AR mid-length gas system with carbine buffer and spring?

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mini14gb

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I'm going to put an 18" mid length gas system I'm my M&P15 will the standard carbine spring and buffer work properly?
 
Don't have a long barrel but, I have a mid length gas system on my 14.5" Daniel Defense barrel with a stag upper receiver (w/ pinned muzzle break that makes it CA legal). I have had no problems or jams of any kind with the standard carbine buffer and spring from Stag. I have purchased a H1 and H2 buffer from BCM to experiment with but have not made it to the range to test them. Sorry I don't have better info.
From all the research I have done it seems the heavier buffers are for shorter barrels to get the rifle to cycle reliably. Don't have any experience with suppressors and different buffers but that opens a whole new discussion.
 
A carbine will work just fine. Although if I were you, I would experiment with heavier buffers such as H1,H2 or H3. I wouldnt go heavier than a H3 on a 18" midlength. The heavier buffers will slow your action down and reduce some recoil allowing for more accurate fallow up shots. The downside is.... If you go to heavy, your rifle won't cycle correctly when it comes to ejecting cases and the bolt not staying open after your last round. Usually this will happen with the weaker loads such as Tula. If you end up going with a H2, I would run two mags of military issue 5.56 and two mags of Tula. If it cycles everything then you're good to go. You can then sell your carbine buffer. If it doesn't cycle properly then sell the H2 and get a H1.



I have two mid-lengths both running on 16" barrels. On both, I run a H2 buffer with a Blue Sprinco spring. They both cycle everything including cheap steal case.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
 
Probably will work but it's more likely an issue of gas port size with 18" midlength. Why did you go with that? Instead of rifle or intermediate length gas on 18"?
 
Wow guys thanks for the great information. I went with the 18" barrel frankly based on some reviews of the barrel on midway and it fit the price range I'm in. I wanted mid length stainless steel and this barrel fit the bill. I have used the AR-stoner house brand barrel twice before and have been nothing but pleased and I wanted a Wylde chamber. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/79...ontour-1-in-8-twist-18-fluted-stainless-steel
 
It depends on the stock you are trying to use. If you are using a rifle stock, fixed, A2 type you have to run a rifle buffer because the buffer tube (receiver extension) is longer. Collapsible stocks have much shorter buffer tubes thus needing a shorter buffer. Either way it will be fine I would run a heavy buffer IMO
 
I have run a carbine H buffer in my Cav Arms lower for thousands of trouble free rounds with my BCM 14.5" middy upper. OP, you will be fine.
 
there is no relationship between the gas length on the barrel/gas tube and the stock length. you can mix and match as desired. put a pistol length gas system on a rifle length stock or a pistol/carbine stock on a 24" barrel with rifle gas.

it doesn't matter at all.

the LENGTH of the buffer depends entirely on the length of the receiver extension (aka buffer tube.) you can't put a rifle length buffer in a carbine length tube.

the WEIGHT of the buffer depends on a lot of things but generally, the shorter your gas system, the heavier the buffer. So mid-length or rifle length gas, a standard weight buffer is fine. as you step down to carbine length gas on a 16", step up to a H buffer. if you go carbine length gas on a 12" upper step up to an H2 or something.
this is just a guideline. let the rifle ejection and feel and reliability tell you how to tweak it from there. things like adding a suppressor will change it, or changing the weight of the bolt carrier, or if you have an adjustable gas block.

pretty important is that the diameter of the gas port in the barrel varies with the location, but hopefully the bbl mfg did a good job of that already. once it's done you can't change it.
 
A carbine will work just fine. Although if I were you, I would experiment with heavier buffers such as H1,H2 or H3. I wouldnt go heavier than a H3 on a 18" midlength. The heavier buffers will slow your action down and reduce some recoil allowing for more accurate fallow up shots. The downside is.... If you go to heavy, your rifle won't cycle correctly when it comes to ejecting cases and the bolt not staying open after your last round. Usually this will happen with the weaker loads such as Tula. If you end up going with a H2, I would run two mags of military issue 5.56 and two mags of Tula. If it cycles everything then you're good to go. You can then sell your carbine buffer. If it doesn't cycle properly then sell the H2 and get a H1.



I have two mid-lengths both running on 16" barrels. On both, I run a H2 buffer with a Blue Sprinco spring. They both cycle everything including cheap steal case.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Good Info. What about going from 5.56 to .223. Does your H2 buffer cycle well with .223 Rem too?
 
Good Info. What about going from 5.56 to .223. Does your H2 buffer cycle well with .223 Rem too?

It doesn't really matter what his rifle cycles because they are most likely different than yours. You won't know what your rifle like until you try it.

Personally, I run H2 buffers with Blue Sprinco Springs in both of my BCM mid lengths. They will cycle everything including cheap low powered Tula. When using an H3 buffer, neither will cycle anything other than 5.56 or good quality 223.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
 
I have that barrel, which *usually* is sitting on a rifle length stock lower (as pictured), but has been switched around on occasion.

the Entry Stock houses a Wolff Extra Power Spring, and a DPMS Heavy Carbine Buffer-
it seems to be a little under gassed with the entry stock (throws between 3:30 and 4:30), but still functions fine. If I was swapping on a regular basis, I'd think about changing to a lighter spring.

edited to add:

that's with commercial .223 ammo (Black hills Blue Box 69gr SMK or my .223 handloads)- it's just about fine with Federal Lake City M855

_DSC9522.jpg
 
FWIW, I run standard carbine buffers in all of mine; 7.5" SBR pistol gas system, 12.5" SBR carbine length gas system, 16" carbine length gas system, 16" mid length gas system. They all run fine with everything from weak Tula to pretty stiff hand loads.


Probably will work but it's more likely an issue of gas port size with 18" midlength. Why did you go with that? Instead of rifle or intermediate length gas on 18"?

There is nothing between middy and rifle length; mid length is intermediate.
 
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