Recommend a buffer spring for overgassed

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  • calicojack

    American Sporting Rifle
    MDS Supporter
    May 29, 2018
    5,348
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    So I tried out for the first time my 11.5” AR SBR, it tosses brass at 1 O’clock into the grass (Brass in the grass, over gassed). I have an H3 buffer to try next time but was wondering springs you guys use to get some extra resistance?

    [EDIT] This is while running suppressed.
     
    Last edited:

    camo556

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 29, 2021
    2,634
    springco. https://www.sprinco.com/ar-buffer.html

    Which color depends how overgassed it is. Also keep in mind, you may not be able to tune it without an adjustable gas block.

    tbh, if you are not having feeding issues or real problems like the bolt is overriding the magazine or the bolt unlocking early, I might suggest leave it alone. If you run suppressed, the gun fowls very quick, being overgassed helps reliability. Throwing brass at 1:00 is not itself an issue. I would not worry about it unless you are having other issues.
     

    calicojack

    American Sporting Rifle
    MDS Supporter
    May 29, 2018
    5,348
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    springco. https://www.sprinco.com/ar-buffer.html

    Which color depends how overgassed it is. Also keep in mind, you may not be able to tune it without an adjustable gas block.

    tbh, if you are not having feeding issues or real problems like the bolt is overriding the magazine or the bolt unlocking early, I might suggest leave it alone. If you run suppressed, the gun fowls very quick, being overgassed helps reliability. Throwing brass at 1:00 is not itself an issue. I would not worry about it unless you are having other issues.

    Hmm - ok, it does seem to run fine o/w. This particular upper does not have an adjustable gas block.
     

    camo556

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 29, 2021
    2,634
    other than the ejection pattern are there any other issues like dented brass or feeding/ejection problems?
     

    camo556

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 29, 2021
    2,634
    there is certainly no harm in getting a stronger spring, might lower felt recoil and reduce wear. But it doesn't sound like there is a problem either.
     

    atblis

    Ultimate Member
    May 23, 2010
    2,011
    I’ve had some luck taking gas tubes and pinching them in The middle to constrict them. The corner of a vise works nicely. 10 dollar experiment.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,736
    Socialist State of Maryland
    So I tried out for the first time my 11.5” AR SBR, it tosses brass at 1 O’clock into the grass (Brass in the grass, over gassed). I have an H3 buffer to try next time but was wondering springs you guys use to get some extra resistance?

    The H3 buffer and standard carbine spring may make your problem go away. Only change one thing at a time. Wait until you see what the H3 does for you before taking any other action.
     

    woodline

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 8, 2017
    1,947
    SpringCo and Tubbs flatwire springs are generally my preference, but you should try the H3 buffer by itself first. Generally speaking, the correct ejection pattern indicates that your firearm is unlocking with the correct timing. Leaving the firearm overgassed isn’t the end of the world, but it does cause louder port pop and higher uncorking pressure, leads to premature parts wear/breakage, and can induce malfunctions all on its own. Messing with buffer and spring weights is the easiest thing to do, but it is better to correct the problem at the source by reducing gas flow. There are a number of options for that, the easiest of which is probably a BRT ez tune gas tube.

    Ultimately, it is up to you if you care or not. But you paid for the suppressor, might as well make your firearm as quiet to your ears as possible.
     

    calicojack

    American Sporting Rifle
    MDS Supporter
    May 29, 2018
    5,348
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    Why shouldn’t one do that? Does it not work? Will it harm the gun? Curious why you say that. Please elaborate.

    Sounds like it would work, but it's not reversible unless I replace the gas tube. This as opposed to using a different buffer and/or spring. And with my luck I would over do it.
     

    calicojack

    American Sporting Rifle
    MDS Supporter
    May 29, 2018
    5,348
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    SpringCo and Tubbs flatwire springs are generally my preference, but you should try the H3 buffer by itself first. Generally speaking, the correct ejection pattern indicates that your firearm is unlocking with the correct timing. Leaving the firearm overgassed isn’t the end of the world, but it does cause louder port pop and higher uncorking pressure, leads to premature parts wear/breakage, and can induce malfunctions all on its own. Messing with buffer and spring weights is the easiest thing to do, but it is better to correct the problem at the source by reducing gas flow. There are a number of options for that, the easiest of which is probably a BRT ez tune gas tube.

    Ultimately, it is up to you if you care or not. But you paid for the suppressor, might as well make your firearm as quiet to your ears as possible.

    Never heard of the BRT ez tune gas tube; will look into it.

    [EDIT] I did not mention in the OP, but yes, I was running suppressed, as you surmised.
     

    woodline

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 8, 2017
    1,947
    Why shouldn’t one do that? Does it not work? Will it harm the gun? Curious why you say that. Please elaborate.
    It probably won’t harm the rest of the firearm or really hurt you, but the gas tube is already the intended failure point for the AR series of rifles. It’s essentially designed to be the canary in the coal mine for the rest of the firearm. It will fail if run too hard (typically only ever encountered by people doing FA mag dumps, which not many can afford to do at the moment). So you’re intentionally damaging what is already the weakest part of the firearm, and it’s hard to be precise about how much gas you are restricting from coming back into the system. So if you overshoot or undershoot, you have to keep tweaking it, which will further weaken the gas tube.

    You’re the one who puts your fingers next to your gas tube when you shoot, not me, so I don’t really care what you do to your firearm. But I wouldn’t personally call it good advice to give out to strangers over the internet.
     

    woodline

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 8, 2017
    1,947
    Never heard of the BRT ez tune gas tube; will look into it.

    [EDIT] I did not mention in the OP, but yes, I was running suppressed, as you surmised.
    Hah I figured. Which can are you using? What sort of AR is it, more specifically what kind of barrel?
     

    atblis

    Ultimate Member
    May 23, 2010
    2,011
    Sounds like it would work, but it's not reversible unless I replace the gas tube. This as opposed to using a different buffer and/or spring. And with my luck I would over do it.
    I know it works, been doing it for years. Gas tubes can be had for nearing $5. Was just trying to make Ski Patrol elaborate because I don't think he thought it through before commenting.
     

    woodline

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 8, 2017
    1,947
    Rugged Radiant
    Colt HRT 11.5" barrel with front sight tower, etc.
    Huh. Cool setup. I wouldn’t have expected the Radiant to be adding all that much back pressure, but I don’t know the Colt HRT 11.5” gas port specs. In that case I’d definitely suggest just starting with the H3 buffer, see where that gets you.

    Out of curiosity, long or short configuration for the Radiant? Are you running the normal end cap or the 5.56 one?
     

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