Buffer Replacement Recommendations

Status
Not open for further replies.
peeplwtchr

peeplwtchr

Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2019
Messages
1,609
Hi All-

I saw a friend at the range today who just replaced the buffer on his 16 inch barreled AR15. He let me shoot it, and there was a noticeable reduction in recoil. The recoil on .233 isn't huge, but this was eyes on target even faster than mine, with a great muzzle break. I am shooting an 18 inch barrel, non-adjustble rifle length gas system.

My searches aren't yielding the quality of data I am looking for. To achieve the same result, what am I looking for? Weight, brand of buffer weight, any other considerations?

Thanks.
 
peeplwtchr said:
what am I looking for?
Click to expand...
An Adjustable Gas Block paired with a lightweight Bolt Carrier Group, powder filled carbine buffer and a reduced spring weight. The smoothest, non sight picture disturbing recoil cycle.:thumbup:

In lieu of that, an H3 or a heavier tungsten powder filled buffer, like this one from Spikes Tactical https://spikestactical.com/collections/lower-parts/spikes-tactical-tungsten-buffer/ , may make excessively gassed rifles feel smoother and be easier on brass.

There are also adjustable Bolt Carriers that enable tuning of the bolt exhaust gas.
 
Demi-human said:
An Adjustable Gas Block paired with a lightweight Bolt Carrier Group, powder filled carbine buffer and a reduced spring weight. The smoothest, non sight picture disturbing recoil cycle.:thumbup:

In lieu of that, an H3 or a heavier tungsten powder filled buffer, like this one from Spikes Tactical https://spikestactical.com/collections/lower-parts/spikes-tactical-tungsten-buffer/ , may make excessively gassed rifles feel smoother and be easier on brass.

There are also adjustable Bolt Carriers that enable tuning of the bolt exhaust gas.
Click to expand...

Is this an issue due to barrel length, or is this something that would benefit all AR platform inspite of barrel length?
 
Not barrel length per se, but gas system length.
A short system can be restricted with a gas block to act long, but a long one can’t be made to work like a short one.


Jonny2guns said:
is this something that would benefit all AR platform inspite of barrel length?
Click to expand...
Not necessarily.
This tuning would be for a precision rifle that has consistent match ammunition.
A heavier bolt carrier with a surplus of gas pressure will be more reliable with a wider range of ammunition charge levels and bullet weights. But having a nice brake on the barrel for muzzle climb doesn’t do it justice if the BCG dips the muzzle back down as it closes.

A lighter carrier group can cycle faster and come to rest more quickly, without imparting as much momentum to the rifle, but it can also be accelerated faster and cause problems feeding with “hot” ammunition.
 
The cheapest way would be to get a set of weights for the buffer you already have and tune with them. Too heavy a buffer will affect reliability so I’d leave some margin.

What I did is to start with the heaviest weight combination and swap out tungsten weights with steel until I was getting the brass to land about 6’ away from me. I like to have a little excess operating margin so the rifle will still work if it’s dirty or in cold weather. If you set up the buffer so that brass is barely dribbling out the ejection port you can have stoppages once the rifle is a little dry or if a different lot of ammunition produces slightly lower gas port pressure.

BSW
 
The ar is a military weapon designed to be overpassed for best reliability. For a smooth civilian gun, choke that gas down. It's a way better option than fooling with weights. Weights just try to manage excess gas. It's better to not have extra gas in the first place.

Now, you can go crazy and use a light buffer and turn the gas down further, but the simplest first step is that gas block.
 
I use H2’s in all of my personal AR Carbines, with the only exception being ultralight “go fast” guns. I usually buy Kaw Valley Precision H2 buffers. I also shoot full mass/M16 carriers and adjustable gas blocks, typically from JP.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I just talked to an old timer gun tech. at Brownells, and he said that he advises to start with fixing the issue (Excess gas), by installing an adjustible block, rather than remediate the symptom, by using a different buffer first. That aligns with some of the posts here. I am going to try the block first.
 
