If you’re looking for the best 9mm BCG, then you have come to the right place. Because you’re certainly going to need one if you want your 9mm to fully function to the best of its capability. A BCG is a must-have for your 9mm for whys and wherefores that are not completely optional. Because without it, you will not be able to use it at all.
To make sure that you find the best one, we’ve put together a list of some of the best 9mm BCGs that are currently on the market (as of this writing). Before we start on the list itself, let’s talk about what a bolt carrier group is and what it do. We’ll also talk about what encompasses a BCG along with a brief guide on how to find one for your own 9mm.
BCGs | Name | Editor’s Comment | Rating | Get The Deal |
---|---|---|---|---|
Faxon Firearms – AR-15 9mm Bolt Carrier Group | Most Recommended Option 1. Lightweight and doesn’t add on any additional weight to the AR-15 9mm itself | 10/10 | SHOP NOW | |
J P Enterprises – AR-15/M16 9mm Bolt Carrier Group | Premium Option 1. Little to no failures through 1000 Rounds | 9.5/10 | SHOP NOW | |
Brownells 9mm Bolt Carrier Group | 1. Super durable, especially with the addition of the nitrite finish 2. Doesn’t add any additional weight to the rifle 3. Some might have a challenge with the installation | 9.0/10 | SHOP NOW | |
Stern Defense, LLC. M16 9MM Bolt – Budget 9mm Bolt Carrier Group | 1. Compatible with most competition components 2. Mil-spec phosphate coating is good enough for government work 3. Compatible with both Glock and Colt SMG magazines | 8.5/10 | SHOP NOW | |
Foxtrot Mike Products – FM-9 Bolt Carrier Assembly | 1. Reliable to operate even after 200+ rounds 2. Easy to install without any modifications 3. May slightly interfere with some lower receivers | 8.5/10 | SHOP NOW | |
Colt – AR-15/M16 9mm Bolt Carrier Group | 1. Compatible with most Colt-brand AR-15 pistols and magazines 2. Light in weight; Doesn’t add any additional weight to the pistol 3. Super durable; can withstand all kinds of impact | 8.0/10 | SHOP NOW | |
R&D Precision 9mm Complete BCG – Versatile 9mm Bolt Carrier Group | 1. Compatible with Glock, Colt SMG, and MP5 magazines 2. Black nitrite coating; Thick and durable 3. Ejection port cover notch for a fully functional dust cover | 7.5/10 | Currently unavailable |
A Brief Introduction of 9mm Bolt Carrier Group
Strictly speaking, the bolt carrier group is well-thought-out as the heart of your 9mm. As a matter of fact, it’s the heart of any firearm. Think of it similar to an engine for your car. Without the engine, you cannot drive your car.
Without a BCG, you cannot use your 9mm. Simple as that. A BCG includes some key components that will work in unification with your 9mm’s firing ability. We will go a little deeper into what encompasses a BCG in the next section.
The Components of a 9mm BCG
There are nearly a dozen components that include a bolt carrier group. Most of these are your pins and springs that will grip it all together. Of course, we cannot forget some of the key components as well. A BCG will include some of the following key components: the bolt itself, ejector, bolt carrier, extractor, and the firing pin.
How to Choose a 9mm Bolt Carrier Group
Knowing what to search for in a BCG is important. You’ll want to make sure that all the parts are complete and are ready for use as soon as you’ve received them through shipping. You should also know some of the supplementary characteristics and aspects of each bolt carrier group. Therefore, you know whether or not it requires any additional parts or if it’s simply ready to drop in and be installed. Here’s what you need to look for:
Installation
Not every AR-15 9mm owner will have skilled gunsmith skills, and we can understand. So we do our best to find some of the best BCGs that are easy to install and won’t need the services of a gunsmith for a suitable install. All it takes is a few minutes and the right kind of tools. Once installed, you’ll be able to give it a test drive at the range to make sure that it’s functioning properly.
Price
Price is perchance one of the most important aspects of a budget shopper to consider for the best 9mm bolt carrier group. Especially when they are looking for something that is high in quality. As you’re looking for a BCG, look for one that is the best in quality but can fit somewhere in your desired budget. Even if you’ll be spending an amount that’s high on your firing pin budget range for the best 9mm bolt carrier group, it’s a lot better than buying an ineffective BCG just because of the cheap AR9 gas key price tag.
