Wannabewoodsman
Custom
What if any spare parts do you keep on hand for your firearms? Bolts, pins, extractors, springs.. throw me a list of what you have or what you think is wise to have
What if any
- Thread starter Wannabewoodsman
- Start date
Annihilator
Hellion
I usually keep extra recoil springs for my 1911’s and also firing pins and springs, also a few main springs, for my polymer guns, just spare recoil spring assemblies. On the S&W SDVE series I keep an extra extractor, these I’m told are a weak spot for them, as for revolvers, no spare parts for them.
KillerFord1977
SAINT
Springs and firing pins.
The little hex screws for Optic mounts and Hand guards. They like to strip out or roll away forever when taken off
The little hex screws for Optic mounts and Hand guards. They like to strip out or roll away forever when taken off
TidalWave
Professional
I have an SD9 ; great budget gun and I like it fine… I will look into the extractor concerns- hadn’t heard that yet.
Annihilator
Hellion
That’s what I was told, there cheap and it’s only a 5 minute fix, my SD40 has had no issues with the extractor, but a spare doesn’t hurt, plus there not expensive
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
Handguns, almost nothing in extra parts. The only handgun I keep extra parts for is the deagle 50ae/44mag. Recoil springs with maintenance kit.
ARs usually buffers, buffer springs, BCG with firing pins, buffer tubes, safeties, mag releases, takedown/pivot parts, trigger assemblies, gas blocks/tubes, various springs, roll pins, bolt catches, ejection port parts, forward assist parts, castle nuts, grip screws and any other small parts for them. Almost like having another gun?
Another note is with several guns using the same BCG, but headspacing can be different is that using the same bolt and only changing the bc can and has changed the headspace. It has been far and few on occurance, but might happen? I know headspacing is taken off the bolt face, but for just enough difference can make that change when bc get changed. It's not extra gun parts, but I have go/no go gauges.
ARs usually buffers, buffer springs, BCG with firing pins, buffer tubes, safeties, mag releases, takedown/pivot parts, trigger assemblies, gas blocks/tubes, various springs, roll pins, bolt catches, ejection port parts, forward assist parts, castle nuts, grip screws and any other small parts for them. Almost like having another gun?
Another note is with several guns using the same BCG, but headspacing can be different is that using the same bolt and only changing the bc can and has changed the headspace. It has been far and few on occurance, but might happen? I know headspacing is taken off the bolt face, but for just enough difference can make that change when bc get changed. It's not extra gun parts, but I have go/no go gauges.
Hobby guns? Nothing. 
Serious-use handguns? Aside from keeping an exact copy as a (reserved for) defensive-use -vs- training/practice duo, I have enough spare parts to rebuild the entire thing, minus the barrel, slide, and frame (hence "an entire spare gun" idea, borne of the words of Ayoob and Hilton Yam). I also stock recoil springs, striker springs, and magazine springs in order to service the weapons, but in terms of the magazine spring, I do treat the magazines themselves as disposable, and have accrued what I believe is sufficient number of them to do so, for my conceivable lifetime.
My defensive and training ARs are the same. Again, my main goal was "to have a spare," but once I achieved that, I started accruing parts per the advice of some of the sources that I respect (such as the late William Larson, Chad Albrecht, and also the late Pat Rogers and his many disciples who are local to my area: more on this in a minute). Outside of the barrel and upper/lower receivers, I have enough to overhaul the entire gun, for every one I have. As with @TEXASforLIFE , I also keep spare BCGs and bolts, and I'll typically check headspace at least once a year to see if the "spare" I'd intended to use for that gun is still good-to-go, with this critical measure. One thing I don't bother with for the AR are replacement magazine springs - the action spring, buffer, and ejector and extractor springs, along with gas rings and cam pins are replaced as service items.
I haven't really delved into the art of the shotgun just yet, so for the time being, I've got just one pump and one semi, and I don't really have much for either, in terms of either service or repair components.
