have 4 ar15's. (Well 3 1/2) Something I never dreamed would ever happen. My upper for my 4th build shipped friday. Complete upper 20" barrel m16 style upper receiver $299.00 free shipping total price of build $400. Time spent with my 10yr old daughter building it and searching for just the right parts priceless
My PSA NB BCG came in that same cardboard tube but was well wrapped in a nice brown paper that kept it very secure in the tubing. I have been very happy with it so far.
I’ve been using PSA products going on 8 years now. Uppers, bcg, ammo, barrels, etc. I’ve done 8 AR15 builds. Purchased lowers locally (CA) all were Anderson’s. All other parts were PSA. 100% satisfied. Just my experience.
@@animalmother5902 "Poverty pony"..? The hell kind of comment is that to make to a fellow American..? It must be nice to have an endless supply of cash..... 🙄😌
@@bks6095 Anderson lowers are not perfect, many parts from reputable companies will say "mil-spec part, but does not work in anderson lower receiver" type dealio, also about ZRO delta lowers. So not every lower is made equal even if they are both "mil-spec" they are not true milspec
You’re paying $80 for the spider logo.....It’s a gun, it just needs to work. People spend to much time and money getting hung up on minor little nuances that are never going to matter.
Just make sure that you know what you're doing when swapping buffer weights and springs. Specific guns are designed to run safely and reliably with specific springs and weights.
Alamo1836 oh no the poor is mad because I insulted his sub par “build” that consisted of slapping an upper and lower together and claiming you built it yourself
@@animalmother5902 what are you talking about bitch? I bought the rifle assembled. As far as your "poor" comment, I have some tractors that cost more than you'll earn in your entire lifetime.
The brown color o-ring on PSA identifies it as 100% made from Viton material. Viton o-rings are made to withstand temperatures from -15 to 400°F and are made in both brown and black color. But, most non Viton o-rings are black too, so I prefer the brown color just so I know it's 100% Viton just by looking at the color. I worked in the Hydraulics Industry for over 25 years and all our Viton O-rings were brown so they could not be confused with the other black O-rings that were made from non Viton materials. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-ring#Material
PSA non logo $84 on sale. Works great. Are you building a shooter or a mall queen? My buddy has the ST, looks great, but we swapped them and it doesn't shoot any better or worse than my PSA. No one else cleans my weapon, and I don't need a pretty logo where it doesn't matter. I'd rather buy more powder and and shoot more often, but if a pretty bolt is important to you, buy the ST.
George Moomaw a lot of people get nervous when they see that PSA logo. PSA is a great company, but people know that it carries a low price tag and too many people are afraid of that.
You can now get the PSA NB BCG for $90. So I bought two of the PSA for less than the cost of one of the Spike's. I'll have two completed PSA rifles soon with a ton of upgrades for about $1,100.
You'll have a nice BCG that looks like a nicer BCG than it is. It'll still be made using a lower quality NiB, but a nice BCG nonetheless. It sounds like you're saying "as long as it looks good, THAT'S what matters." I tend to buy more into the "as long as it IS good, that's what matters" camp.
Why polish it? It will knock down the microscopic ridges which is what helps reduce friction of the bcg due to less surface area contacting one another. Also nib discoloration happens with heat. So it will be counter productive. Just food for thought.
if psa works fine then why pay a extra 100 for 1 that looks better is all. my rifle could be pink and blue as long as it gets the job done I don't care. spikes is like snap on over pirced for the same stuff everyone else has.
Overpriced relative to what? In many cases, Snap on is well worth the money. In many cases, its not. It also depends what you are comparing it to. For the money, Spike's makes the best products with the best service and I'll continue to be a customer all day long until they prove me wrong. Proper staking, proper coatings, proper steels, etc. all combine to make a very nice rifle that will outlast me and outperform me all day. That said, a cheaper rifle in the hands of a more capable operator will outperform me and my more expensive rifle all day, so it all comes down to where your priorities are.
i want to replace my carbon 15 upper would i need to have the exsisting bolt modified to fit the new upper-in other words could i use my exsisting bolt in a new upper
PSA had a sale twice in Sept for NiB BCGs 516446450 with the following specs for $90 each: Nickel Boron Finish Milspec Carpenter No. 158® steel bolt Shot Peened Bolt High pressure tested Mag particle inspected Gas Key Hardened to USGI Specifications Gas Key Grade 8 Hardened Fasteners Gas Key Staked Per Mil-Spec Tool Steel Extractor Extractor Spring Extractor O-ring Insert PSA Logo I got 2 and the shine was much brighter than what is shown in this video and similar to the Spike's. The only very minor tool marks I could find were on the gas key. I would bet both BCGs are made by Toolcraft which, BTW, makes the FailZero BCGs. Toolcraft sells BCGs too with the FZ EXO finish and after they are returned to TC, they polish them again and they look like the Spike's. (I have one). I recently bought a TC BCG with the 7.62X39 bolt and it did not have the FZ EXO finish and looked slightly dull like the PSA in this video.
Some might think this is craz to complain about but man properly shipping items is kind of important. I just picked up a Colt 6920 999.99 sale price and it came in a cheap lightwieght box and wrapped in heavy plastic bag. Which is grand in humidity for retaining moisture and starting rust off right. Same day I got my S&W M&P sport II heavy card board box egg crate foam and a light absorbent paper. I'm sure they are both great rifles or will be when I take them out but a little pride in packaging goes a long way towards letting the customer know that not all of the profit is going straight back to the knob head at the top.
Why worry about humidity when you are talking about a NB BCG? Is could be shipped to you in a tube of salt water and if it's a well made BCG it would be fine.
The Palmetto NB BCG & charging handle duo ($109) just came in an hour ago.Besides machining marks on two grooves underneath, it looks flawless. there is a similar but much lighter machine mark on the gas key. now i only need a rifle to put it in which will take a few months sadly. (Poor person problems)
John D III Just got mine today $90 free shipping. I'm also poor and planning on piecing together a decent rifle from this thing. Your story was very familiar I hope your build is going well 🤘
I finished my rifle last month and shot it for the first time in early October. I got a good deal on Aeros new Atlas s-one upper so i jumped on it. My bank account hated me for it but i saved money in the long run.
Its pretty much complete. Got a Vortex Sparc red dot along w Magpul Mbus Pros Irons (super sweet deal). If i get a bipod & sling then im completely finished.
+2phast Tactical, did you yourself polish that Spikes NIB bcg? I just ordered one and from what I can tell the spikes usually don't come that polished right out of the box. Thanks.
+East Coast Young Gun This Spikes BCG came as you see it in the video. Normally they are high polished, but there have been batches of these going out that are unpolished, hence why I did a video about polishing your dull NiB BCG.
+2phast Tactical, thanks for the prompt response. Good to know. I've even seen slightly older TH-cam videos (3yrs or so) about the Spikes NiB bcg where the extractor wasn't even NiB coated. When I ordered mine the photo showed an unpolished bcg and did not mention it being a high polish or polished at all. However it did show and say it would have a NiB coated extractor like the one in this video. It's funny how manufactures and distributors will make small changes to products like that from time to time. From what I understand the polishing process is mainly for aesthetics and not functionality.
+East Coast Young Gun In the case of the Spikes NiB and Fail Zero NiB, the plater shipping a large quantity of unpolished NiB BCG's and due to the complaints, checks were put in place to ensure something similar does not happen again. Yes, its purely a cosmetic issue and your right, it does not affect the functionality of the BCG.
think of the tool marks as places that will hold oil. Pretend that the pretty smooth and perfect carrier group won't do it as well. I just justified getting the lower priced bcg now!
