What is inside the buffer by LBE Unlimited

[zaitcev]

I have an AR-15 buffer that has something moving inside, likely an additional weight. The whole thing is kept together by a roll pin that does not want to move, so I cannot just take the buffer apart and have a look.

Whatever it is, it makes an irritating sound. But besides that, is it safe for weights to be moving inside the buffer?



{Update - At first I thought it might be lead shot, because of the sound it made. But the buffer is not excessively heavy. It probably contains normal steel weights, but someone at LBE forgot a spacer.}

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Some educational reading for you: http://thearguys.com/ar-facts/difference-ar-15-buffers/

The slide weights in buffers increase dwell time at full recoil and help suppress bolt bounce on closing like a dead-blow hammer. Both are important for proper feeding and firing in full auto applications. When I'm running adjustable gas and can compensate for the change in weight, I just remove the guts from the buffer. A semi-auto gun really does not need them.

Except for some historical curiosities like the anti-bounce spring and latch on Early Lugers (removed for not really doing much) I don't know of any semi auto designs that have incorporated anti-bounce features (slide weights or otherwise).

 

[zaitcev]

Not sure if this counts, but early Mars pistols had a bad problem with bounce of cartridge lifter, so Gabbet-Fairfax eventually incorporated an anti-bounce feature where trigger release released the bolt. This allowed the bounce to settle while pressed trigger held the bolt open.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Not sure if this counts, but early Mars pistols had a bad problem with bounce of cartridge lifter, so Gabbet-Fairfax eventually incorporated an anti-bounce feature where trigger release released the bolt. This allowed the bounce to settle while pressed trigger held the bolt open.

That was a weird gun for sure. Unfortunately it has so many other problems. Every military who tested the gun told Gabbet-Fairfax the same thing: lighter, smaller, and less powerful, but he did not listen. 220 gr@1200 fps! The complexity of the gun was way over the top too.

Mike