Ar-15 ( what parts do I need to have on hand )

[1moa@500]

I just finished my build about a month ago and I have fallen in love with this gun. I put 250 rounds through it last week and it inspires big grins. I was wondering what parts will wear out or break that I need to keep in my range bag. I know this is premature but the round count is adding up quick. I just want to be prepared . Also the barrel is chrome lined, what is the life expectancy for the barrel.

 

[shotgunjoel]

ammunition, most important part.

 

[huckster]

for the most part you probably won't experience too many parts problems.

However, if you really want to be prepared for "whatever" then I'd keep the following on hand (in this order)

extractor spring
extractor
gas rings
hammer spring
charging handle
firing pin
ejector spring
safety detent spring

 

[Funderb]

barrel will likely out last you.

 

[parabolate]

dpms ultimate repair kit

I recently picked up a "DPMS ultimate repair kit" to keep with my ar-15. It is $60.00 and contains around 30 miscellaneous parts. Firing pin, gas rings, tons of little springs, small "delicate" components, etc.

Most places are out of stock but I was able to get one at parts4ar15.com here:

http://www.parts4ar15.com/mm5/merch...tore_Code=P&Product_Code=BP-26&Category_Code=

Midway USA used to sell these kits for around $30 I think but it's hard to find them at that price anymore. Midway has been sold out forever. It's a great general repair kit to keep handy and cheaper than buying all the parts individually.

If you you really wanted you could get a spare bolt....barrel...i.e. the more expensive stuff. I personally dont hang on to spares of those particular items. If I was going to drop that amount of money on spare parts I would just go ahead and go the whole nine yards for a complete "extra" ar-15...no better spare than that lol.

 

[hadmanysons]

+1 For the ultimate kit. If you can find one!

 

[mljdeckard]

Extra bolt/carrier. And I suppose it would be good to keep an extra lower receiver parts kit on hand, they start at $45. (If you've assembled a lower before, it's easy to replace anything that breaks.)

 

[ThomasT]

A new Mini-14 is the last spare part you will ever need.

 

[briansmithwins]

A new Mini-14 is the last spare part you will ever ned.

It had better be, cuz Ruger shure ain't going to sell you any spares.

At a minimum, keep a spare, headspaced bolt. That will solve most of the problems I've seen that were field fixable.

Barrels last from 5k to 20k, mostly depending on how fast rounds are run thru them. Heavy auto use eats them up fast.

Most common failure mode is loosing the throat and it happens suddenly. You'll know when the group size quadruples and just keeps getting worse.

BSW

 

[gga357]

deleted

 

[briansmithwins]

What do you mean by 'ultimate kit'?

I've seen broken bolt carrier parts and broken bolts too.

BSW

 

[ThomasT]

Just kidding you guys about the mini-14 thing.

It has been my experience that if you buy a spare part to have on hand, the part you expected to break will never break. The one most robust, overbuilt part you would never consider buying a spare for will be the very part that fails.

A friend had an old Winchester shotgun that was always throwing ejectors. He would buy new ones one at a time. I ordered him 5 new ones from brownells and the gun never lost another ejector after he had handy spares. Thats just the way it is out here in the west.

 

[gga357]

deleted

 

[COSteve]

For spares, what huckster said... particluarly the extractor & spring and gas rings (stand the whole bolt carrier group on the face of the bolt when it's pulled out - if it falls under it's own weight - replace the gas rings).

No guesses on barrel life - depends on how hot you're shooting it.

 

[Afy]

A spare rifle

 

[1moa@500]

Thanks for all the info guys. I ordered a lit from cheaper than dirt that had most of the springs, pins, firing pin and ejector. I now just need an a-1 sight tool and I will be all set. I never thought the problem would be obtaining components for reloading, it used to be I couldnt afford them.

 

[huckster]

A sight tool is helpful, but a bullet tip works just fine too