The PSA lowers are nicer though now it could be different batches from each company vary in quality but the mag beveling is much more thorough than Spikes . But Spikes is awesome though I like the prices at PSA - wish I knew about those gas rings.
The Spikes looks like it's been sent through a buffing wheel coated in Flitz or Mothers polishing compound before being NiB'd, while the PSA appears to just be a standard finished BCG that has been given a NiB coating.
i bought all of my parts from watching your videos, including a NiB BCG from spikes tactical and went to go pick up my lower receiver from my FFL, and i was told and informed for the first time that i can't acquire it because im under 21. yup, now im just sitting with all of parts,
Shivam Patel A straw purchase is one made by a person who has no intention on keeping the item or is buying it for someone else who by law is now allowed to purchase it. Depending upon your state law though, you may be able to purchase a lower from a private party via a person to person transaction (check the laws in your state)
I recently purchased a PSA AR-15/5.56 Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group - 7791928. This one does not have the logo. Has a 9310 shot peened bolt, MP inspected but not HP tested. In their description it says not marked MP inspected, but mine was. No significant tool marks, looks very good. Haven't tested it yet, waiting for an upper to arrive. Much more slick than their phosphate bolts.
That is what I thought too. However, the Premium is High Pressure Tested and the one I ordered is not. Plus, more knowledgeable people than I argue whether 9310 or 158 is better. I would probably trust the Premium a bit more since it is HPT as well as MPI.
What I really wanted to know is are either of them machined slightly smaller to compensate for the thickness of the nickel boron. I know some companies do that.
I think this dude is just super bias because Spike's tactical and palmetto State shared the same lower manufacturer for a long time until palmetto State bought a lower manufacturer.. also I live very close to a physical palmetto State store and all of their products come in bubble wrap I'm almost thinking he took it out of the bubble wrap himself
I bought a psa 1 month ago and it was in bubble wrap in the tube. It was a no logo bolt, not sure if that makes a difference in packaging. Have not ran it yet, i need to machine it to run with my 1st gen echo trigger.
I hope PSA has no care about what all you gun snobs say. It's because of you guys that a great budget and quality product gets revamped and the price go's up! Grab your mama's wallet and get a spikes or be a blue collar working man and get a psa.
Right they don't know what they're talkin about they do not realize that Spike's tactical and aero precision lowers are made by the same companies as ATI lowers and as palmetto State used to be made by until palmetto bought out the manufacturer.. I also have a aero precision upper literally if you look at the manufacturer on the Left behind the bolt carrier group that is stamped it is made by the exact same company as palmetto all these idiots are doing or buying a name without doing research they are complete morons
I bought a Spikes NB BCG last year and had issues with running steel case ammo and some .223 rounds. the bolt would not lock back and some mis feeds. tried a few things to rectify the problem but to no avail. i replaced the Spikes with my original BCM BCG and havnt had an issue since. i dont know what would be so different with the spikes but it had issues in my rifle.
Failure to lock back sounds like a gassing issue, if this only happens with .223, then you could swap your heavy buffer for a carbine weight buffer, that normally takes care of it, but if it is happening with .223 and known good 5.56, then it is still a under gassed situation so it might be a misaligned gas block, gas tube, loose gas key, plugged gas key etc. Swapping BCG's shouldn't change anything, if it does then the gassing issue may lie with the gas key of the Spikes and/or the gas rings of the bolt. You could try putting the BCM bolt into the Spikes carrier and see if the problem goes away, if it does, then its a problem with the Spikes bolt, probably the gas rings.
Hey 2Phast, I'm trying to decide which NiB BCG to go with for my first AR build. What would you recommend between the Spike's Tactical and the Fail Zero? Also considering an Aero Precision one. Would like to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
All of the BCG's you mention are of high quality. The EXO NiB plating provides the hardest surface, so if the BCG does not use that plating technique, then its of lower quality (and probably price). I would also chose a C158 bolt over any other bolt material. When a manufacture does not say what type of NiB plating they use or what type of material their bolt is constructed from, then I have to assume its of a lesser quality than C158. Bolts should also be HPT/MPI and should be stamped to reflect this. I don't believe any of the ones you mention would let you down, but if you want the best of the best, then the Spikes would be the choice. FWIW, I run Spike's NiB BCG's in all my rifles
+2phast Tactical Is it safe to assume that if I purchased, say a Fail Zero, from your site that I would still have their full warranty? What is it about the Spike's that you prefer over the Fail Zero? I like the thought of the FZ coming with a NiB hammer as well.
Yes, full warranty through FailZero, as I am a dealer. Spikes NiB BCG's have a C158 bolt that is both HPT/MPI. Can't say the same for many other BCG's on the market.
+2phast Tactical Thanks for your help! I ended up ordering the Fail Zero from you since it's cheaper and it comes with a NiB Hammer as well. I read that the Fail Zero is HPT/MPI also and the bolt is C158 I believe too so it seemed like a good way to go! Excited to get it!
I had a spikes bcg. Nothing wrong with them but for the same money go with the NP3 bcg from Robar. It is more slick than the Spikes NIB EXO and the finish is better imo. The DSA NP3 bcg is not bad for $129. A friend of mine primary uses Sharps Rifle Co balanced bcg. It is NP3 plus coated and runs about $199. They are supper nice as well.
Only difference I see that MAY matter is the springs. I would likely change them with Sprinco regardless which one. Anyone thinking DD, BCM or any other high end name is making there own springs is a fool. The tooling marks in non crucial locations is gonna effect absolutely ZERO. Realistically the finish difference doesn’t make one more reliable than the other. The rest of the materials are identical. Now if there was to be tooling marks in a crucial location it would be a totally different argument.. Spend double the money for a little better finish, little extra polishing in non crucial areas and a logo if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. But as long as the PSA is in spec and crucial areas are polished and tooling marks free you are paying double for a coating and a logo that matter’s absolutely ZERO at the end of any day. I say double because you can regularly snag the PSA for half the money.
I have never understood the hysteria over NiB BCGs. So, they have discovered a cheaper way to plate, reduce mfg. cost, rather than industrial chrome which must be electroplated. Gun guys sit around polishing their BCGs all day? Give me a break!
I thought the EXO technology was exclusive to Fail Zero. I cant find anything to back up If Spikes Tactical also uses the EXO technology that Fail Zero has patented. Do you have an info on this my friend?
The info is what Spikes Tactical told me when I inquired. Its not that Spikes uses Fail Zeros process, Fail Zero actually plates the BCG's. At least that was the case at one point in time, Spikes also told me they have gone through several companies for plating.
I have noticed Palmetto State Armory has three different kinds of nickel boron bcg they have a psa nickel boron... freedom nickel boron and a premium nickel boron. I’m not sure what the difference is I would guess that would represent the three different types of nickel boron coating but it is weird that all three sale at the same price
Just picked up a premium nickel boron (no logo), carpenter 158 bolt for $89 delivered. It is very nice. Not mirror-shiny but it oozes [Toolcraft?] quality.
Keith Brandson I bought the same one made by Toolcraft in Marion NC USA. Awesome BCG at an awesome price! PSA Rocks ! These dickheads kill me whining about the logo not being on the BCG !
