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Posted: 6/26/2026 3:17:02 PM EDT
[Last Edit: M15A2CLE][Edited]
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Help me make a best guess for buffer weight and spring for these guns. AR1: Carbine buffer tube; carbine buffer; std carbine spring; mid gas; 16” 7 twist barrel; fsb gas block; A2; 5.56 ammo m193 usually; looking to run smoother/flatter for fast ultra reliable HD AR. AR2: Carbine buffer tube(maxim brace); carbine buffer; std carbine spring; pistol gas; 8.3” 7 twist barrel; std adj gas block; linear comp; 300 bo 125gr max velocity supers; looking to run smoother/flatter for fast ultra reliable HD AR. AR3: Carbine buffer tube; carbine buffer; std carbine spring; rifle gas; 20” 8 twist WOA barrel; Superlative Arms gas block; Miculek brake; 223 Wylde 75gr precision reloads usually; looking to run smoother primarily for best benchrest/tripod/hunting accuracy. I’m willing to try things, but looking for a best guess to start. ChatGPT says AR1 * H2 * Sprinco Blue AR2 * H2 * Sprinco White * (H3 only if ejection is still very aggressive) AR3 * H1 * Sprinco White * Tune the Superlative Arms adjustable gas block for minimum reliable gas. Thoughts on this? Where to buy? |
Joined:
May 2023
Posts:
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WI, USA
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Right now tungsten is very expensive... Get one H3. Try your guns with guns with the H3. Disassemble it and disassemble one of your current carbine buffers. (Hammer and appropriate punch.) Pay attention to where the rubber spacers are. You can now reassemble H1 and H2 buffers with those parts. Try an H2 next in each gun, first on any that didn't cycle with the H3. And so on. Then buy either 0 to 2 more buffers, depending on what runs best in each gun and how many of those you can make with a single H3. Especially on the 300 blk, a lot comes down to the gas port size that the manufacturer chose. In general, longer gas systems utilize lower pressure gas and can usually run smoothly with less buffer weight. Many factors, though, including gas port size and action spring. |
Joined:
May 2023
Posts:
756
EE: 0% (0)
WI, USA
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Action cycling is a triangle of factors that must be balanced for a gun cycle properly at the right speed... and, if desired, tune it to run as smooth as possible. Gas - Spring - Mass (buffer+BCG) Gas provides rearward force, and must provide enough energy to compress the action spring and move the mass rearward. Mass provides resistance to acceleration/deceleration. The spring resists rearward motion, stores energy, and powers forward motion. The spring provides all the energy to the forward stroke of the cycle, and is thus a limiting factor, too. Rifle length buffer systems have more weight in their buffer than carbine length, but a rifle spring also applies less force at both closed and open positions than a carbine length buffer setup, each with their appropriate springs. This is necessary to balance the gas-spring-mass triangle. The same 20" upper that runs on a standard rifle lower, with that big rifle buffer, will run on a carbine tube with the stiffer carbine spring but a lighter carbine buffer. Not all springs are created the same, and even within the same type of spring (carbine buffer spring), there can be variation from manufacturer to manufacturer. While there's more scientific ways to analyze a spring, for the purposes of an AR, it really comes down to the lbs of force the spring exerts when the bolt is fully closed and fully open. If you want to make yourself crazy, between carbine and rifle length buffer systems is the A5, which can use either carbine or rifle springs. Carbine springs will have less force in an A5 length tube than in a carbine tube, but the A5 tube is long enough that it can also use rifle springs. FYI, you used the word "fast" along with "reliable". Fast and reliable don't always go together well. The most reliably operating ARs have a balance between mass and spring. Many "fast" racegun type setups, drop the mass as low as possible (titanium or aluminum carrier, empty buffer) and use a stiffer spring. Those guns are usually finely tuned because when running an unbalanced setup the operational envelope shrinks drastically. |
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Originally Posted By 64tinc: How does anyone like their VLTOR A-5 Stock System? I just installed one on my 11.5 upper. I like the A5 system. I have a 12.5, a 14.5 and a 20" all with A5 and BCM MK2 (same thing) and all of them seem to shoot a tad flatter and softer, although I'm not certain some of that isn't placebo effect. Probably the best advantage I've noticed is the longer length of pull when you want it. |
RIP TSgt Jason Norton and SSgt Brian McElroy. KIA 22 Jan 06, near Taji, Iraq.
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