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Posted: 10/19/2015 10:25:02 AM EDT
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What is the standard test to know when the receiver extension (buffer spring) is worn enough that is needs replacement? Ejection has started to change on my AR no malfunctions but brass is starting to move forward away from my nice 3-4o'clock brass piles I used to have(multiple type of ammo). Been using M855 LC, SS109 Radway green(i know it is hotter) M193, Wolf steel, Federal 100rd 55gr, American Eagle black box ammo. All this ammo used to still eject 3-4 and now is at 1-130 all of it except Wolf which is more 2-3.
The BCG will still close under spring pressure on its own, no failure to feeds, the BCG is much easier than it used to be to pull back, and I have ~4K on the spring. It is shorter but I do not have a fresh spring to compare it to to know exactly how much shorter. Rifle only has ~4K and I do not do mag dumps or get the barrel blazing hot so I doubt it is gas hole erosion causing such a shift in brass ejection. If I am missing something that may also change the ejection so drastically please inform me. Setup is M16 carrier, T2 buffer, standard Spikes spring that comes with their car receiver extension (not sure if it is extra power), mid-length gas and 16" barrel. Wolff or ISMI spring is what I normally use when I buy replacement springs. |
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I would think the spring should last a lot longer than ~4k rounds. Try a different bolt and a see if the extractor is causing this, but I would doubt it. I would think that the leaks around your gas block are now plugged and more gas is being returned to the bolt. That could explain it. |
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Quoted:
I expect standard springs to last 3,000 to 5,000 rounds. Their is a length you can use to check it in one of the TM's. I like Damage Industries springs, they should last 100,000+ rounds and aren't nearly as expensive as the Sprinco springs. Springs are cheap I will for sure order a few. I know I have surpassed 3K so it may be time. |
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Quoted:
I expect standard springs to last 3,000 to 5,000 rounds. Their is a length you can use to check it in one of the TM's. I like Damage Industries springs, they should last 100,000+ rounds and aren't nearly as expensive as the Sprinco springs. Damage Industries has their springs on sale http://damageindustriesllc.com/product/enhanced-spring-recoil-buffer-action-carbine |
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Quoted:
I would think the spring should last a lot longer than ~4k rounds. Try a different bolt and a see if the extractor is causing this, but I would doubt it. I would think that the leaks around your gas block are now plugged and more gas is being returned to the bolt. That could explain it. I replace then at 5K rounds whether it needs it or not. As far as a test OP... If the rifle is vertical, bolt locked back, a loaded mag is inserted, then slap the bolt catch to chamber the round while the rifle is still vertical. If it doesn't seat the round forcefully enough for my liking's on a clean barrel/chamber then I will replace the spring early. I've only had to do that once though, replace a buffer spring before 5K... Not a technical test I know but... when you've been around these things for a while you kinda know how something should feel spring force wise. |
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Springs are cheap I will for sure order a few. I know I have surpassed 3K so it may be time. Quoted:
Quoted:
I expect standard springs to last 3,000 to 5,000 rounds. Their is a length you can use to check it in one of the TM's. I like Damage Industries springs, they should last 100,000+ rounds and aren't nearly as expensive as the Sprinco springs. Springs are cheap I will for sure order a few. I know I have surpassed 3K so it may be time. They sure are! I believe I bought (3) Colt buffer springs for $5-6 bucks each from Brownell's about 6 months ago; killer deal... |
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Per Colt (Colt Manual No. CM118, "Operation and Unit Maintenance Manual", First Edition Revision 3, 01/2010),
Rifle spring: 11-3/4" minimum, 13-1/2" maximum, 44 coils. Carbine spring: 10-1/16" minimum, 11-1/4" maximum, 38 coils. That said, springs are cheap so it's no big deal to replace them if there's any doubt in your mind. |
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CS springs are for practical purposes a lifetime spring as long as they are kept from rusting.
The price of the springs has come down a lot and the coatings have gotten better. I live in Houston, where the humidity is usually fairly high, and I have not had any rusting problems. YMMV on the rusting issue. |
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EdgecrusherXES, I am curious as to the length of your measured 4K springs... If you could measure and post that info, I would appreciate it. I will have to pop it out when I get home tonight. I have not measured I do know it is not shorter than the one in my RRA which has tons of miles on it. |
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CS springs are for practical purposes a lifetime spring as long as they are kept from rusting. The price of the springs has come down a lot and the coatings have gotten better. I live in Houston, where the humidity is usually fairly high, and I have not had any rusting problems. YMMV on the rusting issue. Corpus here and I take my rifle with me on boat rides in the bay\gulf when we go fishing or it comes when we go fishing in general. The FH had some rust spots on it but nothing that did not rub off but zero rust anywhere else. I doubt I could honestly get any steel part on my rifle to rust it already constantly seeps oil. |
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CS springs are for practical purposes a lifetime spring as long as they are kept from rusting. The price of the springs has come down a lot and the coatings have gotten better. Wow, you aren't kidding about the prices coming down. It doesn't seem like all that long ago they were twice that regular price (or higher). |
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Quoted:
Per Colt (Colt Manual No. CM118, "Operation and Unit Maintenance Manual", First Edition Revision 3, 01/2010), Rifle spring: 11-3/4" minimum, 13-1/2" maximum, 44 coils. Carbine spring: 10-1/16" minimum, 11-1/4" maximum, 38 coils. That said, springs are cheap so it's no big deal to replace them if there's any doubt in your mind. Measuring is the correct way to check the main action spring (buffer spring). I couldn't recall the specs off the top of my head, thank you for posting and giving us all a reminder! 
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| You might want to try a Tubb CS flatwire spring in your gun. I bought my last one directly from Tubb Precision on sale for $22. They are rated for 500,000 cycles and the same spring works in either carbine or rifle tubes. They are all I run in my rifles now and have worked perfectly for me. |
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