Probably all built by toolcraft found a article not long ago talking about how toolcraft makes almost all companies bcgs but they build them to meet a price point
I’m pray to god he covers which one is lighter. I know it’s about 11.6 ounces for your mil spec but I’m having trouble finding a solid weight on the psa 🤔
Where did you get your info on Spike's coating being EXO from Fail Zero?? I checked both Spike's and Fail Zero's websites and haven't been able to see anything that specifies that. Were changes made?? You've definitely sold me on the benefits of EXO coating but I'm curious why Spike's website doesn't specify that. Also, how important is it that a bolt be HPT?? Seems very few of the bolts on the market are. If for reason Spike's are no longer EXO, I thought maybe just go with a Fail Zero, but they don't HP test their bolts. And one last thing, Fail Zero does say that they also coat the firing pin... does that make much of a difference?? Appreciate all your videos and help. Keep up the great work!!
These were originally advertised as being coated with the EXO NiB and according to Paul Dettlaff (COO of Spike's), nothing has changed, still being plated by FZ with the EXO NiB
Thanks for responding... I sent an email last night to Spike's and they responded this morning saying that yes FZ does do their coating, but is not sure if its the same EXO process. I also got an email back from Fail Zero a little while later and the rep there said that they use EXO on all the components Spikes sends their way. Thanks again for helping me confirm this. Been working on my first AR build. Have an AIM Surplus BCG as I heard good things about it and it was pretty cheap. But as I've been adding on my components, I realized what many have said about how the BCG is really the heart of the rifle and going cheap (even if its "good") might not be the best way to go. Gonna get my hands on a Spike's and keep the AIM as a back-up. Just one more component and I'm done!! Can't wait!! Thanks again for you help.
+Bob johnson Don't think I am qualified to make a top four. Most of my experience is with rifles I have built. If I had to choose one pre-built that almost fits all of my requirements and is high quality, it would be the BCM Haley Strategic Jack Carbine. Although at over 2k, your at the high end of the spectrum. The only issues I have with that rifle at that price point is its 10" handguard (should be 13"), barrel (should be CHF) and momentary on light (prefer on/off with option of momentary). You could duplicate it yourself, fix the short comings and have enough left over for an optic.
+Bob johnson A full list of the parts for the Jack Carbine is here. www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-M16-A4-AR15-Bravo-Company-Haley-Strategic-The-Jack-s/166.htm If I were doing it, I would get a complete BCM lower, it ships with the PNT trigger and BCM Gunfighter stock, but if you wanted, you could swap the BCM stock for a B5 Sopmod. I would opt to get the Geissele 13" Mk8 handguard (longer and less expensive than the old SMR Mk1). Build your upper by using a BCM upper, BCM, BCG, BCM Charging handle Mod 4, BCM 14.5" barrel and the BCM Comp Mod 1. Just remember to assemble your upper, then have the comp pin/welded BEFORE you mount it to your lower receiver. You would end up with a black rifle and not one in disruptive grey.
+Bob johnson th-cam.com/video/z5SNwSaMOfY/w-d-xo.html this should help you. If you don't want to make the investment in tools for one build, you could purchase a BCM pre-built upper and swap the handguard out to the Geisselle or maybe you can find one with a handguard you like. www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-14-5-Mid-Length-Group-s/135.htm
My PSA BCG has tool marks and a few knicks on the carrier. It should have been sold as a blem. Doesn't affect function though and glad I didn't pay close to $200.
JohnnyTactical305 I got one of the blem deals from PSA for the NB BCG and it actually came in pristine condition. Cost me $89 with free shipping and I've never had any problems with it.
I have each of these BCG's in different guns. Having used and cleaned them, I can tell you one thing for sure. The Spikes BCG is easier to clean and seems to keep fouling from building up better. I recommend lubricating NiB BCG's. I think your assessment of the two is pretty much spot on. Thanks for this video.
Interesting assessment. If that is the case, that could be due to the different types of NiB being used (std vs. EXO) EXO NiB has a RockWell Hardnes of 83-85 and standard NiB has a RockWell Hardness rating of 55-60. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
+2phast Tactical I like the prices on your website. I am building a new AR15 from scratch. Heard great things about Fail Zero's BCG. How do I know if I need a hammer or not? I separately ordered a Geissele SSA-E trigger, do you know if it comes with a hammer and if it does, if I should stick with that one and order just a BCG from you?
If you have already purchased a rifle with a basic fire control group, then you could upgrade the hammer to the Fail Zero, but you would be better off replacing your entire basic fire control group with one that is not only NiB (or Teflon in the case of the ALG) but has been tuned/adjusted for better functionality. Since you have already ordered the SSA-E, you don't need to get a hammer, as the SSA-E comes with one. So from what you said, it sounds like you will just need to choose a BCG.
I've owned PSA, Spikes, and a bunch of others. Personally the only name I really care to see is BCM. Besides that I go with Toolcraft. Nickel Boron and Titanium Nitride are great for clean up and thats about it. Phosphate or Black Nitride work just as well.
Bcm doesn’t even own a forge. They don’t manufacture anything. PSA recently purchased a forge and actually manufactures their own items. Toolcraft makes spikes, failzero, bcm, and PSA bcgs and some others just FYI.
@ITS FREE that may be true, but BCM has their own spec that they give to the OEM and have very strict QC. I work in a business where we make tons of products for but companies, but they provide a lot of things that go into the products.
FailZero BCGs are the way to go! PSA Nickel Boron is shit. Spikes BCG is a FailZero with the Spikes logo, I’m almost willing to bet on it. I have both they look identical other than the engravings.
Save yourself some money and buy a Toolcraft Nitride finish BCG...they are easy to clean...the ones that I have been engraved with the Toolcraft logo on the side like the Spikes “made in USA” engraving, which makes me believe the Spikes BCG is a Toolcraft product with a different engraving...just my 2 cents 😉
Ok just learned something about a nickel boron bolt carrier group weather it's a $200 or $89 BCG they are all nickel plated that means steel on the inside. Why waist your money on what I feel is and inferior product. Save some money and get a steel nitrite BCG and have the same if not better and longer lasting product
Just for those who dont know. A good Polish is all it needs to be just as good as spikes. I got a st'croix for 99.99$ free shiping and can say after a polish with mothers turns out slick as a 300$ Nib bcg Cleans up just as good , yes the electroplating of spikes is (maybe) better but still is electroplating.
I can tell you I have Failzero and Palmetto NIB BCGs. The Failzero BCGs are a lot slicker and a different color. The Failzero is about fifty-five dollars more, my cost. I would go with the Failzero. Not that I've had any problems with the Palmetto NIB BCG. I just don't believe they are the same NIB quality.
007NunyaBizNess There not. Fail Zero BCG's use the NiB EXO plating, which has a Rockwell hardness of 83-85. Most other NiB BCG's use standard NiB plating, which has a Rockwell Hardness of 75. All NiB are self lubricated but the NiB EXO does feel slicker compared to standard NiB
Deee Stroyed, You probably did the right thing. Although, you can get some BCGs for $100. The Fail zero looks and feels completely different. I have several of both.
That psa bolt looks far superior to the spikes and both are polished finish Matt look dull that psa tool craft carrier group is far superior to the spikes they charge more for the spikes because some people just think if they pay more they are getting better and Jin this case people are getting taken
Nickel-boron is not a good coating for AR BCG's. It's cheap, it's environmentally friendly, but it doesn't meet durability, corrosion, and reliability standards of the military. Never has, never will.
I think he is full of it because I bought one from palmetto State around the same time last year and it was shipped in bubble wrap and now I actually live close to one of palmetto states stores and they even give it to you wrapped in bubble wrap unless you buy one fresh out of the glass case
Thats not a Palmetto thing thats a dumbasses in Chicago thing... keep electing liberal dicks that want to take away your rights and thats what happens!
