Spikes Tactical BCG Review

Hello friends, just thought I would pop in with another review; this time, the review will be about the Spikes Tactical Bolt Carrier Group. Now, I know Spikes Tactical is a somewhat well-known company that has offered decent products over the years. But, as a first time buyer, I want to give my actual thoughts on Spikes and their bolt carrier group so I am not simply regurgitating information from others. 

Who is Spikes Tactical?

Spikes Tactical is an All American AR-15 parts manufacturer based in Apopka, Florida, but you probably could already tell where the company was from. It almost seems like these AR-15 companies come out of one to three states. Spikes Tactical has a ton of community outreach, popular with even that old fart on youtube, Hickok45. Spikes Tactical is a manufacturer, distributor, and e-commerce store that sells various parts and components for the AR-15 platform. They are famous for dishing out those AR-15 lowers with the crusader and spartan helmet designed magwells. 

Spikes Tactical is on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to building AR-15s from parts. Their kits are also a bit more expensive too, but we will delve into the balance of pricing and quality more as we talk more about Spikes. 

Spikes Tactical Bolt Carrier Group Any Good?

Now, down to the nitty gritty: Spikes Tactical Bolt Carrier Group. You know, I actually do have a nice CMMG build that I fit my bolt into for this special occasion! I was initially wanting just an upgrade bolt after having my build come with a nitride BCG, I knew the performance of the build itself would be optimized when using a Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Group. I also heard that CMMG and Spikes Tactical offer very similar products so it  seemed like a really good decision to get a bolt that is verifiably in the same spec as the gun itself. 

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The Specs of the Spikes Tactical Bolt Carrier Group. 

Here are the Specifications of the Spikes Tactical Bolt Carrier Group as seen on the description part of their listing. 

Mil Spec Carrier

• 8620 Tool Steel
• Full Auto M-16

Bolt

• 158 Carpenter Steel
• Shot Peened
• High Pressure Tested (HPT)
• Magnetic Particle Inspected (MPI)

Mil Spec Extractor

• 8620 Tool Steel
• Nickel Boron Finish
• Extractor Spring
• Black Extractor Insert
• Viton O-Ring

Mil Spec Gas Key

• 8620 Tool Steel
• Grade 8 Hardware
• Properly Staked

All of the parts have the Nickel Boron finish, and I was quite happy to see that the finish was very sleek and polished looking. That never does last long, but the finish itself is still holding up after a couple thousand rounds through it by the time I am posting this review. 

Why Buy Nickel Boron Bolt Carrier Groups?

Alright, so I know there are many people out there who don’t see the need for a Nickel Boron finish on a bolt carrier group, mainly because the nitride bolts are still viable and much cheaper. For a gun that goes boom, nitride bcgs are great all day. However, if you want something that generally performs better and is more durable, then going the nickel boron route is definitely the better option. So just what are all the differences between nitride and nickel boron bolts that make them better than each other, and?

Nitride Bolt advantages

• Can Last Longer without being cleaned

• Does not need as much lubricant to remain functional

• Does not allow carbon to build up as easily

• Last longer than phosphate finishes

• Lower coefficient of friction requires less inertial force to cycle as it should

Nickel Boron Bolt Advantages

• Corrosion resistant

• Especially low coefficient of friction helps the system work optimally with little need for lubricant

• Much more durable than phosphate or Nitride

• Sleek finish makes it hard for carbon build up to occur, (self-cleaning)

• Accepts a wider range of ammo types without worry of jams or extreme stress on bolt components

As you can see, general performance is enhanced just by adding a nickel boron bcg to your build. The handling is much better, and the maintenance becomes almost nonexistent. For people who are looking to squeeze a little more juice out of their ARs, a nickel boron bcg is likely the only way to go. 

How is Spikes Tactical Customer Service?

The customer service from Spikes Tactical is generally well received by the community. I also didn’t experience anything that required assistance from their support team, and on some level, the best customer service is not needing any in the first place. The FAQ page covers the main aspects of their operation, whether there are questions about purchasing out of state, under the legal age, or buying a gift certificate. Spikes Tactical covers a lot of their bases before the need for support and that is a great way to keep things seamless and convenient. 

How is Spikes Tactical Shipping time?

My order shipped in 3 days, which is currently in line with what they have posted online. 

“Our normal shipping time is within 72 hours for parts, builds may take a little longer (this is from when your payment is processed, and does not include weekends).“

A three day shipping time is pretty standard these days so Spikes is also in line with other companies that do the same thing. I bought only the bcg, so I suppose it wasn’t a lot, but from my experience, the time it took my order to get to me was completely reasonable and within the promised timeframe. 

Many companies out there are lacking in shipping times. I would even venture to say that the community doesn’t reward the companies that do ship within their listed timeframes, especially when they are completely reasonable. So really good job, in my opinion, to Spikes Tactical for the stellar service. 

How does the Spikes Tactical BCG perform?

Now, after seeing what the advantages of the Nickel boron bcg are over the phosphate and nitride bcgs, you might already want to move in on one. The performance on the Spikes Tactical bolt is phenomenal, especially right after switching bolts. The difference in the cycling of the action, how clean it is after a rough day of shooting, and how it holds up after constant use. 

One of the main ideas people live by is “don’t reinvent the wheel.” It is a pretty sensible way to carry on, until what efforts are made to make the wheel better are ignored. So while Spikes Tactical bcg seems like too much, it still provides an enhanced shooting experience at a price that, honestly, isn’t all that bad. For their excellent adherence to predetermined shipping times, quality of the product itself, and the amount of entertainment I have been able to squeeze out of it, Spikes Tactical gets my recommendation!