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TheMrs.
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Joined: 20 Sep 2009
Posts: 48
Location: Mobile, Alabama Name: Annette
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 Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:14 am Post subject: Buffer Tubes |
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Can anyone tell me the difference between the Milspec and Commercial buffer tubes, and advise which one works best?
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mvician
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Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: NW Indiana Name: Mike
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:17 am Post subject: |
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http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=101
Quoted from M4Carbine.net
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K.L. Davis
Industry Professional Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 12S VA 868 817 (NAD83)
Posts: 1,025
Buffer Tube Basics
I know, the correct name is receiver extension tube... so now that we got one of most common mistakes out of the way, let's look at some common questions about receiver extension tubes. I do not pretend to know everything about these rifles, so if you see anything that is wrong, let me know.
This info is for carbine/short/collapsable tubes - all rifle/long/standard tubes are the same (as far as dimensions go)
What is a Mil-Spec Tube? This has to be the most common question. A milspec tube is just as the name implies, made to the specifications of the technical data package (tdp). The biggest concern is the diameter of the tube, the milspec part has a diameter of ~1.147, the thread diameter is 1.1875
So the threads are bigger, are they rolled in? originally the threads were cut in with a regular old lathe. The narrower body section of the tube is reduced by cutting with a concave shaped cutter that "shaves" the metal down, sort of like a plane; occasionally you can see the result of this technique by two "lines" that run the length of the reduced section at ten and two o'clock. Current techniques do include rolling the threads in.
So what are tubes that are not Mil-Spec? During the original cloning of the military AR, the first commercial receiver extension tubes were made from an extrusion, the threads lathe cut and the body was not reduced. The common size for this is 1.170 and that has became the de facto standard for after market tubes.
So commercial tubes are bigger, are they stronger? No, the problem with them is that the threaded section is also 1.170, so the threads are not cut to full "height" and do not fully engage the threads in the receiver. The few commercial tubes that I have seen fail, pulled the threads out of the receiver.
Are there any other concerns with after market tubes? Well, there is really no set standard for size, so they can vary by manufacturer and even from lot to lot -- you can get combinations of after market parts that are tight or loose. Some of them are made with extrusions with an end plug welded in, the quality of the welding can run from pretty solid to pretty poor.
Are those the only two sizes? No, some manufacturers have come out with systems that do not use either the milspec or the aftermarket tube size... The early Choate stock is one example of a proprietory tube.
So what fits what? Milspec tubes work with stocks from Colt, Vltor, CMT, LMT/Crane, etc.
After market tubes work with RRA, BM, DPMS, etc.
A larger, after market stock will fit on a milspec tube, but will be loose and rattle -- a milsec stock will usually not fit on an after market tube... without a hammer.
Hey! My new Mil-Spec tube is too long? Some newer tubes made for the "enhanced" M4 stock are a little longer and have a small taper to the back to match the profile of the stock butt. It should not effect the use of a Mil-Spec stock however.
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TheMrs.
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Joined: 20 Sep 2009
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Location: Mobile, Alabama Name: Annette
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:11 am Post subject: |
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Thanks!!
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ogre
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Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 70
Location: Chandler, AZ Name: Dean
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| Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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You have more options with the mil-spec tube. Not all stock's are available in commercial tube size.
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The DRis
Sharpshooter
Joined: 12 Jul 2009
Posts: 464
Location: Oceanside, CA Name: Dustin
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:39 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah ask SVTHuh when he tried to put my CTR on his! Hahah ;) |
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TheMrs.
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Joined: 20 Sep 2009
Posts: 48
Location: Mobile, Alabama Name: Annette
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:17 am Post subject: |
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I'm looking at ordering the Magpul CTR Milspec Complete kit, and now i have to choose Buffers: carbine, Enidine hydraulic, heavy buffer and H-2 double tungsten heavy buffer... other than the carbine, is an extra cost.. is it worth it to pay the additional cost or not.
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Reidic
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 96
Location: Rochester, NY Name:Kent
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| There's a lot of opinions on it, the heavier buffers can reduce perceived recoil but put more stress on the gas system and can lead to a risk of short stroked. I myself went with a regular carbine weight, and it's easy as heck to swap if you decide to go with an H later. Just my thoughts, if you haven't shot with it yet, don't assume it won't work for you, y'know? |
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ogre
Marksman
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
Posts: 70
Location: Chandler, AZ Name: Dean
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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I have 9mm buffer's in mine. They seem to reduce the recoil, not allot though. They're about $25, don't know how much the "H" cost. I don't think I'd spend the money on them again for any future builds.
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Joeywhat
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Joined: 08 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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If you're running a carbine gas system I would run an auto carrier and/or H buffer. If you already have one then don't bother with the other.
A lot of carbines run better with more mass being cycled...but too much weight causes issues, too. And if it ain't broke don't fix it.
So if you already have a carbine buffer and semi carrier, run it and see what happens. If it looks like it's cycling too hard add either an H buffer OR auto carrier...if that's not enough get an H1 buffer or auto carrier...keep going until the problems cease.
Basically, no buffer weight is better then the other, it's just a way to fine tune the system so it runs better. It's entirely dependent on your specific rifle and how it shoots. |
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TheMrs.
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Joined: 20 Sep 2009
Posts: 48
Location: Mobile, Alabama Name: Annette
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| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for that info. my build will have a midlength gas system and a auto carrier.
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