HELP: Spare Parts?

[garrettbragg12]

With the number of carbine collectors growing every year, the USGI items are starting to dry up, and I want to stock pile extras while possible. What would be parts that should be in every carbine tool box (parts that are most likely to wear down or break over the years)? My carbine is a late '44 Inland.

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[Mikey51]

I can only talk about my own experience but extractors, plungers and springs are high on my list. Mike.

[imarangemaster]

I have: spare firing pin, extractor, ejector spring and plunger, extractor spring and plunger, (2) spare recoil springs, and spare type IV magazine catch. I want to pick up spare magazine catch spring and safety spring eventually.

[firstflabn]

Barring bad luck, moderate use can wear out everything other than maybe the buttplate, handguard, safety, bandspring, and front sight, leaving a rather long list. Maybe the trigger housing is safe if you start with one in good condition. The receiver and barrel should be OK in moderate use. Bolt availability would be the only worry for me.

Too bad if you missed the CMP boltless carbines for $350 - best deal ever for anyone without a parts stash.

[garrettbragg12]

Barring bad luck, moderate use can wear out everything other than maybe the buttplate, handguard, safety, bandspring, and front sight, leaving a rather long list. Maybe the trigger housing is safe if you start with one in good condition. The receiver and barrel should be OK in moderate use. Bolt availability would be the only worry for me.

Too bad if you missed the CMP boltless carbines for $350 - best deal ever for anyone without a parts stash.

My carbine isn't an every day shooter, as it stays in the safe and shot every couple of months, but I plan on keeping her in the family for generations to come, so I figure spare parts would be a good thing to have!


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

[Bubba-7]

First, spare parts are kept separate from complete guns. I have found when a part is needed, you do not remember where the spare part bag is. My solution is to have a spare carbine. Of course, then that one willl require need a spare also, and so on. It never ends until your money or marrage does. Then the ex-wife gets half the spare carbines. You get to start all over again. Did I say, it never ends.
Second, I have found the best way to keep spare parts is assembled into a complete carbine. You can lose a small bag of parts, but not near as easy lose a complete carbine.
Third, If you are dead set on getting spare parts, I would suggest assembling them into sub-assenblies. Small bolt parts into a complete bolt(headspaced checked to your carbine). Trigger housing pins and springs into a complete trigger housing with a housing pin glued in.
Of course, with the expense of all the sub-assemblies, a little more and you can have a complete spare carbine. Have I said that already?

[garrettbragg12]

First, spare parts are kept separate from complete guns. I have found when a part is needed, you do not remember where the spare part bag is. My solution is to have a spare carbine. Of course, then that one willl require need a spare also, and so on. It never ends until your money or marrage does. Then the ex-wife gets half the spare carbines. You get to start all over again. Did I say, it never ends.
Second, I have found the best way to keep spare parts is assembled into a complete carbine. You can lose a small bag of parts, but not near as easy lose a complete carbine.
Third, If you are dead set on getting spare parts, I would suggest assembling them into sub-assenblies. Small bolt parts into a complete bolt(headspaced checked to your carbine). Trigger housing pins and springs into a complete trigger housing with a housing pin glued in.
Of course, with the expense of all the sub-assemblies, a little more and you can have a complete spare carbine. Have I said that already?

Hahahaha, well it looks like I'll be getting a spare carbine when money permits. BUT. I do keep spare springs and such for each gun. I have ammo boxes dedicated to each, so losing parts won't be an issue! Thanks for your response! Spare carbine it shall be!


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Or you could simply have a box with different compartments for parts by type or maker. And put a parts pouch that will carry some springs and extractors, that will snap around your sling when you go to shoot. I think the little GI pouches are about $5.

[tenOC]

Bubba-7 has the right idea.
But I came to that conclusion after buying parts.

[DaveHH]

A bolt can crack and is not a candidate for fabrication, so a spare bolt would be good. Firing pins and extractors DO wear out, so a few of those are good. An extractor plunger is a great part for getting lost, so several of those. Springs are springs, reasonable substitutes will always be around but a plunger spring, slide spring and ejector spring will be useful. Ejectors are probably never going to wear out but are handy if you are getting brass in the head, so maybe a couple of these in different types. Probably the biggest wear item on the carbine is the magazine. You can never have too many of those.