Spare bolts and headspacing...

[Sarge45]

For you guys that stock a spare bolt for the AR, how likely is it that if you switch bolts due to breakage, etc., your headspacing will be out of spec ? Anyone have any first hand experience with this ?

[Onmilo]

This is just my personal opinion formed from working on hundreds of M16 and AR15 rifles.
If the barrel is correctly cut and headspaced in the first place, one can replace a bolt and 990 times out of 1000 the bolt will headspace to at least field length maximum dimension.
You should keep a field length headspace gage around along with the replacement bolts just to make sure you didn't get one of the 10 that doesn't headspace correctly.

[kirgi08]

I carry a spare bolt in the carry bag.I've switched back and forth in my AR without ANY probs/none.'08.

[Sarge45]

Did you guys go with another mfg. or stick with the same make of bolt or does it matter ?

[kirgi08]

Damn good ?.I have 4 extra DPMS bolts for one rifle.They are all DPMS builds,So it makes it easy for me.I don't like ta mix parts.'08.;)

[Onmilo]

I use different bolts.
The same manufacturer does not guarantee interchageability.

[Sarge45]

Thanks for the info guys.

[desertfox]

never had problems switching out BCGs. never had a bolt break on me yet. seen bolts give after lots of full auto use, but have not personally experienced one. just buy a spare and do not over think it.

[halfmoonclip]

I have a couple Colt uppers and a LMT BCG; they seem to interchange w/o any problems.
Moon