At Griffin Armament, innovation is at the forefront of our product development, with the goal of bringing unique products to the market that enhance the user’s shooting experience. Our latest offerings, the Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG and the Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG, represent a significant leap forward in suppressed AR-15 performance. Designed, engineered, and manufactured with American pride, these BCGs address one of the most persistent challenges faced by suppressed AR-15 shooters: excessive right-ear sound signature and gas blowback.
The Challenge: Taming Suppressed AR-15s
Suppressed AR-15s are common and popular, but they come with a trade-off—gas blowback and increased sound at the shooter’s ear, particularly the right ear. Traditional bolt carrier groups vent gas through the ejection port, sending a blast of noise and gas into the vicinity of the right handed shooter’s right ear. High backpressure from suppressors can exacerbate gas-to-the-face issues and increase recoil impulse, challenging both shooter comfort and rifle reliability.
The engineering team at Griffin Armament set out to solve these problems with a fresh approach, drawing inspiration from industry leaders and established public domain technologies and pushing the boundaries of BCG design. The result? The Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG and its more accessible counterpart, the Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG, both engineered to reduce sound signature, minimize gas blowback, and enhance overall performance of the AR-15 platform.
Core Innovation: The Gas Pocket Technology
The cornerstone of both BCGs is our proprietary Gas Pocket Technology, a revolutionary design that redefines how gas is managed in a suppressed AR-15. This conceptual idea was sparked initially by an experience Griffin’s lead engineer, Austin Green, had while shooting a suppressed .22 with a brass catcher as a young person. He noticed that the brass catcher had an effect of reducing the right ear sound signature, and thought to himself, “I wonder if this could be done inside of the receiver?” Lacking machining capabilities this idea got shelved for the future.
Unlike traditional BCGs that vent gas out of the ejection port, our Gas Pocket BCGs redirect gas to the left side of the receiver, where it is captured in a specially milled pocket. This cavity designed to capture escaping gas allowing it to expand and cool, is created within the BCG itself, and requires no modifications to the host firearm’s upper receiver. This innovative approach achieves several critical benefits
- Reduced Right-Ear Sound Signature: By venting gas, via a carrier pocket, on a longer path to the ejection port, the Gas Pocket design significantly lowers the sound signature at the shooter’s right ear. Testing on an 18″ rifle-length gas system with a higher backpressure, traditional suppressor shows a reduction of up to 10.5 dB, with short-barreled rifles (11.5″ with carbine-length gas systems) experiencing an average 3.5 dB reduction, even with high-flow suppressors. This translates to a quieter, more comfortable shooting experience, especially for high-volume shooters.
- Increased Dwell Time: The gas pocket captures escaping gas, extending dwell time and allowing for smoother cycling. This reduces the cyclic rate and mitigates the harsh recoil impulse often associated with suppressed systems.
- Enhanced Suppressor Compatibility: The Gas Pocket Technology works synergistically with both low-backpressure and high-backpressure suppressors, making it a versatile solution for any suppressed AR-15 setup. While untuned rifle-length gas systems with traditional, higher backpressure suppressors will experience the highest performance increase, there are still benefits to be had on any system.
Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG: Premium Performance for the Elite Shooter
The Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG – our flagship, in house manufactured product – is the pinnacle of our BCG offerings, crafted from 17-4 stainless steel—a material stronger than the standard 8620 steel used in most BCGs—for superior durability and longevity. This BCG is packed with advanced features designed to optimize suppressed AR-15 performance:
- Extended Cam Pin Travel: A 0.060″ increase in cam pin travel length delays bolt unlocking, reducing the concussion blast that travels back down the barrel and out the ejection port. This further minimizes gas blowback and enhances shooter comfort.
- Proprietary Nickel-Boron Gas Key: The shortened, nickel-boron-plated gas key has a physical limiting stop on the bolt carrier to prevent carrier key screw shearing, ensuring long-term reliability under harsh conditions.
- Increased BCG Travel Length: Paired with a custom buffer spring and a shortened buffer, the Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG allows for greater travel distance, resulting in a softer recoil impulse and improved bolt lock reliability by giving the bolt catch more time to actuate.
- Anti-Tilt Design: A 0.980″ anti-tilt diameter reduces wear on the upper receiver and bolt / extension lugs & recesses caused by carrier tilt, enhancing the lifespan of your rifle.
