You win, sorry for trying to educate you. Obviously you know everything about the platform but don’t seem to own an AR.
I have no problem admitting when I’m wrong, but I know you didn’t even look up what I’m talking about. That’s the infuriating part, you won’t even check other sources to see what play in an AR does or doesn’t do to accuracy. You just keep arguing because you think you’re right. And you are correct about this, the AR platform is one of the few where the play doesn’t matter, most firearms need a tight fit to have improvements to accuracy. I am not saying the more play is has the more accurate will get either, I said the play doesn’t effect accuracy either way.
And you shouldn’t need a hammer or mallet. Shouldn’t have to smack the firearm at all. It should come apart by pulling on it, if it doesn’t it’s not to spec. Sorry for my examples filled with exaggeration, apparently they weren’t understood the way I wanted them to be. I have no idea what locked it together, but on a new rifle it’s not the end users issue to resolve. Arms East is taking care of it, which no one is surprised by because they seem to be good at this customer service thing, at least from what I’ve read around CGN.
I'm actually quite a nerd, I've already gone down that rabbit hole. I didn't see too many tests that weren't narrated with constant umms, reminiscent of a turdo answering a tough question. None of these tests performed with methods or under conditions I would say represent accurate results, (Pun not intended) for or against tight/loose. These tests are inconclusive at best. For every one privingbthis, there's one proving that.
But so now that we both agree play is not going to be an advantage, it's only sensible that it's also possibly a disadvantage, even if some find the variance so minute it's irrelevant or even nonexistent others may find it drastic.
If one were attempting to build a long range precision semi auto, it would only be logical to take out all and any possible detractors.. like let's say you have an entire pile of upper and lowers to mic and match, you would probably pick the tightest set right.
You say these high dollar rifles that shoot so well are mostly attributed to the barrel.
So a barrel swap transforms any sloppy old gun into a laser? Of course not. There's more to it than the barrel alone. What else could it be? Mag well fit? Probably not. Colour matching upper/lower? Nah. Bcg coating? Uh uh. Charging handle? Prolly not.
So where does all that extra money go? What is the difference between a a poor shooter, or one with cycling issues beside the barrel.. probably a lot into the machining tolerances, precise figment. Though I admit I haven't handled a cheap ar in one hand and a high dollar in the other at one time to make back to back comparisons.
The notion that the AR platform is the one and only platform that is exempt from all laws regarding precision shooting is a little bazar to me.
And now back to my idea of filing the buffer tube to the correct angle. I wouldn't call it modifying because it is not modifying the design, it is correcting the tube to its designed spec. Just as I'd say shimming or adjusting the gas block to its correct position would not be a modification. If a had guard was loose and the owner tightened it, it would not be a modification.
I would call it a modification when making changes that bring it out of spec. I'd call it a repair when bringing it into spec.
I'd also have a hard time believing any company would void a warranty for such an adjustment.
"Sorry we can not warranty your rifles defective trigger assembly due to the fact you corrected the angle of your buffer tube" is just not something any credible or honest company is going to say. Profiling the tube to the correct angle is irrelevant to any other operation of the rifle beside the opening and closing, which would have resolved at least one persons issues.
Hell, if I sent you a rifle I assembled with this condion and you repaired it yourself, I'd thank you!