What interval to replace AR parts?

[kidicarus13]

I know there are too many variables for exact round counts but when do you look to replace what parts? O-rings, springs, bolts, etc.

[Great-Kazoo]

When and if you start having issues. Replace a bolt? unless it cracked or running full auto rarely, but it does happen.
Extractor, extractor spring, Gas rings, loose bolt carrier key or screws, ejector spring, blow by on the gas tube / front gas block. I've seen more issues with magazines than the rifle itself.

[brutal]

^ This ^

Keep spares on hand.

[brutal]

When and if you start having issues. Replace a bolt? unless it cracked or running full auto rarely, but it does happen.
Extractor, extractor spring, Gas rings, loose bolt carrier key or screws, ejector spring, blow by on the gas tube / front gas block. I've seen more issues with magazines than the rifle itself.

I've certainly not been exposed to as many as others, but the only broken bolt I've seen outside 8 years in the Army was a friends NFA RDIAS equipped Bushmaster AR-15 after around 10K rounds. He ran that thing with all manor of barrels too, down to a 6.5 kitty kat.

[ray1970]

This reminds me of my job. I'll try to keep it brief.

Under the old owners, we had a maintenance program where critical equipment was inspected and overhauled at certain intervals. Everything was reliable and could be counted on when needed.

Under the new owners, the equipment is basically run until it begins to have issues and then repaired. Seems most of it shits the bed when it's needed the most and then it's a big emergency to get it up and going.

Of the two methods, I prefer the first.

I'm going to disagree with those that tell you to run it until you have issues and then fix it.

If it's strictly a range toy, then that's fine. Who really cares.

If it's something you would grab in a desperate situation and count on to protect yourself or those you love, then make it a point to replace stuff before it actually fails.

I probably go above and beyond with replacing wear items on my rifles so I won't tell you my intervals.

[Great-Kazoo]

This reminds me of my job. I'll try to keep it brief.

Under the old owners, we had a maintenance program where critical equipment was inspected and overhauled at certain intervals. Everything was reliable and could be counted on when needed.

Under the new owners, the equipment is basically run until it begins to have issues and then repaired. Seems most of it shits the bed when it's needed the most and then it's a big emergency to get it up and going.

Of the two methods, I prefer the first.

I'm going to disagree with those that tell you to run it until you have issues and then fix it.

If it's strictly a range toy, then that's fine. Who really cares.

If it's something you would grab in a desperate situation and count on to protect yourself or those you love, then make it a point to replace stuff before it actually fails.

I probably go above and beyond with replacing wear items on my rifles so I won't tell you my intervals.

To each their own. If i had a firearm i couldn't depend on due to potential issues i'd sell or never own it. Then again i don't own S/A 45's ;)

I understand PM is Job 1 in all fields. Some are lax, as your boss is.
IF i replaced parts prior to a failure time. How many times should one replace their optics or iron sights? That nitrogen filled tube could crap out, BUIS spring or detent weaken, etc.

I follow PM guidelines on my guns [Beer]

http://www.mrfa.org/m16.htm

Of course that old saying still holds water.

Cardboard's Maintenance Free.............................................. ........Till it rains out.

[Delfuego]

I'm going to disagree with those that tell you to run it until you have issues and then fix it.Ray replaces his rifles long before the sell-by date!

[asmo]

After 1000 rounds or so the gun is basically worthless, even worse it could blow up in your face at any time... Just give it to me and I will take care of it.

[Great-Kazoo]

Ray replaces his rifles long before the sell-by date!

That's buckaroobansi. I doubt his guns are close to freshness date.

[BPTactical]

Cmon guys, you know the correct answer is to buy another rifle.
Jeez....





Common sense is the answer here, use your rifle, clean it well and keep your eyes out for deficiencies. The most apparent is gas rings, when you extend the bolt in the carrier and stand it on its nose the ring tension should be sufficient to support the weight of the carrier.
Recoil, extractor and magazine springs every 3-4K rounds.
Gas tubes- keep an eye where it joins the gas block, a bit of leakage here is normal but if it shows strong indicators of blow by then address it. If you have an aluminum gas block they will erode at the barrel port after enough rounds. They will also show wear at the breech end where it rides in the key, keep an eye on it for unusual wear and usually you will see the swell of it worn off.

I guess that would meet the criteria of preventive maintenance.
Spare firing pin and gas rings are nice to keep handy.

[ChunkyMonkey]

^^ solved all of those w/ a Adams Arm piston kit. [dig]

[BPTactical]

^^ solved all of those w/ a Adams Arm piston kit. [dig]

Hardware fix for a software problem.

[Great-Kazoo]

^^ solved all of those w/ a Adams Arm piston kit. [dig]

i went with an AK, who replaces the gas block ??? [ROFL2]

[ray1970]

Ray replaces his rifles long before the sell-by date!

Busted.

But, just for the record, I have had several in my life time that went well ok 10K rounds without a single failure.

[Awesom]

[Circuits]

Most just keep maybe some spares on hand, and only replace things when they break. I've also heard 5000 and 10000 rounds as common PM points for preventive spring replacement.

I personally stock spares and only replace if something has broken or gone out of spec, and only troubleshoot if there have been problems.

[ChunkyMonkey]

i went with an AK, who replaces the gas block ??? [ROFL2]

Gotta admit.. Jim wins.. I never had to fix an ak once it runs good


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[MarkCO]

Opinions are like, well, you know, so here is my opinion...

It depends on duty cycle, how the gun was built and tuned, what ammo you run, the gun parts, how and how often you clean as well as the environment you run it in.

Lets take one end of the spectrum...LW carrier, not overgassed, rifle length, enhanced bolt, high quality springs and a SS match barrel with quality ammo, most of it low to mid-powered. You keep it clean and well lubed. You need to re-barrel that rifle at about 12-15K, and then you might as well rebuild the bolt and change the buffer spring. All else will last for three or 4 barrels.

And the other...M4gery, M16 carrier, normally overgassed, carbine length, milspec bolt and springs with a CL 14.5" barrel shooting mil-surp and steel jacketed crap. By the time you get to 5K, you might want to be thinking about a bolt rebuild and a buffer spring. At 10K, when you do your second bolt rebuild and buffer spring replacement, go ahead and change out the extractor. At 15K, another bolt rebuild and buffer spring swap. At 20K, if the barrel is still okay, you better be checking headspace. When you find it out of spec, you have a choice...another bolt, or bolt and barrel combo.

I have seen some ARs that, after as few as 3500 rounds started to have failures due to worn gas rings, gas tubes, extractors, etc. I have an AR that has over 20K with not a single thing done to it except maybe 12 to 15 thorough cleanings.

A word on enhanced bolts...they last longer, sorry mil-spec fans, just is. Now there are 2 kinds of enhanced bolts. One is 9310 steel vs C158 steel. The other has to do with the extractor upgrade. If I end up with a C158 bolt, I put in an upgraded extractor and the Colt (copper colored spring with black insert) extractor spring. I usually get 9310 bolts, and still swap out the extractor spring for the better Colt extractor spring. The Colt extractor spring is like $5 or $6, but it is one of the dirty little secrets...it can fix several problems and I have not seen one that is better yet. They last a lot longer too.

Any well balanced and tuned AR is going to outlast an M4gery. Even going to a mid-length 16" barrel is going to increase the lifespan of the barrels, bolt lugs, gas rings and gas block enough to buy at least another case of ammo over the lifespan of the gun.