Life expectancy of AR-15?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Life expectancy of AR-15?

Posted: 9/23/2004 4:13:17 PM EDT

I was wondering about how many rounds you can put through an AR-15 type weapon in its life time before it needs majer work or the aluminum upper & lower crack? As for the barrel, I don't care about accerasy but safe opperation, like how long before head space is out of spec. I know that the crapy M-16s I used in the U.S.C.G. looked like they had been shot a few million times. We were still useing A1s that may very well have been in nam! ( That was as of 1998). Does any one have any ideas or facts on this?

Posted: 9/23/2004 4:24:18 PM EDT

[#1]

Well I know for sure that I couldnt wear out a cheap ass Oly A2 , and believe me I tried .
The only thing I replaced were the bolt springs , Pin retainer and a set of gas rings and they were
not broken when I did it .

Last I heard it was still going bang when asked to . It has to be near or over 100K rounds

Posted: 9/23/2004 4:50:58 PM EDT

[#2]

Jesus. You would need to, like, drive a Hummer over the thing to crack the lowers. Either that or have a faulty round of ammunition KB in your chamber.

These things are a lot tougher than you give them credit for.

Posted: 9/23/2004 4:53:47 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
I was wondering about how many rounds you can put through an AR-15 type weapon in its life time before it needs majer work or the aluminum upper & lower crack? As for the barrel, I don't care about accerasy but safe opperation, like how long before head space is out of spec. I know that the crapy M-16s I used in the U.S.C.G. looked like they had been shot a few million times. We were still useing A1s that may very well have been in nam! ( That was as of 1998). Does any one have any ideas or facts on this?

Taken care of.. They could last longer than you....

Posted: 9/23/2004 4:54:19 PM EDT

[#4]

or soak them in simple green for 2 weeks.

Posted: 9/23/2004 6:46:22 PM EDT

[#5]

What does Simplegreen do anyways?

Posted: 9/23/2004 7:00:10 PM EDT

[#6]

Simple Green is used to clean everything. We use it for our dive gear. I'm not too sure what it would do to a rifle that has been soaked for two weeks?

Posted: 9/23/2004 7:02:37 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
I was wondering about how many rounds you can put through an AR-15 type weapon in its life time before it needs majer work or the aluminum upper & lower crack? As for the barrel, I don't care about accerasy but safe opperation, like how long before head space is out of spec. I know that the crapy M-16s I used in the U.S.C.G. looked like they had been shot a few million times. We were still useing A1s that may very well have been in nam! ( That was as of 1998). Does any one have any ideas or facts on this?

The US military is still issuing A1 lowers that have been 'upgraded' with newer uppers...

Aluminum can't rust, and there are less large/significant moving parts than other designs...

The only thing you will 'wear out' on an AR is the gas rings and bbl, and only after severe use (think wearing out piston rings on a car engine)...

Posted: 9/24/2004 8:57:02 AM EDT

[#8]

simple green (not watered down) will eat you reciver. esp if thir are scrathes on the reciver that go thru the andozing (sp).

Posted: 9/24/2004 9:34:47 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
simple green (not watered down) will eat you reciver. esp if thir are scrathes on the reciver that go thru the andozing (sp).

Correct, the Army has issued warnings about this both for helicopters and rifles.

Posted: 9/24/2004 11:56:42 AM EDT

[#10]

AR receivers are worn out when the pin holes get elongated. The pivot and takedown pin holes can be loose and the rifle will still work, but when the firecontrol pin holes are too lose, the rifle will come apart or the trigger parts won't keep the proper geometery.

It takes a LOT of use to wear out an AR receiver.

-Troy

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Life expectancy of AR-15?

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