BCM 16" Mid-Length & H3?

AR/M4 AR Technical Discussion
1

I have a 6920 lower w/BCM LW 16" mid-length that I’m very happy with. Currently I’m using an H2 buffer w/Wolff XP spring and it’s 100% reliable, still locking back on PMC Bronze after 800+ rds w/o cleaning.

Being something of a tinkerer, I’m wondering how it might perform w/an H3 buffer, but a search here hasn’t turned up anything definitive either yea or nay.

Before picking up an H3 for experimentation, has anyone here used an H3 in a BCM 16" mid-length? If so, what are your impressions regarding reliability and handling (ie: muzzle rise) vs the H2?

Thx in advance!..
Tomac

2

My biggest worry is if it would lock back on the last round. I personally feel that it may be too heavy. Only one way to find out!

3

The Wolff XP spring is quite stout. I’ve used an H3 buffer with std colt carbine spring, sprinco white, sprinco blue, and tubbs flat wire, with no issues.

4

I have this exact barrel, and an H3 buffer. I will try this combination next time I go to the range and report back how it functions.

5

My recovery/split time is measurably faster w/the Wolff/H2 combo than w/a std spring/H2 combo. Any problems w/the Sprinco Blue/H3 using weak ammo?
Upon further rumination I think I’m looking for the spring/buffer combo that will minimize muzzle rise w/o compromising reliability w/weak ammo.
So far for me that appears to be the Wolff/H2 but I wonder about the H3 w/a Wolff (or std?) spring.
Thx for the input to date!
Tomac

ETA: Is it unusual for BCM middys to run reliably w/as strong a setup as the H2/Wolff XP I’m currently using?

6

I don’t understand the desire to use a stiffer spring. I would like a heavier buffer with a lighter (stock) spring.

Sample of one, but my BCM 14.5" mid runs fine with Federal .223 and carbine spring/H2, and now with VLTOR A5, so the 16" mid should be fine with just about anything.

7

Example: Timed fire, 20rds into an 8" circle at 25yds. W/an H2 & std spring my time was 16.32, but the same drill w/an H2 & Wolff XP spring resulted in 12.32 seconds w/no apparent loss of reliability. That’s why I’m using a heavier spring (YMMV).
Tomac

8

I had no issues with a sprinco blue and H3.

9

How was muzzle rise? Thx!..
Tomac

10

On my BCM 14.5" middy, i got muzzle dip using the blue. I went back to the white and I got rise. That’s about when I went with a custom stainless buffer from slash at heavy buffers dot net. That was 7+oz and ran without issue, but the gun still moved a lot. That’s when I went to the Vltor A5 system and never looked back.

11

If you have a difference of 4 seconds on a single drill then your shooting is too inconsistent to judge what effect a spring has on your split times.