I plan on making this new lower I got into a 16 inch carbine. I'm not sure if I need a different length buffer tube and spring or not, or could I just get the standard since I'm putting a cavarms C1 stock on it anyway? Are there any problems from using the different size tubes with different setups or is the shorter buffer tube just for the sake of the collapsing stock?

Thanks

Barrel length has absolutely no effect on which buffer tube/stock assembly you use.  You can use any stock setup you want with whatever barrel length you want, but be absolutely sure not to mix and match the 'shorty/CAR' and 'standard' stock components.  Shorty/CAR sized buffer and spring in a standard A1/A2 receiver extension will allow the bolt carrier to strike the rear of the lower and do major damage, the standard buffer and spring in a short tube will prevent the action from cycling...

If you're planning on the CavArms C1 you'll need the standard length <A1/A2> buffer tube/receiver extension, standard <rifle> buffer, and standard action spring...  The shorter tubes, CAR sized buffers and 'telestock' sized action spring are for the shorty/collapsible stock setups...

That's what I figured, but wasn't sure since I had heard something like that before but didn't remember the reason. Thanks!

I've heard that rifles with the short buffer are more prone to malfunctioning. Is this true?

The standard CAR sized buffer weighs in at 2.9 ounces... to compare, the standard rifle sized buffer weighs 5.2 ounces.  The reduction in weight can allow some ARs to simply cycle too fast, literally trying to extract the spend case while the chamber pressures are still too high, the case still held against the chamber walls by the pressures that exist earlier in the firing cycle.  At the other end of the firing cycle, as the bolt closes there is less mass moving forward to strip off a round and positively chamber it and lock up the action...

I've always made it a point to use heavier buffers with Shorty/CAR stocks.  The heavier weight adds dwell time to the bolt unlocking, smoothes the recoil impulse and provides additional mass as the rounds are chambered and the bolt locks up again...  Using a 5.5 ounce CAR sized buffer such as a 9mm buffer can make a world of difference in the reliability of some short stocked ARs.  My ARs were not having cycling problems but I'm using 5.5 ounce buffers to smooth the recoil impulse and reduce wear...

I like your little quote there, DarkStar...hy.gif