Best-Rated AR-15 Bolt Carrier Groups
Updated January 10, 2023
The best bolt carrier group to use for any AR-15 depends on a number of factors. Not the least of which is the intended purpose of the weapon followed closely by your budget, firing frequency, and aesthetic appeal. However, before we delve into the minutiae, lets first understand exactly what a bolt carrier group is and the duties it performs.
Table of Contents
- Why Upgrade to the Best Bolt Carrier Group
- Top-Rated Bolt Carrier Groups of 2022
- 2023 Product Review: Top-Rated Bolt Carrier Groups
Just What Is the Purpose of a Bolt Carrier Group?
The major parts the bolt carrier group houses are the bolt, gas key, firing pin, extractor, and cam pin. The unit, as a whole, sits inside the upper receiver. Its job is to chamber a fresh round, cycle the guns “action”, eject the empty brass, and reset the hammer all during one cycle. The BCG is easily the most critical component that decides whether a weapon is reliable and could be considered the heart and soul of the weapon. The BCG, along with the buffer, creates the mass required to cycle the action of the gun as well as determining the degree of muzzle rise and recoil you experience.
M-16 (Standard Mass) Versus Lightweight/Low Mass BCG
There are three main BCG designs, the M-16, AR-15 and Lightweight. M16 and AR-15 style are brothers, however, each has its own purpose. The M-16 version is heavier and has a longer, full-size rear section. Its increased mass remains in battery a bit longer and is designed to withstand the rigors of fully automatic fire and match grade guns.
The AR-15 style BCG is designed for semi-auto fire and cycles faster than its heavier counterpart.
Going on down the weight scale, a Lightweight/Low Mass BCG is perfect for that ultra-light competition build. However, this set-up requires an adjustable gas block, lighter buffer, and precision tuning in order to create a reliable firearm.
Why Upgrade to The Best Bolt Carrier Group at All?
- Improved Reliability - A heavier steel BCG increases the guns cycle time and reduces the stress on the spent brass, this is a benefit to those who reload. It results in a combination better able to digest a variety of ammunition with minimal adjustment. A steel BCG is commonly used by the military and law enforcement to combat the large number of rounds fired.
- Improved Durability - The use of titanium or one of the available coated/plated carriers could be an asset. Titanium is lighter and stronger than steel. Therefore, it is better capable of withstanding higher heat and the extreme pressures found in hotter loads. Titanium is the most expensive material and the toughest to machine, therefore, its production is the most costly. A coated/plated BCG has a slicker surface and is much easier to clean, often requiring nothing more than simply a cloth.
- Increased Speed - A lightweight BCG made from titanium or anodized aluminum decreases its weight and mass. Therefore, the gun will cycle faster and you will get a faster rate of semi-auto fire. Along with control, gained through practice, this could prove beneficial in fast-paced competition.
- Improved Action Smoothness - Using a light-weight BCG combined with a compatible buffer will give a lighter, smoother cycling action. If combined with advance coatings such as Nickel Boron, Diamond-Like Carbon coating, or Black Nitride, you will enjoy a slicker surface and reduced friction, thus creating a smoother action.
Below we have amassed a list of the 10 best-rated bolt carrier groups and review of each.
