Any suggestions as to where to pick up a set of the parts that break down frequently? I shoot a Colt (MT, I hate NJ) but the only parts sets like that I've seen are from Bushmaster or Fulton, and I want to make sure I'm getting decent parts, not some out of spec. junk. I'd rather stick with Colt or LMT, a MPI and shot peened bolt, etc.

Only parts i have had fail at school is an aftermarket "match" trigger.

love the vagisil

I agree with what Pat said about parts guns.

I build my own, but I buy quality parts. I don't buy from the bargin bin at gun shows. I enjoy looking for the quality parts and it takes me a while (4-5 months) to build a rifle I can trust.

The first class I went to I saw a lot of problems with:

Unsecured optics - EOTech fell off a guys gun

Broken bolt and pin - unknown manufacture

Bad parts gun - guy assembled it from Bushmaster parts but had damn near every problem you can imagine including improperly staked gas key, buffer tube coming loose, etc.

Bad magazines - me, some questionable mags I brought that I hadn't planned on putting into rotation did get in and I had some minor issues from two magazines; others had issues as well. My mags were USGI and I saw some others have problems with USGI and Thermolds.

Dirty guns - Second day my gun had Wolf stuck case syndrome most likely from a dirty chamber. Partner's gun destroyed his bolt (again, unknown manufacture) with the same issue during the same drill.

Broken buffer retainer pin - Oly gun don't know exactly how this happened to this guy's gun

Second class:

Not much to speak of. I had zero issues but there was one guy who had trouble with his rifle and finished the class with an instructor's rifle. Did not get to see what the problem was and or why he had to use another rifle altogether. I also did not pay attention to other's problems here as I did during my first class.

Hopefully nothing will break in a class, especially if it is a rifle your life may depend on someday. Hopefully a rifle won't break in a fight for your life either, but better in class than on the street; but maybe I'm just an idealist.

Originally Posted By Pat_Rogers: I have a Book of Horrors that i bring to class. I haven't seen it all, bit i have photographed a whole lot of it...

That book needs to be wrapped up in a PDF file and posted here. My popcorn is ready.

ZM

...

Originally Posted By thedoctors308: Pat - how have CMMG products performed in your classes? I am especially interested to know if there have been any failures from their LPK.

Casn't help you there. I don't remember ever even seeing one at class.

Thanks for the info Pat Rogers!

Pat_Rodgers sir, if you would:

Have you encountered any spring failures because of high rate of fire and heat?

Any indications that high rates of fire cause bolt breakage?

At about what point would carbon build-up cause malfunctions?

I feel these questions are on topic, and only someone who has seen a lot of ARs put through the 'test' can really elaborate on them because they are the only one who can testify to the overall reliability of the system.

Originally Posted By Dusty_C: I'm curious to know if there is anyone that can read this thread and still say it's better to run an AR dry. I wanna thank everyone, especially Mr Rogers for their info.

That's part of the reason I think I had the Wolf case stuck in the chamber not to mention mixing Wolf ammo with XM193 during the course (although it wasn't the XM193 that got stuck I had mags loading with mixed ammo which was my bad decision).

I didn't lube the weapon throughout the day and I'm sure that if I had I wouldn't have had any problems.