Gunsmithing Armalite AR-10 Buffer ?
- Thread starter hpic55
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Re: Armalite AR-10 Buffer ?
Rifle buffer. Buffer style really has more to do with the overall amount of travel available inside the buffertube(Receiver extension).
Make sure to buy an Armalite AR-10 Rifle buffer and Armalite AR-10 buffer spring. They differ quite a bit in comparison to the AR-15 equivalent.
I always purchased these parts directly from Armalite.
Rifle buffer. Buffer style really has more to do with the overall amount of travel available inside the buffertube(Receiver extension).
Make sure to buy an Armalite AR-10 Rifle buffer and Armalite AR-10 buffer spring. They differ quite a bit in comparison to the AR-15 equivalent.
I always purchased these parts directly from Armalite.
Re: Armalite AR-10 Buffer ?
you should be gtg with the rifle system. timing for an 18" barrel in carbine gas system should be fine. there used to be scenarios where we'd add or remove tungsten washers from the buffer body in an effort to avoid early unlocking of the bolt via too much gas and/or too little mass to overcome in the buffer. you can do this and fire a couple times with the addition of each washer. at the point the weapon short cycles, remove one washer and you're done... most guys magazine load into battery with single round. that way the carrier has to move fully aft to catch the latch after the single and only round is fired.
all the above is fine and well, but most cases just don't require it. unless you show signs of early unlocking, i really wouldn't bother. the AR10 isn't overly forgiving, but still tough. most cycle issues show up in other ways like extraction issues, but broken bolts can result. people boo hoo about carrier bounce and such, but after 500 rounds you'll see your buffer face look like shit if this stuff is really becoming problematic.
most folks really don't have a firm grasp on the subtle workings of the AR platform gas system. ...and to be honest most don't have to. the majority of actual problems we create through funky gas system lengths, mix and matched buffers/springs, suppressed barrels, etc. can mostly be fixed through other means. while not technically correct, the stress most of these parts will accept is high.
so shoot the piss out of it and reflect after a few hundred rounds...
you should be gtg with the rifle system. timing for an 18" barrel in carbine gas system should be fine. there used to be scenarios where we'd add or remove tungsten washers from the buffer body in an effort to avoid early unlocking of the bolt via too much gas and/or too little mass to overcome in the buffer. you can do this and fire a couple times with the addition of each washer. at the point the weapon short cycles, remove one washer and you're done... most guys magazine load into battery with single round. that way the carrier has to move fully aft to catch the latch after the single and only round is fired.
all the above is fine and well, but most cases just don't require it. unless you show signs of early unlocking, i really wouldn't bother. the AR10 isn't overly forgiving, but still tough. most cycle issues show up in other ways like extraction issues, but broken bolts can result. people boo hoo about carrier bounce and such, but after 500 rounds you'll see your buffer face look like shit if this stuff is really becoming problematic.
most folks really don't have a firm grasp on the subtle workings of the AR platform gas system. ...and to be honest most don't have to. the majority of actual problems we create through funky gas system lengths, mix and matched buffers/springs, suppressed barrels, etc. can mostly be fixed through other means. while not technically correct, the stress most of these parts will accept is high.
so shoot the piss out of it and reflect after a few hundred rounds...
Re: Armalite AR-10 Buffer ?
I remember there was a chart that listed the weights of both factory carbine and rifle length buffers for the Armalite AR-10 and I could have sworn they were identical.
I have seen people do exactly what septic tank is saying. Personally both my AR-10s didn't need any of that kind of tuning.
Isn't there a stack order to those washers, Septic? Like alternating steel and tungsten?
I remember there was a chart that listed the weights of both factory carbine and rifle length buffers for the Armalite AR-10 and I could have sworn they were identical.
I have seen people do exactly what septic tank is saying. Personally both my AR-10s didn't need any of that kind of tuning.
Isn't there a stack order to those washers, Septic? Like alternating steel and tungsten?
Re: Armalite AR-10 Buffer ?
i don't even remember on the stack... i think i have heard that, but i don't remember reading it. although i've taken many others, i never did take the genuine armalite armorers course, and i suppose they'd be the only folks who would tell you...
if there is a stack issue, maybe it relates to the properties of the metal or something, but i can tell you if that is key, then i screwed the pooch, because i've never followed it... if i needed more weight tungsten went in and steel came out. simple. if i still needed more weight, lead went in and tungsten came out. those are extreme examples of course in long barrels with carbine or mid length systems combined with cans... way too much gas over too long a period, thus, heavy buffers were necessary to keep the carrier forward and avoid early unlocking...
no worries. i still think you'll be fine.
i don't even remember on the stack... i think i have heard that, but i don't remember reading it. although i've taken many others, i never did take the genuine armalite armorers course, and i suppose they'd be the only folks who would tell you...
if there is a stack issue, maybe it relates to the properties of the metal or something, but i can tell you if that is key, then i screwed the pooch, because i've never followed it... if i needed more weight tungsten went in and steel came out. simple. if i still needed more weight, lead went in and tungsten came out. those are extreme examples of course in long barrels with carbine or mid length systems combined with cans... way too much gas over too long a period, thus, heavy buffers were necessary to keep the carrier forward and avoid early unlocking...
no worries. i still think you'll be fine.
Re: Armalite AR-10 Buffer ?
I own a AR-10T and my rifle functions great with the factory rifle buffer, so what I'm about to say is second hand. I've talked to several guys who swear by the tungsten bolt carrier weights to slow unlockiing and reduce bounce. Somethin' to think about.
I own a AR-10T and my rifle functions great with the factory rifle buffer, so what I'm about to say is second hand. I've talked to several guys who swear by the tungsten bolt carrier weights to slow unlockiing and reduce bounce. Somethin' to think about.
