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12/19/2011 12:14:44 PM EDT
I'm making a "small parts order and was thinking of trying out an H-buffer in my midlength.  Brownell's lists quite a few, which one to get.  (except Spikes)
12/19/2011 12:16:22 PM EDT
[#1]
I would buy Colt parts
12/19/2011 12:19:50 PM EDT
[#2]
I use the H3 in my carbines DI and Osprey equipped.For the midlegnth the H3 should work its just a little less than the 5.5 ounce buffer in a fixed stock.For a midlenth I would think from standard to 9mm wich is 5.7 ounce it should run fine.
12/19/2011 1:22:33 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
I'm making a "small parts order and was thinking of trying out an H-buffer in my midlength.  Brownell's lists quite a few, which one to get.  (except Spikes)

You could just buy a good known quality H3 buffer and if you have a standard carbine buffer, just use one tungsten weight to try a H weight buffer, two tungsten weights for H2 and all the three tungsten weight for H3.

Try all the different weights on all your ammo and pick the one you like that works the best.

I just use H buffer on my 16" midlength barrel, I have Colt, LMT and BCM brands, I mainly use surplus military ammo sometimes commercial .223 cheaper bulk stuff.


12/19/2011 1:32:04 PM EDT
[#4]
I use a Colt H2 and a Sprinco blue spring in my Colt 727 clone, which has a Colt M4 14.5 inch barrel with a .063 gas port and it runs very well
12/19/2011 2:42:38 PM EDT
[#5]
i'm gonna be different,, i'm not sure why the avoidance of the spike's buffer.  i have tried/changed them in an LMT  and a DD carbine.  with 3 of us shooting them, we all agreed the spike's ST-T2 shot smoother. is there a thread i missed, informing everybody they should not use these?????? a blue ''springco'' spring, and a spike's ST-T2 buffer works for me,,, regardless of what the ''experts'' have decided. help me out here guys,, if i am on the wrong track..... ''don't fix nothing that ain't broke''.....AND ... doesn't DD use these buffers, from the factory?????
12/19/2011 3:02:27 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
... doesn't DD use these buffers, from the factory?????


Are you saying DD uses Spike's buffers from the factory?
12/19/2011 3:08:22 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
i'm gonna be different,, i'm not sure why the avoidance of the spike's buffer.  i have tried/changed them in an LMT  and a DD carbine.  with 3 of us shooting them, we all agreed the spike's ST-T2 shot smoother. is there a thread i missed, informing everybody they should not use these?????? a blue ''springco'' spring, and a spike's ST-T2 buffer works for me,,, regardless of what the ''experts'' have decided. help me out here guys,, if i am on the wrong track..... ''don't fix nothing that ain't broke''.....AND ... doesn't DD use these buffers, from the factory?????


You've got it backwards.  The Spike's *is* the "don't fix nothing that ain't broke" option.  Nary a thing was ever wrong with standard, reciprocating weight buffers.  I guess if you're busy worrying about how the rifle sounds when you fire it...

Alpha-Romeo3 has the right idea with getting a carbine buffer and H3, and "mix and matching your own buffer.  Particularly if your weapon already came with a standard carbine buffer, you can build yourself an "H" (1 tungsten - 2 steel) and an H2 (2 tungsten - 1 steel) buffer for the price of one H3.  

For that matter the Springco spring is an "if it aint broke" modification too.  

Neither will probably ever cause problems that most users installing them will see, but heavier springs change the timing of the weapon.  Like evolution - most mutations are harmful.  Only a small fraction are beneficial.  

Mike Pannone, who is one of the users that first advocated for the use of Springco Springs and heavier buffers (The M4 Fouling Myth) changed out the factory parts, and ended up slowing his weapon down and short stroking.  When he re-installed the factory parts, his M4 ran almost twice as long.  

