kcgrendel Wrote:Anybody know any leads on economical/budget friendly BCG with a 6.5 bolt?

badgerlb Wrote:I'm looking for deals on Carriers with keys too... if you find one cheap let me know, prefer auto.

pinzgauer Wrote:Bolt should come with your barrel. Then add a real GI Contract M-16 carrier with key. (Under $70 at G&R tactical). Add bolt key, firing pin, and cotter. Grant may even have those on hand.

The other option is to get an LMT ($120-130). then sell the 5.56 bolt.

pinzgauer Wrote:Not to slam spikes, but they got caught claiming milspec, then could not back it. They have since revised their wording very carefully, and on a few items now offer a full milspec variant.

Lot's of people love spikes, like the imagery. And are happy with their products.

But the hard use guys on various forums consider them questionable, and sometimes you pay a premium for a "sort of milspec". And based on some of the details debated, I sort of understand the concern.

I think people should build what they want, but be informed about what they are getting. Many AR parts labeled milspec just meet dimensional specs. Or made similarly. Others it means meets the Colt TDP, or does to the best of the open information available. So now people are getting more picky about that milspec label. I know I am, because I personally have found two items claiming to be milspec, one was, one was just milspec'ish. At the same price.

On bolts that means MPI & HPT. Similar things on barrels. Specific alloys, not just good ones. Specific treatments to specific hardness.

For 99% of US AR shooters it largely will not matter. For Grendels, It can't matter as there are virtually no HPT/MPI bolts, etc. But even out of spec stuff works.... There are many bad clones that shoot just fine. Bad gas key staking, wrong alloy, commercial extension tube, cheaper lighter bolt carrier, etc.

For me it's a value & reliability thing. If I can get a higher quality product (spec wise) for the same price, or a small uplift, I want to do so.