Varminterror said:
I use H2’s in all of my personal AR Carbines, with the only exception being ultralight “go fast” guns. I usually buy Kaw Valley Precision H2 buffers. I also shoot full mass/M16 carriers and adjustable gas blocks, typically from JP.
Click to expand...
I also prefer H2 buffer weights.
 
No idea if 1018 is any good. But it's nitrite as opposed to parkerized, and I'm generally a fan of nitrided things.

And just because that's the gas block that I bought, doesn't mean it's the best or worst. I got it cheap off a Reddit link one day on sale.
 
peeplwtchr said:
After some research, I am thinking of going with this, what are your thoughts?

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1094240104527
Click to expand...

IMHO... I would prefer a SLR adj. GB... they are more linear in adjustment over the SA Bleed off type. ( YMMV )

Whichever brand you buy... make sure the adjustment screw faces forward.

FWIW .... Aero Precision makes a cost effective one as well. All the good features.

That said... your results will depend on your current gas port size as well as the gas system length. So don't be surprised if the recoil impulse isn't as "dramatically" changed as your friends 16" barrel.
Then you will "need" to consider your brakes effect as well. ( In context to recoil reduction. )

Your actual buffer weight ( and your friends ) also is part of the equation.

What stock are you and your friend using ? Carbine length and type ? Or rifle length ?
 
bfoosh006 said:
IMHO... I would prefer a SLR adj. GB... they are more linear in adjustment over the SA Bleed off type. ( YMMV )

Whichever brand you buy... make sure the adjustment screw faces forward.

FWIW .... Aero Precision makes a cost effective one as well. All the good features.

That said... your results will depend on your current gas port size as well as the gas system length. So don't be surprised if the recoil impulse isn't as "dramatically" changed as your friends 16" barrel.
Then you will "need" to consider your brakes effect as well. ( In context to recoil reduction. )

Your actual buffer weight ( and your friends ) also is part of the equation.

What stock are you and your friend using ? Carbine length and type ? Or rifle length ?
Click to expand...
The upper and lower are M&P 15 magpul. I floated a rifle length Wilson Combat 18". He has a 16 " Saint AR.
 
I am a fan of the SLR adjustable gas blocks. They are durable and the click adjustments make tuning easier. SLR backs up their products with great customer service.

The bleed off gas blocks work. The FN-FAL gas block is the bleed off type. But they're dirty.

There is an alternative to adjustable gas blocks. The Black River Tactical EZ Tune gas tube. BRT asks what ammo is used, barrel length, gas system, surpassed/unsupressed/both and they'll send you a gas tube set with the correct porting and they get it right.

As far as buffers goes, the H2, A5H2 and Rifle buffers are the right choices (when combined with their respective receiver extensions) when using 5.56 spec ammo. Lighter buffers & carriers work, but you have to reduce the load in your ammo.
 
One of the features of the Superlative Arms AGB is that the first positions restrict the gas conventionally until fully open, then the positions for bleed off are encountered.

I thought the bleed off for suppressor use would be beneficial, in reality it is negligible. It also allows an area of escape for super sonic gasses, bypassing the can, negating some sound suppression.:(

I like the Seekins AGB I have on a Blackout. Inexpensive and effective.:thumbup:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

L
  • Locked
ar buffer weight quesion
Replies
17
Views
3K
likesguns
L
H
  • Locked
Buffer lengths for 20" AR's
Replies
4
Views
501
Onmilo
Onmilo
BSA1
  • Locked
AR-15 Buffer Question
Replies
15
Views
851
BSA1
BSA1
M
  • Locked
Testing Buffer Weights and Gas Flow
Replies
9
Views
2K
MistWolf
M
F
  • Locked
Buffer kits: Standard, H, and H3???
Replies
13
Views
686
Z-Michigan
Z
Back
Top