Asides from the obvious name… “Retainer” what does the buffer retainer physically do? Also, How long is the retainer spring for it. I ask this because my buffer retainer when pops out of it’s hole when i go to chamber a round. the Buffer retainer then goes into the trigger/hammer housing and the spring will get caught up in the bolt carrier, where if forced will bend the spring. It seems to me that the spring is entirely way too long, I do have a shorter spring (one which was broken when I originally took my buttstock off) which allows the retainer to stick up just so it fits in the grove on the back end of the bolt carrier. the retainer will then not move when i pull the bolt back, but it also looks like the retainer isn’t really doing anything… I figured it just keeps the buffer from pushing further onto the bolt, so if it is sticking up a bit and not getting into the way of the bolt carrier and stopping the buffer, it should be fine… right?
So to recap.
what does the retainer physically do
how big should the spring be
if the bigger spring is the correct one, what is the problem with mine?
The retainer is just that. A retainer for the buffer so you can break the weapon down without the buffer and spring shooting out. If yours is not staying in place, you don’t have your buffer tube threaded in far enough. The buffer tube should just cover the outer edge of the retainer.
Thanks for the quick response… actually what is happening is the retainer spring is pushing the retainer up and when the bolt gets pulled back the retainer pops out of the hole due to no pressure on it from the bolt carrier… which is why i thought the spring was too big…
The tension of the buffer retainer spring had no bearing on whether it stays in or not. As the above poster said, your receiver extension (buffer tube) keeps the retainer in its hole.
When the action is closed the back of the bolt carrier keeps the buffer in place, not the buffer retainer. The retainer should never touch the bottom of the carrier.
Your receiver extension is either not threaded in far enough, or is worn to the point where it isn’t holding the buffer retainer in.
aahhh! i see what the problem was… I was unaware that the reviver extension kept the buffer down… I tried it again and it works! I will bring it to my local gunsmith to give it a good looking over before I go shooting with it! thanks guys!
as far as I know, problem solved!
p.s. Visuals are great! that was what i was picturing in my head! Thanks!
But regardless, this should not affect the function of the rifle while shooting correct? Either way I will get it checked out. But I am pretty sure I have it working properly now…
Correct. It will function fine without the retainer and spring in place. It just makes things a lot more convenient with them there. However, if the spring or retainer are dancing around loose, get ready for problems.
being that the spring was bent, I cut about 1/4 an inch off of it. This shouldn’t make a difference right? As long as it is up to hold back the buffer, and not free floating. It is being held down by the buffer extension, and secure.
Yes get a new spring. And yes it can work without a buffer retainer and spring in the gun. I know some 3gunners that don’t run them. It does make getting the upper and lower apart harder.
OK, I have to ask, why run w/o buffer retainer. The buffer has intimate contact on the carrier (at least in my guns) already… mentally fishing but getting no bites.
They fear it coming apart in the lower. Personally I think their friggin’ crazy myself as a properly assembled lower won’t suddenly lose it buffer retainer.
Buffer retainer got loose in a bushmaster we have and locked me up in less than 20 rounds at the range. I don’t know what idiot installed the buffer tube, it was originally a carbine fixed stock from the Cl*nton administration era. Someone before we got it had taken it off and put an A2 buttstock on it. Apparently they did not tighten the buffer tube and the screw very well and it backed out and the retainer shot up and into the lower and jammed it up nicely.
In 45 minutes (I had no clue what the issue was and I was talking/hanging out with my Dad and one of my friends and just leisurly trying to figure it out) i discovered the issue, fixed it, and it works fine.
Yes, I think it is crazy not to have the retainer because you fear it jamming the weapon, but please make sure everything is installed properly so as not to perpetuate internet myth because YOUR crappy build jammed. (you and your are used collectively, before anyone gets defensive).
