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Posted: 1/9/2008 7:38:58 AM EDT
| How long do your small-parts last? Namely how many rounds do you usually get before replacing the buffer, extractor, and ejector springs and the gas-rings (assuming un-supressed)? Thanks! |
| I had to replace my extractor springs, the Wolf extra power springs are holding up well now though. Sometimes trigger and hammer pins can break, especially with 9mm. I like to use steel pins just in case. And of course have to change out the barrels and bolts every once in a long while. About a year or two and thousands of rounds wore out my first standard extractor springs. I have a friend who shot the living hell out of his AR15 and needed to replace his disconector after many years of hard use. |
nope, i'm using 2 different bolt groups, one has a standard 3 ring set (this is given to people who want to run their upper on my gun), the other is a 1 piece mcfarland ring, it lives in my 5.56 uppers. both run like a champ. |
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I put in a fresh set of fire-control components and new hammer/trigger/disconnector springs whenever I get a new M16. Thereafter, I regularly replace those springs every 5,000 rounds if I'm shooting 9mm or every 10,000 rounds if I'm shooting 5.56. I shoot nothing but new Federal ammo in all calibers. My uppers are all 100% factory Colt (except for my LRM M169) and were all bought NIB, so they started fresh, too. I have never had any part break on mine in 14 years and many, many tens of thousands of rounds down the tube. I attribute it to correcty made milspec parts, proper maintenance and good ammo.  As an experiment, I once took a new Colt M4 upper and tried to see how many rounds it would go without cleaning, other than wiping the crud off the outside of the bolt carrier when it got completely mucked up. After 5k rounds, almost all in full auto and primarily mag dumps, it was still running flawlessly, so I took pity on it and detail-cleaned it. Still runs fine.  |
Wow, I guess the "fragile M16" isn't as bad as we have been lead to belive... |
Well, I don't jump out of airplanes with mine, or go swimming in saltwater with it, either. And it never snows here in FL.  OTOH, by sticking to the military design spec and only using parts I know are trustworthy, I avoid a lot of the issues that can crop up. A lot of otherwise fine aftermarket components and accessories just weren't designed with full-auto use in mind, were never tested for it, or are so far beyond the milspec (like 7.5"-barrelled uppers, etc.) that they can increase stresses and accelerate wear. The same thing happens when you start modifying cars. I've learned the value in staying close to stock spec, when reliability is most important. As always, Your Mileage May Vary.
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I have a DIAS not a M16 On a regular 5.56 DI gun it has lasted about 10K-no problems LW piston upper, broke all kinds of things from a couple thousand up to 12k, lower was fine 45 acp: buffer springs go fast, so do extractors DIAS itself, 2 trips, Original wore out, cheap/non-hardened metal, second one broke from a out of spec OLY 45 acp BCG. The lower with my FCG I wore out a bolt hold back spring  . It became so loose that it would bounce and engage the bolt after 2 rounds. That has had an ungodly amount of everything shot in it.
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