Modifying buffer to make it heavier vs buying heavy buffer

[sentry1]

Do I need to go out and spend $100 on a heavy buffer for my MATEN, or can I take the DPMS carbine buffer I already have, and just put heavier weights into it? Is it possible to just get some denser metal and put it in the buffer?

At the moment, I have a 16" AP4 barrel on the MATEN with a standard low pro gas block and carbine length gas system. When it comes in, a Mega Arms 20" barrel with rifle length gas system and a Wilson Combat adjustable gas block.

 

[ORD]

It can be done if you have access to the tools and the materials you need to make the inserts. There is also high density tungsten powder which you can use in lieu of the sliding/solid buffer weights (Spike's uses this material on their lineup of buffers and it is truly excellent). Somewhere around here, there is a thread on DIYing heavy/heavier buffers if you run a search.

Personally, I really like the heavy buffers from Clint Butler (aka -Slash). They are 100% first quality from a man who knows his products, his customer base, how to take good care of folks, and who has forgotten more about the AR platform in general than many will ever know. He can assist you in getting the best-suited buffer for your setup based on your hardware, shooting conditions, and preferred ammo. I just generally prefer to pay Clint for his fine products and to save myself the time, energy and headache of the DIY which all take away from my already limited range time between work, family, etc., etc., etc.

 

[Shooter0311]

I second for Clint at heavy buffers. Great guy, great product. With his adjustable system; you can go from something like 4-8.5 ounces. I know it's not the cheapest but it really makes a difference IMO.

 

[pawprint2]

$100.00, hell no! Brownell's has heavy buffers, including one from Colt for under $50.00, just saying.

 

[ORD]

$100.00, hell no! Brownell's has heavy buffers, including one from Colt for under $50.00, just saying.

They have a TON of heavy buffers...but what about for a .308/7.62 AR? The buffers are NOT interchangeable between AR-15 and AR-10/LR-308/etc.

 

[pawprint2]

"Right ON", my mistake, I can sure man-up when I've made one.
Let me start over:
$100 hell no! TRY here:





This is being offered by RifleGear.com:


Armalite AR10 Carbine Buffer (H3 Heavy Buffer

Armalite AR10 Carbine Buffer (H3 Heavy Buffer)

Armalite AR10 Carbine Buffer (H3 Heavy Buffer)


H3 Heavy Carbine Buffer.

weight: 5.4 oz


In stock

as of 05/04/2013 1:33PM PST

SKU:ARML-H3CARBUFF
Price: $37.95




Quantity

 

[ORD]

"Right ON", my mistake, I can sure man-up when I've made one.
Let me start over:
$100 hell no! TRY here:





This is being offered by RifleGear.com:


Armalite AR10 Carbine Buffer (H3 Heavy Buffer

Armalite AR10 Carbine Buffer (H3 Heavy Buffer)

Armalite AR10 Carbine Buffer (H3 Heavy Buffer)


H3 Heavy Carbine Buffer.

weight: 5.4 oz


In stock

as of 05/04/2013 1:33PM PST

SKU:ARML-H3CARBUFF
Price: $37.95




Quantity

Hate to be contrary yet again...but that is also incorrect.

The "Armalite" heavy buffers are for the ARMALITE proprietary AR-10 carbine receiver extension which is NOT an AR-15 receiver extension like what the OP has now. The Armalite tubes are longer carbine tubes (7.625" internal length vs. the standard 7" tubes) to accommodate the use of the longer AR-15 buffers (3.25" for the AR-15 buffers vs. 2.75" on the special shortened heavy .308 AR carbine buffers) in an AR-10 which is necessary to accommodate the proper operation of the longer BCG/CH/etc. While that buffer you referenced may work with the proprietary Armalite tube, it will NOT work with the buffer tube the OP has now. Also, even if you go to the Armalite tube...the problem you run into is that many AR-15 stock bodies don't work well with it. Because of the longer length of the tube, the stocks stick out further and will not collapse onto the buffer tube like a regular stock body.

If you want to run an AR-15 stock body and AR-15 carbine receiver extension on an AR-10/LR-308 style rifle, you need a dedicated, shortened buffer like those offered by Clint Butler/Slash (for heavy buffers) or those specialty buffers offered direct from companies like DPMS for use in the LR-308 (and others) with the AR-15 receiver extensions.