Is Everything Intact?
If the answer is yes, then that’s your green light to go ahead in purchasing it. You should have all the parts you need to ensure that the BCG 9mm bolt carrier group works properly and is ready to be installed. Missing parts can cause quite a catastrophe (and obviously won’t allow the BCG 9mm bolt carrier group itself to work).
Coating
The best 9mm bolt carrier group is heavily reliant on their coating but there’re many types of coatings available.
Nitride Coating
Nitride coating is the most popular choice of coating, a type of chemical treatment that hardens the surface. Hence, nitride coating allows the resistance against corrosion.
Hard Chrome
Hard chrome is a durable and reliable coating but it is often difficult to apply. Hence, many bolt carrier group manufacturers on the market sway away from producing hard chrome. However, if you can get your hands on hard chrome coating then you’d sure to enjoy it as it is easy to clean and has resistance against corrosion.
Nickel Boron
Nickel Boron consists of 95% Nickel and 5% Boron. Nickel Boron allows great and sleek aesthetics which are also resistant against corrosion. However, Nickel Boron is subjected to natural wear and tear so be sure to handle your Nickle Boron with care.
NP3
Essentially, this is the upgraded version of Nickel Boron as it comes with polytetrafluoroethylene by the brand, Teflon. However, the downside of polytetrafluoroethylene is that it is more harmful to the environment and will also be subjected to natural wear and tear like Nickel Boron
Parkerized
This is the “mil-spec” coating (for M4s) which is durable, cheap and good. However, it is very rough in texture and difficult to clean.
Vapor Deposition Coatings (TiN, PVD, CVD)
To avoid confusion, they’re each an individual coating and aren’t the same. The most common is Titanium Nitride (TiN) while PVD and CVD are processed to apply allow on bolt carrier groups. The downside of these coatings are that they’re not cheap.
Review of the Best 9mm AR Bolt Carrier Group – Evaluated
The following is a list of some of the best 9mm bolt carrier group BCGs that are currently on the market as of this writing. If your AR-15 9mm rifle requires an upgrade or if you’re building one from scratch, one of these will end up being yours to own. As you look through each one, pay attention to the structures and functions.
These may end up matching your list of what to look for in a9mm bolt carrier groups BCG. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match, but close enough is better than nothing in 9mm bolt carrier groups.
1. Brownells 9mm Bolt Carrier Group
Recent buyers are able to install this 9mm bolt carrier groups BCG in a matter of minutes. Once installed, they tested it at the shooting range with their AR-15 pistols. No failures or reliability issues are reported. The firing ability was smooth and had little to no other issues of concern.
This BCG is probably considered one of the best because it is simple to install and it will get your gun to work in the speediest time possible. Aside from that, the construction is solid and everything is accumulated in place. It’s a drop-in BCG that’s prepared to go when you are.
This is as close as you’re going to get to a collective BCG. Especially if you are looking for one to install in your AR-15 pistol. Whether you’re building it from the ground up or simply progressing it from something else, you want a BCG that is fully practical, smooth, and dependable each time you use your pistol.
Obviously, getting rid of the staked key would be a comfortable improvement. In its place should be an essential key. It may not be much of a problem, but it will make the BCG a little more reliable than other options.
If you’re simply looking for the best of the best when it comes to BCGs, then this Brownell Brand AR-15 9mm bolt carrier groups BCG can be something that you’re looking for. All you need to do is fit this in your AR-15 9mm bolt carrier groups pistol and you’ll be prepared to go no matter what you’re using your pistol for.
2. Faxon Firearms AR-15 9mm Bolt Carrier Group
A lot of recent buyers are quite happy with the BCG’s overall function and durability. Another thing they noticed was that the overall reliability is top notch. No jamming, no firing issues, just exactly how a bolt carrier group Faxon firearms 9mm should function according to most users. Installation was easy and free of any stress.
This is lightweight, easy to install and eradicate, and battle-tested to take on whatever use you put your AR-15 9mm bolt carrier groups pistol through. We always see ourselves as fans of something that won’t hit the shelves unless it passes all kinds of tests with flying colours in this Faxon Firearms 9mm.