~Augee
12/19/2011 6:10:41 PM EDT
[#8]
This is a great topic, because I was just researching the Spike's buffer myself since it comes in their complete lower that I was looking to buy locally for a good price. I was planning to run it with a BCM middy 14.5" upper. From research most agree that the "H" buffer is about right for this setup, but I was curious how the T2 would work. I'm still trying to decide whether to just assemble a lower, or buy this complete one, but it seems like the complete lower will save me a decent amount of money toward my ammo fund.
12/19/2011 6:43:02 PM EDT
[#9]
I run the 9mm RRA buffers and works great. I think they are the heaviest ones for 25 bucks. Anyone else have input using the 9mm RRA?

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=119
12/20/2011 5:26:47 AM EDT
[#10]
Well, I've never really had an issue with a carbine buffer except sometimes when it's dirty I have to use the forward assist.  I recently changed to an A1 stock with rifle buffer and have had a couple of issues that I don't know if they were mag related or a combination.  I'm changing back to a tele stock.  



If I change the buffer should I change the spring too?  Do springs go bad?  My carbine spring has maybe 6k rounds on it.
12/20/2011 5:29:26 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
I run the 9mm RRA buffers and works great. I think they are the heaviest ones for 25 bucks. Anyone else have input using the 9mm RRA?
I ran a 9mm buffer in a 16" midlength for a while but decided I didn't want to risk the rifle not operating correctly with under powered ammo, just in case. I'm sticking with standard H buffers for carbines and middies from now on.

12/20/2011 5:41:35 AM EDT
[#12]
Went to the RR website and they have the best ordering page for the plethora of small parts in a lower receiver.  (Whenever I change a stock and hand-guard I prepare to lose and replace certain parts)
12/20/2011 7:15:11 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
Well, I've never really had an issue with a carbine buffer except sometimes when it's dirty I have to use the forward assist.  I recently changed to an A1 stock with rifle buffer and have had a couple of issues that I don't know if they were mag related or a combination.  I'm changing back to a tele stock.  

If I change the buffer should I change the spring too?  Do springs go bad?  My carbine spring has maybe 6k rounds on it.


Springs do go bad eventually, though not very often with modern springs.  At 6K I wouldn't really worry about it.  

What I would worry about, however, is that the A1 (rifle length) stock and carbine stock use different length springs - you'd have to replace them.  Did you use the same spring last time you swapped?  Maybe that might be the source of the problems you were having with that configuration.  

~Augee
12/20/2011 7:22:47 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
I run the 9mm RRA buffers and works great. I think they are the heaviest ones for 25 bucks. Anyone else have input using the 9mm RRA?

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=119


Using a 9MM buffer is just inviting bolt bounce.

The 9MM buffer is designed for the recoil of a 9MM blowback operation - no rotating bolt or locking lugs or cam pin.  

The reason for the recipocating weights is much like a deadblow hammer - the buffer in DI system needs to "slam" the bolt home, and then keep it locked in there, because of the tendency of the bolt to "bounce" against the barrel extension.  It's not as much of a problem in semi-auto as it is in auto, but it's still not something I would want or accept just for a little bit more buffer weight.  The 9MM buffer doesn't have enough reciprocating mass to hold the bolt shut in DI operation reliably.  

If you want a heavier buffer, go with an H3.  Leave the 9MM buffers in 9MM systems.  

~Augee
12/20/2011 8:11:54 AM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, I've never really had an issue with a carbine buffer except sometimes when it's dirty I have to use the forward assist.  I recently changed to an A1 stock with rifle buffer and have had a couple of issues that I don't know if they were mag related or a combination.  I'm changing back to a tele stock.  

If I change the buffer should I change the spring too?  Do springs go bad?  My carbine spring has maybe 6k rounds on it.


Springs do go bad eventually, though not very often with modern springs.  At 6K I wouldn't really worry about it.  

What I would worry about, however, is that the A1 (rifle length) stock and carbine stock use different length springs - you'd have to replace them.  Did you use the same spring last time you swapped?  Maybe that might be the source of the problems you were having with that configuration.  

~Augee


I ordered the carbine H buffer and a new spring from RRA.  The spring was only $4 so i figured meh
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