Check out these guys: primeweaponry.com/collections/ar15-m16-bolt-carrier-group/products/m16-bolt-carrier-group-nickel-boron-9310 Comes in gloss or matte. I bought one, runs perfectly and I'm getting another in nitride QPQ. They shipped super fast too. Would love to see a quality comparison of their stuff! Also thanks for the video - well done sir.
Incorrect. PSA used FN AR 5.56 barrels for a while. That also, is no longer the case. FN cut ties with PSA. FN also did not make the majority of other parts PSA sells. PSA uses the cheapest parts they can source from any vendor willing to slap the PSA name on their products. PSA also has terrible quality assurance on the rifles they build.
FNH still makes/provides barrels for PSA's premium uppers. I have several PSA premium complete uppers I have purchased and they all have the FN roll stamp on the barrell FN 1/7 CHF CL
and how long ago did you buy them? I live a few minutes from FN and PSA both, and work with people who worked or currently work for FN. If they are using FN barrels again, it's fairly new, since as of December, they were no longer doing so.
i just ordered a Nib bcg from palmetto. the description says its MPi but not labeled. i hope its not too rough-looking as fro tool marks and such. i will always feel outdone by the spikes NiB bcg which is a thing of beauty. Until I can afford premium parts, i guess Palmetto will have to suffice
Good thing you asked. I'm overall pleased with it. It DOES IN FACT have some tool marks that are visible and you can feel them if you run your finger nail across them. It's no Spikes or WMD but by no means would I describe it as rough.. I got the BCG and milspec CH for 109 free shipping from palmetto. The stake job is kinda weak which I will have to ameliorate. I hope it doesn't cause flaking in the spots that I re-stake. The finish is good and I would definitely buy another one.
CLplusP should of waited. With Trump in office all the gun guys aren't buying so you can get good parts for cheap. I got a Sharp's rifle company BCG diamond like colting on sale.
mikegigabyte Some things are the exact same thing but there are significant differences in materials & processes so you really gotta look at the specs on things & decide what you are willing to pay for.
psa makes shit bolts compared to that spider or fail zero uses 8620 carpenter steel! Psa use 158 steel softer steel! you get what you pay for and the bolt is like the heart of your rifle! as far as the logo yeah your just blowing your money
WMD blows my Spikes NB BCG away. Spikes is not that great. If you want a cool looking spider then get a Spikes, if you want a well tooled excellent long lasting superior NB BCG then get a WMD.
Seriously? Their NiB-X BCG isn't High Pressure Tested, nor do they use 158 carpenter steel for their bolts. Rarely are you going to find a superior product for less than half the price, as you are claiming here. Spike's HPTs, MPIs, and shot peens their BCGs. I couldn't disagree more and would suggest you do more research. Then again, some people still think the Chevy vs Ford battle is relevant when you can go out and buy a Tundra, so to each their own.
Thanks to PSA I now have 4 ar15's. (Well 3 1/2) Something I never dreamed would ever happen. My upper for my 4th build shipped friday. Complete upper 20" barrel m16 style upper receiver $299.00 free shipping total price of build $400. Time spent with my 10yr old daughter building it and searching for just the right parts priceless
Same here dude. I started building one and ended up with three and a extra upper.
@@2wheeleddemon999 enjoy it while u can
Your little girl will have those memories forever. We rarely realize it at the time though.
My PSA NB BCG came in that same cardboard tube but was well wrapped in a nice brown paper that kept it very secure in the tubing. I have been very happy with it so far.
I’ve been using PSA products going on 8 years now. Uppers, bcg, ammo, barrels, etc. I’ve done 8 AR15 builds. Purchased lowers locally (CA) all were Anderson’s. All other parts were PSA. 100% satisfied. Just my experience.
Poverty pony
@@animalmother5902 "Poverty pony"..? The hell kind of comment is that to make to a fellow American..? It must be nice to have an endless supply of cash..... 🙄😌
@@bks6095
That's what some have come to call Anderson products.
@@bks6095 Anderson lowers are not perfect, many parts from reputable companies will say "mil-spec part, but does not work in anderson lower receiver" type dealio, also about ZRO delta lowers. So not every lower is made equal even if they are both "mil-spec" they are not true milspec
@@animalmother5902boy…you are just a loot drop
You’re paying $80 for the spider logo.....It’s a gun, it just needs to work. People spend to much time and money getting hung up on minor little nuances that are never going to matter.
Ok boomer
The BCG i on of the mot important elements to consider when building a rifle.
If you’re trusting your life to a weapon operating smoothly and efficiently, you probably wanna put the money into it
Just make sure that you know what you're doing when swapping buffer weights and springs. Specific guns are designed to run safely and reliably with specific springs and weights.
@@nuclearjanitors ?
I'm a Spikes Tactical owner, they put out quality. That being said, the PSA will last just as long. Both products are winners.
“jUsT aS gOoD” ok bud
@@animalmother5902 did your mother have any children that lived?
Alamo1836 oh no the poor is mad because I insulted his sub par “build” that consisted of slapping an upper and lower together and claiming you built it yourself
@@animalmother5902 what are you talking about bitch? I bought the rifle assembled.
As far as your "poor" comment, I have some tractors that cost more than you'll earn in your entire lifetime.
Nate La Flex stop justifying buying that shit
The brown color o-ring on PSA identifies it as 100% made from Viton material. Viton o-rings are made to withstand temperatures from -15 to 400°F and are made in both brown and black color. But, most non Viton o-rings are black too, so I prefer the brown color just so I know it's 100% Viton just by looking at the color. I worked in the Hydraulics Industry for over 25 years and all our Viton O-rings were brown so they could not be confused with the other black O-rings that were made from non Viton materials. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-ring#Material
Viton can be other colors as well. In the refrigeration industry we have them died purple so they are not confused on the assembly line with neoprene.
@@christopherwingrove416 exactly
They also co e I green and brown.
Regardless, they are cheap to buy.
Wow great stuff, thank you guys for sharing, I had never heard of Vito.
PSA non logo $84 on sale. Works great. Are you building a shooter or a mall queen? My buddy has the ST, looks great, but we swapped them and it doesn't shoot any better or worse than my PSA. No one else cleans my weapon, and I don't need a pretty logo where it doesn't matter. I'd rather buy more powder and and shoot more often, but if a pretty bolt is important to you, buy the ST.
If you think resale, perhaps to a gun nerd, a logo MIGHT bring more $$$
George Moomaw a lot of people get nervous when they see that PSA logo. PSA is a great company, but people know that it carries a low price tag and too many people are afraid of that.
I like the shinny one.
PSA $89 on sale! Can't beat it!!
You can now get the PSA NB BCG for $90. So I bought two of the PSA for less than the cost of one of the Spike's. I'll have two completed PSA rifles soon with a ton of upgrades for about $1,100.
I'll get a psa and just polish it!
You'll have a nice BCG that looks like a nicer BCG than it is. It'll still be made using a lower quality NiB, but a nice BCG nonetheless. It sounds like you're saying "as long as it looks good, THAT'S what matters." I tend to buy more into the "as long as it IS good, that's what matters" camp.
Why polish it? It will knock down the microscopic ridges which is what helps reduce friction of the bcg due to less surface area contacting one another. Also nib discoloration happens with heat. So it will be counter productive. Just food for thought.
Exactly
if psa works fine then why pay a extra 100 for 1 that looks better is all. my rifle could be pink and blue as long as it gets the job done I don't care. spikes is like snap on over pirced for the same stuff everyone else has.