 

[sentry1]

Yes, I have a DPMS LR308 buffer for use in my MATEN. Before I go spending another $100, I'm going to see if I can come up with something on my own. Tungsten powder was mentioned in a few posts, I'm going to look into that.

 

[LongArm]

An adjustable gas block will solve the problem. The heavy buffer is a band aid for over gassing. The adjustable gas block is the cure.

 

[pawprint2]

As the poster is currently using a DMPS carbine buffer, would still say $100, Hell NO: buy this:


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Home > Store > Replacement Parts > .223 / 5.56 Platform > Buttstock > Carbine Length

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Heavy Car Buffer

Part Number BS-11T

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Price
Your Price:
$29.95
There are plenty of heavy buffers available by numerous mfgs. for all kinds of AR-10 and AR-15s, $50.00 and below, the $100.00 mark seems very high to me, I agree with LongArm regarding the adjustable gas block, money better spent, not to mention, you may want to change your loads sometime in the future, who knows a new bullet, a new powder etc.






Quantity







Description

Heavy Car Buffer
Length 3.240 Weights .2222 pounds = 3.5552 ounces



•
Please Note – we are experiencing longer than normal lead times due to availability of vender parts, in addition current stock orders are taking 2-3 weeks to ship.









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Store > Replacement Parts > .308 / 7.62 Platform > Buttstock > Collapsible

 

[BigJimFish]

I put lead shot in one of mine in lieu of the sliding weights. It works fine and was darn cheap to do given that I reload shot shells and had the shot on hand.

 

[AXEMAN]

I took the weights out and honestly you will spend more time looking for something heavier to replace it, youre better off buying a heavier buffer for the proper tube length, ie, carbine vs rifle

 

[sentry1]

So I sat up last night looking through the McMaster Carr online catalog, doing the math on what would be needed to turn a 3.2oz carbine buffer into a 5 oz heavy buffer. Turns out metal of the appropriate density is EXPENSIVE. Enough high density metal (and plain ole tungsten isn't gonna cut it) to make 5 heavy buffers costs in the area of $300.

Conclusion: Slash isn't a ripoff. Considering the cost of the buffer body, assembly labor, and shipping, it's not a terrible deal.

 

[Shooter0311]

Good facts to know! He is also good to work with and has tested about every combination of carbines/springs/rifles/buffers. He also did some fluting, threading, pinning and welding for me. I will attach the pics. I had him cut an LMTMWS barrel to 14.5, P/W and flute it. He did great. View attachment 6466View attachment 6466

 

[Skyyr]

An adjustable gas block will solve the problem. The heavy buffer is a band aid for over gassing. The adjustable gas block is the cure.

This.

In addition, adding a heavier weight would only temporarily solve the issue. Over time, if the overgassing issue is left uncorrected, you'll eventually have gas port erosion (happens in all AR-style semi-auto rifles) and be back to the same problem.

 

[Shooter0311]

A better h3 buffer (5.4 ounces) with better spring (dpms generally comes with a very flimsy spring) is not what I would call a bandaid. I have seen exhaustive tests from Crane and for some top units, it is just SOP (not from clint/slash but a quality h3 and spring). That even goes for many of the weapons that are piston operated with a switch block. I wasn't talking about a 10 ounce buffer. I just re-read the OP. I looked over the fact that he has a WC adjustable block on the way. You guys are right. It will help bleed off excess gas for sure. I didn't catch that the first time. I personally like to run H3 weight and good spring in all my gas guns.

 

[VKC]

Look on slash heavy buffers website for which one you need or call him, and buy one from him. He is GTG.

 

[jjrgr21]

i have an adjustable block on mine, and it's like shooting a 223 ar. and i can run 110gr to 190gr just fine. the buffer may cause issues with lighter loads.

 

[Patriot1776]

Slash's Heavy Buffers?

Does anyone know anything about these buffers from.

Slash's Heavy Buffers

Particularly these?:

Slash's Heavy Buffers | Products

 

[ORD]

Does anyone know anything about these buffers from.

Slash's Heavy Buffers

Particularly these?:

Slash's Heavy Buffers | Products

Just run a search for Slash and/or heavy buffers and/or Clint Butler here on the Hide. I have been using Clint's buffers (a wide variety of them) for many years now and they are top notch, as is the man behind the scenes!! See my posts above in this thread for one example.

 

[Patriot1776]

Much thanks.

 

[Delta4-3]

Lube the inside of an empty buffer with Pam then fill it with molten lead.