11-15-2011, 03:55 PM
I posted a spreadsheet a couple of weeks ago with all the parts you need.
Many items come with the small parts. Or should, anyway. Ex: Gas tube should come with the roll pin. Flash hider should come with the washer. You can get the barrel nut complete with spring, etc.
Regarding bolt carriers: If you can use a spare 5.56 bolt your best bet is to get a for sure mil-spec M-16 setup like LMT or BCM. Or Colt. (yes, you can buy a complete BCG from colt)
If no need for a spare 5.56 bolt, then just get a GI contract complete BCG ($60'ish from G&R tactical), add the firing pin, bolt key, and cotter and the GRendel bolt that should come with your barrel. Not just supposedly "mil-spec", but for sure the real deal.
There are many BCG's sold as mil-spec that are not. They may have mil-spec staking on the carrier key, or claim mag particle testing on the bolt, etc. But the rest of the BCG is the wrong alloy, sub-standard coating, etc.
So I like using a contract M-16 carrier & key, then add the small, less critical parts from known sources. Grendel does better with the extra weight of the M-16 carrier, and it was what the AR was designed for. Most people don't realize the various "semi" bolt carriers have reduced contact surface, with the extreme being the old colt commercial AR-15 carriers. ("Half moon"). But even current semi carrier can be very different when compared side by side in both mass and bearing surface.
I do not care for the miracle coatied BCG's at crazy prices. I would consider a Young chromed BCG, but more for fit/finish than any magical quality.
Ultimately, the bolt is a more critical component and it will likely come with your barrel. It's more likely to have problems, wear out, or cause problems if wrong spec. So all the agonizing over the BCG will not make as much of a difference than the bolt will, as long as the BC has certain characteristics.
Many items come with the small parts. Or should, anyway. Ex: Gas tube should come with the roll pin. Flash hider should come with the washer. You can get the barrel nut complete with spring, etc.
Regarding bolt carriers: If you can use a spare 5.56 bolt your best bet is to get a for sure mil-spec M-16 setup like LMT or BCM. Or Colt. (yes, you can buy a complete BCG from colt)
If no need for a spare 5.56 bolt, then just get a GI contract complete BCG ($60'ish from G&R tactical), add the firing pin, bolt key, and cotter and the GRendel bolt that should come with your barrel. Not just supposedly "mil-spec", but for sure the real deal.
There are many BCG's sold as mil-spec that are not. They may have mil-spec staking on the carrier key, or claim mag particle testing on the bolt, etc. But the rest of the BCG is the wrong alloy, sub-standard coating, etc.
So I like using a contract M-16 carrier & key, then add the small, less critical parts from known sources. Grendel does better with the extra weight of the M-16 carrier, and it was what the AR was designed for. Most people don't realize the various "semi" bolt carriers have reduced contact surface, with the extreme being the old colt commercial AR-15 carriers. ("Half moon"). But even current semi carrier can be very different when compared side by side in both mass and bearing surface.
I do not care for the miracle coatied BCG's at crazy prices. I would consider a Young chromed BCG, but more for fit/finish than any magical quality.
Ultimately, the bolt is a more critical component and it will likely come with your barrel. It's more likely to have problems, wear out, or cause problems if wrong spec. So all the agonizing over the BCG will not make as much of a difference than the bolt will, as long as the BC has certain characteristics.