@Wannabewoodsman , there's actually service manuals and other armorer's resources available (for free) online for some of the more popular weapons and platforms, such as the Glock handguns and the AR15. Primary & Secondary, ARBuildJulkie, as well as platform-specific discussion Forums (such as GlockTalk) typically have these resources highlighted, stickied, or otherwise bookmarked.
Serious-use handguns? Aside from keeping an exact copy as a (reserved for) defensive-use -vs- training/practice duo, I have enough spare parts to rebuild the entire thing, minus the barrel, slide, and frame (hence "an entire spare gun" idea, borne of the words of Ayoob and Hilton Yam). I also stock recoil springs, striker springs, and magazine springs in order to service the weapons, but in terms of the magazine spring, I do treat the magazines themselves as disposable, and have accrued what I believe is sufficient number of them to do so, for my conceivable lifetime.
My defensive and training ARs are the same. Again, my main goal was "to have a spare," but once I achieved that, I started accruing parts per the advice of some of the sources that I respect (such as the late William Larson, Chad Albrecht, and also the late Pat Rogers and his many disciples who are local to my area: more on this in a minute). Outside of the barrel and upper/lower receivers, I have enough to overhaul the entire gun, for every one I have. As with @TEXASforLIFE , I also keep spare BCGs and bolts, and I'll typically check headspace at least once a year to see if the "spare" I'd intended to use for that gun is still good-to-go, with this critical measure. One thing I don't bother with for the AR are replacement magazine springs - the action spring, buffer, and ejector and extractor springs, along with gas rings and cam pins are replaced as service items.
I haven't really delved into the art of the shotgun just yet, so for the time being, I've got just one pump and one semi, and I don't really have much for either, in terms of either service or repair components.
@Wannabewoodsman , there's actually service manuals and other armorer's resources available (for free) online for some of the more popular weapons and platforms, such as the Glock handguns and the AR15. Primary & Secondary, ARBuildJulkie, as well as platform-specific discussion Forums (such as GlockTalk) typically have these resources highlighted, stickied, or otherwise bookmarked.
wmg1299
Professional
The only pistol parts I have are original parts that I kept after upgrading certain components. I'm not sure if they'll ever come in handy, but I've got a decent collection of grips, recoil springs, guide rods, and stock sights.
My collection of spares varies for my long guns. I don't have much at all for my lever-action rifles or shotguns, but I have tons of "Oh S**t" kits for my AR's. I've got multiples of every small AR part that I could ever imagine breaking, losing, or wearing out. I'm guessing that I have so many AR parts because I built a few AR's and I was always worried about replacement parts being outlawed or unavailable in the future. I assume I'd have plenty of pistol, shotgun, and lever-action rifle parts if I'd ever built any of those.
My collection of spares varies for my long guns. I don't have much at all for my lever-action rifles or shotguns, but I have tons of "Oh S**t" kits for my AR's. I've got multiples of every small AR part that I could ever imagine breaking, losing, or wearing out. I'm guessing that I have so many AR parts because I built a few AR's and I was always worried about replacement parts being outlawed or unavailable in the future. I assume I'd have plenty of pistol, shotgun, and lever-action rifle parts if I'd ever built any of those.
HayesGreener
Ronin
Manufacturers recommend scheduled replacement of certain parts and springs. My Sigs for example get new recoil springs every 5000 rounds. Glock is similar. I have a few recoil springs in the drawer. Extractors are a relatively delicate part so I keep a couple on hand, although I have not had one break. The one Glock failure due to parts breakage I worked on had a bad extractor after 15 years of duty use. I also replace the magazine springs and followers for the guns I shoot a lot about every five years or when needed. But the truth is if you do preventive maintenance, unless you are doing a lot of heavy shooting you are probably not going to wear things out.
Blackfeather
Custom
I usually keep extra duplicate guns on hand.