Spare Parts?

Vinz Klortho

Vinz Klortho

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2021
Posts
455
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Feedback: 2 / 0 / 0
I've been thinking about spare parts for my UMP. All the gun-related gloom on the horizon has made it seem even more important.

What spare parts should I buy now for a UMP clone? Springs, extractor, ejector?

And while I have the floor can someone recommend a good sling?

Thanks
 
That looks great but how does it attach to the UMP? Would I need to get one of those special takedown pins with the loop on the end?

Thanks for the link.
 
Yeah we all need to be stocking up on spare parts. I have a decent amount but always want and need more.
 
Spares.....yes. Had to comment that I LOVE the scrnname!!!

Are you from GOZER?
 
The most complete spare parts kit for any gun is another gun.

But then you will need to get a spare for the spare and then a spare for the spare's spare.

-E-
 
Well as I was not of the manor born I can't afford a second UMP. Practically speaking what items should us commoners stock our UMP spares kit with? Just looking for some advice.
 
Well I know the G36 and UMP/USC uses quite a few common parts in the trigger pack; albeit maybe the axle pins are a bit longer on UMP/USC. I came across this heavily worn Trigger/Sear Axle Pin on a G36 trigger pack:

IMG_5412.1.jpg
IMG_5414.1.jpg
IMG_5415.1.jpg
 
Gozer isn't a place. Gozer was the bad guy, Gozer the Gozerian remember? Vinz was a demon or whatever it was that possessed Tully the accountant.
 
I have three US made mags. I'm thinking ejector, extractor, firing pin and spring. Maybe a recoil spring?

Everything else appears to be fairly robust. It's not like I shoot it much, just want to get some spare parts before they dry up.
Did I read somewhere that the US made extractors have been problematic?
 
Vinz Klortho said:
I have three US made mags. I'm thinking ejector, extractor, firing pin and spring. Maybe a recoil spring?

Everything else appears to be fairly robust. It's not like I shoot it much, just want to get some spare parts before they dry up.
Did I read somewhere that the US made extractors have been problematic?
Click to expand...
I don’t have a UMP yet, still waiting for mine to show up at the FFL. To each their own, but I definitely wouldn’t consider three mags good to go. I would definitely stock up on mags. I’m still waiting for my UMP and I have already more mags than three.
 
Holescreek, thanks for the sling tip. I ordered one, and a simple Magpul sling for another build. They came in today.
That single point sling is so cool I ordered another.
 
Hi @Vinz Klortho
I wanted to try and answer your original question about spare parts because I just went down this road myself and it wasn't fully fleshed out above. I don't agree with the approach mentioned above about "a spare gun is the best set of spare parts" because some items wear out more frequently and it's not worth investing in a spare gun for just a few parts.
Last Fall, after about 6K rounds I sent my UMP to James Williamson for service and he found some items needing replacement. Not all of them were in stock at HK CS so I bought them on HKParts but that led me to developing my own box of spare parts. I started by having a few separate conversations about what to get with James, a LEO colleague of mine of was a member in and then an armorer for a high-risk warrant division of a LEO task force that used UMPs, and a few other guys who work on the UMP platform in its various calibers. At the time I had saved up a bunch of money to buy a HK45 colored frame and ended up diverting a little, then a little bit more, then all of that money into my own little parts stash. That said, the UMP is the gun I use when I take all the sub gun shooting classes (only 1 a year due to family and work obligations) and when I have a little range time. Not that you could tell by how hard I worked to get a SP5... The point is that this is my go-to gun for most of my shooting so I want to be equipped for many years to come. Also, I'm in process of building a UMP9 so I had that gun to equip as well. I also have a USC SBR so there's that. Consider your own shooting and how many rounds you put through your UMP when you evaluate how many spare parts to invest in. This is very subjective. Here's what I recommend based on my own education (because of character limits I had to split this into 2 seperate posts):

