AR buffers to borrow for testing

[Calculon]

Good morning all. Reaching out to see if anyone has any AR buffers kicking around that I can borrow for testing. I'm willing to pay shipping both ways. Here's the situation:

• Carbine length AR in 5.56 won't cycle properly
• Spike's tactical lower with PSA build kit
• Stovepipes and dual feeds aplenty
• Have tested multiple magazines (steel and polymer) with no real impact so I think I may have eliminated the possibility of damaged feed lips
• Different ammo brands do not seem to make any difference
• Currently using standard carbine buffer (3 oz)

I'd like to try heavier buffers to see if slowing the cycle rate down helps give enough time for casing to eject before colt closes. Did a bit of research and there appears to be 3 different weights available - Spike Tactical comes in as follows: H1 (3 oz), H2 (4.1oz approx), and H3 (5.4oz approx).

Also any suggestions of other potential solutions would be appreciated. I have not yet tried removing any coils from mag spring or buffer spring.

Thanks in advance.
C-

[Meketrefe]

Where are you located?
If we can talk on the phone I will give you some ideas. Might not need to buy anything.

[Calculon]

PM inbound.

[Meketrefe]

Also we can send some pics and do a video call with upper on hand to show you a few critical areas.
If you do not have some 223 dummies load 10 of them wo powder. Or I will send you some.

[GUNSICK]

Did you put the upper together or was it complete? Could be a misaligned gas block or gas tube. Does the bolt lock to the rear manually consistently? I have seen receiver extensions that were not machined deep enough a couple of times and the bolt wouldn't travel back far enough to eject and feed properly. You should check the the gas ring alignment on the bolt as well.

[Cgrutt]

Did you check to make sure the gas block is lined up properly? If it is adjustable, did you open it up all the way and see if that helps?

[Calculon]

Also we can send some pics and do a video call with upper on hand to show you a few critical areas.
If you do not have some 223 dummies load 10 of them wo powder. Or I will send you some.

Happy to accommodate what works best for you. I don't have 10 dummies but can easily pick some up.

[Meketrefe]

Happy to help. Pm sent. Can I call you in anlittle bit?
Once we have a plan we can explain here for others to follow in case they run into similar bugs.

[Calculon]

Did you put the upper together or was it complete? Could be a misaligned gas block or gas tube. Does the bolt lock to the rear manually consistently? I have seen receiver extensions that were not machined deep enough a couple of times and the bolt wouldn't travel back far enough to eject and feed properly. You should check the the gas ring alignment on the bolt as well.

The upper came as a complete unit but I did swap out the gas block for a low profile unit. The bolt locks back manually consistently. Gas ring alignment seems fine and bilt will stand on end no prob.

[Meketrefe]

Let me know after you are done chexking things out.

[Calculon]

Did you check to make sure the gas block is lined up properly? If it is adjustable, did you open it up all the way and see if that helps?

Spoke to Meke and checking alignment of gas block is on the list. It's not the adjustable type but will let you know what I find.

[Calculon]

image_4073.jpeg image_4074.jpeg

Step one - I removed hand guard and gas block. Carbon fouling pretty well centered around gas port so it doesn't appear that was the issue. Was able to shine a light through port and see in barrel but couldn't capture in photo.

I also checked gas ring alignment and was ok - all 3 randomly spaced. Thinking of replacing with this McFarland One Piece ring for good measure.
http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/163...-1-piece-ar-15

[Calculon]

Is it worth trying to clean gas tube? What would best method be? Just some solvent or a long pipe cleaner?

[WARFAB]

From what I've read you should NOT try to use a pipe cleaner on a gas tube. The most I've ever heard anyone recommend is to squirt some brake cleaner into it and let it run out the other end.

It's hard to tell if the photo shows the gas tube still inside the gas block. If it's still inside the gas block the amount of carbon build up on the tube near the gas block looks suspicious to me. What I can see of my gas tube between my hand guards and front sight base is shiny after 7+ years of shooting it and never having even wiped it down since I can't easily access it.

Perhaps you could check airflow down the gas tube through the gas block with a compressor or something.

[Calculon]

The gas tube is still in gas block. Do uouvthink it's worth taking off and te installing? I can take a better pic if helpful.