Recoil buffer for your AK47 clone?

[Timradcliffe345]

Is it necessary to install a recoil buffer on an AK?

 

[Z-Michigan]

Saw a good video on youtube lately of an AK firing with the top cover removed. The bolt carrier doesn't even hit the back of the receiver, and it's going very slow as it approaches it. The carrier mass and spring strength appear to be perfectly sorted out.

 

[collateral]

I own 2 aks, a yugoslavian m70ab2 and a polish wz. 88. I also used to own a wasr10. I have never used a recoil buffer with any of them. in my opinion if the gun needed one, kalashnikov would have designed it with one. im sure using one wouldn't damage the rifle in any way, but you could save yourself a few bucks and be just as well off without one.

 

[camslam]

Shoot an AK, I will be surprised if the recoil is something you even notice. It isn't down in the .22 recoil range, but mine is sure soft shooting.

Maybe if you were shooting a .308 or something stronger, but for a regular 7.62x39, you should be ok without.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I have one on my Maadi. I suppose it protects the rear of the receiver when you cock the weapon. Instead of "click click" it goes "thup click" as the bolt is pulled back into the buffer as opposed to the back metal of the weapon. It doesn't affect operation of the weapon one way or another. If you're looking to reduce recoil in your AK, you can do 3 three things:

1) use a fixed stock (has the least amount of recoil)
2) Put a slip over butt pad on the stock
3) add a recoil buffer

Other than that, you just have to deal with the AK's relatively mild recoil.

 

[Hoppy590]

no, recoil buffers are a sham.
some guns they do nothing, and on others they often times causing MALF's

 

[Picard]

I have read that they actually can do damage to an AK. No benefit to using them IMO.

 

[nalioth]

I have one on my Maadi. I suppose it protects the rear of the receiver when you cock the weapon. Instead of "click click" it goes "thup click" as the bolt is pulled back into the buffer as opposed to the back metal of the weapon. It doesn't affect operation of the weapon one way or another. If you're looking to reduce recoil in your AK, you can do 3 three things:

1) use a fixed stock (has the least amount of recoil)
2) Put a slip over butt pad on the stock
[strike]3) add a recoil buffer[/strike]

3) Check your recoil spring to make sure it's not a worn out battlefield relic from 1957. If it is, replacing it with a new standard power spring from Wolff Gun Springs or a +15% power spring (for hot loads) will defintely do the trick.

The Kalashnikov was designed so the recoil spring gradually slows down the bolt carrier and brings it to a stop before it hits the rear block.

Adding a recoil buffer makes the bolt carrier come to an abrupt stop which transmits recoil energy into areas not designed to accept it.

If you are having metal-to-metal contact, your recoil spring is the most likely culprit and should be replaced.

... and yes, Mr Kalashnikov knew all about buffers as some of the gun designs of his time used leather recoil buffers.

 

[briansmithwins]

My bolt carrier has managed to dent the paint on my AK. That's the extent of the damage to the rear trunnion from having no recoil buffer. BSW

 

[Tyris]

I added a +15% recoil spring to a project 5.45AK.

It was needed because I closed the gas ports on the gas-block. The gun had no recoil, it just jiggled in my hands. I closed the gas-ports to get better suppression, it made a big difference.

-T

 

[TIMC]

I have one on my SAR1.
Is it necessary, no.
Does it do any good, I doubt it.

 

[guntotinguy]

No... I dont notice much of a recoil anyways...

 

[Prince Yamato]

If you are having metal-to-metal contact, your recoil spring is the most likely culprit and should be replaced.

When you pull the charging handle all the way back, it will contact the back of the receiver. This is the metal-metal contact that I'm speaking of.

 

[nalioth]

If you are having metal-to-metal contact, your recoil spring is the most likely culprit and should be replaced.

When you pull the charging handle all the way back, it will contact the back of the receiver. This is the metal-metal contact that I'm speaking of.

Ok. You can't generate the force of a fired cartridge, though.

 

[heron]

I found the video referred to in post #2, it's here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p5YZLICfyM

Watch closely; the bolt carrier almost never touches the back of the receiver (if at all), though it stops at slightly different positions at each shot.
I took the cover off of mine, and you certainly can pull the bolt carrier all the way back into contact, but this doesn't happen during firing of the weapon.
If the bolt carrier did hit the receiver, there should be some observable signs of impact on one or both parts, but I found none in my rifle (Saiga) after running about 500 rounds through it.
A buffer would be superfluous at best. Save your money.

 

[briansmithwins]

After about 1500 rounds the paint on my rear trunnion is dented now. No metal wear, just paint damage. BSW

 

[SN13]

No buffers. Ever!

 

[heron]

BSW, if that were mine, I'd be looking for a new return spring. Modern springs should be good for hundreds of thousands of cycles, but you may have gotten a bad one. There might be a way to test it to see if it's in spec, but it'd probably be cheaper to just replace it.