First AR Assembly... Need Advice.

Is that a rifle length gas system on a carbine buffer?

Rock River used to have some soft rubbery ones that came on their quad rail ARs back in the 2008-9 era. May start there.

If it's got a gas tube that's about 15 inches end to end it's a rifle length.
If the gas tube is closer to 12 inches it's a midlength.

That sounds appropriate.
If it's over gassed try a heavier buffer.

The train-track looking covers (mine are the somewhat softer variety) really save your hands; Picatinny rails feel like cheese graters.
Availability is catch as catch can.
Moon

Yes that's the buffer and they make heavier ones, but don't worry too much about it till you try shooting it some.
The AR15 is an old design with a whole lot of different parts that achieve the same goal.
A 3oz carbine buffer on an 18 inch midlength should run fine, just a bit over gassed, running a bit fast, throwing the brass forward, ect.

I have tried a few different things.
The cheapest drop in way to get a heavier buffer is a steel body buffer.
A normal buffer body is aluminum with steel weights. This one is steel body with steel weights. On sale they are about $30.


If you like to take stuff apart just ordering tungsten weights and putting them inside your aluminum body buffer works too, also about $30 if you buy the tungsten weights off evilBay or that jungle website.
I use a steel body buffer filled with tungsten weights, but I also use a silencer.


But try it out first as is.

Nice rifle, @Scrod314.
Did the upper assembly come with a Bolt Carrier Group?
I see a shiny copper colored carrier.

Looking forward to a range report!

Ladder type rail covers worked for me. I tried those Magpul quad rail snap covers and while they looked nice it made my handguard feel like a 4x4.

https://www.ergogrips.net/shop/ergo-18-slot-lowpro-ladder-rail-cover-3-pack/

Magpul does make a ladder rail cover but I haven’t tried these.
https://magpul.com/ladder-rail-panel.html?mp_global_color=118

Your rifle doesn’t have a quad rail, so picatinny rail covers won’t be the right option for you.

Ergo makes a softer, rubberized m-lok rail cover which will fit your handguard.



A lot of guys also simply lace paracord through their handguards - I can’t say I’m a big fan of it, but some guys are into it.

Also - don’t get scared by any interrogation about your gas system and buffer combination. One user here in particular seems obsessed with over-complicating the buffer system in the AR. Millions of AR’s are running happily all around the world with lightweight carbine buffers even in carbine length gas systems (shorter length with higher pressure and dwell time than your middy) - in fact, for a majority of civilian manufacturers, carbine buffer + carbine gas is their standard design. Yeah, they’re often a bit over gassed to promote reliable cycling, but they run long lives with no ill effect. Your mid-length + carbine buffer will run just fine.

N555 said:

Is that a rifle length gas system on a carbine buffer?

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No.. it’s a Picatinny Front Sight, NOT A Sight Block. He’s using a Low Pro Gas Block, just under a 15” rail. It’s likely a Mid-length gas system. Most barrels sold today are mid-length.

Stoner designed the rifle length gas system and buffer to be just about perfect.
Deviation from the 5.4oz/15in/0.085'' design quickly develops trade offs.
Remember military wants 4moa, in a gun that runs from Antarctica to Zimbabwe and everywhere in between with a high cyclic rate, saving the brass is irrelevant and if it lasts 10 to 20 years that's actually ideal for the dot mils.
We want more like 2moa, in a gun that runs in our regional conditions, cyclic rate is irrelevant, some prefer brass that isn't beat up by over driven ejection then scattered all over the county and we want our guns to last more like 30 to 100 years.

Yes, it is Mid-length. Here it is, I circled where you can see the Gas Block under the rail.


To the OP, for the kindyou are looking for, go to Google Images and type in “Rail Covers Soft Rubber”. And choose the style that appeal to you. They are covers. If they are too cheap or too expensive they aren’t Good! But the covers in the normal price range are equal reforming. Feel & look are all that matters.

N555 said:

We want more like 2moa

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I know I sure don’t.

Varminterror said:

I know I sure don’t.

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I know I’d be disappointed.
I know I wouldn’t tolerate it either, too many are better than that.

I have these on my 458 SoCom.



The panel covers posted above don't get it for me, still leave edges exposed. These cover the edges and add a better surface for your hand.

Not sure of the name, been awhile since I bought them. Came in a large selection of sizes to customize the fit.

Look for them on ebay, think I paid less that $20 delivered for a package.

N555 said:

Is that a rifle length gas system on a carbine buffer?

Click to expand...

Should work just fine.

Mk-211 said:

The panel covers posted above don't get it for me, still leave edges exposed. These cover the edges and add a better surface for your hand.

Click to expand...

Dude doesn’t have a quad rail - pic rail covers aren’t gonna fit.

Mk-211 said:

I have these on my 458 SoCom.

View attachment 1101920

The panel covers posted above don't get it for me, still leave edges exposed. These cover the edges and add a better surface for your hand.

Not sure of the name, been awhile since I bought them. Came in a large selection of sizes to customize the fit.

Look for them on ebay, think I paid less that $20 delivered for a package.

Click to expand...

These won’t work. Need the ones more Mlok. There are different Rail Covers per the attachment style: Picatinny, Mlok, Keymod. They aren’t interchan

Yep, just adding my .02 cents, don't care for the ladder style covers.