MUST HAVE

1. Extractor (caliber specific i.e., not the same across calibers) - why? It's a high wear part that does a lot of work under tension. It's a spring and springs wear out. Cost ~$45 If you assume replacement every 5-7K rounds, I would have 3-4 spares depending on how long you plan to shoot. Every UMP kit I have seen (for conversions) had a worn out extractor.
2. Buffer - why? Takes a pounding on it's tiny nylon body Cost ~$10-$13 (don't buy from HKParts at $19) I replace mine after each class, so they last 1500-2500 rounds in my own experience. My LEO armorer replaced his team's every 1000 rounds but they had a large budget and even he said it was overkill. I would have 10-12 spares.
3. Barrel locking pin - why? Because it should be replaced every time you swap or remove the barrel. I replace it every 2-3 barrel changes/removals because I'm not tax funded. I only remove the barrel for major cleaning (not required). Cost $8 If you don't replace or remove your barrel often, you don't need many of these. So maybe just 1-2 spares in case you need to do barrel work over the life of the gun. Some guys never replace these and have no issues, so some will disagree that this is a "must have".

SHOULD HAVE

1. Slide plate (0,1,2,burst) - why? It breaks. Not a high wear part but I am aware of 2 of them breaking. One of them was mine. The pic below is of mine and you can see it sheared at the top after ~6K rounds. Cost ~$15. If you assume breakage every 10K rounds I would have 2 spares. This is only needed in 3-position lowers. You do not need this part in an FBI lower or a 4 position lower.
Broken slide plate replaced by James Oct 2020.png

2. Slide plate, USC to UMP Conversion (that's the HK name for it) - why? It's a slightly different looking slide plate from above. Same rationale as above, although I've never heard of one breaking. It's only used in 0,1 USC lowers (not FBI UMP lowers) and in 4 position UMP lowers converted to semi. So pick the slide plate to keep spare based on your UMP's lower.
3. Recoil rod assembly - why? It's a high compression spring in constant use. Cost ~$45 I've yet to replace mine, but I will at some point. No one I spoke to advocated replacing this assembly on a regular basis, just "as needed". That said, I've heard 2 independent stories of "I don't know how it happened or that it was even possible, but I had a broken one I had to replace" That was enough for me to buy some spares for myself. I think I got 1 new and 2 used spares. That's over kill. I recommend having 1-2 spare.
4. Firing pin retainer pin - why? What could possibly go wrong with a solid piece of steel that doesn't take any pounding? You could lose it. It's small and you take it out every time you pull the firing pin assembly. Cost $8 of piece of mind Depending on your klutziness level I would have 1 to 3 as spares
5. Firing pin spring - why? Like all firearms, this spring is critical to function and they eventually wear and loose elasticity thus reducing the spring constant. Cost $8 You really only need 1-2 spares, but at $8, I would keep a few more than you need
6. Locking pin, Rear / lower, UMP - why? This is the pin you take out each time you disassemble your non-stockblock (aka fuse job) UMP. Thus it's prone to loss and to breakage from constant removal and insertion (the wire piece specifically). It's far more likely you will lose this than it breaking. Cost ~$35 I would have 2 spares depending on how much you lose things. This is not needed if you have a stock block conversion.
7. Magazine springs - why? Mag springs wear out and you may be in a position where mag replacement is difficult/impossible. Cost ~$15 Some people are big on keeping lots of spare mag springs around for their various guns. I'm not big on this. Decide based on your own philosophy on this topic. Quantity should depend on how many mags you keep.
8. UMP rear stock pin - why? Because it's a compression pin that should be changed each time you swap your stock. You are likely to do that once in a while, so have a spare. Cost $4-24 for German (yea, big price range) and $15 for Swiss (just as good). Depending on how you use and swap stocks, probably good to have 1 spare.
9. All other springs - why? Most people understand that springs wear out over time. If you run into a worn spring as the gun ages, you want to have a spare replacement. Springs are generally not expensive to stock up on. Cost ~$10 per spring, I would have 2-3 spares of each spring depending on how long you plan to keep the gun.
10. Picatinny rail screw - why? It's not a part that wears, but it's prone to loss if you swap rails a lot. Cost 75 cents to $1 for US made; $4-$6 for German It's nice to have 2-4 to replace ones you lose.
 
