A friend told me that it was impossible to wear out an AR-15 Or M-16 because EVERY part in them was replaceable.. That even the Lower assembly can't be worn out. He said there was m-16's in the milatery traing camps that shot like new, even though the gun had been in service since the early 60's..Is this true???
Thanks maddog

quote:

Originally posted by MADDOG:
A friend told me that it was impossible to wear out an AR-15 Or M-16 because EVERY part in them was replaceable.. That even the Lower assembly can't be worn out. He said there was m-16's in the milatery traing camps that shot like new, even though the gun had been in service since the early 60's..Is this true???
Thanks maddog

Any weapon can have the parts replaced and keep on going pretty much forever...but that doesn’t mean they aren’t “wearing out.â€

Military armories rebuild rifles all the time to keep them in service. Look at all the M14’s that have been brought out of moth-balls to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bottom line, your friend is mistaken and/or not fully understanding his use of the term “wear out.â€

I think that he used that term loosly. Since the entire upper can be replaced in about 5 min. His statement concluded that the lower was the heart of the weapon ( serial # piece ) that even every moving part in the lower is replaceable. And therefore can always be upgraded and basicaly last for tens of thousands of rounds. I don't know much about these weapons other than I have one that has seen a lot of use and is ready for a overhaul. As I said " Just Curious ". Thanks For your feed back .... Maddog

I remember hearing about a guy that had the origional axe that George Washington used to chop down the cherry tree. The head had been replaced twice and the handle three times

quote:

Originally posted by MADDOG:
I think that he used that term loosly. Since the entire upper can be replaced in about 5 min. His statement concluded that the lower was the heart of the weapon ( serial # piece ) that even every moving part in the lower is replaceable. And therefore can always be upgraded and basicaly last for tens of thousands of rounds. I don't know much about these weapons other than I have one that has seen a lot of use and is ready for a overhaul. As I said " Just Curious ". Thanks For your feed back .... Maddog

Are you aware of any rifle model where all
of the parts cannot be replaced when they break and/or wear out?

Armorers have gauges that measure critical areas for wear both in the individual parts as well as the receiver housings themselves. While it is true that the weapons can have parts replaced and remain in service for tens of thousands of rounds, eventually the holes in the housings, for the trigger and hammer pivot pins, the safety and the upper/lower assembly pins, will wear to a point that it is no longer in the interest of safety to keep these weapons in service and then they are de-milled with a sledge hammer.

Remember, we are talking hard use combat rifles. These same weapons in civilian hands will probably never see the kind of abuse the military models see and so should, with reasonable care, provide a lifetime or better service.

The things that could lead to premature wear of the receivers themselves would be the continual, unnecessary and/or careless removal of pins and the safety. Keep the gun clean and properly lubed and avoid smashing it on a rock and it should live a long, happy life.

Malm, Thank you for your info. And for not makin fun of what I thought was a reasonable question...When I don't know something or am not sure I have always been one to ask...Thanks <>< Maddog

ALL mechanical things eventually wear out with use.

And, even though one may replace every part with a similar part, it is NOT the SAME part, seldom even exactly the same in original measurements.

As an acid test, buy a gun and register it in a country that requires registration by serial number.

Then replace that serial-numbered part. When they do their periodic (or perhaps unannounced) permit renewal inspection, convince them that the gun with the unregistered serial number is the SAME gun.

Rotsa Ruck.

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I remember hearing about a guy that had the origional axe that George Washington used to chop down the cherry tree. The head had been replaced twice and the handle three times

Thaine, you ain't right!

Clemson