Every rifle wears eventually, but some platforms have reputations for eating components faster than you’d ever expect. That might mean bolts that crack, extractors that snap, or barrels that lose accuracy long before they should. You see it most with rifles built around speed or heavy recoil, because all that energy has to go somewhere. Instead of spreading the punishment evenly, certain designs push specific parts to the breaking point. If you’ve run one of these rifles, you know keeping spare parts handy isn’t optional—it’s survival. Here are rifles known for chewing through their guts far sooner than most hunters or shooters would like.
AR-10 in .308
The AR-10 has plenty of appeal for hunters and shooters who want semi-auto power in a familiar platform. The trouble is, the .308 Winchester and heavier chamberings generate more stress than the rifle’s smaller AR-15 cousin can handle gracefully. You’ll often hear about sheared bolt lugs, worn extractors, and buffers that need replacing after relatively few rounds.
Gas systems on AR-10s aren’t as standardized as on AR-15s, so pressure can be inconsistent. That means some rifles are harsher on parts than others, especially if you’re shooting hotter loads. While accuracy and versatility are there, anyone running one seriously usually keeps a bag of spares handy. It’s not unusual to burn through bolts and springs in short order compared to lighter-caliber semi-autos.
HK G3 / CETME
The roller-delayed action on the G3 and its CETME predecessor is brilliant in concept but brutal on parts. The fluted chamber makes extraction reliable, yet the violent recoil impulse and heavy bolt carrier beat up internals. Extractors, rollers, and locking pieces wear much faster than you’ll see in other 7.62 rifles.
Magazines can also take a beating due to the aggressive cycling. While the rifles themselves are durable overall, their small parts often demand attention after hard use. If you’re running surplus ammo or long training sessions, you’ll notice you’re swapping extractors and springs far sooner than you would on something like a FAL. The G3 platform works, but it has an appetite for parts you can’t ignore.
M1A / M14
The M1A, civilian twin to the M14, has strong military roots but isn’t gentle on its own hardware. The op-rod and bolt take an incredible beating under repeated fire, especially with full-power 7.62 NATO. It’s not uncommon to see cracked op-rods or worn rollers after steady use.
Barrels also lose accuracy faster than most would expect from a battle rifle. The platform shoots well when tuned, but it’s known for needing careful maintenance and eventual part swaps. Enthusiasts love them for nostalgia and accuracy, but they’ll admit you can’t shoot one hard without expecting to buy parts. For long-term reliability, it’s a rifle you baby more than you’d like.
FN FAL
The FN FAL is praised for reliability, but it’s not immune from chewing through its own parts. Gas systems can be adjusted, yet too much pressure wears out springs, bolts, and locking shoulders quickly. Many surplus FALs also arrive with already tired components, making replacements almost mandatory for regular shooting.
The locking shoulder especially sees accelerated wear compared to other designs. Barrels, too, don’t hold accuracy forever, and extracting assemblies often get swapped out after extended runs. The rifle will keep going, but only if you stay ahead of its appetite for spares. Anyone who runs one long-term knows to keep extras in a parts kit.
AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel
The AR-15 was built for 5.56, and when you stretch it to chamber 6.5 Grendel, the rifle pays for it. The cartridge produces more pressure and pushes heavier bullets, which the standard AR bolt design wasn’t meant to handle over thousands of rounds. Bolts cracking at the lugs are a common complaint.
Extractors also tend to fail early, especially if you run hot loads or steel-cased ammo. While the caliber itself is accurate and effective for hunting, the rifle pays a price in longevity. Shooters who want to run Grendel seriously almost always keep backup bolts and extractors on hand. The cartridge is impressive, but the AR-15 platform struggles to digest it without chewing through hardware.
Ruger Mini-30
The Ruger Mini-30, chambered in 7.62×39, sounds like a practical alternative to an AK, but it’s tough on parts. Firing pins are a known weak spot, often breaking when running harder military primers. Extractors and springs also wear quickly with steady use.
The rifle’s action is a scaled version of the Mini-14, and it doesn’t handle the larger cartridge gracefully. That means shooters find themselves swapping parts far more often than they should. While it remains a handy carbine, anyone who’s put serious time into one knows it’ll demand replacements sooner rather than later. It’s a rifle you learn to carry spares for.
PSL-54C (Romanian Dragunov lookalike)
The PSL-54C is often mistaken for a Dragunov, but it’s more of a scaled-up AK, and that’s where the problem starts. Chambered in 7.62x54R, the powerful round beats up the long-stroke action badly. Bolts, carriers, and receivers all take accelerated wear, and optics mounts often shake loose under repeated recoil.
Barrel life isn’t stellar either, and accuracy drops sharply once wear sets in. While it looks the part of a long-range designated marksman rifle, in reality it devours its own components if you push it hard. Owners quickly learn it’s best shot in moderation, or else you’ll spend half your time tracking down spare parts.
AR-15 in .300 Blackout (suppressed use)
While .300 Blackout works well in an AR platform, suppressed shooting accelerates wear dramatically. The increased backpressure fouls the action quickly, beating up bolts, gas rings, and extractors. Springs also lose tension much faster under that extra stress.
Shooters who love suppressed .300 Blackout setups usually admit they’re replacing parts often to keep the rifle reliable. While the round itself is versatile, the added strain means rifles in this caliber rarely go thousands of rounds without swapping something. It’s not unmanageable, but it does mean running this configuration costs you more in upkeep than many expect.
Barrett M82A1
The Barrett M82A1 is legendary for power, but it’s also notorious for chewing through parts. Chambered in .50 BMG, it creates immense stress on every component. Springs, bolts, and even barrels wear quickly under repeated fire. This isn’t a rifle you run thousands of rounds through without expecting major upkeep.
Military users accept the maintenance because the rifle delivers unmatched firepower, but civilian shooters often find the upkeep exhausting and expensive. Replacement parts aren’t cheap, and the rifle is unforgiving if you don’t stay ahead of wear. The M82A1 is powerful, but it demands constant feeding—not just ammo, but parts too.
AR-15 in .224 Valkyrie
The .224 Valkyrie promised long-range performance in an AR-15, but the platform doesn’t handle it well over the long haul. High pressures and thin bolts designed around 5.56 get pushed to their limit. Cracked bolt lugs and worn extractors are well-documented issues for anyone who runs the cartridge extensively.
Barrels also show wear faster than many expect, as the round pushes small, fast bullets that erode throats quickly. While accuracy is impressive early on, maintaining that performance requires more part swaps than most shooters want. The caliber shines on paper, but rifles chambered for it chew through internals like few others in the AR family.
Saiga .308
The Saiga .308 is built on an AK pattern, but the full-power cartridge is rough on the design. Extractors, recoil springs, and even carriers show wear well before you’d expect in a bolt-action or AR platform. The stamped receiver wasn’t originally built to tame .308 pressures gracefully.
Owners who run them often report chasing down replacement parts after a few seasons of use. While it offers AK simplicity in a .308 package, it comes at the cost of longevity. The rifle will keep running with maintenance, but it eats through parts much faster than alternatives. It’s a rifle that demands constant attention if you want it to last.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