Last edited:
NICE TO HAVE

1. Charging/cocking handle spring & pin - why? Because you might damage it if it's not properly aligned when removing / inserting the cocking handle assembly from the upper receiver. Plus the spring is small and easy to lose. Plus the pin is small, easy to lose and should be replaced when re-installed on this high use, dynamic component. Cost $5-$8 for the pin and $5-$8 for the spring or you could just buy a used (or new) complete cocking assembly for ~$45 and call it a day. The likelihood of removing/replacing the cocking assembly is low, so 1 spare set should be enough here.
2. Front sight pin - why? Should be replaced when you swap out the front sight. I change mine out when I get bored or the latest version comes out and then I realize I should have stuck with the XS one I had so I go back... Plus it's small and can be lost easily. Cost $4-$6 Depending on the likelihood of swapping sights, it's nice to have a spare or two.
3. Firing pin Assembly - why? Because firing pins break occasionally given their role in hitting things. I didn't ask if anyone had seen a broken one. I broke enough 50 cal pins in the Army that I decided this was worth the costly investment. Cost $75-$80. Nice to have 1 as a spare.
4. Index plate & spring - why? Because I saw one in a UMP lower I bought that got roughed up by something moving in the gun. It's plastic and it can break. Probably over kill, but why be sorry. Cost $10 + $8 for the spring. Nice to have 1 of each as a spare.
5. Axle (lower and locking lever) - why? Because with very high use there can be wear as seen in Tailflash's comment above. Cost $10 No one recommended this as a spare part to me, but just given the opportunity to lose one (if you disassemble the lower), I would have 1-2 spare.
6. Ejector - why? No one I spoke to ever saw a broken one. One guy had lost one. This part gets pretty worn with friction from the bolt, I simply don't trust having no spares. Cost ~$30-45 Consider having 1 spare based on your own budget.


WHERE TO GET IT?
HKParts.net - largest selection, highest prices, all parts have a picture. When they send you parts they are labeled. Rarely send parts inside the original HK bag.
Tom Bostic (https://www.tommybuilttactical.com) - perfect source for US made UMP lower/rear locking pins though HKParts has them too
HDPS - good source for high quality US made Ejector and magazine spare parts if you want to have spare locking plates and followers for magazines. If you have a stock block B, consider buying an extra eye screw to have as spare.
Brownells - very reasonable prices but most UMP/USC stuff is out of stock. However, they allow back orders and my experience has been very positive with backorders being filled within 3-8 months. Worth it for hard to find spares.
Midwest Gun Works - very reasonable prices. Solid inventory. Good customer service.
Gatewood Supply Company - very very good prices. Most items are used.
Numrich (https://www.gunpartscorp.com) - good prices. Stock availability varies. The last few times they sent me parts they were unlabeled and it was up to me to figure out what was what.
RTG Parts - good price on US made extractors. HKParts has them as well.
HK Specialist (https://www.hkspecialiststore.com/) - good prices when he has stock. Doesn't have stock very often.
Gunbroker - very high prices (usually more than HKParts.net) and hit or miss availability


When ordering parts, use HKParts to see compatibility among platforms (UMP, USC, G36, SL8) and calibers

I won't get into German vs US made parts other than to say that some of my spares are US made by HDPS and I think his quality is outstanding (e.g. ejector). If all you can find is a US made part, get it, then look for its German counterpart.

It's worth noting that there are members here far more knowledgeable than I about UMPs (Tailflash comes to mind). Probably worth chatting with them and validating your plans. I'm also always happy to chat further through PMs and try and help if you have a hard time finding something

Here's a pic of my spare parts bin. You can see some parts have a gold dot on them in paint pen. That's how I tell what's used vs new. Not all the gold dots are visible.
This is what happens when you obsess over something too much. It's a sign of deep seated emotional problems.

20210111-194122.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'm sure others will weigh in on parts I missed. Also, I'm sure people will have different opinions on what's must/should/nice to have - as I noted this is all very subjective and dependent on your own use of the gun, budget, and how long you keep the gun in use. Others differ on how often you need to replace parts the manufacturer says you should replace each time you pull them (e.g. roll pins). I look forward to a robust discussion around this.
 
Holy Crap man! That's a helluva write-up! Thanks very much. Seriously.
Missed? I dont think you missed anything.

