What breaks on the AR15? Range Toolbox Replacement parts.

ElmerFudd

ElmerFudd

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I have an AR15 on order and want to know what extra parts I should order now that might break down the road. (I did a search on CGN but didn't find any threads on this.)

What parts am I likely to break while cleaning, etc.?

What extra parts do I need when I change the stock or front hand guard, etc.?

What spare parts do you keep in your range tool kit? Any or just some Crazy Glue? :D

I figure I might as well order them now and save on shipping and buying later.

Your help is appreciated!


Fudd
 
I carry a spare rifle...Complete. On the serious side. A spare bolt, and/or bolt carrier. Firing pin retaining pins(the cotter pin) extractor(s). Those are the usual suspects when it comes to breakage. The more spare parts you have the better.

TDC
 
Springs and detents if you change uppers at the range,would suck to pull a pin too hard and have one go flying.But that would be a rare occurance
Other than that...nothing really.
A spare complete bolt,odds are you'll never need it
 
I dont think you will be breaking the small parts - more like losing them, such as extractor pin, firing pin retaining pin and cam pin.

Bolt is the only thing that breaks with milage - bolt carrier wont' break in your lifetime. Bolt breakage with regular recreational range usage is very low, and all of it could be attributed to bolts that are improperly made, material defect and non-extisting QC (so it is manufacturer depended) Bolt life really depends on how "intense" the rifle is to be used.

Technically, extractor assembly (not sure about ejector spring) should be replaced every 6000 rounds. In reality, people shot way more rounds than 6000 without replacing anythings
 
Serving in my 7th year in the CF, the only things I have seen broken on a C7 were the springs on the ejection port cover (5x) and only one time did I see a cocking problem (gas was short stroking). The number 1 problem I have seen with the AR series is the magazines (feedlips/bent bodies/weak springs) - almost always feeding/ejecting problems went away with fresh serviceable magazines. I wouldn't even worry about buying spare parts but having a zeroed spare rifle (if you are competing) is always a good idea - it is pretty unlikely that you can fix your rifle in a timely manner in the field.
 
I shoot my ar15's ALOT

so far Ive only a few problems

broke a bolt stop on my colt ro634 9mm smg (took 4 months to find/get one)

had a sear/trigger hammer wear out (gun would fire fa)

really if i were you buy a complete lower parts kit then get an extractor/ejector and spring(s)

also get a fireing pin and a couple of the split pins a cam and your good, no waiting if anything breaks
 
Well, this is interesting. Sounds like I will be OK for a while... until I loose a pin or something during cleaning. I'm not too worried now about loosing a match just that I don't want to have to order some part that cost $1.50 down the road because it went flying when I am cleaning and now I have to wait a week for it to arrive or burn $10 driving to the local AR15 corner store.


Fudd
 
From what i've read, the #1 part to do is the extractor, so carrying one of those, the spring and the rubber grommet is probably the best bet.
I've never broken a part on my AR15 and so far its got about 3000 rounds. The bolt carriers are extremely tough and so are the bolts, at least ones from a decent manufacturer.
I've never seen a broken bolt carrier or bolt from wear, only from a kaboom. If you ever have a bolt or bolt carrier break on you, you should be sourcing those parts from a different manufacturer in which you probably will never replace them again ;0
 
In my time in the CF and recreational shooting all I've really ever seen is bolt parts breaking. I've seen a number of extractor issues and even a lug sheered off of a bolt itself. Do as others have suggested....Bolt group less the carrier as a spare. Bare in mind that all of these issues were in WELL used weapons. Depending on the manufacturer, your new rifle should serve you well for years.
 
Mike K said:
Add to that. I've made a mess out of a couple of barrels and managed to break PMAG today.
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Just curious on how you broke your PMAG. I've frozen one and heated up multiple times (stress on the plastic), ran it over with a gator and an ANP pickup truck, fired it continuously on auto, put it through an FN minimi, threw it loaded and un loaded off of a two story building onto concrete and the only way I broke one is by running it over with a 10 ton RG. A little off topic, but I also agree that some of the most problems I've seen with the AR stem from crap magazines.
 
Not at all sure how it broke. Other than the MGM Ironman, this magazine has not really see all that much hard use. I was loading it up yesterday at a match down south and the rounds kept on popping right back out. Upon closer inspection there was a crack running down the spine. It's not one of the recall mags, but I have sent an email of to magpul seeing if I can get a replacement body for it.
 
Incredible how much of a following the AR-15 has. My understanding is that after GI's started getting killed because their M-16's would jam up in the jungle/mud of Vietnam, it was redesigned with a forward assist bolt for those instances where it didn't go back into battery. WTF? Is it just me, or does anybody else see a coupla inherent defficiences with this rifle? Designing yet another lever into the M-16/AR-15 for WHEN it jams?
And spare parts for an AR-15? For the average shooter/plinker or even competition shooter, having to keep alot of spare parts for a MILITARY rifle is ridiculous. Not saying that an AR-15 shooter shouldn't keep spare parts, I'm simply more blown away by the fact that there are that many people out there willing to use the AR-15 in competitions.

It should be evident by now that I'm not a competition shooter. But before you all jump down my throat, I want you to know that I do indeed own an AR-15. One of the 1st versions with the triangular handguard and no forward assist. And I like my rifle, don't get me wrong. But from what I've seen/heard, I'd rather have my FEG AK-47 in some muddy swamp and/or jungle. So, am I far off-base here? Does the AK also need a box of spare parts at a competition? What about other rifles, such as my HK G3 or FN FAL (actually an L1A1, but you get the idea).
Let the flaming begin.:(
 
Mike K said:
Ar-15's tend to break the bank.
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I think we all know and understand that you are a special case, Mike! :p

peter2772000 said:
Designing yet another lever into the M-16/AR-15 for WHEN it jams?
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Sounds like a easy way to correct a problem without having to design a totally new rifle, test it, and put it into mass production.

peter2772000 said:
For the average shooter/plinker or even competition shooter, having to keep alot of spare parts for a MILITARY rifle is ridiculous.
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By the sounds of it the average shooter doesn't need to keep a lot of parts on hand. Mostly parts that might get lost during cleaning that I will be buying.

peter2772000 said:
Does the AK also need a box of spare parts at a competition? What about other rifles, such as my HK G3 or FN FAL (actually an L1A1, but you get the idea).
Let the flaming begin.:(
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Don't know as we can't take AK47s to the range and most people can't own what is on your list. But that's not what I asked about. Perhaps you should start a new thread asking for a comparison between them all?


Fudd
 
ElmerFudd said:
Don't know as we can't take AK47s to the range and most people can't own what is on your list. But that's not what I asked about. Perhaps you should start a new thread asking for a comparison between them all?


Fudd
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You're absolutely right, and I apologize for hijacking your thread. It's a bad habit which I cannot seem to break, but it wasn't meant to annoy you. Just another symptom of my "condition", which is that I have the attention span of an orangutan :redface:
 
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