AR & AK ?
What parts should i have on hand in case something breaks? What part breaks the most? Thanks David
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quote:Originally posted by dav1965
What parts should i have on hand in case something breaks?
If this is an end-of-world, need for zombie invasion gun, I'd suggest an entire second rifle as "optimal".
quote: What part breaks the most?
Depends in part on what you're doing with the gun.
If you're starting with a quality build, and you're like most shooters (who maybe put a few boxes per year through their guns), you're simply never going to get the round count necessary to actually wear out any parts in your gun.
As a matter of practice, lightweight aluminum mags are probably more likely to fail than actual gun parts.
Extractors and their springs are probably the most common single failure point in the actual AR guns themselves. Bolt rings, and other springs can fail. Firing pins can break. Gas keys coming loose (if not staked in low quality guns) is another problem people talk about. Eventually any part will fail if run long/hard enough. Sometimes triggergroup parts will wear out. . .that's not good. I've heard of retaining pins walking out. . .again, not good, though this shouldn't happen with a good build.
With AKs, they don't have a lot of parts, and the ones in there are relatively overengineered. Again, unless you are doing some pretty serious training involving thousands and tens of thousands of rounds, you're probably going to wear out before the gun does.
In terms of which parts, same basic thing though. Extractors and springs can wear out from lots of use. Sometimes firing pins can break.0 -
For the AR pretty much the little bits that's gong to get launched [:D]. Had to chase a few things yesterday. I was thinking the complete lower build if there ain't much price diference between the spring and detent pack or the emergency pack. 0 -
I have an 'Essential AR Repair Parts Kit' for each of the AR's. These include all springs and pins, an extractor, and a couple of other smaller bits which I do not remember. I also keep a complete bolt assembly for each AR as well. Between the two these should keep an AR functioning so long as the barrel is straight and I haven't done anything stupid.
I keep a hammer handy for each AK for the same reason.0 -
All these suggestion are spot on.
Most of us can't afford enough ammo to wear out an AK.0 -
Parts for AR's seem to be a little tight. But the real question is not so much parts but what are you shooting? Do you want a "poodle shooter" or a "brick buster"? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by DRP-AZ
Most of us can't afford enough ammo to wear out an AK.
I've read that most full-auto AKs are designed with an expectation of firing around 25,000 rounds; I don't think they were designed with thoughts that there would be arsenal rebuilds on them, but probably that they would just be scrapped after a certain point of wear. I'd expect, if one was shooting just a few hundred rounds at a time through a semi-auto AK, and cleaning between those firings, one would easily exceed a 25,000 round life-expectancy.0 -
quote:Originally posted by competentone
quote:Originally posted by DRP-AZ
Most of us can't afford enough ammo to wear out an AK.
I've read that most full-auto AKs are designed with an expectation of firing around 25,000 rounds; I don't think they were designed with thoughts that there would be arsenal rebuilds on them, but probably that they would just be scrapped after a certain point of wear. I'd expect, if one was shooting just a few hundred rounds at a time through a semi-auto AK, and cleaning between those firings, one would easily exceed a 25,000 round life-expectancy.
Agree 100% there. Full-auto cyclic fire is VERY rough on guns, because the parts get super hot and this contributes greatly to wear. Its not just the barrel, but also springs that are flexing back and forth rapidly, too. Avoiding it all by itself should help extend the service life of a gun considerably.
No matter how you put them through the gun, if you're running 25,000 jacketed bullets through the barrel, you're probably going to see some degradation of accuracy from barrel/throat erosion over that lifespan. But if that's a major consideration you're probably not going to be starting with an AK platform anyway. Even 5-6" 100 yard groups are probably "good enough" for what an AK is meant for.
In terms of cost, at $0.25 per round, and given a 25,000 round life expectancy, you'd have to run over $6000 worth of ammo through your $700 gun to wear it out. That said, the rated service life of a gun doesn't assume that every single part will last that time. IE, even with a 50,000 round life, you still may expect to have to swap a few springs or other small parts along the way.0 -
It's always prudent to have a good military bolt action sitting int he corner, just in case. The Russian Moisin M-91/30 is hard to beat as a back up. They are inexpensive, generally in great condition, and they fire the 7.62X54R ammo, the ammo is cheap, and the Russian round is very close to .30-06 ballistics. 0
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