Quote Originally Posted by chazthebiker View Post
Thanks Quib! I started thinking about spare parts a couple of weeks ago. I went home for a couple of days and got out what I had to finish a lower. For the life of me I could not find the buffer tube detent. I couldn't finish the lower and didn't have time to get one from the online parts house. Because I didn't have a 99 cent part, I couldn't finish the rifle. So the other day I ordered 5 of each spring and detent needed for a lower. It isn't expensive and can save a lot of disappointment. So I thought, what if?

Thanks for the info on your link. Appreciate your post Quib.
When the subject comes up regarding spares, most shooters only see the operation/reliability side of the issue, and focus their spares inventory accordingly. How often is a detent or spring lost during routine mtx or even cleaning? Those situations I think arise more often than parts breakage during operation and should be planned for as well.

How often have you been in this situation or read of someone in a similar situation: The intent was to upgrade to a new pistol grip. The old grip was removed with no regard for the safety detent or spring. Now during reassembly or the subsequent ops check, the safety falls free from the receiver or fails to operate smoothly. A spare bolt will be of no help here. An assortment of detents, springs and pins or one of the readily available pre-assembled parts kits definitely would help.

Now the weapon is dead-lined, as in your example, for a simple .99 cent part.