2023 Top-Rated AR-15 Bolt Carrier Groups
Top AR-15 Bolt Carrier Groups |
Style |
Price |
| JP Enterprises Full Mass Bolt Carrier Group | Standard Mass | $355.30 |
| RISE Armament Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group for AR-15 | Standard Mass | $179.00 |
| F-1 Firearms DuraBolt AR-15 Bolt Carrier Group | Standard Mass | $161.99 |
| LANTAC Enhanced Full-Auto Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group | Standard Mass | $261.99 |
| Aero Precision 5.56 Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group | Standard Mass | $159.95 |
| Odin Works Low Mass Bolt Carrier Group | Lightweight | $170.05 |
| Faxon Firearms GUNNER Lightweight Bolt Carrier Group | Lightweight | $236.55 |
| Rubber City Armory Low Mass Competition BCG | Lightweight | $228.95 |
| Iron City Rifle Works G3 Enhanced Competition Bolt Carrier Group | Lightweight | $284.99 |
| V Seven Titanium Bolt Carrier Group | Lightweight | $414.19 |
2023 Product Review: Top Rated Standard Mass Bolt Carrier Groups
JP Enterprises Full Mass Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$335.30
This top-rated AR-15 bolt carrier group is a drop-in replacement for your weapon. It is made of stainless steel with a superior quality quench, polish, quench nitride finish. Therefore, it gives increased lubricity and hardness along with enhanced corrosion resistance. Featuring extended forward assist serrations and a dust cover notch this bolt carrier group offers increased versatility and performance. All of its sharp edges are radiused and its bearing surfaces are increased 100% for smoother operation and longer life. When properly lubricated this high-quality will make your AR-15 run like chained lightning.
This is considered to be the best AR BCG by many and does not disappoint on any level. Along with this carrier comes years of shooting and engineering experience giving you every advantage of a Mil-Spec part and much more. The superior design comes together with an impeccable finish to produce a flawless bolt carrier group. With its incredible engineering and high-quality this could easily be considered one of the best AR-15 bolt carrier groups on the market. These are available as just a carrier or a complete bolt carrier group that includes the JP Enterprises AR-15 Enhanced Bolt Assembly. Being easier to clean and yielding superior accuracy than your standard Mil-Spec part makes choosing the JP Enterprises Full Mass Bolt Carrier Group easy.
RISE Armament Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group for AR-15
- Price:
$179.00
Increase the smoothness of your shots with this RISE Armament BCG. All components are coated with nickel boron to minimize friction and enhance performance. Nickel boron acts as a lubricant to reduce surface contact. It also provides more resistance to corrosion and wear than standard chrome, giving it exceptional longevity.
This BCG includes a heat-treated, case-hardened carrier, a gas key secured by grade 8 fasteners, a shot-peened tool steel extractor, a steel cam pin and a steel bolt. Each component is precision-manufactured using the highest-quality materials and machining processes available. The parts are also meticulously inspected to ensure only the best components make it into your rifle build.
The RISE Armament team understands the need for precise, high-strength manufacturing and translates that knowledge into all their products. This Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group is no exception, as it provides top-quality parts that will give you many years of outstanding service.
F-1 Firearms DuraBolt AR-15 Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$161.99
When it's time for a BCG replacement, the F-1 Firearms DuraBolt AR-15 Bolt Carrier Group will check all your boxes. This bolt group features a full-auto design, is M16-compatible, and offers top-quality performance and durability. F-1 Firearms constructed this replacement BCG with longevity in mind, manufacturing the carrier from a strong 8620 case-hardened steel and the bolt from Carpenter 158 steel. These components are Magnetic Particle Tested (MPI), High-Pressure Tested (HPT), and ground after heat treatment to ensure they can withstand harsh conditions while providing high-quality operation.
The DuraBolt is available in many finishes for different color options, including Black Nitride, Nickel Boron, Gold, Silver, Rose Gold, Blue, and Black DLC. These finish treatments offer distinctive aesthetics while also improving protection and corrosion resistance. They also offer a streamlined maintenance and cleaning process to keep your firearm running like new for longer. The DuraBolt's shrouded firing pin and increased weight go a long way in keeping your firearm working reliably.
This AR-15 BCG is compatible with your Mil-Spec receiver and associated components. Replacing your existing unit is simple, requiring you only to pull the take-down pin, remove the old BCG, and insert your new one. You'll be ready to start firing thousands of shots in no time.
