What are the best AR-15 parts to have as backup

Register to hide this ad
Buy a spare part of your choosing. Then another. The infection sets in and soon you will have a complete rifle. Rinse and repeat.

Seriously, though... At least a LPK, a BCG (or just a bolt) and a firing pin. If you tinker and swap stocks, you're likely to loose a spring or pin in that region.
 
bigfutz said:
Buy a spare part of your choosing. Then another. The infection sets in and soon you will have a complete rifle. Rinse and repeat.

Seriously, though... At least a LPK, a BCG (or just a bolt) and a firing pin. If you tinker and swap stocks, you're likely to loose a spring or pin in that region.
Click to expand...

That is exactly how I ended up building my last AR. :lol:
 
Sweeney's list is solid. In addition I'd nab a buffer retainer pin and spring. I've broken or worn out hammers and other fire control parts, like pins, but in semi mode it's rare.
Remember recoil springs don't last forever.
 
Midway frequently has a Field Repair kit with every part (and duplicates) like roll pins, gas rings, springs, firing pin, etc etc. it's cheaper than buying individual parts.... I think it's made by DPMS?

Combine that with a spare bolt and carrier (if a tooth breaks or the carrier fails it's a lot harder to replace than a spring or roll pin)....look for a complete one on sale at PSA or Joe Bob Outfitters etc. This one is a quality F/A version that's been MPI'd and it's $50 off:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.ph ... oup-1.html

I would get a spare gas tube and charging handle also.
 
So why is it that the bolt lugs break and never the mating lugs in the chamber? I guess a spare barrel would be conceivable... and a barrel nut if you plan on changing the barrel. (Getting closer to that spare rifle.)

Maybe we should tone this conversation down to spare parts that may fail under use, not those that you would damage or lose during a build or rebuild (though the frequency of those is most surely higher.) If we talk build failures, I would say the weakest parts are those aluminum upper and lower receivers.
 
bigfutz said:
So why is it that the bolt lugs break and never the mating lugs in the chamber? I guess a spare barrel would be conceivable... and a barrel nut if you plan on changing the barrel. (Getting closer to that spare rifle.)

Maybe we should tone this conversation down to spare parts that may fail under use, not those that you would damage or lose during a build or rebuild (though the frequency of those is most surely higher.) If we talk build failures, I would say the weakest parts are those aluminum upper and lower receivers.
Click to expand...

The only time you'll have a lower or upper fail is if there is a manufacturing defect, you drop it from like a hundred feet, or if it explodes somehow (ammo etc). It's rare those are the parts that are damaged in normal use.

The teeth in the chamber are supported and not moving...the bolt takes more wear and tear I guess.

I started getting rebuild parts and built another rifle....and then got repair parts for that too lol.

Tigerstripe has seen a gas tube fail under use...that's about the ONLY part I've seen not break: charging handles, seen one bolt carrier crack, bolt teeth break, and a hammer crack...all sorts of springs breaking/shearing...never seen a buffer or buffer spring break...but these failures were are on hard run guns
 
Adam, that was a hard run gun and an aluminum gas block. it didnt last very long. the gas started leaking at the block, and the pin holding the rod in the pin, and deteriorated the tube just out of the block. i dont think it would have broken except for that.

so, aluminum gas blocks for 22s only.

i think a spare bolt and a cleaning rod are enough. cleaning and inspection should keep you aware of problems.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Random media

NighthawkIOS.jpg
1AA0819C-B35D-45F8-9CD2-3FA609074F3A.jpeg
0B1068A6-92DA-44EF-BC52-51E4F2DBE596.jpeg
IMG_0319.JPG
3.jpg
B387FC9F-EAB7-4F67-B65B-3777D8FC355F.jpeg
2DF7169F-781E-45F6-8DE2-FB0F679B43BA.jpeg
Back
Top