Expain Your Spare Parts Strategy

[chazthebiker]

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.

[madcratebuilder]

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.

+1

I get a lot of late night calls from friends that have lost a spring or detent to the carpet gods. They know I have abundant spares.

Besides springs and detents, I keep a complete bolt and carrier, extractors with several springs, inserts and O rings, gas rings and other BCG parts. I always seem to have one or two buffer springs and buffers around. Anything more than this well become a complete rifle. I've have enough to build two complete FCG's, things just accumulate ove4r the years.

[ennbee15]

my 1st time here. so far i like it. excellent advice. honestly i don't think you can have enough spare parts. my rifles have their own spares and mags. i also have ammo for each rifle. my range bag has a spare parts kit. like i said never enough...lovin' this site so far.

[Hmac]

My spare parts grew to the point where I ended up just building another rifle with 'em. Now all I carry in my box is a bunch of extractor parts.