What the hell do you do for a living? Wait, never mind, that's probably on a need-to-know basis too! :cool:

I have to admit I bought the clone because it looked cool. I'll never put 6000 rounds thru mine. I had a lot of trouble getting it to run correctly and got no help from Omega.
I wish I could have afforded a Tommybuilt. Oh well, live and learn.
 
Omega21 said:
NICE TO HAVE

1. Charging/cocking handle spring & pin - why? Because you might damage it if it's not properly aligned when removing / inserting the cocking handle assembly from the upper receiver. Plus the spring is small and easy to lose. Plus the pin is small, easy to lose and should be replaced when re-installed on this high use, dynamic component. Cost $5-$8 for the pin and $5-$8 for the spring or you could just buy a used (or new) complete cocking assembly for ~$45 and call it a day. The likelihood of removing/replacing the cocking assembly is low, so 1 spare set should be enough here.
2. Front sight pin - why? Should be replaced when you swap out the front sight. I change mine out when I get bored or the latest version comes out and then I realize I should have stuck with the XS one I had so I go back... Plus it's small and can be lost easily. Cost $4-$6 Depending on the likelihood of swapping sights, it's nice to have a spare or two.
3. Firing pin Assembly - why? Because firing pins break occasionally given their role in hitting things. I didn't ask if anyone had seen a broken one. I broke enough 50 cal pins in the Army that I decided this was worth the costly investment. Cost $75-$80. Nice to have 1 as a spare.
4. Index plate & spring - why? Because I saw one in a UMP lower I bought that got roughed up by something moving in the gun. It's plastic and it can break. Probably over kill, but why be sorry. Cost $10 + $8 for the spring. Nice to have 1 of each as a spare.
5. Axle (lower and locking lever) - why? Because with very high use there can be wear as seen in Tailflash's comment above. Cost $10 No one recommended this as a spare part to me, but just given the opportunity to lose one (if you disassemble the lower), I would have 1-2 spare.
6. Ejector - why? No one I spoke to ever saw a broken one. One guy had lost one. This part gets pretty worn with friction from the bolt, I simply don't trust having no spares. Cost ~$30-45 Consider having 1 spare based on your own budget.


WHERE TO GET IT?
HKParts.net - largest selection, highest prices, all parts have a picture. When they send you parts they are labeled. Rarely send parts inside the original HK bag.
Tom Bostic (https://www.tommybuilttactical.com) - perfect source for US made UMP lower/rear locking pins though HKParts has them too
HDPS - good source for high quality US made Ejector and magazine spare parts if you want to have spare locking plates and followers for magazines. If you have a stock block B, consider buying an extra eye screw to have as spare.
Brownells - very reasonable prices but most UMP/USC stuff is out of stock. However, they allow back orders and my experience has been very positive with backorders being filled within 3-8 months. Worth it for hard to find spares.
Midwest Gun Works - very reasonable prices. Solid inventory. Good customer service.
Gatewood Supply Company - very very good prices. Most items are used.
Numrich (https://www.gunpartscorp.com) - good prices. Stock availability varies. The last few times they sent me parts they were unlabeled and it was up to me to figure out what was what.
RTG Parts - good price on US made extractors. HKParts has them as well.
HK Specialist (https://www.hkspecialiststore.com/) - good prices when he has stock. Doesn't have stock very often.
Gunbroker - very high prices (usually more than HKParts.net) and hit or miss availability


When ordering parts, use HKParts to see compatibility among platforms (UMP, USC, G36, SL8) and calibers

I won't get into German vs US made parts other than to say that some of my spares are US made by HDPS and I think his quality is outstanding (e.g. ejector). If all you can find is a US made part, get it, then look for its German counterpart.

It's worth noting that there are members here far more knowledgeable than I about UMPs (Tailflash comes to mind). Probably worth chatting with them and validating your plans. I'm also always happy to chat further through PMs and try and help if you have a hard time finding something

Here's a pic of my spare parts bin. You can see some parts have a gold dot on them in paint pen. That's how I tell what's used vs new. Not all the gold dots are visible.
This is what happens when you obsess over something too much. It's a sign of deep seated emotional problems.

View attachment 1511
Click to expand...

Excellent write-ups and spare parts. 😲

Tony
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top