AR-15 Spare Parts

USAF Ret · December 24, 2019, 10:58 AM

What spare parts are good to have on hand for an AR-15? Parts that wear down or break and might need to be replaced? Thanks.

Bartholomew Roberts · December 24, 2019, 11:23 AM

A complete spare bolt is a good idea since it is easy to swap out and addresses several common issues (extractor, ejector, gas rings, broken lugs).

You can also buy a set of AR15 springs pretty cheap - they don’t break or wear out often but the little detent springs get mangled by inexperienced users swapping the stock, or launched into low orbit during obsessive detail cleaning. Plus that usually comes with a spare buffer spring, which is a wear part that will need to be replaced and impacts function.

Those two things will handle a lot of common AR issues at minimal expense and hassle.

reynolds357 · December 24, 2019, 03:33 PM

I keep a complete bolt carrier group and complete lower build kit minus furniture in my 3 gun box.

greentick · December 24, 2019, 05:36 PM

Spring kit, bolt, cam pin and firing pin if you just keep less than what Reynolds said

Ed4032 · December 24, 2019, 06:04 PM

Another AR for while you are working on the first one. Then maybe just one more. And another....

Bartholomew Roberts · December 24, 2019, 06:57 PM

Here’s the reproduction cycle of the AR15. You buy one. You start replacing parts on it with nicer parts/parts that are more suited to what you want. One day you are looking at a PSA complete lower sale at $130 and you notice you have enough “leftover” parts to make a whole new AR. Then you start modifying that one and the cycle repeats itself.

9x19 · December 24, 2019, 07:56 PM

Firing pin, and firing pin retaining pins.

greentick · December 25, 2019, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Another AR for while you are working on the first one. Then maybe just one more. And another....

That's why you have to keep careful watch on your spare parts. Sometimes they come together in the form of a consolidated spare parts package. Then you have to start buying spare parts again.

TimRB · December 25, 2019, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Roberts

or launched into low orbit during obsessive detail cleaning.

Someday I may find the ejector that is somewhere in the labyrinth which is my garage. But in my defense I can at least say I wasn't trying to clean the thing.

Tim

Bartholomew Roberts · December 25, 2019, 02:39 PM

I’m accountable for my fair share of space junk. The worst is when you’ve launched some critical part and spend the next hour with a magnifying glass searching by grids.

That’s why I use a ziplock bag or other transparent bag to catch them now.

odugrad · December 26, 2019, 10:28 AM

Here's what I keep on hand:

two or three lower parts kits (one is a good start), 2 complete bolt carrier groups, two complete bolts, three sets of gas rings, two bolt upgrade kits from BCM, a spare buffer tube, two or three buffer springs, a couple trigger springs and hammer springs, two gas tubes, three firing pins, three firing pin retaining pins, a couple cam pins, take down pin detents and springs, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Get started with what you can and slowly you'll accumulate whatever you could need.

Then as others have mentioned, just build another AR to have on hand.

USAF Ret · December 26, 2019, 10:54 AM

Thanks everyone.

stagpanther · December 26, 2019, 11:17 AM

Charge handles--I'd keep at least two spares on hand at all times.

odugrad · December 26, 2019, 04:49 PM

Doh! I forgot charging handles. Yeah, a couple of those, too!

P-man · December 26, 2019, 06:14 PM

I never seem to have spare parts...they end up being another AR.

However, I seem to have one too many BCGs right now, hmmmm....

FrankenMauser · December 26, 2019, 06:18 PM

Spare parts ... for replacement?
I thought extra AR parts were just seeds that grow into new ARs...

armoredman · December 28, 2019, 03:11 AM

They are, they are - I stared with just one just over a year ago...now...

Americanpatriot · December 30, 2019, 06:59 PM

I stash just about every part. Some double and triple, especially springs etc.

bfoosh006 · January 2, 2020, 05:15 PM

Spare Bolt... ( or a whole BCG, since those are so danged cost effective. )

And this "Revival Kit" has a good balance of parts.

http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/stor...3-carrier.html

December 24, 2019, 10:58 AM	#1
USAF Ret Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2017 Posts: 806	AR-15 Spare Parts What spare parts are good to have on hand for an AR-15? Parts that wear down or break and might need to be replaced? Thanks.

