The recoil and reciprocating buffering action

[Peter Laidler]

The gun crews weren't permitted to strip the buffer although we did teach them how to take the butts off and grease the return spring tube. That's why the Armourers would almost automatically, out of habit I suppose, just test the buffer every time he encountered a Bren coming in. You could just feel the graunchy ones that needed stripping down.

Almost forgot to say that you'd occasionally get a buffer plate that had cracked right around the centre hole. Stripped a few of them in your time Tankie and Skippy?

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[tankhunter]

Just a 'Few' Pete!...........

I never encountered any completely seized buffer units in Service. I guess it was due to the fact that all units had either six monthly or Quarterly inspections by Us Armourers!

Had a few buffer 'Anvil' plates with cracks in them. But when you consider the battering some of them get. It's not suprising!

Back to the 'Bellvue Washer's' mentioned by another Poster.

These are used in the L7A2 /M240/ MAG 58 Buffer units. They are VERY hard, but do have a certain amount of Elasticity. I used to test a unit when it was out of the Butt stock. For whatever reason. By putting the Buffer unit under a Flypress. And compressing against the round buffer anvil, & the rear of the buffer housing nut (For the screw, stock, bolt)
You CAN see the anvil compress under load. Thus Proving the buffering action was working OK inside it.
The L7 Buffer units ALSO had a cone & cup set up internally. That worked the same as the Bren/ LMG. The only difference was, the cone was steel. & the 'Cup' was neoprene.
You HAD to grease everything inside the housing upon reassembling. You would think this might reduce the buffering action. By reducing frictional forces with the Lubrication introduced. But it didn't do anything to affect the intended buffering action!

Upon ANY GPMG series of guns. Coming to me for whatever reason. Upon stripping down to inspect/ repair, or whatever was needed. It was a VERY Simple matter. To shake the butt assembly, & listen for the possibility of rattling. This indicated immediately, that one or more of the washers had failed. & fractured. Of course, when you stripped the assembly down. You inspected every component. & rebuilt the unit to in service standards.