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Posted: 1/12/2011 5:50:18 PM EDT
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Hello All!
First post, so please go easy on me. I did a search and can't find an answer to my question, i found a few close questions/answers, but none that encompass the entire question... So, I got a Spikes stripped lower for Christmas. I recently placed an order from Smartgunner for a Daniel Defense upper deal 16" LW, carbine length gas system, flat top, DD BCG, Charging handle and vortex hider. I have been reading this forum non stop looking for ideas and learning so much. I stumbled upon this article about M4 reliability: http://www.defensereview.com/the-big-m4-myth-fouling-caused-by-the-direct-impingement-gas-system-makes-the-m4-unreliable/ Here is my question. The article(in the conclusion section) suggests to replace the buffer spring with a better one, use a h2 buffer, crane o-ring, and upgraded ejector spring. Do you recommend doing ALL 4 things? Or can i get away with doing just a heavy buffer? I am about to purchase from Spikes the Magpul CTR mil-spec kit with their T2 buffer, but I'm trying to figure out if you recommend doing the other upgrades or not(or am I wasting my money on the heavy buffer to begin with). I'm looking for the most reliable weapon i can assemble. Any advice: good, bad or ugly would be greatly appreciated! Thanks |
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Quoted:
Hello All! First post, so please go easy on me. I did a search and can't find an answer to my question, i found a few close questions/answers, but none that encompass the entire question... So, I got a Spikes stripped lower for Christmas. I recently placed an order from Smartgunner for a Daniel Defense upper deal 16" LW, carbine length gas system, flat top, DD BCG, Charging handle and vortex hider. I have been reading this forum non stop looking for ideas and learning so much. I stumbled upon this article about M4 reliability: http://www.defensereview.com/the-big-m4-myth-fouling-caused-by-the-direct-impingement-gas-system-makes-the-m4-unreliable/ Here is my question. The article(in the conclusion section) suggests to replace the buffer spring with a better one, use a h2 buffer, crane o-ring, and upgraded ejector spring. Do you recommend doing ALL 4 things? Or can i get away with doing just a heavy buffer? I am about to purchase from Spikes the Magpul CTR mil-spec kit with their T2 buffer, but I'm trying to figure out if you recommend doing the other upgrades or not(or am I wasting my money on the heavy buffer to begin with). I'm looking for the most reliable weapon i can assemble. Any advice: good, bad or ugly would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Extractor O-rings are usually not necessary on 16" guns. They can be helpful on SBRs. However, they come in the BCM Extractor Upgrade Kit, so it's not a bad idea to keep it in your spare parts kit. I would definitely install the extractor insert and extractor spring from said kit in my bolt. I've never had issues with regular action springs so long as I don't let them wear out (just like the action spring in a handgun, or a magazine spring). Regarding buffers, view the following videos and draw your own conclusion: Vid 1 Vid 2 And a note on the T2 buffer: Link |
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will your rifle "work" without the upgrades? Yes.
will the upgrades make your rifle more "reliable"? Yes. I would recommend all of those if reliability is your goal. There are a couple of other things you could do to upgrade your reliability but those particular upgrades are the cheapest, and the best place to start. I would also suggest starting with the extractor upgrade... BCM sells a kit that will handle it. Also.. your rifle is going to be specific as far as the best buffer to use... its a equation involving your barrel length, gas port size, and type of ammo used. It is a case by case basis. |
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The DD bolt should already have the proper extractor, spring and insert in it. Don't bother with the O ring, bolts with proper components don't need them.
As long as you buy the stock kit from a reputable manufacturer using reputable components, you should be fine. I use BCMs receiver extension, spring and buffer. An H buffer would probably be fine for a LW carbine setup. All reviews of the ST2, from people whose opinion I trust, are good as well. Get it put together and shoot it. If it runs reliably the you don't have a problem. |
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Quoted:
The DD bolt should already have the proper extractor, spring and insert in it. Don't bother with the O ring, bolts with proper components don't need them. As long as you buy the stock kit from a reputable manufacturer using reputable components, you should be fine. I use BCMs receiver extension, spring and buffer. An H buffer would probably be fine for a LW carbine setup. All reviews of the ST2, from people whose opinion I trust, are good as well. Get it put together and shoot it. If it runs reliably the you don't have a problem. This answer. |
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