Overpriced relative to what? In many cases, Snap on is well worth the money. In many cases, its not. It also depends what you are comparing it to. For the money, Spike's makes the best products with the best service and I'll continue to be a customer all day long until they prove me wrong. Proper staking, proper coatings, proper steels, etc. all combine to make a very nice rifle that will outlast me and outperform me all day. That said, a cheaper rifle in the hands of a more capable operator will outperform me and my more expensive rifle all day, so it all comes down to where your priorities are.
cpt. probe show me your pink rifle.
YeuLaKho Show me your pink buttho.... Nvm. I’m going back to the basement.
i want to replace my carbon 15 upper would i need to have the exsisting bolt modified to fit the new upper-in other words could i use my exsisting bolt in a new upper
@@davekinney868 if its a M16 or a AR-15 BCG it should work in any mil-spec upper.
PSA had a sale twice in Sept for NiB BCGs 516446450 with the following specs for $90 each:
Nickel Boron Finish
Milspec Carpenter No. 158® steel bolt
Shot Peened Bolt
High pressure tested
Mag particle inspected
Gas Key Hardened to USGI Specifications
Gas Key Grade 8 Hardened Fasteners
Gas Key Staked Per Mil-Spec
Tool Steel Extractor
Extractor Spring
Extractor O-ring Insert
PSA Logo
I got 2 and the shine was much brighter than what is shown in this video and similar to the Spike's. The only very minor tool marks I could find were on the gas key. I would bet both BCGs are made by Toolcraft which, BTW, makes the FailZero BCGs. Toolcraft sells BCGs too with the FZ EXO finish and after they are returned to TC, they polish them again and they look like the Spike's. (I have one). I recently bought a TC BCG with the 7.62X39 bolt and it did not have the FZ EXO finish and looked slightly dull like the PSA in this video.
viton 90 O'rings are brown, so the PSA has a viton 90 O'ring, which is one of the best gas O'rings.
Some might think this is craz to complain about but man properly shipping items is kind of important. I just picked up a Colt 6920 999.99 sale price and it came in a cheap lightwieght box and wrapped in heavy plastic bag. Which is grand in humidity for retaining moisture and starting rust off right. Same day I got my S&W M&P sport II heavy card board box egg crate foam and a light absorbent paper. I'm sure they are both great rifles or will be when I take them out but a little pride in packaging goes a long way towards letting the customer know that not all of the profit is going straight back to the knob head at the top.
Why worry about humidity when you are talking about a NB BCG? Is could be shipped to you in a tube of salt water and if it's a well made BCG it would be fine.
hes talking about a complete rifle here, not an individual bcg or other part, notice the price tag listed.
Da-Mad Modler damn knob heads!
Da-Mad Modler
I agree. Presentation matters and storage matters even more.
Very informative. Thanks for posting.
Why does the Spikes appear to be shorter and does it matter?
just got a PSA bolt 5 days I got it good shipping very nice
A very detailed comparison. Thanks for the informative video.
The Palmetto NB BCG & charging handle duo ($109) just came in an hour ago.Besides machining marks on two grooves underneath, it looks flawless. there is a similar but much lighter machine mark on the gas key. now i only need a rifle to put it in which will take a few months sadly. (Poor person problems)
John D III Just got mine today $90 free shipping. I'm also poor and planning on piecing together a decent rifle from this thing. Your story was very familiar I hope your build is going well 🤘
I finished my rifle last month and shot it for the first time in early October. I got a good deal on Aeros new Atlas s-one upper so i jumped on it. My bank account hated me for it but i saved money in the long run.
John D III - Good luck with your build Bro.
Its pretty much complete. Got a Vortex Sparc red dot along w Magpul Mbus Pros Irons (super sweet deal). If i get a bipod & sling then im completely finished.
Go to PSA home page you can build an awesome ar15/m4 for right at $330.
come on the hazardous waste symbol is worth $80 . Especially since no one will see it.
Its a spider lol..
I love Nickel Boron. I have psa and a older spikes. My spikes has a almost golden color. Never thought to pull them and give a side by side.
After buying one of the sharps bcg. I sold my spikes to buy another sharps.
+2phast Tactical, did you yourself polish that Spikes NIB bcg? I just ordered one and from what I can tell the spikes usually don't come that polished right out of the box. Thanks.
+East Coast Young Gun This Spikes BCG came as you see it in the video. Normally they are high polished, but there have been batches of these going out that are unpolished, hence why I did a video about polishing your dull NiB BCG.
+2phast Tactical, thanks for the prompt response. Good to know. I've even seen slightly older TH-cam videos (3yrs or so) about the Spikes NiB bcg where the extractor wasn't even NiB coated. When I ordered mine the photo showed an unpolished bcg and did not mention it being a high polish or polished at all. However it did show and say it would have a NiB coated extractor like the one in this video. It's funny how manufactures and distributors will make small changes to products like that from time to time. From what I understand the polishing process is mainly for aesthetics and not functionality.
+East Coast Young Gun In the case of the Spikes NiB and Fail Zero NiB, the plater shipping a large quantity of unpolished NiB BCG's and due to the complaints, checks were put in place to ensure something similar does not happen again. Yes, its purely a cosmetic issue and your right, it does not affect the functionality of the BCG.
think of the tool marks as places that will hold oil. Pretend that the pretty smooth and perfect carrier group won't do it as well. I just justified getting the lower priced bcg now!
Want something that holds oil well get a phosphate.
The PSA lowers are nicer though now it could be different batches from each company vary in quality but the mag beveling is much more thorough than Spikes . But Spikes is awesome though I like the prices at PSA - wish I knew about those gas rings.
are they high pressure tested?
Spike's bolt is and so is PSA's Premium bolt is, but always check PSA's description, as they sell several different bcg's/bolts.
Man, your videos are so good. You deserve more subs.
The Spikes looks like it's been sent through a buffing wheel coated in Flitz or Mothers polishing compound before being NiB'd, while the PSA appears to just be a standard finished BCG that has been given a NiB coating.
i bought all of my parts from watching your videos, including a NiB BCG from spikes tactical
and went to go pick up my lower receiver from my FFL, and i was told and informed for the first time that i can't acquire it because im under 21.
yup, now im just sitting with all of parts,
Lower receiver is neither a rifle or pistol, its classified as "other" so you do need to be 21
2phast yeah i never knew that, now im just not sure on the difference between a straw purchase and someone gifting me a receiver.
Shivam Patel A straw purchase is one made by a person who has no intention on keeping the item or is buying it for someone else who by law is now allowed to purchase it. Depending upon your state law though, you may be able to purchase a lower from a private party via a person to person transaction (check the laws in your state)
Shivam Patel
if you put a stock and an upper that is 16" or longer, they may be able to sell it as a rifle for you.
is nickle boron a plating or a treatment embedded in the metal not on top.
It's a plating.
I recently purchased a PSA AR-15/5.56 Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group - 7791928. This one does not have the logo. Has a 9310 shot peened bolt, MP inspected but not HP tested. In their description it says not marked MP inspected, but mine was. No significant tool marks, looks very good. Haven't tested it yet, waiting for an upper to arrive. Much more slick than their phosphate bolts.
That is what I thought too. However, the Premium is High Pressure Tested and the one I ordered is not. Plus, more knowledgeable people than I argue whether 9310 or 158 is better. I would probably trust the Premium a bit more since it is HPT as well as MPI.
What I really wanted to know is are either of them machined slightly smaller to compensate for the thickness of the nickel boron. I know some companies do that.
