Any firearm and weapon enthusiast should have complete knowledge about
each part and the functions that they perform. Having an in-depth knowledge of
your weapon and its working can be beneficial for multiple reasons. Having a
good knowledge of the parts, like buffer, buffer tube, buffer spring, and their
functions can help you in choosing the right kind of variants which are the
most suitable for your firearm.
Some of the most important parts of a firearm, buffer tube, buffer stock,
and buffer spring ensure that the yielder of the weapon stays safe from the
powerful recoil action caused as a result of firing a bullet. The type and
variations of these parts differ based on the type of firearm that you own. Let’s
know how these parts work.
As a shot is fired, it creates a rearward push for BCG which then comes
in contact with the buffer. Buffer spring is placed behind the buffer which is
further pushed back by the buffer due to recoil from the shot. The spring, when
pushed to the maximum, pushes back forward and pushes back BGC ahead in the
receiver (or buffer tube) preparing another
round of shot from the magazine. So, in simple words, the most basic function
of a firearm is overseen by the buffer, buffer tube, and the spring.
What to consider when
choosing?
Buffer weight
The right amount of buffer weight will keep your rifle functioning
smoothly as well as will increase the life span of other parts. Buffer weight
can be variated to adjust the recoil impulse of your firearm. The most common
variant is 3 oz. carabine that uses 3 steel weights. The other options from the
line include, H Buffers made with 1 part tungsten and 2 parts steel, H2 buffer
with the same making but heavier weights, H3 buffer made with 3 tungsten parts,
and rifle buffer with 5 steel parts for rifle-length buffer tubes.
You get 3 options when it comes to material – Aluminium, Steel, and
Tungsten. Aluminum is the lightest followed by steel and tungsten. Although
Steel and Tungsten are still the top choices here due to their heavyweight and
density, steel buffers offer an exceptional kind of value for AR-15.
Length of the Buffer
There are two types of buffer length available – carabine length and
rifle length. Carbine length buffers are more suited for collapsible stocks
housing carabine buffer tube and rifle length buffers are ideal for fixed
stocks with standard A2 buffer tubes because they are longer and hence will
successfully fill the extra space inside of your A2 rifle buffer tube.
Mil-spec and commercial are
the two options for you to choose from when selecting your buffer stock. The
main difference between these two variants is the size – mil-spec buffer tube
is 1.146 in. in diameter and slightly smaller than the commercial buffer tube.
So, both mil-spec and commercial stocks will fit over this tube. Commercial
buffer tubes have a diameter of 1.17 in. and can only be combined with
commercial buffer stock.
Choosing Buffer Springs
Standard rifle spring is 12.75 inches long and features about 41 to 42
coils while a standard carabine
spring will be 10.5 inches in length and will have 37 to 39 coils. You can
easily choose either of the two options depending on the type of firearm you
possess. the important thing to look out for is a “twang” kind of noise when
you fire a shot. That is caused when the spring is receiving too much friction
from the internal surface of the buffer tube. This can be avoided by choosing a
spring with a special finish or smoother surface.