Quote Originally Posted by hikeeba View Post
Good point, Quib. After i read your post, I heard a little *ding!*, and a little lightbulb appeared above my head...

Shortly after I acquired my first 5.56 AR-15, I purchased a spare parts kit that included all the pins, detents, springs, and misc other upper and lower parts. Fast forward several years to just a few months ago when I was cleaning/reorganizing our basement and came across the spare parts kit stored away in its original shipping carton. Upon it's rediscovery, I put the kit in a place where I would know where it was, and where it would be 'handy'- the draw of my workbench.

When I go to shoot my AR-15 type rifles, I always make a point to bring two complete rifles; the one I primarily intend to shoot, and a second one to play with if time allows or to use as a back-up/trouble-shooting piece. I also cart along no fewer than 10 magazines spanning several different varieties, and more ammunition than I know I will shoot. And since I have been assembling my own rifles from parts, I also cart along a toolbox containing a healthy compliment of general and firearm-specific tool, cleaning supplies, and a variety of miscelleneous parts like buffers, sights, and the like. But guess where my 'spare parts kit' is?





















When I get home tonight, before I even hang my keys up, I am heading to the basement and placing the spare parts kit in my range toolbox. Derp.





Otherwise, I guess my plan has been similar to Cameron's. Redundant redundancy is redundant. My spare parts kit is supplemented by 4 complete 16" mid-gas rifles and one extra bolt assembly.

Thanks for starting this thread, Chaz.
Thanks for your response! For $65 I got 5 of every spring and detent on an AR15. My goal is for six rifles. The man who has one rifle will have a different goal. I've got to wonder how many of us have had a day at the range ruined for lack of a cheap part? I may never reach my goal for spare parts, but every month I am going to be working towards it. See certain things on sale? buy one or two and put them away. Just a little here and there over a few years adds up to being truly prepared for whatever comes along.