Are there any hardware store options for these pins on an AR15?
I've always had problems trying to get mine back in and this time it finally broke.
I'm hoping something from Ace Hardware might work so I can get this thing back together.

Take it to the hardware.
Compare.

They will have trays of them.

Thanks, I will do that.

Or, but it from Midway.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019428150?pid=492899

The shipping is the deal killer, plus the wait time.

Cotter pin at the hardware store is most likely going to a much softer metal than the AR pin - not hardened steel.

If you put commercial cotter pin in - make sure the rounded head is clearing your upper receiver wall, or it will gouge the crap out of it.

It will do in a pinch, but it won't last as long as a mil-spec pin - the mil-spec pin is supposed to be replaced after 5K rounds.

I was in the same predicament 2 weeks ago... pins arrived fast, and they work as intended. Your local hardware store sells whatever they got from their latest Chicom container.

I wondered about the hardness of the hardware variety.
Guess I better order a truck load of them.

Joe Bob Outfitter's - they ship fast if it's in stock, and they have some single pins, and some "oops" kits on sale now.

Buy a few.


Along with every other wear item. A complete BCG (bolt carrier group) as a spare is a smart thing. When I have a part go down, I go to the drawer and grab another. In light of the times we live in, I don't want to be caught short handed.



Same applies to Glock handguns.

Go to the parts bin and grab parts and replace. I am not going to rely on being able to get something in the future, as that may not be a possibility.

Those two pin Glocks are the bees knees. I take it neither of them are 10mm, if you've still got all your fingers and eyes.

Mac,

Where can I buy a complete Glock parts kit?

They make a flat headed single pin that I much prefer over the cotter style.

That is smart. I was thinking about getting a complete BCG and even posted about it in another thread, but then changed my mind forgetting completely about the retainer pin. Now having been caught short I'm going to go back to the original plan.
I've got spare parts for about every firearm I own except 2. The one parts are pretty none existent and I don't shoot it much any more, but the other, the AR15 I'm going to remedy.
I admit the AR has not been my favorite firearm and I've shot mine very little. I much prefer bolt rifles, but as Mackay says, in the light of the times we live in, the AR has walked back to the forefront.

Thanks for all the help, this has become a real learning curve.

If I buy a BCG should I get a set of headspace gauges also? I know the tolerances are suppose to be close enough, butttttt?

If you are buying from a reputable source, and putting it in a quality rifle - you’re “probably” ok.

However - as noted above - good preparation now is having the tools and parts on hand, before the next - need, the ban, or the natural event.

99.99999% of the shooters buying spare BCGs don’t headspace them on install.

99.99998% get away with it.

For the cost investment for set of gauges - it’s cheap insurance against a ka-boom.

https://www.jsesurplus.com/ar-15556stainlessfiringpinretainingpin.aspx

Been using this for a little while , seems to be holding up well....Joe

I have not seen it to be an issue if you are buying decent quality in the first place. I have built a significant amount of AR platform rifles over the years. That said, There are certain guys that are more interested in being cheap than getting a good quality item. When they show you a rifle/pistol, whatever, they say "I only paid XXX for it", as if that is the main point of buying the item. Those are the guys who buy the cheapest crap out there and then start threads entitled "why won't my XXX work".

Don't be that guy.

Buy quality once and save yourself the headache in the first place.

In general, I am not a cheap purchaser. Buy once, cry once, has always been what I live by. In the case of AR parts, there is a zillion out there with prices all over the board. I've had 70yrs. of experience so I can normally sort out the crap vs quality, but, in say a BCG, you can pay $200+ or $59. And as a side note, the $59 one was an Anderson. With such a large price difference in BCG's, it can become mind boggling. I am looking at this one...https://palmettostatearmory.com/blem-freedom-nitride-carpenter-158-bolt-carrier-group-516446915b.html
And, to be on the safe side, I will check the headspace just to be sure.
My AR is a DPMS.

I have a field gauge that I use every once in awhile. It's not something I worry about cause I don't buy the cheapest stuff out there. That said even Colt has sent out some bad parts but I've never had a bolt not pass the field gauge.

I bought a Colt BCG for my last "build" and also bought a Toolcraft BCG with some fancy finish on it from PSA. I used the Colt and have the Toolcraft just sitting in my parts box. It's not bad but I feel better with Colt or Sionics BCG's. I also have a Daniel Defense bolt for a spare, they are GTG.

I'd be interested in a Glock spare parts list too Mac, if you have the time. I keep a recoil spring assembly for my 19.5 but that's about it.