Do you buy spare AR parts?

[md7]

Has anyone actually needed any of their spare parts?

I've had to replace a magazine spring on a shotgun, but no replacements on the AR. At least not yet. However, I shoot them more often than I do my other guns so there will likely come a point when I will need to if I continue shooting them often. Gas rings, extractors, extractor springs, action springs, etc. are pretty much wear items. Same with magazine springs.

Of course, how often you shoot will dictate when/if you ever do need to replace anything.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

Does anyone keep spare parts for their AKs like they do for ARs? Spare bolt, extractor, fcg parts, etc?

I do have some spares for my ARs, but not a lot. Unfortunately limited shooting funds, so I'm not likely to reach the useful life of any of my components anytime soon. I've only got 2.5 ARs anyway, but if I had 25 like some of yall, you bet I'd have more spare parts.

 

[Warp]

For those of you with AR's, do you buy any spare parts for them? If so, what parts, and how do you prevent those spares from turning into another rifle?

And if you have a piston AR, do you buy extra piston/op rod parts?

Well...I have an entire spare rifle with 525 perfect rounds through it as the ultimate...I know I have a spare of everything that's important in there somewhere lol

Why prevent it from turning into another rifle? That's the best way to make sure all of the parts are good!

Beyond that, for straight up spare parts that are not a rifle...

• LPK including a FCG
• Complete Bolt
• Gas Rings
• DPMS ultimate spare parts kit (springs, detents, etc)
• Buffer and buffer spring

 

[Ifishsum]

I do keep a spare kit (DPMS Ultimate Repair kit IIRC) plus an extra bolt, carrier and a few other miscellaneous parts I've accumulated over the last few years. I shoot competetively so I like the idea of being able to get myself back in action if needed. Personally I have not needed anything for my own rifles but I have twice been able to help others get back in the game. Paying it forward so to speak I guess.

 

[DougW]

My exact thought! All my spare parts turn into spare rifles!

 

[Scooter22]

Yes. A AK for when the AR breaks.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

Yes, I keep spare parts.

 

[Warp]

Yes. A AK for when the AR breaks.

Better get it in some cosmoline then, it might be awhile lol

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes. A AK for when the AR breaks.

But ammunition for the AR-15 won't work in the AK. That's a great spare.

I've got spare AR-15 parts that I store in other rifles. I've never really bought parts that were first intended to be spares.

 

[USAF_Vet]

All my spare parts seem to turn into spare rifles....

Same here.

 

[HammsBeer]

I have a sneaking suspicion, based on the experience of everyone else here, that spare AR parts emit an odor that attract more parts over time. My safe is already full.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I would think that an extra bolt would be a wise investment.

 

[thump_rrr]

Is there any problem with them turning into a spare rifle?

If you have two then if something breaks on one you have another available without tinkering. If something breaks on both you have two guns that you can cannibalize into a single one.

To me a second rifle just seems like a pile of spare parts assembled into a convenient storage system .

The problem isn't when the parts grow into a second rifle.
It's when they grow ito a 4th, 14th, or 124th rifle

 

[IROCZ]

I too have lots of spares, bought some as kits from Brownells. Got a lot of them as leftovers from my, and others builds.

 

[Nanook]

I'm an old Scout / Explorer, always prepared and all that. So, I do have spare parts and "Oh-Oh" kits on hand.

During my last build, I let a spring run free while putting the buffer retainer in. The spring is still running free somewhere in my garage. I reached into the spare parts kit and was back in business.

 

[HammsBeer]

Everyone should at least have some spare detents and small springs. My last build one of the detents flew off into never-never land. Spent about 2 minutes looking for it, gave up and just grabbed a spare and kept going.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Agreed that detents and small bits are useful. But like many others my parts seem to turn into new guns.

Real spare parts I have: springs, detents and a firing pin. Lots of magazines.

Parts leftover from builds = forward assist, shorty stock, grips, fore ends and the like.

