Spare AR parts quality?

[Hulkstr8]

Hey guys,

I wanted to get spare springs, detents, etc. I was going to pick up colt parts from Brownells, but they're like $2 each. I know that White Oak Armament sells the same thing for like 40-50 cents.

Any noticeable quality differences? I don't think Colt manufactures these, so.

thanks.

[^Rb]

Spares are spares. Just buy what you can afford.

[Stickman]

Not all parts are the same. Take a lot at a Colt extractor spring vs most others if you doubt me. If you are looking for generic parts, buying a couple LPK is a great way to do it. You pay less for the parts, and get parts you might not need until a later date.

[Hulkstr8]

Not all parts are the same. Take a lot at a Colt extractor spring vs most others if you doubt me. If you are looking for generic parts, buying a couple LPK is a great way to do it. You pay less for the parts, and get parts you might not need until a later date.

Yeah, I took up Mistwolf on his advice and picked up 3 Colt copper springs from Brownells. I think I have some sprinco 5-coils around somewhere too. I realize these springs are worth the extra cost.

However, concerning takedown springs, detents, mag springs, and alike specifically. Is it worth paying 4x the cost?

My previous go to LPK was CMMG, but that was before joining this forum. Now, I've been scarred off a bit. Moreover, their CS never emailed me back, so that rubbed me the wrong way. I was trying to avoid buying whole LPKs when I usually get different takedowns, safeties, triggers, trigger guards, and grips. Seems like a lot of wasted parts that just go into a bin.

[titsonritz]

I was trying to avoid buying whole LPKs when I usually get different takedowns, safeties, triggers, trigger guards, and grips. Seems like a lot of wasted parts that just go into a bin.

Follow the links I posted.

[titsonritz]

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...95#post2563995

[RobertTheTexan]

Spares are spares. Just buy what you can afford.

Rb,
I don’t mean to be offensive, but following this advice is just as bad as believing “mil spec is mil spec”. While it is a common saying, especially at TOS, nothing could be further from the truth.

In my world my spares are not just replacements for worn parts and the occasional broken part, but more often not they are used in a build. I’ve built quite a few AR’s and I’ve “modernized” or upgraded a few also and here is truth I have learned:

Not all parts are created equal. It’s just that simple. Also here is another truth:

“Perceived value does not always equal realized value.”
What this means is that you really need to do your due diligence and research what parts are machined with high quality metals and what parts are not. What parts are consistent in spec, and what manufacturers have parts all over the place. I’ve seen both sides of that coin.
I’ve tried many LPK’s. I’ve seen castle nuts that were value priced act like it and my spanner wrench slip out and round out the notches. I’ve seen the same with mil spec barrel nuts. It wasn’t alway the most expensive that was the best either. Though usually there is a cost associated with using quality steel, and there is alway a cost associated with having QA analysts testing parts before they roll out to the end user or whomever.
That’s what makes it so tricky! Sometimes you really are paying for popularity or what happens to be the latest buzz word, or you are paying for perceived value.

[^Rb]

Rb,
I don’t mean to be offensive, but following this advice is just as bad as believing “mil spec is mil spec”. While it is a common saying, especially at TOS, nothing could be further from the truth.

In my world my spares are not just replacements for worn parts and the occasional broken part, but more often not they are used in a build. I’ve built quite a few AR’s and I’ve “modernized” or upgraded a few also and here is truth I have learned:

Not all parts are created equal. It’s just that simple. Also here is another truth:

“Perceived value does not always equal realized value.”
What this means is that you really need to do your due diligence and research what parts are machined with high quality metals and what parts are not. What parts are consistent in spec, and what manufacturers have parts all over the place. I’ve seen both sides of that coin.
I’ve tried many LPK’s. I’ve seen castle nuts that were value priced act like it and my spanner wrench slip out and round out the notches. I’ve seen the same with mil spec barrel nuts. It wasn’t alway the most expensive that was the best either. Though usually there is a cost associated with using quality steel, and there is alway a cost associated with having QA analysts testing parts before they roll out to the end user or whomever.
That’s what makes it so tricky! Sometimes you really are paying for popularity or what happens to be the latest buzz word, or you are paying for perceived value.

You're preaching to the choir, man. Not even gonna waste my time typing out a lengthy response.

To the OP, just buy what you can afford. The statistical likelihood that you're gonna actually need a spare detent or takedown spring? Not very high. And if you do, and you use something that's not-Colt, so what? Is your gun going to magically stop functioning? No. It'll be just fine until you're able to replace it with a Colt (or whatever brand) part, if that satisfies your OCD.

You guys are overthinking this shit, but hey by all means, if you wanna pay 400% more for a spare, that's your money--you're free to spend it how you want.

[Hulkstr8]

I tend to agree with ^Rb. I'm having a hard time believing there is a big difference (if any) between a 50 cent detent from WOA and a $2 detent from Colt/Sionics.

However, is there any resource for what metals/specs the small receiver parts should be made to?

[^Rb]

I tend to agree with ^Rb. I'm having a hard time believing there is a big difference (if any) between a 50 cent detent from WOA and a $2 detent from Colt/Sionics.

However, is there any resource for what metals/specs the small receiver parts should be made to?

Nah, you're missing my point. There **IS** a difference between Colt LPK's and others, but under the circumstances where you'd actually need a spare, I doubt the difference would matter all that much and it wouldn't render your gun inoperable.

Example:

You have a Colt LE6920 (everything works great), and you have a shoot-day/course/whatever coming up. You wanna try this new-fangled A5 buffer system and Magpul grip; so you go to swap out the parts...

SHIT!!! You lose your safety detent and the spring/detent for your end plate. "But wait!! I have some spares.... oh no..... it's just some random spare I got off Brownells for 25 cents--not Colt brand."

"I guess I'll cancel my shoot-day/course because I can't stomach the idea of non-Colt detents/springs being in my lower!" << SAID NOBODY EVER