December 24, 2019, 05:36 PM	#4
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 261	Spring kit, bolt, cam pin and firing pin if you just keep less than what Reynolds said __________________ nous défions

December 24, 2019, 06:04 PM	#5
Ed4032 Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 306	Another AR for while you are working on the first one. Then maybe just one more. And another.... __________________ Gun control is like stopping drunk driving by making it harder for sober people to drive.

December 24, 2019, 07:56 PM	#7
9x19 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Sherman, TX USA Posts: 3,750	Firing pin, and firing pin retaining pins. __________________ Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!

December 26, 2019, 11:17 AM	#13
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,752	Charge handles--I'd keep at least two spares on hand at all times. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

December 24, 2019, 11:23 AM	#2
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	A complete spare bolt is a good idea since it is easy to swap out and addresses several common issues (extractor, ejector, gas rings, broken lugs). You can also buy a set of AR15 springs pretty cheap - they don’t break or wear out often but the little detent springs get mangled by inexperienced users swapping the stock, or launched into low orbit during obsessive detail cleaning. Plus that usually comes with a spare buffer spring, which is a wear part that will need to be replaced and impacts function. Those two things will handle a lot of common AR issues at minimal expense and hassle.

December 24, 2019, 03:33 PM	#3
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,164	I keep a complete bolt carrier group and complete lower build kit minus furniture in my 3 gun box.

December 24, 2019, 06:57 PM	#6
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Here’s the reproduction cycle of the AR15. You buy one. You start replacing parts on it with nicer parts/parts that are more suited to what you want. One day you are looking at a PSA complete lower sale at $130 and you notice you have enough “leftover” parts to make a whole new AR. Then you start modifying that one and the cycle repeats itself.

December 25, 2019, 02:39 PM	#10
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	I’m accountable for my fair share of space junk. The worst is when you’ve launched some critical part and spend the next hour with a magnifying glass searching by grids. That’s why I use a ziplock bag or other transparent bag to catch them now.

December 26, 2019, 10:28 AM	#11
odugrad Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2013 Location: The East Coast Posts: 477	Here's what I keep on hand: two or three lower parts kits (one is a good start), 2 complete bolt carrier groups, two complete bolts, three sets of gas rings, two bolt upgrade kits from BCM, a spare buffer tube, two or three buffer springs, a couple trigger springs and hammer springs, two gas tubes, three firing pins, three firing pin retaining pins, a couple cam pins, take down pin detents and springs, and a partridge in a pear tree. Get started with what you can and slowly you'll accumulate whatever you could need. Then as others have mentioned, just build another AR to have on hand.

December 26, 2019, 10:54 AM	#12
USAF Ret Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2017 Posts: 806	Thanks everyone.

December 26, 2019, 04:49 PM	#14
odugrad Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2013 Location: The East Coast Posts: 477	Doh! I forgot charging handles. Yeah, a couple of those, too!

December 26, 2019, 06:14 PM	#15
P-man Member Join Date: December 29, 2001 Location: Grand Forks, ND, USA Posts: 30	I never seem to have spare parts...they end up being another AR. However, I seem to have one too many BCGs right now, hmmmm.... __________________ Plainsman [email protected] http://plainsmanscabin.yuku.com/

December 26, 2019, 06:18 PM	#16
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	Spare parts ... for replacement? I thought extra AR parts were just seeds that grow into new ARs... __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

December 28, 2019, 03:11 AM	#17
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,295	They are, they are - I stared with just one just over a year ago...now...

December 30, 2019, 06:59 PM	#18
Americanpatriot Member Join Date: June 11, 2017 Posts: 34	I stash just about every part. Some double and triple, especially springs etc.

January 2, 2020, 05:15 PM	#19
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Spare Bolt... ( or a whole BCG, since those are so danged cost effective. ) And this "Revival Kit" has a good balance of parts. http://sionicsweaponsystems.com/stor...3-carrier.html

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