AR15 Maintenance Parts

[trigga]

My old XM15E2S I purchased around 2008 now has around 5-7k rounds. if you count the .22 LR that's been put through it then double that number. It still runs very well but I notice it might be time to maintain the bolt. Gas rings aren't as tight and the extractor is looking a little sad. No unusual wear or breakage. It's an older AR15 profile (not M16) BCG with no O ring.

Where can I get parts for a decent price? Mainly looking for bolt parts. if other parts are a deal, will get that too. Best prices I have found so far is on Optics Planet for Del Ton Parts. I found some in kits but cost almost as much as getting a cheap or new BCG. Recently bought two new complete BGC from PSA for around $60 each. Might just end up buying the actual parts I need like gas rings, extractor and O rings.

 

[LoonWulf]

I buy alot of stuff from joebobs, brownells, and midway, those guys might have what you want.

 

[BigBlue 94]

I buy alot of stuff from joebobs, brownells, and midway, those guys might have what you want.

I know JoeBob from a bronco forum, since about 2006. Great guy. Great prices.

As for the OP, I would just buy a new bolt.

 

[Varminterror]

My old XM15E2S I purchased around 2008 now has around 5-7k rounds.

One of my XM15E2S’s from ~2005 went over 20k rounds before I replaced the barrel, and it’s over 20k more onto the second barrel. Original bolt and carrier assy, original gas rings, original FP. I did replace the barrel and gas block together.

Having a spare bolt carrier assy is usually cheaper than having a spare bolt, firing pin, cam pin, extractor & spring, ejector spring, etc. so I just keep a few spare BCG’s around. But the necessity of having these spare parts is grossly overstated.

 

[ECVMatt]

PSA and Primary Arms have been getting a lot of my AR business lately. They both ship very quickly and have good prices.

Watch out for Optic Planets. I have had lots of trouble getting things actually shipped from them.

In addition to looking at replacing your bolt, you might want to look at your buffer spring.

Good luck getting that guy back in shape.

 

[trigga]

PSA and Primary Arms have been getting a lot of my AR business lately. They both ship very quickly and have good prices.

Watch out for Optic Planets. I have had lots of trouble getting things actually shipped from them.

In addition to looking at replacing your bolt, you might want to look at your buffer spring.

Good luck getting that guy back in shape.

ive placed a couple of orders through PSA and optics planet this past month. PSA usually ships in a couple of days. Same with Optics planet however this last order for a quad rail for my MK18 MOD 0, it was shipped through DHL and took about 10 days to get to me. I’m less than 3 hours away from where it was shipped. I understand it’s the holidays but it sat for a week without progress. Not OP fault but I have had similar issues before. Good thing I didn’t need it right away.

The rifle still runs fine. It’s just good to have parts on hand if something were to fail. I think I might just buy the parts individually as some of the kits comes with stuff I don’t think you really need, like pins. If I do find some good deal on a complete BGC, might just buy a few too.

 

[taliv]

One of my XM15E2S’s from ~2005 went over 20k rounds before I replaced the barrel, and it’s over 20k more onto the second barrel. Original bolt and carrier assy, original gas rings, original FP. I did replace the barrel and gas block together.

Having a spare bolt carrier assy is usually cheaper than having a spare bolt, firing pin, cam pin, extractor & spring, ejector spring, etc. so I just keep a few spare BCG’s around. But the necessity of having these spare parts is grossly overstated.

I normally agree with varmint but disagree here.

while you will see lots of reports of bolts exceeding these round counts, the service life is much shorter and the extractor, springs and gas rings in the bolt are wear parts and should be replaced occasionally along with the action spring.

if it’s just a plinker and range toy, a spare bcg may be fine. However on a gun you need to rely on, or don’t want to fail in classes and matches or other hard use, you should prob do preventative maintenance around 5k rounds like you’re asking about. But there are easy tests you can do to see if any part needs replacing.

bravo company sells bolt rebuild kits which is contains all the parts including the extractor. And they sell 3 packs of sets of gas rings springs and inserts. The latter is pretty cheap and much cheaper than a complete bcg.

the avg AR that shows up at the range is pretty reliable these days but 10-15 years ago it wasn’t so. I always kept spare parts and I’d help someone fix their bolt with a spring and insert at least once a month. Guns that don’t extract aren’t much fun.

