Novice needs must have spare parts list and AR manual recommendation

[DMTJAGER]

Novice AR-15 owner in need of some help. Before I even bought my first AR-15 I amassed all the AR-15 specific cleaning tools I would EVER need and keep my AR-15's like all my firearms well cleaned and very well maintained.

I also put off for to long acquiring a good supply of spare parts for my AR's and now I need a list of what are the must have spare parts or part kits for my AR's to insure in the event of a part failure I can keep my AR's up and running. I have searched here and on the web for AR-15 spare parts kits but none really broke them down into the essential must have parts from the non essential parts.

I already own both a USGI AR-15 manual and the Complete AR-15 manual by Walt Kuleck so unless someone can recommend a better AR-15 manual(s) I should be good there.

Thanks as the help is much appreciated

[opngrnd]

What is your budget? I generally recommend a spare BCG at a minimum.

[Diamondback]

If you have budget, add Patrick Sweeney's "Gunsmithing the AR15" books, starting with "Bench Manual." Gun Digest throws out some sweetheart deals on 'em every now and then.

[DMTJAGER]

What is your budget? I generally recommend a spare BCG at a minimum.

My budget is what ever is required to ensure my three AR's will continue to function. That is not to say my budget is limitless as it is not, but I what I need is the information to ensure I get the most spare parts for my money as can be done. In other words is it smarter money to buy say two complete BCG's and one bolt and extractor or two bolt/extractors and one BCG?

My initial thoughts were buy at least two complete pin sets, two complete spring sets and two complete BCG's but I do not posses the knowledge to know if this is the best expenditure of money on spare parts or should I select a different combination of parts for the same money that in the end will give me more critical parts vs my previous list of two each iof pins, springs and BCG's.

Hence coming here for advice on what is the best for the $$$ combination of spare parts to buy. When ever I buy a new firearm I make it a point to buy all moving or high wear parts that could fail and render the firearm inoperable. This is relatively simple for bolt and lever action rifles and even for my semi-auto HG's. And my bolt and lever action guns don not experience any where near the level of use for its moving parts as does my AR's. For my bolt and lever guns I simply bought either entire bolts or all replaceable parts for their bolts, doing this for all moving parts for my AR's would be quite expensive. But my AR's are a different platform and have far more parts then any of my other guns and are subject by the nature of their design and function to expose their parts to a much higher rate of wear than my non semi-auto rifles.

In 39 years of owning and shooting rifles, shotguns, and HG's I have had only 3 firearms experience a part fail (one was my fault) and only one require a trip back to the factory. Pretty good track record considering I've can not tell you how many rounds I have fired from them all but it's in the 10s of thousands each.
I had an extractor fail on my 870 Express first year I bought it and went back and has performed for the last 23 pheasant and turkey seasons flawlessly ever since
I had a firing pin on my Marlin 39 22lr brake from to much dry firing Marlin sent me a new one for free
Last was the spring for my ejector on my Savage 116 I bought and replaced myself.

So I know parts do fail and I don't want to be caught with an inoperable AR due to lack of parts.

[GH41]

The best parts kit is a second and maybe a third rifle.

[opngrnd]

The best parts kit is a second and maybe a third rifle.

This, but you can start simple. A spare BCG, springs and pins, and enough mags you'll never wear out is a good start. Eventually you'll buy a second AR, and you will probably never need more than that as a recreational shooter. I do ascribe to the "two is one and one is none" theory. Sionics Weapon Systems sells spare parts kits and BCGs, I'd start there.

[DMTJAGER]

The best parts kit is a second and maybe a third rifle.

Were my original thoughts as well, but then I figured I'd rather not disable a functioning rifle to fix a malfunctioning one. I could be wrong but doesn't this Kind of defeat the purpose of buying a rifle VS buying parts?. Am I wrong in thinking having three functioning rifles and sufficient spare parts is better than long term disabling one rifle to fix another and end up with fewer functioning rifles?

[JediGuy]

I’d grab an extra complete bolt, can pin, and firing pin or two, as long as you have a quality bolt carrier to begin with.
Then one or two complete small parts kits sans trigger. I ordered from Forward Controls Design.

This will allow you have backups, but then you also have a complete set of small parts if you decide to put together another rifle. Win-Win.

For reference material, Chris Bartocci’s book works just fine and goes on sale on Amazon occasionally.

[markm]

A complete Lower Part Kit isn't bad. A spare bolt it good too. Action springs and gas tubes are cheap insurance as well.

[Tony617]

I have some AR oops kit, spare gas rings, spare extractors, spare cam pins, a few firing pin retainers, and a few spare firing pins. I do have a few spare BCGs depending your budget so I can swap one out in an emergency.