Buffers

[gunsandglory]

I would like to know how important is the Buffer for counter weight ? Is it only for long barrel AR's and not so much for short barrel M4 style AR's ?

Information

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[imarangemaster]

Rifle buffers are a specific weight and length for rifle length buffer systems. The carbine and pistol length tubes have corresponding buffer lengths, based on the length of the tube and recoil spring. Weight is less of importance, as it controls cycle time. Original model 601, 602, and early 603s AR15s (full auto) had relatively light Edgewater buffers, which made the full auto cyclic rate faster and caused some reliability issues. The standard rifle buffer has been unchanged since about 1967. Carbine buffers run from 3 oz standard, H 3.7 or 3.8 oz, H2 (4.5?) and H3.. The heavier the buffer, the longer the action stays closed (we are talking milliseconds or less). I use a H buffer, which reduces some felt recoil, and seems to feed smoother than standard 3 oz. IIRC, heavy bullets like subsonic 200 grain 300BLK need a h2 or H3. (I may be wrong on this part, as I only used 115s in the 300 BLK I used. I used an H, as the standard had some issues.)

[RCS]

Photo shows early Colt SP1 with the Edgewater buffer

The Colt 606 also used a while plastic buffer that was not commonAttachment 67808Attachment 67809