This will be used by most AR-15 pistols users who are casual or competitive target shooters. This is designed to take on all kinds of constant gunfire. Most of the users will be shooters who will look for something that can give them the same consistency after 100+ rounds fired.
Despite no obvious disadvantages, one thing that we should make you aware of is despite the fact that it’s heat-treated, it may stay warm for a while after extended use. Nothing to worry about, but the heat dissipation may be quite slow.
If you’re looking for something solid and may be a direct threat to the Brownell’s “best overall” spot, the bolt carrier group Faxon Firearms BCG may be your other choice if you’re looking for something that is strong, reliable, and goes with almost any AR-15 9mm AR bolt carrier groups in existence.
3. Foxtrot Mike Products FM-9 Bolt Carrier Assembly
Recent buyers are able to call this a high quality and very inexpensive BCG. Some even went so far as to say that he got a lot more than what he paid for. Aside from the easy installation process and quality construction, most users are able to fire off hundreds of rounds without a single reliability issue.
This is a BCG that is more than a budget BCG option. It’s made from some high-quality steel that will definitely work to your benefit if you’re looking for something that is guaranteed to last you many years or even decades. A long-lasting BCG in our outlook is more than good enough for us to choose this for our list.
This will be used by budget AR-15 9mm bolt carrier group owners who want to get their hands on the best out of their guns. So they want a BCG that is built to last them many years. This way, it saves them some money rather than have to go out and buy a brand new BCG in a few years’ time. They want something that can last them pretty much close to an entire lifetime. This BCG has that prospective.
One of the things that may improve is making some alterations to the size. That way, it won’t cause any problems with any AR-15 pistol lower receivers. Alternatively, it can be the pistol design itself. In that case, maybe a dissimilar BCG can be the solution.
If you’re looking for a BCG that is dependable, tough all over and is affordable for most budgets then this Foxtrot Mike may be exactly what you’re looking for. Why spend more money all the time on unproductive BCGs when you can buy 1 and stick with it for many years? We know that a BCG like Foxtrot Mike’s won’t steer you wrong.
4. J P Enterprises AR-15 / M16 9mm Bolt Carrier Group
Most recent buyers are looking for a reliable BCG for their AR-15 pistols. Especially some 9mm bolt carrier group that will last them for a very long time. They are mostly casual target shooters or competitive shooters.
Both enjoyed the overall functionality and ability of this BCG and see it as a much better upgrade compared to their previous one. Some buyers are also building their guns from the ground up and needed a functional 9mm bolt carrier group BCG that was right out of the box.
This 9mm bolt carrier group BCG is one that may have been created for the competitive shooter in mind. This was made to handle pretty much all kinds of multiple firing episodes. For something that won’t jam even after 1000 shots, that’s quite a bright sign. So it sticks out for its prospective to be a long-lasting BCG, especially for the keen target shooter.
At risk of being monotonous, this is a target shooter’s 9mm bolt carrier group BCG. So it will be most likely used by shooting range shooters and competitive shooters alike. That’s because it’s sturdy enough to handle the impact of multiple gunshots. So it can take multiple hammer hits on a great day.
This may be altered a bit to make sure that it will work with all kinds of upper receivers. At this point, it’s companionable with most of them but not all of them. Hence, some have resorted to making some modifications of the 9mm BCG themselves (which may be kind of risky and can ruin the BCG if you’re not careful).
The JP Enterprises AR-15/M-16 BCG may just be your best BCG that you can own if you’re planning on firing off a number of rounds with your AR-15 pistol calibers. A few BCGs have the potential to take on the multiple amounts of firing power. This one, in particular, may be one of them.
5. Colt AR-15 / M16 9mm BCG
Most recent buyers are happy with it overall. It fits most Colt AR-15 9mm pistols without much issues. Furthermore, the installation was easy and needs no modification. So it has the capability to work with a good amount of upper and lower receivers. After 100 rounds, it remained reliable for a lot of shooters.
The Colt brand has long been respected by many pistol enthusiasts. And it’s also made its way into the hearts and minds of many AR-15 enthusiasts everywhere. So why not make a BCG that brings a very influential semi-automatic together with one of the most admired brands of pistols? This BCG was made for the Colt fanatic and that’s why we like it.