In the machining industry the engineering prints always specify DIMENSIONS APPLY AFTER PLATING AND/OR SURFACE TREATMENT
I think this dude is just super bias because Spike's tactical and palmetto State shared the same lower manufacturer for a long time until palmetto State bought a lower manufacturer.. also I live very close to a physical palmetto State store and all of their products come in bubble wrap I'm almost thinking he took it out of the bubble wrap himself
PSA arrived in a small tube, Spikes in a box
I've bought 2 psa 158s both came in a tube no bubble wrap.
I bought a psa 1 month ago and it was in bubble wrap in the tube. It was a no logo bolt, not sure if that makes a difference in packaging. Have not ran it yet, i need to machine it to run with my 1st gen echo trigger.
I hope PSA has no care about what all you gun snobs say. It's because of you guys that a great budget and quality product gets revamped and the price go's up! Grab your mama's wallet and get a spikes or be a blue collar working man and get a psa.
Right they don't know what they're talkin about they do not realize that Spike's tactical and aero precision lowers are made by the same companies as ATI lowers and as palmetto State used to be made by until palmetto bought out the manufacturer..
I also have a aero precision upper literally if you look at the manufacturer on the Left behind the bolt carrier group that is stamped it is made by the exact same company as palmetto all these idiots are doing or buying a name without doing research they are complete morons
@@jthrasher47 and the fit, finish, spec, and QC are the same? AFAIK, that is the difference.
PSA is my "candy shop", great deals everywhere! I dont need tacticool, I want what works, and therefore I go PSA!
Not a fan of the nickel boron. It wears down to the metal pretty quick. Phosphate or nickel teflon is the way to go.
Id go psa , no gimmick included in the price
I bought a Spikes NB BCG last year and had issues with running steel case ammo and some .223 rounds. the bolt would not lock back and some mis feeds. tried a few things to rectify the problem but to no avail. i replaced the Spikes with my original BCM BCG and havnt had an issue since. i dont know what would be so different with the spikes but it had issues in my rifle.
Failure to lock back sounds like a gassing issue, if this only happens with .223, then you could swap your heavy buffer for a carbine weight buffer, that normally takes care of it, but if it is happening with .223 and known good 5.56, then it is still a under gassed situation so it might be a misaligned gas block, gas tube, loose gas key, plugged gas key etc. Swapping BCG's shouldn't change anything, if it does then the gassing issue may lie with the gas key of the Spikes and/or the gas rings of the bolt. You could try putting the BCM bolt into the Spikes carrier and see if the problem goes away, if it does, then its a problem with the Spikes bolt, probably the gas rings.
2phast
I thought about swapping the bolt assy as you say. ill do that next. i did notice the gas rings on my spike to be a little funky.
I wonder how these compare to colt in terms of durability, psa full autos are sweet but i would definitely put my life on colt bolt carriers.
Hey 2Phast,
I'm trying to decide which NiB BCG to go with for my first AR build. What would you recommend between the Spike's Tactical and the Fail Zero? Also considering an Aero Precision one. Would like to hear your thoughts.
Thanks!
All of the BCG's you mention are of high quality. The EXO NiB plating provides the hardest surface, so if the BCG does not use that plating technique, then its of lower quality (and probably price). I would also chose a C158 bolt over any other bolt material. When a manufacture does not say what type of NiB plating they use or what type of material their bolt is constructed from, then I have to assume its of a lesser quality than C158. Bolts should also be HPT/MPI and should be stamped to reflect this. I don't believe any of the ones you mention would let you down, but if you want the best of the best, then the Spikes would be the choice. FWIW, I run Spike's NiB BCG's in all my rifles
+2phast Tactical Is it safe to assume that if I purchased, say a Fail Zero, from your site that I would still have their full warranty?
What is it about the Spike's that you prefer over the Fail Zero? I like the thought of the FZ coming with a NiB hammer as well.
Yes, full warranty through FailZero, as I am a dealer. Spikes NiB BCG's have a C158 bolt that is both HPT/MPI. Can't say the same for many other BCG's on the market.
+2phast Tactical Thanks for your help! I ended up ordering the Fail Zero from you since it's cheaper and it comes with a NiB Hammer as well. I read that the Fail Zero is HPT/MPI also and the bolt is C158 I believe too so it seemed like a good way to go! Excited to get it!
I had a spikes bcg. Nothing wrong with them but for the same money go with the NP3 bcg from Robar. It is more slick than the Spikes NIB EXO and the finish is better imo. The DSA NP3 bcg is not bad for $129. A friend of mine primary uses Sharps Rifle Co balanced bcg. It is NP3 plus coated and runs about $199. They are supper nice as well.
Only difference I see that MAY matter is the springs. I would likely change them with Sprinco regardless which one. Anyone thinking DD, BCM or any other high end name is making there own springs is a fool.
The tooling marks in non crucial locations is gonna effect absolutely ZERO. Realistically the finish difference doesn’t make one more reliable than the other. The rest of the materials are identical. Now if there was to be tooling marks in a crucial location it would be a totally different argument..
Spend double the money for a little better finish, little extra polishing in non crucial areas and a logo if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. But as long as the PSA is in spec and crucial areas are polished and tooling marks free you are paying double for a coating and a logo that matter’s absolutely ZERO at the end of any day. I say double because you can regularly snag the PSA for half the money.
Who makes Core15 nickel boron BCG any help would be appreciated thank you ??
Why does one look bigger than the other?
I have the PSA 5000 round get's a little dirty but but it just works flawlessly, I love it especially at 120 Dollars good bang for the buck.
Is Aero Precision products well made ?
+David trueslayor From my experience yes.
David trueslayor
Aero Precision is nearly on par with Bravo Company
Yup
I use alot of Aero stuff and never had a issue. I couldn't find a Noveske bcg or bravo when I waited so I got a psa nickel bcg
The extracter spring in the PSA looks like a Colt spring. The red color is what made me think that.
I have never understood the hysteria over NiB BCGs. So, they have discovered a cheaper way to plate, reduce mfg. cost, rather than industrial chrome which must be electroplated. Gun guys sit around polishing their BCGs all day? Give me a break!
Most can feel that they run smoother in the gun.. The quality looks/aesthetic is more of a bonus.
Also, apparently it cuts down on cleaning time. Idk yet, just picked one up from PSA for $89.99 free shipping.
@@bumbaclot18 I just bought one also, and it came in with the ToolCraft markings. It is easier to clean.
I thought the EXO technology was exclusive to Fail Zero. I cant find anything to back up If Spikes Tactical also uses the EXO technology that Fail Zero has patented. Do you have an info on this my friend?
The info is what Spikes Tactical told me when I inquired. Its not that Spikes uses Fail Zeros process, Fail Zero actually plates the BCG's. At least that was the case at one point in time, Spikes also told me they have gone through several companies for plating.
I have noticed Palmetto State Armory has three different kinds of nickel boron bcg they have a psa nickel boron... freedom nickel boron and a premium nickel boron. I’m not sure what the difference is I would guess that would represent the three different types of nickel boron coating but it is weird that all three sale at the same price
Just picked up a premium nickel boron (no logo), carpenter 158 bolt for $89 delivered. It is very nice. Not mirror-shiny but it oozes [Toolcraft?] quality.
Keith Brandson I bought the same one made by Toolcraft in Marion NC USA. Awesome BCG at an awesome price! PSA Rocks ! These dickheads kill me whining about the logo not being on the BCG !
