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Posted: 1/21/2011 11:02:54 AM EDT
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Hey yall,
I'm having an issue with my first ar build. The buffer retainer is beating up the face of the buffer. I read about this in the faq on this site and it mentioned that the upper could be sitting too far forward in the lower, the barrel extension could be too short, or the lower could be out of spec. My upper sits nice and tight into the lower, no noticeable gap at the rear. My bolt carrier sits exactly flush with the rear of the upper. My concern is that the hole for the buffer retainer is too far back, making the buffer ram into the retainer as it pushes the bcg forward. When I drop the upper onto the lower, the rear of the bolt carrier touches the buffer ever so slightly. My question is, short of buying another lower, is there any other fix for this? Im considering chucking the buffer into the lathe, and relieving the edge of it just a hair to allow it to make better contact with the carrier, and avoid it getting beat up by the retainer. Thanks for your help! |
| Are you sure it is the buffer retainer? The back of the bolt carrier could have a sharp edge and be damaging the buffer face also. The damage looks very similar in both situations. If when you close the upper on the lower the bolt carrier contacts the buffer, it is most likely not the retainer doing the damage. |
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Post pics if you can. If everything fits properly, the BCG should keep the buffer off of the buffer retainer pin when the receiver halves are assembled. I'll definitely snap some pictures. The bolt carrier does just barely make contact with buffer, but I don't think its enough to keep the buffer from hitting the retainer. |
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http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/FlatFender_2006/IMAG0412.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/FlatFender_2006/IMAG0413.jpg http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/FlatFender_2006/IMAG0415.jpg http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/FlatFender_2006/IMAG0411.jpg http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/FlatFender_2006/IMAG0417.jpg This buffer was brand new yesterday, and after firing about 200rds, this is how it looks now. I ran my finger all over the rear of the bolt carrier, and I cannot find any sharp edges that would be consistent with that. Its hard to tell from the picture, but yes, the buffer tube is holding down the edge of the buffer retainer. |
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Takes a little work but I made an offset buffer detent pin to go in a old Sendra lower I have to stop that from happening. Its held straight by a notch in the bottom of the buffer tube I filed to a depth that timed out with the stock tube aligned correctly and not screwed in to far that it would stop the upper from closing..
Before that I had one of the M16 clinic polymer stick on pads on the buffer so it beat up the little pad instead of the buffer. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=19699/Product/AR_15_M16_AR_10_AR_BUFFER_PAD Problem there is they are almost as much as a new buffer, price seems out of line to me for what they are. |
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I figured since the buffer was already damaged, I couldn't make it any worse. I wont have access to the lathe for a few weeks, so I broke out the dremel, and offset the buffer. Going slow I was able to make it "serviceable". Not pretty, but if it functions, I'll keep using it.
I'll probably end up replacing the lower at some point, but for now, I want to shoot the hell out of this rifle. It looks off-set a bit in the picture, but I think its the lighting. Its pretty well centered for doing it freehand. http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i41/FlatFender_2006/IMAG0420.jpg |
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Got to ask who made the lower. ...rguns... I know they dont have the best reputation, and I see why...This was a budget build, and I couldn't argue with a $60 lower. Ive got a line on a spikes lower I may pick up this week. If it's destroying buffers, save it for a dedicated rimfire build. |
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Got to ask who made the lower. ...rguns... I know they dont have the best reputation, and I see why...This was a budget build, and I couldn't argue with a $60 lower. Ive got a line on a spikes lower I may pick up this week. If it's destroying buffers, save it for a dedicated rimfire build. Or just tig the old retainer channel closed, mill the channel correctly, then run a reamer to clean up the threads at the old fill area. |
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Or, you could just remove the buffer retainer pin all together. It's only needed when the receive halves are separated You'd just have to hold back the buffer with your finger while you pivoted the upper to the lower. Badda bing This would be the easiest fix ... like KBAD said the retaining pin is only there to keep the buffer flying out when you separate the two. |
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So, just a quick update for everybody. My lower receiver was definitely out of spec. I found a great deal on a new Spikes lower locally today, and just swapped over my lower parts and re-assembled the rifle. Not only does the buffer contact the bolt carrier, I can definitely feel it when the two go together.
Also on an unrelated note, with the old lower, my safety switch would not go completely vertical when switched to the fire position, with the new spikes lower, it goes completely vertical AND it snaps into place better than with the old lower. |
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So, just a quick update for everybody. My lower receiver was definitely out of spec. I found a great deal on a new Spikes lower locally today, and just swapped over my lower parts and re-assembled the rifle. Not only does the buffer contact the bolt carrier, I can definitely feel it when the two go together. Also on an unrelated note, with the old lower, my safety switch would not go completely vertical when switched to the fire position, with the new spikes lower, it goes completely vertical AND it snaps into place better than with the old lower. I hope you have contacted rguns.They need to make that right one way or the other. |
| Its kind of hard to tell from the pics but I think your buffer tube is sitting alittle to far back the only thing that should stop the buffer tube is the nipple of the retainer not the body of the retainer and also i have seen a buffer tube cusion that goes on that side being damaged if you look on the web youll find it.... I think it costs 8 bucks but it saves you from replacing the buffer.... |
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