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

[imarangemaster]

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!

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[jmoore]

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

[browningautorifle]

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

[imarangemaster]

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.

[Rumpelhardt]

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.

[jmoore]

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.

[browningautorifle]

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

[Rumpelhardt]

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

[imarangemaster]

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

[langss]

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.