LANTAC Enhanced Full-Auto Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$261.99
The LANTAC Enhanced Full-Auto Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group is a fantastic addition to optimize the build of your AR-15. Using precision-machined 8620 steel for its construction, LANTAC has manufactured a BCG ready to perform in the most demanding conditions and last for thousands of rounds in your firearm.
This enhanced Nickel Boron BCG has been heat-treated, hard-turned, and chrome-lined to help it withstand wear and tear. Its MPI Carpenter 158 bolt is shot-peened while being hard-turned and ground, and its gas key is properly staked at four points using grade-eight fasteners for a secure fit. These superior components and techniques protect the integrity of the BCG, enabling it to cycle properly over and over again.
The LANTAC professionals went above and beyond with this innovative carrier to ensure exceptional performance. Instead of standard gas ports, this E-BCG utilizes a shrouded design with a forward-facing configuration and larger vents. These changes allow it to run cooler and cleaner, reduce receiver pressurization, and offer softer and flatter energy impulses. Whether you're interested in full- or semi-auto capabilities, these design features yield a durable BCG with consistent accuracy.
Aero Precision 5.56 Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$159.95
If you're looking for the best value for the money, the Aero Precision 5.56 Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group is an excellent choice with proven performance. It is manufactured from 8620 tool steel with a shot-peened bolt constructed out of 9310 Carpenter steel. Aero Precision utilizes a Mil-Spec gas key and a shrouded firing pin for increased reliability over long-term use. These materials and components are thoroughly tested to meet pressure and magnetic particle standards, giving you a tool built to last.
Countless firearm enthusiasts trust this M16-cut carrier for its quality construction and enhanced maintenance benefits. This model comes fully coated with nickel boron to keep the need for solvents and lubrication to a minimum for ease of cleaning and continuous function. This no-fail surface thrives in various environments while collecting minimal debris and carbon buildup, increasing its life span as well as its reliability.
With extended serrations, this 5.56 nickel boron BCG offers total control with forward assist. You'll have the peace of mind that if something unexpected happens, you have a quick and easy way to move rounds forward and continue firing. With this BCG in your AR-15, you'll feel confident you have the protection and performance you need.
2022 Product Review: Top Rated Lightweight Bolt Carrier Groups
Odin Works AR-15 Low Mass Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$170.05
The Odin Works AR-15 Low Mass BCG offers more than its lightweight convenience. It’s also built to deliver a smooth, silky performance every time that will make you wonder how you ever used any other AR-15 solution. The steel Odin Works BCG comes with a Salt Bath Nitride finish and a durable coating, which protect it against excessive friction and wear.
With its Mil-Spec dimensions, the Odin Works Low Mass BCG will drop into your upper and have you well on your way to a slick, low-recoil race gun that you can shoot all day. With a little tuning, this BCG will give you outstanding performance and low felt recoil, letting you stay on target and nail quick follow-up shots.
Faxon Firearms GUNNER Lightweight Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$236.55
The Faxon Firearms GUNNER Lightweight Bolt Carrier Group is for those who want more from their BCG. Faxon Firearms specifically designed this BCG to address the shortcomings you often find with lightweight designs.
While the GUNNER is extremely lightweight, it is also rock-solid. All of its high-quality steel components are nitride-coated, giving them a tough surface with inherent self-lubrication. The nitride coating also provides exceptional resistance to fouling and corrosion.
The bolt lugs have a 45-degree chamfer, which ensures failure-proof performance even when loaded with pressure. The gas key is also well-staked and uses grade 8 hardened fasteners to give it a long service life.
Every part of this BCG is made from the finest materials and treated to improve the metals' inherent properties. Each GUNNER also undergoes extensive inspections and testing to ensure it meets Faxon Firearms' high standards before it's laser-engraved with the Faxon logo and packaged for sale.
Rubber City Armory Low Mass Competition AR-15 BCG
- Price:
$228.95
Your bolt carrier group is the workhorse riding inside your upper that will make or break your day. In competition speed is good, however, it doesn’t mean much without a durable, reliable part. That’s where the RCA low mass competition AR-15 bolt carrier group shines. It is among the top-rated bolt carrier groups that can be had.