Probably all built by toolcraft found a article not long ago talking about how toolcraft makes almost all companies bcgs but they build them to meet a price point
8:10 that’s where the extra $80 goes money well spent!!!
You pay for the name with spikes tactical same thing with other big companies
4atlanta4 PSA is Awesome for $89.00 and free shipping
Veteranmac 88
Some names are worth it. BCM comes to mind. I would train all day on PSA equipment, but I would not go to war with it.
@@johnwicksfoknpencil id take psa to war'
steve maslow
I probably would too if I had to. My original comment came across as more harsh than I intended.
@John Wick's pencil
BCM doesn’t own a forge. They do not manufacture anything. Neither does spikes just FYI...
I’m pray to god he covers which one is lighter. I know it’s about 11.6 ounces for your mil spec but I’m having trouble finding a solid weight on the psa 🤔
Great video man...You broke it down! Very informative and helpful. Thanks...
Volume is superbad on this video I can barely hear you
Must be your device. I can hear fine on my phone and my tv
i just got a Psa NiB bcg etched with the toolcraft logo and Palmetto logo for 99.99 delivered.
I thought spikes was made by Toolcraft and are plated by failzero. I believe premium PSA are also Toolcraft.
Viton is reddish brown and Buna N is Black. I dont know how this got messed up! They have it reversed.
Where did you get your info on Spike's coating being EXO from Fail Zero?? I checked both Spike's and Fail Zero's websites and haven't been able to see anything that specifies that. Were changes made?? You've definitely sold me on the benefits of EXO coating but I'm curious why Spike's website doesn't specify that. Also, how important is it that a bolt be HPT?? Seems very few of the bolts on the market are. If for reason Spike's are no longer EXO, I thought maybe just go with a Fail Zero, but they don't HP test their bolts. And one last thing, Fail Zero does say that they also coat the firing pin... does that make much of a difference?? Appreciate all your videos and help. Keep up the great work!!
These were originally advertised as being coated with the EXO NiB and according to Paul Dettlaff (COO of Spike's), nothing has changed, still being plated by FZ with the EXO NiB
Thanks for responding... I sent an email last night to Spike's and they responded this morning saying that yes FZ does do their coating, but is not sure if its the same EXO process. I also got an email back from Fail Zero a little while later and the rep there said that they use EXO on all the components Spikes sends their way. Thanks again for helping me confirm this. Been working on my first AR build. Have an AIM Surplus BCG as I heard good things about it and it was pretty cheap. But as I've been adding on my components, I realized what many have said about how the BCG is really the heart of the rifle and going cheap (even if its "good") might not be the best way to go. Gonna get my hands on a Spike's and keep the AIM as a back-up. Just one more component and I'm done!! Can't wait!! Thanks again for you help.
Chances are I have the best price on the Spikes BCG. www.2phastTactical.com
I just messaged you through TH-cam.
+2phast Tactical I will be buying several items from you in the very near future. Your prices are very good.
whats your top 4 picks for AR-15's? make and model
+Bob johnson Don't think I am qualified to make a top four. Most of my experience is with rifles I have built. If I had to choose one pre-built that almost fits all of my requirements and is high quality, it would be the BCM Haley Strategic Jack Carbine. Although at over 2k, your at the high end of the spectrum. The only issues I have with that rifle at that price point is its 10" handguard (should be 13"), barrel (should be CHF) and momentary on light (prefer on/off with option of momentary). You could duplicate it yourself, fix the short comings and have enough left over for an optic.
2phast Tactical can you tell me what parts I would need to duplicate it?
+Bob johnson A full list of the parts for the Jack Carbine is here. www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-M16-A4-AR15-Bravo-Company-Haley-Strategic-The-Jack-s/166.htm If I were doing it, I would get a complete BCM lower, it ships with the PNT trigger and BCM Gunfighter stock, but if you wanted, you could swap the BCM stock for a B5 Sopmod. I would opt to get the Geissele 13" Mk8 handguard (longer and less expensive than the old SMR Mk1). Build your upper by using a BCM upper, BCM, BCG, BCM Charging handle Mod 4, BCM 14.5" barrel and the BCM Comp Mod 1. Just remember to assemble your upper, then have the comp pin/welded BEFORE you mount it to your lower receiver. You would end up with a black rifle and not one in disruptive grey.
2phast Tactical thanks what tools will i need?
+Bob johnson th-cam.com/video/z5SNwSaMOfY/w-d-xo.html this should help you. If you don't want to make the investment in tools for one build, you could purchase a BCM pre-built upper and swap the handguard out to the Geisselle or maybe you can find one with a handguard you like. www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR-15-14-5-Mid-Length-Group-s/135.htm
My PSA BCG has tool marks and a few knicks on the carrier. It should have been sold as a blem. Doesn't affect function though and glad I didn't pay close to $200.
Ditto for me. Glad I got it on sale.
JohnnyTactical305 I got one of the blem deals from PSA for the NB BCG and it actually came in pristine condition. Cost me $89 with free shipping and I've never had any problems with it.
I thought I was on the American gun chick channel at first..
I have each of these BCG's in different guns. Having used and cleaned them, I can tell you one thing for sure. The Spikes BCG is easier to clean and seems to keep fouling from building up better. I recommend lubricating NiB BCG's. I think your assessment of the two is pretty much spot on. Thanks for this video.
Interesting assessment. If that is the case, that could be due to the different types of NiB being used (std vs. EXO) EXO NiB has a RockWell Hardnes of 83-85 and standard NiB has a RockWell Hardness rating of 55-60. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
So where did you get them for those prices?
Ray Johnson Spikes Tactical NiB BCG can be purchased from my site for $189. www.2phasttactical.com/product-p/st5bg03.htm
+2phast Tactical I like the prices on your website. I am building a new AR15 from scratch. Heard great things about Fail Zero's BCG. How do I know if I need a hammer or not? I separately ordered a Geissele SSA-E trigger, do you know if it comes with a hammer and if it does, if I should stick with that one and order just a BCG from you?
If you have already purchased a rifle with a basic fire control group, then you could upgrade the hammer to the Fail Zero, but you would be better off replacing your entire basic fire control group with one that is not only NiB (or Teflon in the case of the ALG) but has been tuned/adjusted for better functionality. Since you have already ordered the SSA-E, you don't need to get a hammer, as the SSA-E comes with one. So from what you said, it sounds like you will just need to choose a BCG.
I've owned PSA, Spikes, and a bunch of others. Personally the only name I really care to see is BCM. Besides that I go with Toolcraft. Nickel Boron and Titanium Nitride are great for clean up and thats about it. Phosphate or Black Nitride work just as well.
Bcm doesn’t even own a forge. They don’t manufacture anything. PSA recently purchased a forge and actually manufactures their own items. Toolcraft makes spikes, failzero, bcm, and PSA bcgs and some others just FYI.
I've been using Toolcraft DLCs lately.
@Dale Muzingo I have a gray and fde Toolcraft DLC and Sharps DLC are great as well.
@ITS FREE that may be true, but BCM has their own spec that they give to the OEM and have very strict QC. I work in a business where we make tons of products for but companies, but they provide a lot of things that go into the products.
FailZero BCGs are the way to go! PSA Nickel Boron is shit. Spikes BCG is a FailZero with the Spikes logo, I’m almost willing to bet on it. I have both they look identical other than the engravings.
If it works well, stick with it.
Save yourself some money and buy a Toolcraft Nitride finish BCG...they are easy to clean...the ones that I have been engraved with the Toolcraft logo on the side like the Spikes “made in USA” engraving, which makes me believe the Spikes BCG is a
Toolcraft product with a different engraving...just my 2 cents 😉
Psa all day ...
