Nitride for me. The parkerized barrels may not be chrome lined and may have less barrel life and corrosion resistance compared to Nitride barrels. I have non lined CMV barrels that have been serviceable but I keep them clean. I have a 16” Bushmaster chrome lined parkerized barrel on my duty rifle and it has been gtg even though used in all kind of weather and temperature extremes.

 

The rough phosphate finish better retains oil to preserve the steel. The bore on the bolt carrier for the bolt is usually chrome lined, and this is where the gas rings make contact and provide the gas seal. There's also a slightly raised "belt" on the bolt shank just behind the locking lugs that contacts the carrier's bore wall. The four rails on the carrier, in the area of the gas key, are what make contact with the upper receiver, and are the only surfaces that need to be lubricated on the carrier exterior. Therefore the phosphate's rougher finish really doesn't matter.

I don't own any nitrided BCGs so I can't speak to them with an informed opinion.

 

Nitride - by a big margin.

 

Well, the rifle was designed around phosphated parts that are chromed where necessary. As long as that's the case with any phosphated parts you buy, you're good to go.
Nitriding is an easier and cheaper process than depositing chrome. Nitrided barrels have about half the usable life of chrome-lined barrels, but nothing on the interior is seeing anything like the forces working on the interior of a barrel.

Get whichever makes you happier. I've used both. Other than where the phosphated parts are actually chromed, nitride cleans-up easier.

 

Nitride has about half the service life as chrome? I'm not saying you are wrong I just never heard this before, where did you get this from.

 

Nitride.

Period

 

Get a NIB.

 

I prefer diamond like carbon (DLC) coating. I put a Toolcraft DLC bolt in a build I did a few years ago, and it's a nice bolt with a very smooth and slick feel to it.

Toolcraft DLC 5.56 Bolt Carrier Group

Toolcraft DLC 5.56 Bolt Carrier Group. Diamond-Like Carbon Coating is the most sought after coating in today's market. C158 Bolt, Lifetime Warranty

www.armorally.com

.

 

DLC is just another form/name/brand for the generic process that is FNC or nitriding. Others (proprietary names) being tennifer, melonite, etc.

Salt Bath Nitriding (DHSN) - IBC Coatings

Salt Bath Nitriding/Nitrocarburizing was originally created as an alternative to gas nitriding that would produce a more uniform case through surface contact between the substrate and liquid salt.

www.ibccoatings.com

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferritic_nitrocarburizing

 

I built one AR and was using a BCM BCG bought a few Toolcraft nitride BCGs for some spares. I swapped out the BCM BCG and am using the Toolcraft BCG now. I have only shot around 400 rounds so far but it goes bang every time I pull the trigger. It will be a good spare BCG for the cost.

 

Nitride is better than a plain phosphate barrel. A high quality chrome lined barrel is great too but I still prefer nitride. Generally better bang for the buck.

I doubt I will shoot out any of my barrels though, even the non chrome lined phosphate so it's not a big deal.

 

If you're not shooting full auto then I don't believe there is a significant difference in longevity between Chome lined and nitride.

 

Phosphate with proper chrome lining is my preference, places like FN and DD make some exceptional barrels. I doubt they'll be nitriding any time soon.
Same for BCGs. I have not jumped on the fancy finish bandwagon. It seems the primary benefit is ease of cleaning, which is not compelling enough to me.

 

Phosphate with proper chrome lining is my preference, places like FN and DD make some exceptional barrels. I doubt they'll be nitriding any time soon.

That’s more a function of large contract requirement. If a government contract comes through that requires it. Then you see it.

It seems the primary benefit is ease of cleaning, which is not compelling enough to me.

The primary benefit is greater wear and corrosion resistance along with higher lubricity without lubrication. Which has an added benefit of making it easier to clean.

 

Melonite QPQ is the answer...

 

For the BCG: I'm okay with either QPQ or NiB. Same with pistol slides and gas blocks.

For comps, I'd prefer Ti or Inconel if I could afford them on all of my guns, so I'll settle for Nitrided steel.

Cerakote for barrels and hard coat anodize for receivers. Nitride INSIDE barrels is a LOT better than Chrome lined. But it has to be done on better prepared barrel and the extension needs to be removed, then retorqued afterwards, which is hard to do and make sure it all lines up, so some don't do that. Most nitrided barrels are nitrided with the extension in place, which can cause other problems.

 

For the BCG: I'm okay with either QPQ or NiB. Same with pistol slides and gas blocks.

One of the things that is starting to occur are nitrided parts which then get a DLC coating. Curious to see how that holds up provided it's done properly.

Nitride INSIDE barrels is a LOT better than Chrome lined. But it has to be done on better prepared barrel and the extension needs to be removed, then retorqued afterwards, which is hard to do and make sure it all lines up, so some don't do that. Most nitrided barrels are nitrided with the extension in place, which can cause other problems.

That's been one of my gripes about nitrided barrels these days. Another growing issue is the trend of taking longer barrels and cutting them down, recrowning and threading them without having them re-nitrided. I can tell you for a fact Moriarti Arms is guilty of that one.

 

Always used phosphate chrome lined bcg’s and barrels and never had any issues.

 

NiB BCG and bolts can have issues with discoloration and residue deposits on the NiB from exhaust gases. I'm very disappointed in my NiB BCG's. I vote for Nitride on BCG's, and barrels.

A solution looking for a problems, since my phosphate/chrome BCG's have no issues.

 

Nib or tin actually for BCG. TiN while gold and flashy is extremely durable

 

Between the two choices it's nitride all the way. It's worth the extra cost over phosphate. Nitriding hardens the surface of the object in addition to the corrosion resistance. The increased surface hardness helps prevent progression of wear and deformation. All metal is malleable and on object like a BCG there can be a lot of friction and impact forces.