Need Help with AR-15 Buffers

EDX2308

EDX2308

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OK folks I did something that I shouldn't have done. I put a Spikes Heavy buffer into my AR-15. My AR-15 just had a stock changed from the A2 single piece non collapsible stock to a standard carbine 6-position stock.

Things I noticed is the length of the buffer spring for both types and the ... the tightness? Springyness of the buffer springs?? More slinky like for the A2 stock and stiffer for the Carbine stock.

Question, I put a heavy buffer into a carbine stock. I'm not sure if this damaged the buffer retainer but I tried to do a disassembly (of course not loaded and the BCG fully seated without a round) and it was jammed.

I called up Rick from Alberta Tactical and he told me that the heavy buffer is designed for grossly weakened rounds?

Perhaps the heavy buffer really did damage the buffer retainer and the spring because of the force from each round cycling? I know it was the BCG that damaged the retainer because the BCG couldn't quite go all the way back into battery....

Thanks guys, I really need the help. I'm getting a replacement buffer retainer and just going with a standard CAR buffer to see if that'll work fine.
 
Don't exact;y understand your post as you are a bit all over the place. What damage has occured to the buffer retainer? When you say the gun jammed, what exactly does that mean? Jammed how and why? Pics would help.

Who installed the CAR buffer tube? It is possible to screw the tube in too far or not far enough, both of which will impact the buffer retainer operation.

There is no issue with using a heavy buffer. FWIW using a heavy buffer with reduced rounds would cause short stroking. Someone is unclear on the laws of physics.

I use a grossly overweight buffer in my CAR stock and the rifle works just fine. I have not experienced any damage to the buffer retainer. I am fairly certain the BCG could not damage a buffer retainer because the BCG has a clearance slot cut into the bottom specifically so it can't contact the buffer retainer.
 
Suputin said:
Don't exact;y understand your post as you are a bit all over the place. What damage has occured to the buffer retainer? When you say the gun jammed, what exactly does that mean? Jammed how and why? Pics would help.

Who installed the CAR buffer tube? It is possible to screw the tube in too far or not far enough, both of which will impact the buffer retainer operation.

There is no issue with using a heavy buffer. FWIW using a heavy buffer with reduced rounds would cause short stroking. Someone is unclear on the laws of physics.

I use a grossly overweight buffer in my CAR stock and the rifle works just fine. I have not experienced any damage to the buffer retainer. I am fairly certain the BCG could not damage a buffer retainer because the BCG has a clearance slot cut into the bottom specifically so it can't contact the buffer retainer.
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Crap I wish I did take photos. The upper receiver would not open from the pin near stock. The buffer retainer sprung up and it jammed the BCG by pushing against the BCG and the BCG was maybe a centremetre back in the buffer tube hence the reason why I couldn't unhinge the AR.

I personally installed the CAR buffer tube and I made sure that it was not fully screwed in because otherwise.... it would just go over the buffer retainer hole and you can't of course put in the buffer retainer if the hole is covered by the CAR buffer tube. So it's set at right up to the buffer retainer hole.

I used the spring that came with the 6 position stock so that shouldn't be an issue.

The damage done to the buffer retainer is the spring is screwed by being bent near the end and the retainer itself has taken damage from the BCG and good thing the BCG didn't get damaged.
 
I just did an inspection on my LMT AR rather than my Bushmaster, the LMT AR has the buffer tube slightly over the edge of the buffer retainer to prevent it from shooting upwards..... should I rescrew my buffer tube to do the same? Can anyone confirm this is the same thing on their AR?
 
EDX2308 said:
I personally installed the CAR buffer tube and I made sure that it was not fully screwed in because otherwise.... it would just go over the buffer retainer hole and you can't of course put in the buffer retainer if the hole is covered by the CAR buffer tube. So it's set at right up to the buffer retainer hole.
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Did you have the buffer tube screwed in far enough to hold the buffer retainer down so that it didn't pop out?
 
EDX2308 said:
I just did an inspection on my LMT AR rather than my Bushmaster, the LMT AR has the buffer tube slightly over the edge of the buffer retainer to prevent it from shooting upwards..... should I rescrew my buffer tube to do the same? Can anyone confirm this is the same thing on their AR?
Click to expand...

Yes it sounds like that is your problem.
 
Thanks guys! I guess that's just one of those learning things that I had to find out. I'm glad that I didn't get any serious injuries etc. from shooting this.

So I guess when my buffer retainer and spring replacement comes back, I gotta unscrew the stock, put the buffer retainer in, then screw the stock tube slighly over the edge of the buffer retainer and it should be fine..... you folks sure that the heavy buffer won't cause the rounded top of the buffer retainer to go flat on one side?
 
EDX2308 said:
you folks sure that the heavy buffer won't cause the rounded top of the buffer retainer to go flat on one side?
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Should not be a problem. When you close your rifle you will notice that the carrier pushes the buffer back off of the retaining pin, not much but enough. The little pins only job is to keep the buffer and spring in the extension when the rifle is open.

The rifle will still function with the spring and retainer under your work bench if you can close it up with the buffer and spring in the extension.
 
Interesting..... another question about the heavy buffer, I heard it makes the shooting more smoother.... but what about cycling or rapid firing (semi-auto) and automatic? Will it be slightly slower than the regular CAR buffer?
 
Crap I wish I did take photos. The upper receiver would not open from the pin near stock. The buffer retainer sprung up and it jammed the BCG by pushing against the BCG and the BCG was maybe a centremetre back in the buffer tube hence the reason why I couldn't unhinge the AR.

I personally installed the CAR buffer tube and I made sure that it was not fully screwed in because otherwise.... it would just go over the buffer retainer hole and you can't of course put in the buffer retainer if the hole is covered by the CAR buffer tube. So it's set at right up to the buffer retainer hole.
Click to expand...

You didn't screw the buffer tube in far enough to capture the buffer retainer.


So I guess when my buffer retainer and spring replacement comes back, I gotta unscrew the stock, put the buffer retainer in, then screw the stock tube slighly over the edge of the buffer retainer and it should be fine.....
Click to expand...

Correct

Isn't it great to get the right information from people who actually know what they are talking about? :)
 
Interesting..... another question about the heavy buffer, I heard it makes the shooting more smoother.... but what about cycling or rapid firing (semi-auto) and automatic? Will it be slightly slower than the regular CAR buffer?
Click to expand...

More smoother? :O

To answer your question, yes the heavy buffer will slow the bolt carrier velocity. If you were to fire such a system in FA the cyclic rate would be reduced which is also not a bad thing.
 
The information is wonderful Suputin.... I got more info from you guys than the internet......LOL. Actually, I used google and didn't find very much but I guess straight up asking people who "own" AR's or people that know what they are doing is the best option so far. Thanks folks!
 
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