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Posted: 6/13/2007 9:24:11 AM EDT
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I read a comment about a carbine extractor spring (???) I assume it was sarcastic, but since the guy used a yellow smiley face instead of the blue guy with the teeth, and he seemed pretty sure of himself that there was a difference....I'm not sure how to read it. I wouldn't change it out anyway since I think it's all hogwash and have experienced no failures swapping BCGs, but it did raise my curiosity. If it is for real, and why? What are the mechanical reasons if such a difference exists? |
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There are "better" extractor springs you can use. It's not some standard though. The factory 4 coil carbine spring is what everyone gets out of the box. If you want to buy a fancy aftermarket "carbine extractor spring" you can. Bravo for example has an Extractor Spring Upgrade Kit. It includes a heavy 5 coil spring as opposed to the 4 coil spring you and I are currently running. linky does any of this help? 
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wow, so there is a difference between a standard 20 extractor spring and a carbine srping!? I had no idea. Is this a difference at the manufacturer level too, or an aftermarket solution to a potential problem that has occurred while running the same springs in long and short rifles? You have helped, and peaked more interest...hy.gif |
Colt makes a spring specifically for the M4 carbine, to insure full ejection from the piece. The earlier Colt carbine types used the standard rifle spring, and I can tell you from personal experience with my XM177E2'd, SP1 carbine, that after about 1000 rounds I started getting constant ejection problems. I got a batch of the Wolfe HD extractor springs and put them in all six of my ARs. No more ejection problems w/the XM177, and the angle of ejection on the rifles is straight out to the side, so as a lefty I don't have to worry about getting an empty in the face w/the M16 and M16A1 clones, and the hump on the later type pieces doesn't get crudded up w/brass smears any more.
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I must say that the extractor spring that Bravo Company uses in their bolts, is by far the strongest one I've ever seen! They give you a Crane O ring but it really isn't needed with that particular spring. It's a nice quality, shot peened bolt, I might add. You actually have several options. You can go with a super strong extractor spring by itself. A standard extractor spring with Craine O Ring and black bumper or CS spring with the above setup. I have several different bolts with all of the above extractor upgrades and they all work wonderfully. If you really want to cure extraction issues, for a 14.5 inch or 16 inch carbine or 18 inch middy, use a LMT Enhanced Carrier. Not only will your carbine run much better, it will run much cleaner too. If you decide to go that route, get the enhanced carrier by itself and use a standard bolt with any of the above extractor upgrades. Any new carbine/upper I buy in the future will be using an LMT Enhanced Carrier. |
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