ar buffer weight quesion

[likesguns]

Hello from a noob,just joined and have a Ar15 question.
I recently switched my 16" bull barreled Ar15 from a a2 stock and rifle length buffer system to the carbine length system with a thordsen frs stock and it kicks allot worse than before.
I am looking into a heavier buffer to help tame the recoil but I am not sure which weight to go with,does anyone have any experience with them?

 

[G.barnes]

First off what buffer are you using. They go weight from about 3oz to about 5oz. Carbine being the lightest and h3 being the heaviest. My mid length uses an h buffer. Since your getting more gas pressure with the carbine gas system I'd use an h2 buffer. Another thing to get is a rubber buttstock pad.

 

[likesguns]

Thanks for the reply,the stock already has a rubber butt pad on it,as for the buffer weight,I assume it is the standard carbine buffer,I do not remember seeing any markings on it to think otherwise.
Are any buffers good or bad brand wise,I would like to get the cheapest that will work.

 

[gotigers]

I like the Spikes T2 with the tungsten sand. It gives a dead blow hammer feel. An H2 with weights will be fine.

Some helpful pics. Not mine.


H3 is 5.6oz

 

[gotigers]

I had a heavy buffer system for while. It did manage recoil some, but it slowed down follow up shots. I recently went to a very light buffer, 2.3oz, tubbs flat wire spring, JP low mass carrier and an adjustable gas block. I turned the gas way down. There is darn near no recoil. Much less than the heavy buffer system. This is an advanced set up. I had to play with the gas block for a while to get it right. So don't jump in all at once. Shoot what you have for a while and do some research.

 

[MikieG]

I am messing about with this as we speak. I am building a piston powered mid length 7.69x39 AR. I am using an Adams low mass carrier.
I have the system running with a gutted 4.5 oz (now 2oz) buffer. And a standard carbine spring with 6 coils cut off. Also on standard 9oz carrier.
So i have the 7.1oz carrier getting here this week and want to get the system to run on an uncut spring.
Are there lighter springs?
My goal is to shoot surplus at full gas, and hotter reloads at 60% gas setting.

 

[Onmilo]

Wolff Gun Springs offers a couple reduced power (RP) action springs for AR type rifles
Http://www.gunsprings.com
http://www.gunsprings.com/index.cfm?page=items&cID=2&mID=1&dID=79

 

[gotigers]

With the light buffers and carriers, you want a very good quality spring with a little more power. The light recoil system might induce bolt bounce with a lighter spring. The higher spring force will help with lock up and prevent bolt bounce. I like the Tubbs flat wire spring. The JP spring is also very good.

Get a good buffer spring with a light recoil system.

 

[gotigers]

regarding buffers. A light buffer can be cheap. Pull the plug on the buffer and replace the weights with an aluminum rod or tube. Keep one of the little felt/rubber disks at each end of the aluminum. It will help with sound. I don't suggest leaving it empty. 1oz is too light in my opinion. Just below 2oz, I started getting lock up issues.

Also, an improperly designed light weight carrier can damage your upper receiver. Even though JP low mass carriers are very light, they have MORE bearing surface and are less likely to wear on the receiver. I would not suggest using a home made lightened standard carrier. If you do, watch for wear. Installing a POF roller style cam pin can help with the wear. The roller cam pins are a PITA to install.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

If the gun is over-gased running a heavier buffer will cut recoil slightly however nothing cuts recoil better then adjustable gas and the lightest BCG and buffer possible. I tend to run empty carbine buffers in most of my guns.

Mike

 

[cfullgraf]

If the gun is over-gased running a heavier buffer will cut recoil slightly however nothing cuts recoil better then adjustable gas and the lightest BCG and buffer possible. I tend to run empty carbine buffers in most of my guns.

Mike

Hmmm, an interesting idea I'll have to try. I am building an AR (waiting on the barrel) that will probably be over gassed so I have an adjustable gas block. I also have a light weight buffer that was not the solution for a problem on another AR.

This give me an opportunity to use the light weight buffer. Maybe the rifle will run better as well.

 

[MikieG]

In my situation, the x39 cartridge is too light in the pressure department. So tapping all the gas i can and reducing the resistance on the back of the gun will make this work.
These systems are all about balancing the forces on both ends of the gun allowing the bolt to bounce equally back and forth.
I agree with the POF roller cam pins. Any opportunity to remove internal friction is a must. Even removing the gas rings on the bolt in a piston application helps.

 

[MistWolf]

Hello from a noob,just joined and have a Ar15 question.
I recently switched my 16" bull barreled Ar15 from a a2 stock and rifle length buffer system to the carbine length system with a thordsen frs stock and it kicks allot worse than before.
I am looking into a heavier buffer to help tame the recoil but I am not sure which weight to go with,does anyone have any experience with them?

Your rifle started with a rifle buffer, which weighs about 5 ozs. It has been switched to an unmarked carbine buffer, which means it weighs about 3 ozs. The carbine weight buffer is too light. You will need either the H2 or H3, depending on which one will make your rifle run better

 

[likesguns]

Thanks for the replies everyone,I think I am going to just swap the buffer for a H2 for now and see what it shoots like.

 

[likesguns]

Little update.
I installed a JP adjustable gas block and tuned it in today,the recoil has definetly decreased but not to the degree that I had hoped for.

I may look into mass reduction next or I may just keep shooting it as is,may bee I have just convinsed myself there was significantly less recoil with the rifle length buffer system, I dunno.

 

[M1key]

Is there some reason you can't use the rifle stock, like state restrictions? Heavier barreled carbines do balance better and shoot softer with one. I have even replaced a few collapsible carbine stocks with A-1 or A-2 rifle stocks because I prefer the way they handle.

M

 

[SSN Vet]

likesguns....

LMK if you want to offload your A2 stock.

I'm looking for one.

Willing to trade a 6 position carbine stock for one.

 

[likesguns]

M1key
The state I live in does have restrictions hence the original change of stock,I would love to put the A2 stock back on,being a bull barrel it is quite front heavy.

SSN Vet
I'm going to hang onto it and hope that they repeal the asinie law that gun owners in my state are burdened with.