Back up Parts Question

[Dogmatix]

Hey Guys,

I was just browsing through my Bushmaster Magazine and saw their "replacement/broken parts" section. What if any, replacement parts do you guys carry or keep on hand? Any suggestions for my AR? I was looking at the XM15/AR15/M16 Emergency Survial Kit just for an all around coverage kit, but I was also hoping to keep some extras what parts do you think I should get extras of?

Also, last question. As far as extra bolt carriers and bold assemblies do you guys keep that sort on hand too?

Thanks for your suggestions and advice it is greatly appreciated.

 

[Dogmatix]

Additional question

Yes I know I just fed you fulla crap with the "last question" remark on my first post, but ....deal with it...i'm a newbie anyway:

I was looking at EOTech optics for my AR as well, but I'm a poor poor young soul with no cash, alas....what is a good alternative Holographic scope? Thanks again guys you totally rock!

 

[ball3006]

If you want to make sure....

a part on your gun doesn't break, buy a spare......It is the part that you don't have a spare for that will break.......Better just buy a spare gun, just in case, and everything will be covered.........chris3

 

[Dogmatix]

"poor poor young soul with no cash"

Like stated above i have no money. I just spent 1300 on my AR, now I'm totally broke. But it was the best 1300 i've ever spent. Anyway, as much as I would love to have a new gun on top of my just purcashed AR. I can't afford it.

Still need part suggestions

 

[dmftoy1]

I've looked at those kits and it seems to me it would be almost cheaper to just buy a lower parts kit for $55. That would give you EVERYTHING you could possibly need for the lower. throw in some gas rings for the bolt and a spare firing pin and maybe a buffer spring and I'd think you'd be in great shape.

I wonder how many people have actually seen bolts and/or carriers break? Those seem to be pretty stout pieces tome.

Regards,
Dave

 

[NMshooter]

You should get 5K to 10K rounds with a bolt, depending on manufacturer.

Since it is usually time to replace the barrel at this point the only reason I would get a spare bolt is if you want a quick fix for extractor or ejector problems.

A spare firing pin, a couple firing pin retaining pins, extractor w/ a couple pins, springs & inserts, ejector w/ a couple springs & pins.

Having extra small pieces is nice if you have to disassemble the bolt to clean the extractor and ejector recesses and lose any small parts.

Parts breakage is rare, the lower will probably last a long time with no problems. Assuming no disassembly.

 

[madmike]

What NM said.

Onboard, I keep firing pin, retaining pin, cam pin and extractor, spring and pin.

$1300 seems pretty pricey. I build most of mine for $600-$800.

EoTech are awesome. There aren't really any cheap ones as good. I have a $25 one on my shotgun, but haven't given it a good workout yet. It seems sturdy enough. Avoid anything cheap until you're sure it's not actually made for that Airsoft crap instead of a real weapon. (No insult to Airsoft as a sport, but it's not real, and people selling that stuff as if it is are a pain. )

Entire lower kits and spare bolt are a good idea if you can afford it.

 

[AFhack]

How much down time are you willing to pay for?

Like others above have pointed out, ARs are pretty tough beasts and you're not likely to need any part anytime real soon. Add Murphy's Law into the mix and any part you're likely to stock won't be the one that breaks.

My advice, if you can't afford another rifle, then just keep a web-link open to Brownells, or, better yet, have their most recent catalog on hand. A credit, card and phone call can get you any part you need in one to three days (or longer) depending on your choice of shipping.


No, I don't work for brownells, but they (and a few other good suppliers) just seem like a smarter option than trying to stockpile enough parts to keep Mr. Murphy at bay while not buying a complete second rifle.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I doubt you will need any new parts anytime soon; but if I was going to keep a spare part, it would be a spare bolt assembly. Some common problems I see with ARs are worn extractor springs, ejector springs, ejector pin bound, chipped extractor, broken/worn gas rings, broken bolt lugs.

A spare bolt will fix all of those problems and it is a lot faster to swap out bolts than it is to change the individual parts mentioned. That will cover a lot for preventive maintenance.

 

[106rr]

I drove my 106RR gun jeep over a 2nd looeys M16 on a beach in I corps RVN. I thought he was going to cry! I broke his buttstock and it was hanging on only by the buffer spring. It was soaked in salt water and sand too!
If you beat people with the rifle it can make the barrel loose in the receiver and break the stock. The mags fail a lot.
The breakage you see at the shooting schools is different than real combat. Falls, shrapnel, theft, land mines and vehicle accidents ruin more guns than you would think.

 

[madmike]

If I run a car over a Garand, it'll be scrap, too. Let's stick to realistic use of the weapon, here.

You're also supposed to shoot people with M16s, not beat them with them except in dire need. I've noticed that a Louisville slugger doesn't shoot worth a damn.

I can also shoot a Hummer with machine gun fire and it'll break. Not much of an armored vehicle, is it?

The mags don't "break a lot." If YOU broke your mags, you did something wrong.

You also may have noticed the weapons I referenced just returned from a year in REAL COMBAT.:banghead: (sorry, that was this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=2384276#post2384276 )

And to keep this on topic, what spare parts would you carry for those eventualities?

 

[pcf]

I've lost a little small parts to black holes in tiles floors.

Spare parts I always have on the rifle. I'm not worried about them breaking but I have lost them before:

1 Cam pin
2 Extractor pins
2 Extractor springs w/inserts
2 Firing pin retainer pins

A lower parts kit ($60) and a Bolt Carrier group ($120), will give you ever part you need to repair a rifle, or finish that lower and upper you're planning on buying.

 

[Dogmatix]

$1300 seems pretty pricey. I build most of mine for $600-$800.

I paid 1300 for a Modular Carbine with a fluted barrel from Bushmaster. Bought it from a local place which was selling just above cost. From Bushmaster the exact same thing is $1745. He through in a couple mags and ammo as well. So I was happy.

But back to parts. I think I got it figured out now. Thanks for all your help. I think I'm going to get the Field repair kit, or just mix and match from Brownell till I get there.

Thanks guys.

 

[MechAg94]

I got a spare bolt assembly and firing pin for my Armalite. Haven't had any issues though.
Since I am a collector as well as a shooter, I hate to get a second rifle of the same type until I have all the others. Might be a while.

 

[ball3006]

If you get a C&R license....

you get the dealer discount at Brownell's........Midway too......chris3

 

[JNewell]

The only part I've ever had fail in use is the extractor. I'd keep an extractor with spring onboard at a minimum. If you believe in rainy days, keep a spare bolt, not because bolts fail often but because it's the fastest way to service extractor or ejector problems.

 

[madmike]

I paid 1300 for a Modular Carbine with a fluted barrel from Bushmaster. Bought it from a local place which was selling just above cost.

That's not bad. I just decide what each one is going to be and start from the receiver. It's fun

http://www.sharppointythings.com/rifles.php

 

[Dogmatix]

C&R?

If you get a C&R license....

First off, what exactly is a C&R. I'm still mostly new to the acronyms on here. And, how do I get one? What do I do with it..etc. Thanks all

 

[madmike]

A Curio and Relic FFL allows you to directly receive certain weapons that meet the standards of being collectors' pieces, without going through a regular FFL. The weapons have to meet certain standards, and you can't engage in the business of reselling them, though you can swap and sell to build your collection. You can buy them at wholesale and have them delivered directly to your door.

It counts as an FFL as far as most parts sellers go, so you can get discount prices on stuff.

$30 for 3 years, IIRC