 

[taliv]

https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-extractor-spring-upgrade-kit-3-pack/

$11

 

[mcb]

Hammer springs, that is the one thing I would have around. They seem to be the first spring to fail. A standard semi-auto hammer springs seems to go about 30k (+/- 5k) and then the hammer springs breaks one or both legs off. The purple hammer springs with the ALG ACT only seen to only go about 15k.

Recoil springs last for ever. I had an recoil spring with well over 2 million cycles on it. And there was no measurable difference in relaxed length or stiffness compared to a new spring from the same manufacturer.

I have a pile of spare parts laying around but mostly from building several ARs and swapping parts. I will throw a spare BCG and some random springs (hammer springs for sure) in my bag for a big match otherwise I don't worry about it much.

 

[Varminterror]

if it’s just a plinker and range toy, a spare bcg may be fine. However on a gun you need to rely on, or don’t want to fail in classes and matches or other hard use, you should prob do preventative maintenance around 5k rounds like you’re asking about.

This is the same spectrum of advise I’d generally offer - but reading the OP’s 13yrs to achieve 5-7k rounds, he’s falling on the lesser use end of the spectrum.

My old XM15E2S I purchased around 2008 now has around 5-7k rounds.

If it’s your work, high volume training, competition, or other “hard use” rifle, having a spare of almost everything is critical. For example, I keep a spare BCG and FCG in my truck for my match rifles, and almost always bring a complete backup rifle. But it doesn’t sound like that’s the case here, so if a failure which sends you home from the range that day - with an online order for the replacement part placed on the drive and a subsequent few days to one week spent waiting for replacement - doesn’t really affect your year, then some Pat Mac “get back in the fight” tool and parts kit isn’t a high priority.

 

[Skylerbone]

I tend to add wear items with other orders. I spot a $60 billet upper? Grab it and add a 3-pack of extra power extractor springs and some of those long gas tube pipe cleaners (for the kids to play with, I don’t clean the gas tube). Primary Arms is ending their 12% off sale today, Righttobear.com has a 15% off sale through today as well. I’ve had excellent experience many times from both.

 

[briansmithwins]

The latest fad in the cheapening of parts is the use of MIM for extractors. I pay extra to get non-MIM.

I like to have a spare extractor, firing pin, and a couple of firing pin retaining pins (they don't break ofter but are easily lost) in the range kit that goes out with the ARs. I actually have a spare bolt too. I haven't broken a bolt yet but they will fail. Person I was shooting with at the a rifle match lost the locking lug (or lugs) nearest the extractor during a match. No spare bolt meant he was done for the day with that rifle.

I usually purchase spare when I'm doing another order to save on shipping.

BSW

 

[wesmonster]

AIM Surplus has bolt back up kits (complete bolt, firing pin, cam & cotter pin) in phosphate, nitride or NiB for under $60.
Personally I’d rather have a complete bolt vs gas rings, extractor etc. A bolt can break before any other parts wear out.
For small AR parts, PSA is good to deal with and carries everything. I’ve lost so many captured springs I keep a few of every type, nothing worse than searching for 20 minutes for the one spring that might keep your rifle from functioning. Having a spare extractor & firing pin is a good idea for any firearm, but gas rings wear so slowly and are simple to check they won’t just fail on you.
I think PSA also has a lower ‘build kit’ which is all the small parts for a lower build minus the fire control group and receiver extension/buffer/buffer spring.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Check out JSE Surplus for parts.
https://www.jsesurplus.com/

 

[briansmithwins]

AIM Surplus has bolt back up kits (complete bolt, firing pin, cam & cotter pin) in phosphate, nitride or NiB for under $60.
Personally I’d rather have a complete bolt vs gas rings, extractor etc. A bolt can break before any other parts wear out.
For small AR parts, PSA is good to deal with and carries everything. I’ve lost so many captured springs I keep a few of every type, nothing worse than searching for 20 minutes for the one spring that might keep your rifle from functioning. Having a spare extractor & firing pin is a good idea for any firearm, but gas rings wear so slowly and are simple to check they won’t just fail on you.
I think PSA also has a lower ‘build kit’ which is all the small parts for a lower build minus the fire control group and receiver extension/buffer/buffer spring.

The only exception to that that I've personally seen was a aftermarket 1 piece spiral gas ring got an end caught inside the bore of the bolt carrier and seized the rifle up solid.

BSW

 

[Lo-Profile]

I usually keep enough parts on hand to build a complete gun other than lower and upper receivers and barrel. Other than that I'll have at least 2-3 extra of each.