Forward Controls Design NP3 M16 Bolt Carrier Group

Serrated or dimpled surface is machined in the concave area (forward of the gas vents of the carrier) to facilitate silent bolt closing on upper receivers without a forward assist.

SBCG carriers have a small Cygnus laser engraved.  SBCGs are distinctive looking in their own right (form follows function, we didn’t go out of our way to make them look different), the subdued logo fits our narrative and practice of modest to secret logo placement.  It’s an identifier, not an advertising device.

* SBCG bolts are manufactured from properly and correctly heat treated AISI 9310 steel. Each Bolt is MPI tested and inspected. Each bolt is shot peened and comes with a Sprinco heavy extractor spring and black O ring. The bolt and cam pin have been NP3 treated to enhance corrosion resistance and carbon build up.

* Bolt is stress relieved.
* Sprinco 5-Coil Heavy Duty Extractor Spring
* Black Insert or O ring, dpending on availability from Sprinco.

* MPI tested* SBCG carriers are ASSI 8620 steel and machined  to USGI specifications. The M16/M4 carrier includes a mil-spec gas key. The gas key is heat treated per TDP specifications and NP3 coated. The gas key is secured to the carrier via OCKS (Optimized Carrier Key Screws), torqued to spec values, and properly staked.

* Each carrier assembly is treated with a durable Nickel/PTFE (NP3) plating which creates a permanently lubricious surface which reduces the need for lubrication.

Note that we do advocate proper lubrication between any two moving parts.  NP3 coating notwithstanding, it is advised to apply lubrication on key areas of the carrier, bolt, and charging handle, and inside the upper receiver.

RE: NP3 coating, we’ve been asked to coat SBCGs in nitride or NIB.  While our pre-production SBCGs (all 40 of them) were NiB coated, there will not be a production SBCG with NIB.

NP3 has a coefficient of friction as low as .07-.1 according to test standards LFW-1 and ASTM D-2714. Nickel Boron has a coefficient of friction as low as .08-.2. NP3 has PTFE also known as Teflon® co-deposited in the nickel matrix. As wear occurs, new PTFE particles are exposed and the self lubricating properties continue. Nickel boron has a surface with many high points. Because the high points make all the contact, there is less surface area for friction to occur. The problem with this is once the high points wear down the coefficient of friction increases due to more surface area being contacted. With no self lubricating particles like Teflon® in the Nickel Boron matrix, there is no additional lubrication after the contact points are worn. The bottom line is that if you see wear on Nickel Boron, it has lost its “Self Lubricating” properties at that spot.

NOTE:

* 2024 and newer SBCGs are made by Killer Innovations/Icon Defense for FCD.  In the past, SBCGs used gas key staking jig made by our friend Ned Christensen which produces a round staking, Killer Defense/Icon Defense uses a different staking jig which produces a different looking, square staking..  We’re converned how things work, not how they look.  When torqued to spec and properly staked, even without OCKS, the gas key screws are unlikely to loosen.  With OCKS, they lessen the chance even further.