trying to find a detail of how it's bolt carrier and buffer work.  Haven't had any luck online myslef, as was hoping one of you gurus out there might have a schematic or some such.

Thanks

no one has one of these?

Had one, don't any longer. I don't have the link, but you can download the manual off the Olympic Arms website.  Should have a schematic there.
They really don't have a buffer, they work with a recoil spring / operating rod connecting to the top of the bolt carrier. Carrier is a dedicated item (OA only, no substitutions), it is shorter than mil-spec because it has no buffer tube to go into.
The one I had was a great shooter, I just decided that the non-spec parts and the un-necessity of a folding stock on a rifle weren't for me. YMMV

Found the link: www.olyarms.com/pdf/oamanual-web.pdf

am i seeing this right?  is the recoil spring inside the gas piston tube?

No gas piston on this the OA93 systems, they're direct impingement. You can see the gas tube in it's usual location.
Instead of the standard AR spring/ buffer assy, the OA has an operating rod and spring over the bbl. and receiver. That's why there's no buffer tube.
Oly doesn't have a big following on this site, but there is a dedicated Oly Owners Group. You might get a better response there.
Here's another site with some info you might be interested in

OA93 Series

actually you answered all my questions, on final analysis, no Oly for me.

Thanks for the help