FCD SBCG-P

What started out as a slight modification to an existing bolt carrier with regards to ergonomics for slick side uppers and uppers without a forward assist, had turned into a fun project with practical and reliability improvements. 

It is our view that the factory M16 carriers are very good, and improvements over them would be hard to come by.  Modern coatings have made them easy to clean and quite slick, which we can appreciate.

We're not into sacrificing reliability for the sake of light weight, and we view cosmetic changes as anything but fashion that have no place on a combat/duty/defense rifle.

The S in SBCG stands for Secure Staking, Slick Side. SBCG carrier has a series of serrations or dimples to aid in closing an out of battery bolt on upper receivers without a forward assist.  The carrier still has forward assist pawl notches, and so is compatible with forward assist equipped uppers. 

The Secure Staking aspect involves SBCG's use of Ned Christiansen's OCKS (Optimized Carrier Key Screws), which when staked properly, offer significant improvement over conventional screws.  OCKS have sharp, deep and effective knurling that extends to the top of the screw head.  These splines form pockets for carrier key metal to flow into when the key is staked, resulting in gear tooth like engagement.  Please go to this page for additional info and discussion https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?195130-On-loose-carrier-key-screws

Some argue that as long as the gas key screws are torqued to spec and staked properly, OCKS aren't necessary. While I can't argue with that, for us, it is a matter of over building in areas where providing another layer of fail safe and redundancy is worth the negligible cost.  Given the numbers below, the choice of OCKS is an easy one to make.

Install torque spec is 50-58 in-lb
Removal torque spec is 55-100 in-lb
Testing  consistently found removal torque of YFS screws averaging around 76 in-lb, with the OCKS consistently at 132 in-lb.

Since we're so keen on the gas key's staking to ensure its immobility, the question of one piece carrier had come up. It is our opinion that something different isn't always something better. Gas keys can crack, and be dropped and damaged, debris or primer can find its way into the gas key. Our view is based on reality, not a theory, as all of these have happened. A conventional carrier with a separate gas key can simply have its gas key replaced, which is impossible for any one piece carrier. 

Each SBCG has its firing pin protrusion checked, gas key torqued and staked, and is individually test fired.  SBCG will ship as is, having been slightly lubed and dirtied by the test firing procedure.

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 subdued and small Cygnus laser engraved.  If you're looking for in your face, billboard sized company logo, ours is not it.  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 Carpenter 158® Steel. Each Bolt is HP/MPI tested and inspected. Each bolt is shot peened and comes with a Sprinco heavy extractor spring and black spring insert. The bolt and cam pin have been NP3 treated to enhance corrosion resistance and carbon build up.

* Shot Peened
* Sprinco 5-Coil Heavy Duty Extractor Spring
* Black Insert

* 100% HPT & MPI* SBCG carriers are 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 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.

Our friends at SIONCIS have this to say:

In our opinion, there is NO comparison between an NP3/Electroless Nickel PTFE Coated Surface and Nickel Boron Coated Surface. After coating tens of thousands of Bolts and Carriers with NP3 over the years, we have NEVER seen one flake. That cannot be said about Nickel Boron Coatings. Close to seven years ago, we were provided the following information which has always proven to be accurate.

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.

Regarding cleaning, NP3 is easy to clean for the same reason that a pan with Teflon® is easy to clean. Teflon® is non-stick and easy to wipe down, therefor carbon does not adhere to the surface. Nickel Boron has many ridges to catch carbon fouling. The ridges in Nickel Boron are smaller than the ridges in Manganese Phosphate that act as a sponge for oil, so compared to Manganese Phosphate, Nickel Boron is easier to clean. This is the same as comparing a rail road spike to a nail in your tire. One is definitely worse than the other, but both will impede function.

Regarding Corrosion Resistance, NP3 has great corrosion resistance twice the amount of Nickel Boron. Nickel Boron is at the same level of corrosion resistance as regular Nickel or Chrome.

NOTE:

2019 production SBCGs no longer has NP3 coated extractors.

SOTAR cam pin is standard from December, 2019 production.  For more info on the SOTAR cam pin, please visit this page: https://www.forwardcontrolsdesign.com/SCP-SOTAR-Cam-Pin_p_206.html