5.56 Bolt Carrier Group?

[Vandelay Ind.]

Does anyone know where to find one? I realize this is bad timing, but this is my first build & my upper just arrived. I have searched high & low but thought some of you might know somewhere i havent heard of. Thanks

[Dave2]

Does anyone know where to find one? I realize this is bad timing, but this is my first build & my upper just arrived. I have searched high & low but thought some of you might know somewhere i havent heard of. Thanks

I'm in the wrong part of TX to have any local knowledge, other than to suggest calling all the LGSs. Google might be able to help in finding previously unknown online retailers.

[rentz]

bravocompany usually gets re-stocked fairly regularly.
I suggest going there and to aimsurplus and doing a notify when in stock.

Both are very good companies to deal with

[The Annoyed Man]

You might be able to find the bolt and bolt carrier separately online, but I doubt it. I just ordered a new bolt for my carbine from MidwayUSA a week ago, and it came in yesterday. I also ordered two bolt rebuild kits at the same time, and they are backordered until mid January. When the kits arrive, I'll rebuild my old bolt and then store it in the grip pending a bolt failure. The second bolt rebuild kit will go into my wife's bugout bag for her AR.

The one thing this panic buying has taught me is that it is not enough to buy bulk ammo. You had better also buy critical spare parts as extra "just-in-case" supplies. That spare DPMS bolt assembly was $42.99. The rebuild kits were also from DPMS and were $21.99 apiece. The DPMS bolt carrier by itself, with an attached gas key, is only $74.99. (All these prices are from Midway, but Brownells' prices are similar.) When you're talking about an $800-$1,000 investment (or more) in a TEOTWAWKI rifle, another $200 or less for critical spare parts seems like an intelligent decision.

When I bought my spare bolt and the two bolt rebuild kits, it was almost an afterthought. I have recently been having a little bit of trouble with my carbine with FTE/FTF failures, and I believe it is traceable to the extractor spring insert starting to get a little chewed up looking. So I was just going to order a single rebuild kit thinking that I had the luxury of fixing the problem right away. When I saw that they are on backorder for a month, I went ahead and ordered two kits plus a new bolt assembly while they still had one in stock. That way I still have a functioning bolt while I'm waiting for the parts kits to come in. But the lesson it taught me is that I have only considered the ammo side of logistics, and I have completely failed to consider the maintenance side of logistics, other than keeping a supply of cleaning/lubing agents on hand. This latest anti-gun panic has me much more worried than with these last two elections. Panic buying when a commie like Obama gets elected is to be considered normal. But this Sandy Hook shooting is bringing a level of antigun vitriol unlike any previous incidents. And if it proves difficult to ban black rifles, it may be much easier for the administration to simply tax their logistical support out of existence......including parts access.

When this furor dies down a bit, and it eventually will, I'm going to devote my future gun resources for a while to making sure that I have "consumable parts" on hand for everything I own, including spare complete barreled upper receiver assemblies, spare barrels, barrel nuts, stripped lowers and uppers, upper and lower receiver parts kits, bolt/carrier assemblies, sights, etc., etc., etc. You can win the figurative battle, and still lose the logistical war, and ultimately, the war itself.

I'm sorry. I wish I could help you to find what you're looking for. The only suggesting I have to offer is to browse your local mom & pop gunstores, and the local gunshows. Just know that you're going to pay a huge premium right now for those parts.

[hpcatx]

When you're talking about an $800-$1,000 investment (or more) in a TEOTWAWKI rifle, another $200 or less for critical spare parts seems like an intelligent decision.

I was thinking along the same lines recently and purchased a second bolt, bolt rehab kit, and a general spare parts kit to cover the other non-BCG components of the AR. In looking online for these items, I saw a bunch of chrome and nickel boron plated bolts and BCGs. (I currently have a stock BCG, so I ordered a stock replacement bolt.) Any personal experience with the chrome or nickel boron plated ones? The claims are that chrome is easier to clean and that nickel boron eliminates the need for lube, although the veracity of both claims seems to be contested when researching via Google.

[Vandelay Ind.]

All LGS are cleaned out here like everywhere. I have used the "notify me when in stock" feature on several sites. I will just wait impatiently.

Would you grab the first one available no matter the manufacturer, specs, or auto/semi? Or,would you wait for a quality mil-spec, semi auto BCG from one of the more reputable manufacturers?

I definately like the idea of purchasing some parts kits to keep the thing running for a while, but I dont think my wife will go for a spare barreled upper since the one i have doesnt run yet. I told her i wanted to buy 2 stripped lowers for my sons (3 & 7 months), but that won't happen either. Its sad that we know what we won't be able to buy in the future.

[The Annoyed Man]

When you're talking about an $800-$1,000 investment (or more) in a TEOTWAWKI rifle, another $200 or less for critical spare parts seems like an intelligent decision.

I was thinking along the same lines recently and purchased a second bolt, bolt rehab kit, and a general spare parts kit to cover the other non-BCG components of the AR. In looking online for these items, I saw a bunch of chrome and nickel boron plated bolts and BCGs. (I currently have a stock BCG, so I ordered a stock replacement bolt.) Any personal experience with the chrome or nickel boron plated ones? The claims are that chrome is easier to clean and that nickel boron eliminates the need for lube, although the veracity of both claims seems to be contested when researching via Google.

I looked at some of those, but I didn't want to spend the extra money for that upgrade at this time. It seems to me that proper lubing and cleaning nets the same results, for a lot cheaper. And treating the bolt and other moving parts and the bore with some kind of treatment like Froglube will help to keep things working better too. I was looking at the Brownells site, and one buyer's comments about a NiB BCG said that the coating started flaking off after a few months of use. You can also buy ceramic coated parts, but they're even more expensive than the NiB parts. Unfortunately, most of even the NiB and ceramic coated parts are sold out too.