Broken buffer

Kinthelt said:
There is no roll pin to keep the buffer retention pin in. It's held in by the buffer tube. Like I said, I removed the buffer tube, so that's why it went "sproing"!

As for the buffer itself, it's a True North Arms.
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This exact same thing happened to my FrankenAR and it was a TNA one as well. Tossed it and got a DD buffer. Lesson learned.
 
Someone should let TNA know there is an issue. I am guessing these came with mystery kits or something as all the 308 buffers I can find on their site have roll pins and look much better then these problem buffers.
 
No reason to be hard on the guy. I was clueless my first AR build and made worse mistakes.

Whoever is selling these buffers should just pull them. That’s just a lazy design.
 
Tachead said:
Someone should let TNA know there is an issue. I am guessing these came with mystery kits or something as all the 308 buffers I can find on their site have roll pins and look much better then these problem buffers.
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I think it's part of the $54 butt stock / buffer kit. Price makes sense that it's cheaper than crap as their cheap buffers are $45.
 
Id be willing to bet the rifle is overgassing too.. I have a couple of these and my SLR was way over gassed and the buffer did this... my modern AR has the same buffer and zero issues with more rounds downrange.
 
Duncan71 said:
Id be willing to bet the rifle is overgassing too.. I have a couple of these and my SLR was way over gassed and the buffer did this... my modern AR has the same buffer and zero issues with more rounds downrange.
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If that turns out to be the case, I should replace the gas block with an adjustable?
 
cr5 said:
Being mid length has nothing to do with it being overgassed, that is a function of the size of the port drilled in the barrel, I have an 18.6 with a mid length and it runs fine. If his gas port was drilled too large he'll need an adjustable gas block to tame it down.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9YbHMzLuq8

lots of videos and articles on this i just grabbed a short one. but shorter gas lengths on longer barrels do cause over gassing, this is well documented. this is not to say that an 18.5" with a mid length cant or wont run reliably under normal conditions with quality ammo.


you are 100% correct gas port size has a huge affect on whether or not a gun is over gassed as well
 
Kinthelt said:
If that turns out to be the case, I should replace the gas block with an adjustable?
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Adjustable Gas blocks are usually a good idea(especially on large frame guns). No need to use more gas then you need to as it just increases recoil and beats the snot out of your nice new parts. Once you pick a load you like(factory ammo or reload), you can just turn the gas down until it won't lock back on an empty mag, then give it a click or two more gas to ensure reliability.
 
Duncan71 said:
Id be willing to bet the rifle is overgassing too.. I have a couple of these and my SLR was way over gassed and the buffer did this... my modern AR has the same buffer and zero issues with more rounds downrange.
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Yeah, it sounds like a combination of a low quality buffer and a bit too much gas. It probably would have been fine if the buffer was better quality or it was dialed in via an adjustable gas block.

The solution(not the cheapest option lol)...

a high quality buffer & spring combo with an adjustable gas block.
 
Tachead said:
Yeah, it sounds like a combination of a low quality buffer and a bit too much gas. It probably would have been fine if the buffer was better quality or it was dialed in via an adjustable gas block.

The solution(not the cheapest option lol)...

a high quality buffer & spring combo with an adjustable gas block.
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Yep. I PM'd the OP about it, figuring we had the same barrel (we don't - his is a better brand). But I went ahead and replaced my buffer and spring with a Geiselle H1 w/ braided spring. Still WAAY overgassed - brass ejecting at the 12/1 oclock position. Added tungstens to make it an "H3" and ejected at about the 1/2 oclock position. Solution was adjustable gas block.

Shameless plug for vendor, but CSC has H1 & Braided spring for about $90 and adjustable gas block for $50-$60. I moved my gas block forward so the port was partially obstructed - but this is a very 'hack' solution.
 
Just so you guys know, Colt Canada uses excellent buffers that do not have a roll pin. They've been used in C7A2s and C8A3s for over 15 years now without a problem. Even with a roll pin his buffer would have still been completely destroyed.

Your rifle is overgassed and destroyed your buffer because of how fast and hard that buffer was hitting the back of your receiver extension. It happens.
 
-[Crosshair]- said:
Just so you guys know, Colt Canada uses excellent buffers that do not have a roll pin. They've been used in C7A2s and C8A3s for over 15 years now without a problem. Even with a roll pin his buffer would have still been completely destroyed.

Your rifle is overgassed and destroyed your buffer because of how fast and hard that buffer was hitting the back of your receiver extension. It happens.
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I could have sworn my C7 didn't have a roll pin in the buffer back in the day. Wasn't going to argue with the mob.

My replacement buffer came in this morning. I bought an adjustable gas block last night. My issue should now be fixed.
 
All C7A2's and C8A3's have no pin, It's probably the made in a mud hut buffer :p
 
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Same happened to me after about 1000 rds. The buffer was a cheapo one from s&j and didn't have a roll pin.

Put in a new one from brownells and put about another 3000rds on top of it with no issue
 
Kinthelt said:
I could have sworn my C7 didn't have a roll pin in the buffer back in the day. Wasn't going to argue with the mob.

My replacement buffer came in this morning. I bought an adjustable gas block last night. My issue should now be fixed.
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The older C8s had older, lighter buffers that did use a roll pin but not since the C7A2 and C8A3.
 
-[Crosshair]- said:
Just so you guys know, Colt Canada uses excellent buffers that do not have a roll pin. They've been used in C7A2s and C8A3s for over 15 years now without a problem. Even with a roll pin his buffer would have still been completely destroyed.

Your rifle is overgassed and destroyed your buffer because of how fast and hard that buffer was hitting the back of your receiver extension. It happens.
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So why did my m&p15 buffer with only 500 rounds experience fall apart? Did they drill the gas port too big when building the rifle?
 
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