 

[Warp]

What I recommend for actual legit spare parts and not turning into another rifle, or another upper or lower (and then rifle), is the DPMS ultimate spare parts kit. All the little things you can lose, particularly when assembling a lower, or taking things apart to do more than field strip cleaning, are included. And a bunch of springs. And it's a small sealed bag that's easy to stick back somewhere and forget about...I don't know that it has enough chromosomes to reproduce.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/587468/dpms-ultimate-repair-kit-ar-15

$35

Kit includes:

A15 Disconnector
Front Pivot Pin
Takedown Pin
Extractor
Gas Rings (3)
Firing Pin Retaining Pin (3)
Detent (Selector)
Takedown Detents
Trigger Pin
Hammer Pin
Hammer Spring
Trigger Spring
AR Firing Pin
Extractor Pin
Gas Tube Roll Pin
Ejector Roll Pin
Rear Base Spring Pin
Trigger Guard Pin
Bolt Catch Release Pin
Buffer Retainer Spring
Selector Spring
Bolt Catch Spring
Detent Spring
Ejector Port Cover Spring
Front Sight Spring
Ejector Spring
Extractor Spring Assembly
Disconnector Spring
Detent Spring
Magazine Catch Spring

 

[FROGO207]

I presently do not on an AR style rifle so no spare parts needed for that. BUT If I have something that is older and something like an extractor, firing pin, or some spring is available I will get it. Add to that any firearm that I use a lot (my Ruger MK II pistols for example) I have all the things that commonly wear out X3 on hand. Then I do not have to wait or find something that is no longer available for something. I am presently mulling over the thought of buying an AR or two this year (already have a few Mini 14's now) and if I do there will soon be some spare parts in the future for them as well.

 

[d2wing]

I have a spare spring set, a spare complete bolt and spare extractor.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I just checked and have nine spare stripped lowers.
I also have about $300 of spare parts on order.

 

[wally]

Yes. A AK for when the AR breaks.

But ammunition for the AR-15 won't work in the AK. That's a great spare.

Not quite, there are various AR mag well adapters for 5.56 AKs and the Yugo M85NP AK pistol takes AR mags.

I like having 5.56 AKs that take AR mags and look forward to eventually finding a CMMG Mutant so I can have an 7.62x39 AR that takes AK mags.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I have spare rifles. That said, the only critical part I've ever have break for a firing pin and that was a 9mm firing pin on a blowback gun, not a milspec AR.

Mike

 

[Girodin]

For those of you with AR's, do you buy any spare parts for them? If so, what parts, and how do you prevent those spares from turning into another rifle?

Q: Do you buy spare parts?

A. Yes

Q. If so, what parts?

A. Spare bolts/spare BCGs, spare firing pin, spare springs, lower parts kit. Some of the BCG and lower parts kit is a hedge against shortages. They serve the purpose of being both a spare and available should another parts shortage arise.

Q. How do you prevent those spares from turning into another rifle?

A. I have had that occur. After you have one AR you can pick up spares when there are great deals or you replace something from another gun. For example swapping a SSA FCG for the factory offering means you now have a spare FCG. I have a few spare grips and stocks around from replacing those. At a certain point it arguably makes more sense to just assemble the thing (particularly if there is a smoking deal on an upper). Or if you have an itch for something new and have many of the parts needed it makes scratching that itch easier. Frankly, I think it makes sense to let the first set of spare parts become a spare complete rifle.

But ammunition for the AR-15 won't work in the AK. That's a great spare.

You know the make AKs in 5.56 right?

Does anyone keep spare parts for their AKs like they do for ARs?

For the most part I do not. I have some spare parts which are mostly a result of replacing other parts (FCGs and various furniture, some springs.) I do have a spare complete rifle though. When I was buying AKs you could do a converted saiga for $350 OTD. Which made a spare rifle a more simple proposition.

 

[ROCK6]

Spare parts? Yeah, I keep them stored in an assembled condition:



Seriously, after a few AR builds you start to acquire a lot of parts. I still have a couple stripped-lowers, upper and a few lower parts kits and more furniture than I care to admit.

I'm actually just now putting together a nice little organizer box to organize my smaller parts...that will make it easier to locate a part if lost or broken. I've only had to replace one extractor spring and I had a bolt hold-open break on me about 10 years ago. Other than losing a small pin or spring, not much else is needed unless I need to "fix" a stripped lower

It's prudent advice to pick up a spare parts kit and a spare BCG.

ROCK6