What AR15 spare parts do you keep on hand?

Infanteer90 said:
I've always wondered why guys are concerned about spare parts for their AR's. I was in the military for 22 years of which 13 were in the infantry so I fired AR's a fair bit. In that entire time I neither had any part break on me nor did I hear of anyone else around me having a rifle fail due to broken parts. So the question is, are the Diemaco rifles just that well made or are guys just keeping spares on hand just in case? And I can assure you that those issue rifles were not pampered at all. They were dry fired ALL the time on top of actual shooting.
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That's a good question. I started the thread because I when cleaning my AR I keep looking at the retaining pin and thinking "this thing is going to break or get lost or bent out of shape at one point." My AR is primarily used by clients, so if it goes down because of a silly little pin, they will be pissed! :)

And after wondering about keeping some pins on hand I thought about other spare parts that might be needed frequently- hence the thread.

I primarily have used bolt action rifles, and still far prefer them for the most part. I've replaced lots of parts on them, but it was 99% by choice, installing upgraded stocks, triggers, floorplates etc. I've never felt the need to keep spare parts on hand, but it's hard not to wonder when you see a wimpy pin in use on such a critical part of the firearm. :)
 
Yup - gotta have a BU gun, then a BU for the BU. Eventually I'm gonna end up with a piston version of a BU gun, then prolly have to get a BU piston for the piston.


They're like potatoe chips - you know you can't have just 1 ;)
 
A full complete spare BCG
A full trigger set
extractors, extractor spring
Ejector, ejector spring
A full mil spec stock
Muzzle devices
Crush washers
 
Gatehouse said:
That's a good question. I started the thread because I when cleaning my AR I keep looking at the retaining pin and thinking "this thing is going to break or get lost or bent out of shape at one point." My AR is primarily used by clients, so if it goes down because of a silly little pin, they will be pissed! :)

And after wondering about keeping some pins on hand I thought about other spare parts that might be needed frequently- hence the thread.

I primarily have used bolt action rifles, and still far prefer them for the most part. I've replaced lots of parts on them, but it was 99% by choice, installing upgraded stocks, triggers, floorplates etc. I've never felt the need to keep spare parts on hand, but it's hard not to wonder when you see a wimpy pin in use on such a critical part of the firearm. :)
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Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.... as the saying goes. Nothing wrong with being prepared. I just always wondered if people actually needed their spares or if they simply collected dust.
 
Well, this is embarrassing....

I solicit this great spare parts advice but before I actually did anything about it, I have some guests up shooting and sure enough the AR goes down

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1247029-AR15-extraction-ejection-problem

So now that mikethebike has very generously offered to send me some parts to help, I think the best option for me would be to have another complete spare bolt assembly on hand. While I am not a black gunner at heart, I do enjoy them and one thing that has struck me is the utter simplicity of field stripping an AR15. Especially as my solution to this problem to get up and running again while I wait for the parts is that I simply borrowed the bolt from a friends Colt AR and plopped it into my Norinco. Worked great.

So if I have a complete bolt assembly and I have another issue with an extractor, firing pin breaks etc, I can just pop open the pins, remove the damaged bolt and put another in. Then deal with the individual damaged part when I get it back to the shop.

Sooo...where might I find a spare complete bolt? It need not be a super tuned up high speed custom item- it's really just for shooting at 10"x10" gongs no further than 100 yards away. :)
 
So for the fellows who can't have a spare rifle:p......what is the suggested best parts kit to get out there?
I'm not sure which parts the most prone to loss or consumption so looking for some guidance here.
 
AR Parts I've worn out and needed emergency replacement on the range, in the middle of a competition:
Gas Rings
Hammer and Trigger
cocking handle (bent)
scope base screws (broken)

Replacement parts I've seen others need on the range:
Bolt head (broken locking lugs)
Firing pin (lost)
Firing pin retaining pin (lost)

Parts I've heard first hand about others having worn them out:
Gas tube
Gas key
Bolt cam pin

So, yes. Get a spare complete bolt carrier assembly.
 
Quiet said:
AR Parts I've worn out and needed emergency replacement on the range, in the middle of a competition:
Gas Rings
Hammer and Trigger
cocking handle (bent)
scope base screws (broken)

Replacement parts I've seen others need on the range:
Bolt head (broken locking lugs)
Firing pin (lost)
Firing pin retaining pin (lost)

Parts I've heard first hand about others having worn them out:
Gas tube
Gas key
Bolt cam pin

So, yes. Get a spare complete bolt carrier assembly.
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I carry a spare rifle. :)
 
ctcs said:
We carry all sorts of repair, and spare parts kit

Any of the small pins or springs are definitely prone to loss, especially if you are swapping parts and changing components.
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IN addition to your repair kits, do you have single firing pin retaining pins for sale? That little pin was the reason I started this thread, and I'd like to have a few on hand in case of getting mangled or lost.
 
Gatehouse said:
IN addition to your repair kits, do you have single firing pin retaining pins for sale? That little pin was the reason I started this thread, and I'd like to have a few on hand in case of getting mangled or lost.
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Those you can buy at Home Depot or other fastener outlet.
 
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