Bolt carrier group, does this effect what kinds of rounds a rifle can eat?

K

Kimio

New member
I am looking into parts for an AR15, and reading about the numerous brands out there, I have come across many who say some brands just don't like certain ammunition. For example, some bushmaster AR15' don't like steel cased ammunition such as wolf.

Part of this involves fouling of the barrel and carbon buildup due to steel cased ammo not expanding as much as brass shells. FTE apparently occurs when brass cased rounds are then used later on. This is just one example, but my question is, is it at all possible to know beforehand what a built (as in I order a lower and upper receiver and build the rifle myself) rifle will accept as far as ammunition is concerned.

I don't want to build a rifle only to blow it up or cause damage to my rifle due to incompetence or being uneducated in what is ok to fire an what isn't.

I am currently looking into a variety of 16" M4 style AR15's. The parts I'm currently looking at primarily come fr BCM and Spike.
 
No, it will affect reliability (quality bolts won't break at the cam pin hole), but it won't really affect what the rifle will shoot. It seems to me that the chamber has more to do with that; an unchromed chamber will be more likely to have a case "stick."

IMO, I'd get the BCM BCG and be done with it.
 
From what I've red on the AR15s is that most of then don't like shooting steel cased ammo, such as Wolf. I just bought the BCM EAG upper, and wil plan on only using brass.
 
Rifles that hiccup on steel case ammo may have a tight chamber and/or to quick of dwell time.

Changing the action spring and/or buffer to slow the dwell time can help.

If you have a chrome chamber that is tight you are stuck using brass case ammo.

You should be fine with either BCM or Spikes parts/rifles.
 
I have a xm15 and was worried about what your talking about so I only ran brass. Than I came across silver bear which is very cheap, and not coated in anything "sticky", just zinc. I now run that exclusively as plinking ammo and have no problems what so ever. Did I mention its cheaper than wolf?
 
From what I've red on the AR15s is that most of then don't like shooting steel cased ammo, such as Wolf. I just bought the BCM EAG upper, and wil plan on only using brass.
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Not sure where you're reading this, but it's just the opposite. Most people have no problem at all shooting steel case ammo. And of those that say they do have issues; you have to take them on a case by case basis. Some, right off the bat, have never shot steel case ammo. They are simply buying into what they've heard, and are repeating. Most times wrongly. Some admittedly almost never clean their rifles. Upward of around 1000 rounds in between any type of cleaning. Some have very heavy buffers and gas systems set up for 5.56; so they have ejecting/feeding problems. Anyway; for every person who says they've had problems with steel case or are recommending against using steel case, there's about 5 who say they never have any problems.

FWIW: I shoot 85-95% Steel case ammo. Silver Bear, MFS, Tula, wolf, and Barnaul. I average around 300-400 rounds per month. In 1 year, 15-20 boxes per month, that's a $60-$80 a month SAVINGS!!! Yes, it's AT LEAST a $4 a box savings. So; in 1 year, I save $720-$960. Ummmmmmmm..... I can buy a whole BRAND NEW RIFLE for that savings. If I had to replace an extractor, that would be about $10. An entire Bolt Carrier Group is about $130. So; lets see how much I've had to spend on replacement parts in my AR's this past year.............. Ummmm. $0.00. Now; if you only shoot 1 box of ammo per month, it probably doesn't mean anything to you. But if you shoot 200 rounds or more per month, that's at least a $500 a year minimum savings. Some save the money for their next toy. Some of us use the money so we can shoot 300-400 a month instead of just 100 or such.

Anyway; most people who shoot steel case ammo have no problems; and they save a lot of money. It's obviously not for everyone. Those who are really into competition and such usually reload or buy match grade ammo. Then there are some rifles that simply don't like the ammo. Then again; I know of many weapons that don't like a particular brand of ammo that is brass. But for those who can and do shoot steel case ammo, they are able to save a lot of money and it doesn't hurt their rifle at all.
 
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