Post by Ceorlmann on Sept 25, 2012 7:26:01 GMT -7
The beauty of the AR15 is its modular design, and because it is a popular gun today spare parts are out there and very readily available.
For those who want spare parts, are on a budget, and lack in armorer skills, here's what I'd get...
Spare buffer springs. How many you get depends on how often you go shooting, and how much ammo you use. If it's a rare occasion, then I'd get no more than another 5. For those who do it very often, and go through hundreds of rounds a day, I'd either get several springs, or... for those with A2 stocks or Magpul PRS stocks: Tubbs flat wire springs are rated at 500,000 cycles according to their website. That's around 50 times longer than the lifetime of standard buffer springs. Note: the spring supposedly can fit carbine-length buffer tubes, but I was unable to fully cycle my bolt carrier in that length tube with that spring.
Spare buffers. These shouldn't be as needed to replace as the spring, but it's still good to have a couple spares in your possession. Also: there is a difference between mil-spec vs. commercial. Know what type your AR has before getting the buffer. Also: an A2 buffer will not fit in a carbine-length buffer tube (this should be common sense to most if not all of us so this is really for those who don't know).
Spare firing pins. Firing pins do eventually wear out. However I'd place their importance in replacement with the buffer/buffer springs. If you shoot rarely, then one or two spare firing pins are probably all you'll need. I'd get no more than 5 total even for those who shoot often. If somehow you go through all 5 pins in a short time then you got rooked with some c****y pins.
Spare extractor assemblies. These are for your bolts in your bolt carriers. The edges of the extractor do wear out (you know it's time to replace the extractor when you cycle a round into the chamber, remove the magazine, fire the round, and the casing drops through the mag weld). Again, though, how many spares you need depends on how often you shoot. Spares should range between 2 to 5 or 6.
IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT: Spare upper assembly. If you get a new one, I'd see about getting one with a 223 Wylde barrel. I was told specifically in my armorer's course that 223 Wylde is rated for both 223 Remington and 5.56mm. If you're looking to make a basic fighting rifle (not a match-grade or anything like such) then I'd get such an upper.
For those who have armorer skills on the AR15:
in addition to the above
Spare springs. Detents and springs for those detents should be well-stocked in your armorer's kit. I'd also get spare springs for every other part of the rifle as well (except the charging handle as that's easy enough to replace, and the forward assist button, as the likelihood of having to mess with that part is very, very small).
Spare roll pins. I was told during the armorer's course that I went through that once you punch them out the roll pins are no longer useable 99% of the time as they are likely to fall out after you punch them back in. Having spares should be essential for every time you need to remove the old roll pin for whatever reason.
Spare barrel. You shouldn't need more than one or two spare barrels, and I'd only get them if you can afford them.
Spare gas tubes. This applies only if your AR is a direct gas impingement. The tubes cost less than $10 each, and only a few should be necessary to have on hand.
If you own a piston AR15: please know that spare parts for the piston part are not readily available, and tend to be very expensive.
This is just a short list of spare parts one can, and should get for their AR15. Feel free to add on to this if you want.
For those who want spare parts, are on a budget, and lack in armorer skills, here's what I'd get...
Spare buffer springs. How many you get depends on how often you go shooting, and how much ammo you use. If it's a rare occasion, then I'd get no more than another 5. For those who do it very often, and go through hundreds of rounds a day, I'd either get several springs, or... for those with A2 stocks or Magpul PRS stocks: Tubbs flat wire springs are rated at 500,000 cycles according to their website. That's around 50 times longer than the lifetime of standard buffer springs. Note: the spring supposedly can fit carbine-length buffer tubes, but I was unable to fully cycle my bolt carrier in that length tube with that spring.
Spare buffers. These shouldn't be as needed to replace as the spring, but it's still good to have a couple spares in your possession. Also: there is a difference between mil-spec vs. commercial. Know what type your AR has before getting the buffer. Also: an A2 buffer will not fit in a carbine-length buffer tube (this should be common sense to most if not all of us so this is really for those who don't know).
Spare firing pins. Firing pins do eventually wear out. However I'd place their importance in replacement with the buffer/buffer springs. If you shoot rarely, then one or two spare firing pins are probably all you'll need. I'd get no more than 5 total even for those who shoot often. If somehow you go through all 5 pins in a short time then you got rooked with some c****y pins.
Spare extractor assemblies. These are for your bolts in your bolt carriers. The edges of the extractor do wear out (you know it's time to replace the extractor when you cycle a round into the chamber, remove the magazine, fire the round, and the casing drops through the mag weld). Again, though, how many spares you need depends on how often you shoot. Spares should range between 2 to 5 or 6.
IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT: Spare upper assembly. If you get a new one, I'd see about getting one with a 223 Wylde barrel. I was told specifically in my armorer's course that 223 Wylde is rated for both 223 Remington and 5.56mm. If you're looking to make a basic fighting rifle (not a match-grade or anything like such) then I'd get such an upper.
For those who have armorer skills on the AR15:
in addition to the above
Spare springs. Detents and springs for those detents should be well-stocked in your armorer's kit. I'd also get spare springs for every other part of the rifle as well (except the charging handle as that's easy enough to replace, and the forward assist button, as the likelihood of having to mess with that part is very, very small).
Spare roll pins. I was told during the armorer's course that I went through that once you punch them out the roll pins are no longer useable 99% of the time as they are likely to fall out after you punch them back in. Having spares should be essential for every time you need to remove the old roll pin for whatever reason.
Spare barrel. You shouldn't need more than one or two spare barrels, and I'd only get them if you can afford them.
Spare gas tubes. This applies only if your AR is a direct gas impingement. The tubes cost less than $10 each, and only a few should be necessary to have on hand.
If you own a piston AR15: please know that spare parts for the piston part are not readily available, and tend to be very expensive.
This is just a short list of spare parts one can, and should get for their AR15. Feel free to add on to this if you want.