You had me at "Made in the USA"
Spikes Tactical = poor mans Black Rain Ordnance. That’ll piss a few people off…
Not much justification provided for the extra $. I guess it's all about the feelz?🤷♂️
say you don't lube the gas rings on accident, could this alone cause malfunctions?
Ok just learned something about a nickel boron bolt carrier group weather it's a $200 or $89 BCG they are all nickel plated that means steel on the inside. Why waist your money on what I feel is and inferior product. Save some money and get a steel nitrite BCG and have the same if not better and longer lasting product
Your missing the point about NiB, basically the lubricity and hardness and the ability to run the BCG dry (if the need arrises)
Just for those who dont know. A good Polish is all it needs to be just as good as spikes. I got a st'croix for 99.99$ free shiping and can say after a polish with mothers turns out slick as a 300$ Nib bcg Cleans up just as good , yes the electroplating of spikes is (maybe) better but still is electroplating.
Aside from the difference in hardness, since PSA uses basic NIB coating, and the Spikes/FZ uses NIB EXO.
Psa has one options for it to say made in USA with a logo or no logo and nothing
I can tell you I have Failzero and Palmetto NIB BCGs. The Failzero BCGs are a lot slicker and a different color. The Failzero is about fifty-five dollars more, my cost. I would go with the Failzero. Not that I've had any problems with the Palmetto NIB BCG. I just don't believe they are the same NIB quality.
007NunyaBizNess There not. Fail Zero BCG's use the NiB EXO plating, which has a Rockwell hardness of 83-85. Most other NiB BCG's use standard NiB plating, which has a Rockwell Hardness of 75. All NiB are self lubricated but the NiB EXO does feel slicker compared to standard NiB
2phast Tactical, Thanks for the information.
Deee Stroyed, You probably did the right thing. Although, you can get some BCGs for $100. The Fail zero looks and feels completely different. I have several of both.
Spike's stakes on the gas key is much more pronounced
That psa bolt looks far superior to the spikes and both are polished finish Matt look dull that psa tool craft carrier group is far superior to the spikes they charge more for the spikes because some people just think if they pay more they are getting better and Jin this case people are getting taken
Anyone that thinks EVERY bolt gets MPI tested has no understanding of production machining. They batch test some for compliance.
Nice review.
The spikes looks like much higher quality in build and coating.
No bubble wrap oh shit thats an extra 50$
price @3:34
Nickel-boron is not a good coating for AR BCG's. It's cheap, it's environmentally friendly, but it doesn't meet durability, corrosion, and reliability standards of the military. Never has, never will.
Wow smh. Not gonna buy the psa because it wasnt shipped in bubble wrap....
I think he is full of it because I bought one from palmetto State around the same time last year and it was shipped in bubble wrap and now I actually live close to one of palmetto states stores and they even give it to you wrapped in bubble wrap unless you buy one fresh out of the glass case
F Palmetto. They wont ship anything to Chicago, not even ammo. Ridiculous.
Thats not a Palmetto thing thats a dumbasses in Chicago thing... keep electing liberal dicks that want to take away your rights and thats what happens!
Check out these guys: primeweaponry.com/collections/ar15-m16-bolt-carrier-group/products/m16-bolt-carrier-group-nickel-boron-9310
Comes in gloss or matte. I bought one, runs perfectly and I'm getting another in nitride QPQ.
They shipped super fast too. Would love to see a quality comparison of their stuff!
Also thanks for the video - well done sir.
Got my Spike's NIB on BDE for $75 lol
All of PSAs parts are manufactured by FN in SC. So if you have no issues with FN, PSA will do fine.
Incorrect. PSA used FN AR 5.56 barrels for a while. That also, is no longer the case. FN cut ties with PSA. FN also did not make the majority of other parts PSA sells. PSA uses the cheapest parts they can source from any vendor willing to slap the PSA name on their products. PSA also has terrible quality assurance on the rifles they build.
FNH still makes/provides barrels for PSA's premium uppers. I have several PSA premium complete uppers I have purchased and they all have the FN roll stamp on the barrell FN 1/7 CHF CL
and how long ago did you buy them? I live a few minutes from FN and PSA both, and work with people who worked or currently work for FN. If they are using FN barrels again, it's fairly new, since as of December, they were no longer doing so.
+Sean Malahy as of now. It is even posted in the description of the premium uppers. I will add a link for it
+Sean Malahy palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-chf-mid-length-premium-upper-without-bcg-or-charging-handle.html
i just ordered a Nib bcg from palmetto. the description says its MPi but not labeled. i hope its not too rough-looking as fro tool marks and such. i will always feel outdone by the spikes NiB bcg which is a thing of beauty. Until I can afford premium parts, i guess Palmetto will have to suffice
CLplusP Just saw this bcg, let me know how it is
Earl Poderoso ..sure thing. If u PM me ur email I'll send u photos when it arrives next week
CLplusP How is the BCG?
Good thing you asked. I'm overall pleased with it. It DOES IN FACT have some tool marks that are visible and you can feel them if you run your finger nail across them. It's no Spikes or WMD but by no means would I describe it as rough.. I got the BCG and milspec CH for 109 free shipping from palmetto. The stake job is kinda weak which I will have to ameliorate. I hope it doesn't cause flaking in the spots that I re-stake. The finish is good and I would definitely buy another one.
CLplusP should of waited. With Trump in office all the gun guys aren't buying so you can get good parts for cheap. I got a Sharp's rifle company BCG diamond like colting on sale.
It’s the exact same bolt aero precision makes them for both companies
my PSA is toolcraft..says so on it.
Toolcraft makes spikes, bcm, fail zero, PSA and a few others.
Brown is a normal color for Viton O-rings along with black
+daniel emmons Good to know, thanks for sharing.
ZEP screwdriver 👍🏼👍🏼
check out ares armor
I just got one under $100 on sale now
I would not put a 100 dollar bcg on my AR I rather pay the extra 100 but I know it will not fail
mikegigabyte Some things are the exact same thing but there are significant differences in materials & processes so you really gotta look at the specs on things & decide what you are willing to pay for.
+mikegigabyte that's where i got my ar-10 bolt
+mikegigabyte Ares Armor NIK Boron BCG Rocks I know quality and Ares has it down.
+shananagans5 NO SHIT!!!
nickel teflon is betteraka np3
Hands down, spikes tac wins.
One could just get an Oring
Debbie Armioia Thomas brown boring is also Viton. I use larger ones in mynwork
psa makes shit bolts compared to that spider or fail zero uses 8620 carpenter steel! Psa use 158 steel softer steel! you get what you pay for and the bolt is like the heart of your rifle! as far as the logo yeah your just blowing your money
WMD blows my Spikes NB BCG away. Spikes is not that great. If you want a cool looking spider then get a Spikes, if you want a well tooled excellent long lasting superior NB BCG then get a WMD.
Seriously? Their NiB-X BCG isn't High Pressure Tested, nor do they use 158 carpenter steel for their bolts. Rarely are you going to find a superior product for less than half the price, as you are claiming here. Spike's HPTs, MPIs, and shot peens their BCGs. I couldn't disagree more and would suggest you do more research. Then again, some people still think the Chevy vs Ford battle is relevant when you can go out and buy a Tundra, so to each their own.
Do yourself a favor and buy a Toolcraft BCG with EXO finish for $110 shipped and compare it with the WMD which, BTW, is also made by Toolcraft.