- Dual Ejectors and 17-7 Springs: The bolt features dual ejectors and 17-7 stainless steel extractor and ejector springs for enhanced temperature resistance and reliable extraction, even in extreme conditions.
- Carbon Scraper Geometry: Integrated carbon scrapers and pressure-relief cuts ensure the BCG remains clean and functional, even after thousands of rounds. These cuts also act as further gas rerouting, improving performance.
- Enhanced Gas Rings: This BCG is designed with the ability to be functional without gas rings, although users can expect the highest sound performance benefit when using gas rings. Gas rings come installed from the factory.
The Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG is available as a complete bundle, including the bolt, short buffer, and AR-10 spring, with an MSRP of $439.95. For those who prefer to use their existing bolt and buffer system, the carrier alone is priced at $189.95. This BCG is ideal for shooters who demand the ultimate in performance, particularly on mid-length and rifle-length gas systems with traditional muzzle mounted suppressors, where its benefits are most pronounced.
Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG: Affordable Innovation for Every Shooter
Recognizing that not every shooter needs the full suite of premium features, and that many customers would prefer not to change their buffer system, we developed the Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG to bring the core benefits of Gas Pocket Technology to a wider audience. Priced at $194.95 for the complete BCG, this option delivers exceptional value while retaining the main performance feature, and is compatible with all milspec AR-15 buffer systems and components.
Key features of the Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG include:
- 8620 Carrier with C-158 Bolt: Built to mil-spec standards, the carrier is manufactured from 8620 steel, while the bolt is made from Carpenter 158 steel. Both are billet-machined for precision and finished with a premium Melonite QPQ coating for remarkable lubricity and durability.
- Gas Pocket Technology: Like its enhanced counterpart, the Mil-Spec version features the proprietary gas pocket, reducing right-ear sound signature and gas blowback for a cleaner, quieter shooting experience.
- Mil-Spec Compatibility: The carrier is fully compatible with standard mil-spec bolts, cam pins, and buffers, allowing shooters to drop it into their existing setup without modification.
- 15,000-Round Extractor Spring Design: Paired with a Crane O-ring, this ensures reliable extraction under extreme conditions, with thousands of rounds of flawless performance during testing.
- Precision Manufacturing: Every component undergoes a finish pass for improved surface smoothness, and the gas key is permatex’d and properly staked to current military technical data package standards.
The Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG is perfect for shooters looking to upgrade their suppressed AR-15 without breaking the bank. Its robust construction and innovative gas management make it a standout choice for both recreational and professional use.
Real-World Performance: What Shooters Are Saying
Feedback from the field has been overwhelmingly positive. Shooters report noticeable reductions in gas-to-the-face and port pop, with some describing the Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG as “kind of magic” for its ability to eliminate ear ringing on 16″ suppressed setups. Others have noted smoother cycling and softer recoil, with one user stating that their 14.5″ rifle with an Allen Engineering M4 suppressor clone felt “like a bolt gun” compared to a standard mil-spec BCG.
Griffin tested the longevity of these BCGs and their impact on receiver fouling by installing them in our test fire guns. These guns received many thousands of rounds with only occasional re-lubrication at 350-500 round intervals, with no malfunctions due to fouling of the receiver or BCG functionality issues.
Which BCG Is Right for You?
- Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG: Choose this for maximum performance in suppressed AR-15s, especially on mid-length or rifle-length gas systems with traditional muzzle-mounted suppressors. Its advanced features, including the extended cam pin travel and proprietary buffer system, make it ideal for shooters who prioritize sound reduction, recoil management, and durability.
- Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG: Opt for this if you want the benefits of Gas Pocket Technology at a more accessible price point. It’s a drop-in solution that delivers notable sound and gas reduction while maintaining compatibility with your existing mil-spec components.
For a deeper dive into the development process and performance details, check out Episode 81 of the Dwell Time Podcast on all platforms or watch the video podcast on our YouTube channel.
Upgrade Your Suppressed AR-15 Today
The Griffin Armament Enhanced Gas Pocket BCG and Mil-Spec Gas Pocket BCG are more than just components—they’re solutions to the challenges of suppressed shooting. By reducing right-ear sound signature, minimizing gas blowback, and enhancing reliability, these BCGs set a new standard for AR-15 performance. Whether you’re a competitive shooter, a tactical professional, or a recreational enthusiast, these BCGs will transform your suppressed AR-15 experience.
About the Author
Benjamin Kubek is Griffin’s Marketing Coordinator, and an avid hunter, fisherman, and suppressor nut.