On a happier note: Ode to an "H" buffer in the carbine!

I stopped by the gravel pit up in my patrol area to try my new 3.5 ounce H buffer I put in my M4gery patrol carbine: to see how it functioned, if I noticed any difference in feel/performance , and also to check zero one more time.

Zero was dead on with the Taco Accupoint red dot, shattering a clay pigeon at about 100 yards with the first shot. I continued to plink the rest of a 30 round magazine (as much as I dare with the ammo situation). I noticed three things:

1) They ejection pattern was different from a 3 ounce buffer, cases landing neatly at 1:30 to 2:30 or so, rather than 4 o'clock to 5 o'clock like the 3 ounce.

2) The action was definitely smoother feeling and noticeably quieter during cycling.

3) The overall experience was more like shooting my retro 1/12" twist 602 clone with its 20 inch barrel and rifle buffer. Shooting a carbine with a standard buffer, there is more felt recoil from the buffer slamming to the rear, even with a USGI spring. The whole platform seems just "on the edge" with the standard buffer. With the H buffer, the felt experience was totally different. More "controlled" and more self assured!:o

Should help reliability overall as well, but many shooters would never fire enough to find out.

I always thought the heavy was for full auto with short barrels. This is very interesting though. Maybe I should try it...

I have fired almost 400 rounds (ammo bought when it was cheap) through this build since I assembled it, so I could know I had 100% reliability for a duty weapon. I believe the H buffers were designed to reduce jump in full auto, but it works really well on the semi, to I was really amazing the difference from using an H buffer and M16 carrier, and a light buffer and AR15 carrier.

Mine has the standard carbine buffer. The more I read the more I think I might try the H buffer. They're not much money so the wife shouldn't give me too hard a time.

It slows the cycling, making life easier on the extractor, as residual pressures in the chamber are less. Still higher than the 20", but it helps.

Sounds like it may make the brass happier too...for re-loading.

I get a small dent from the brass deflector. Maybe this would help?

Probably. Mine all now eject to 1:30 to 2:30 instead of 4 to 5 o'clock.

What is the difference between the standard Buffer and the "H" Buffer. All of my AR's that I put together I just used what came with the kit. I never knew there was any difference. Everything always worked.