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Posted: 1/19/2008 10:49:55 PM EDT
| What is the correct buffer tube and spring for my late XM16E1 clone and where do I get one? Thanks |
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No problem. In case you don't know, you need an A1 buttstock screw, (the one that screws into the buffer tube) because the A1 stock is shorter than the A2. www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=595556&t=11082005 |
No, the early receiver extensions didn't have flats, or from what I understand, the 1/4" holes which some say were to tighten the tube (so why the flats?) I say drain holes as the Mk4 Mod O had. (A1 trapdoor which Xm didn't have) They were also grey. I'll be using an 'incorrect' one on my build - oh well. The edgewater buffer was used on some early versions according to some sources, but the later buffer was also definitely 'normal' for the model from everything I've read. That's what I'm using. |
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RBR - XM16E1 If you note the original tube and buffer are depicted in the XM16E1 schematic. The transition from the original tube and buffer to the new tube and buffer took place as the XM16E1 to M16A1 transition took place, however I am not sure if there is a hard or exact point when it happened. Best of luck with the builds, "Capt Richardson" |
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There are a few variations. Most I'm not even aware of. But last year I did a photo thread comparing rifle length buffer tubes. FALARAK put it in his thread in the Build it yourself forum. I found my 604 kit had smaller wrench flats than the now standard tubes. My guess is the larger wrench flats were part of the upgrade to either XM16E1 or when adopted to the M16A1. But you can use any rifle length buffer tube in your build. |
Kurt makes a good point, I don't think many people catch this detail, especially when they are making a reproduction. Per the "Official USGI" XM16E1 Diagram below, you can see the pin was clearly shown, so that means they were still pinning the tube on the Model 603 / XM16E1.  Per the photo below you can clearly see the pin hole in the receiver.  I would guess they stopped pinning them on when they switched to the new tube with the Model 603 / M16A1. That being said, there was a lot of grey area where some rifles were not clearly one model or another (other than how they were marked), because they had multiple characteristics of both models. It was obvious that there was not a clean break/transition from one model to the next. Thanks, "Capt Richardson" |
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