This will usually be used for target practice applications. Competitive shooting and even home defense usages are also suitable. This is made for shooters who want their Colt AR-15 pistol to last them many years (so long as they take great care of it).
This BCG has the aptitude to work with all kinds of charging handles. However, some charging handles may not be well-matched with this BCG in particular. This may be something to be made aware of. Nothing a little testing and alteration can’t fix.
If you’re looking for a BCG that will be the picture-perfect match for your Colt AR-15 9mm pistol, look no further than the Colt brand BCG. You won’t be disappointed once you have install this puppy on your pistol and give it a spin. This is as close as you’re going to get when it comes to the best in dependability for a Colt-style pistol.
6. R&D Precision 9mm Complete BCG – Versatile 9mm Bolt Carrier Group
Preision 9mm Complete BCG 9mm bolt carrier groups is an outstanding bolt carrier group that you can use with just about any lower receivers out there.
Some quick stuff about the standard features:
In theory, this bolt carrier group is well-matched with standard AR-15 upper receivers. However, we recommend using a dedicated 9mm upper receiver. The ejector on this bolt carrier group doesn’t seem like it has the appropriate angle to ensure reliable ejection through a standard AR-15 ejection port.
On the bright side, it comes with an ejection port cover notch. So your dust cover will function normally with this bolt carrier group. Last but not least, it’s finished in black nitride finish and is heat treated too. The finish is thick and hard-wearing.
However, it’s got more of a matte look, and feels quite similar to a phosphate finish. It may not deliver as much lubricity as a smoother nitride finish. Here’s the real deal though: this bolt carrier group is well-matched with Glock, Colt SMG, nitride finish, and MP5 magazines. There are very few 9mm bolt carrier groups with that sort of magazine compatibility.
It’s the broadest magazine compatibility you can find. So use (almost) any magazines you want. As if that weren’t enough, this R&D Precision bolt carrier group is also super affordable. Between the price and the magazine compatibility, you can easily create your 9mm pistol caliber carbine for the lowest possible price.
7. Stern Defense M16 9mm Bolt Budget 9mm Bolt Carrier Assembly
The Stern Defense, LLC. M16 9MM Bolt is pretty much the most affordable 9mm bolt carrier group that you can lay your hands on for home defense purposes without any nonsense. Usually, 9mm bolt carrier groups in this price range have some kind of functional limitation. However, not this one.
Now, the finish is a regular phosphate coating. It’s durable and it works just fine. However, there’s nothing special about it. It’s just a mil-spec finish.
However, this bolt carrier group is well-matched with Glock and Colt SMG magazines. That way you can use whatever mag that fits your budget or existing magazine stockpile. Additionally, this bolt carrier group is well-matched with popular competition components like single stage triggers and the JP Enterprises silent capture spring. That way you can really adjust your 9mm carbine.
This bolt carrier group is also companionable with the Law Tactical folding stock adapter, which is suitable for storage and staging. Last but not least, this bolt carrier group is compatible with standard AR-15 upper receivers and ejection port covers. That way you get standard AR-15 job from both your upper and lower receiver if you want.
On top of all that, this Stern Defence bolt carrier group is one of the most budget-friendly on the market, period. If you want a fully functional 9mm bolt carrier group for the lowest price without any silly hiccups, then this is the bolt carrier group for you.
Conclusion
The best 9mm BCG is certainly out there, and the ones listed above may fit your AR-15 9mm pistol the best. Be sure to double check which one stands out as your perfect BCG so you can make a choice without thinking too much.
Remember, this BCG is going to be with you for the long term. So find one that is compacted in construction and reliable in use so it can last you long term rather than not at all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best 9mm BCGs?
Any one of the above bolt carrier groups’ brands for a 9mm AR that we have covered here today will be a solid option. Furthermore, you can also choose any other bolt carrier groups going around on the market that is suitable for you.
Remember that the bolt carrier group is the heart of your 9mm AR carbine. It directly influences the shooting performance of your carbine. Without it, you cannot even shoot your carbine to begin with!
Hello there, it’s Michael here. A gun lover since young, served the country for the last 20 years. I started the blog to share my experience and gun-related knowledge accumulated throughout the years. Hopefully, you will find something useful over here or just have fun! You can learn more about me here.