Pricey

I got word somewhere via the blogs that the Civilian Marksmanship Program was selling a parts kit for M14s.  Everything but the receiver, bolt, and barrel.  Perfect!  Spares, and actual US Gummint Issue, for my M1A.  Then I got to their eStore and...  $600!  Well.  That's more money than I'd thought they'd be.

I actually have a few spare parts, picked up from Fulton Armory when I got the rifle itself from them.  A bag of springs and pins sights parts.  I try to do that on primary weapons.  Get the spare parts before I need them in case I break something 20 years from now and the parts are too dear to purchase for love or money then.  I keep them in my gunsmithing box.  The parts are kept in a ziplock storage bag that is well marked for each model of boomstick.  I can grab a bag of tiny 1911 springs and pins or a bad of Garand springs and pins, etc. 

The only thing I really lack is a spare bolt for the M1A, but those are pretty hard to find themselves.  I may have to pass on the $600 in used parts that don't even include a bolt, USGI cachet or no.