It wears the Blacknitride+ Enhanced finish which looks good and wears even better. This finish not only hardens the steel and improves its corrosion resistance, but it also serves as a built-in lubricant. Therefore, the guns cycle rate goes up as the carbon fouling goes down. Everything combined means this bolt carrier group is going to run longer without issues.
It is considered to be the best-rated AR-15 bolt carrier group that is designed to drop right into either your existing upper or finish off that new build. Do remember that when you change the weight of the carrier you change the mass as well. So, to realize the true benefits of this Rubber City Arms upgrade you have to go a bit further. You have to mate this BCG with a good adjustable gas block and buffer system in order to match the mass of the bolt carrier group. Put it all together and you get less recoil, less muzzle rise, therefore, you can keep your eyes on the prize.
Iron City Rifle Works G3 Enhanced Competition Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$284.99
If you want to upgrade your AR-15 to the next generation of competition BCGs, the Iron City Rifle Works G3 is the perfect choice. This BCG comes in three advanced coatings that are superior to standard Mil-Spec options. These coatings are hard and self-lubricating to reduce wear and resist fouling. They are also quick and easy to clean with low coefficients of friction.
Coating options include:
- CV4: A gloss gold, physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating.
- Eclipse: A gloss silver, chrome coating.
- Copperhead: A gloss rose gold, titanium carbonitride (TiCN) coating.
- BlackDiamond: A gloss black, ultra-slick, high-performance diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating.
Whichever coating you choose, you'll get unparalleled performance and reliability from this Enhanced Competition BCG. Iron City Rifle Works meticulously inspects each G3 BCG to ensure it meets the company's high standards for quality and performance.
The G3 Enhanced Competition BCG is designed for AR-15s with adjustable gas systems. It gives you less recoil with increased accuracy for an improved shooting experience.
V Seven Titanium Bolt Carrier Group
- Price:
$414.19
When you want to be your best, you have to have the best. There's nothing more crucial to the performance of your AR-15 than the bolt carrier group. And, if you want the best bolt carrier group working for you, then you're going to want the V Seven Titanium BCG. I know, at first blush the price might make you say hmm. However, there’s a huge difference between price and cost. If you pay an initial price for a quality item that will perform well and last a lifetime that’s one number. Opt for something that’s cheaper and save a few bucks and then, guess what? Another number comes into play. The part will prematurely fail and you lose not only the initial price of the part, but you also lose your time and the cost to replace that inferior part. That’s the real cost of a bad choice.
The V Seven Titanium BCG is the best AR-15 bolt carrier group that you’re going to find. It’s lighter than steel and stronger than either steel or aluminum. It’s both Magnetic Particle Inspected and High-Pressure Tested, pass those and you’re the best of the best. Also, the V Seven comes in full-auto rated M16 design that will run great either in a full-auto or a semi-auto gun. Add a lifetime warranty to all of that and suddenly the price is right.
It All Comes Down to You
What really matters is that you find the best AR-15 bolt carrier group to fit your needs. God only knows that if you keep shooting to any degree, this BCG you order today won’t be your last. That’s not because the BCG won’t last, more directly, you know you will buy or build more weapons, and that is how it should be. Send us an email here at Wing Tactical, and we will make sure that you get what you need, this time and every time.
The best colt carrier group for one person just might be terrible for another. The self-defense, on-duty, or military gun needs to be very dependable. Whereas a rifle used in three-gun competition can bear more severe modification. Whether your shooting habits are simply a box or two of shells a month, or you run through thousands of rounds makes a difference in which is the best bolt carrier group for you. If you’re looking to upgrading your BCG, take a look at the large number of bolt carrier group Wing Tactical has to offer and pick out the one that’s right for your needs today.