Given a carbine gas system, in theory how should functioning be affected between a A2 stock w/rifle weight buffer and spring vs a sliding stock, spring and carbine buffer or H-buffer?
The rifle buffer weighs over 5oz, which puts it up around 9mm buffer weights (heavier than H or H2), but it also runs a longer spring. I’m assuming the rifle spring is sprung at a lower weight that the carbine spring. So realizing that the buffer and spring work as a system, should a rifle buffer/spring combo (A2) theoretically run more reliably than a carbine spring and H/H2 buffer (slider)?
Also remember that the rifle buffer tube is longer than the carbine buffer tube.
I had several M4's with A2 (rifle) buffer tube, buffer and spring during the AWB. Never had a problem with reliability with either the rifle or carbine buffer tubes.
I run H2 + Colt buffer springs in my M4's with carbine stocks. I can remeber the last time I had a weapon related malfunction with any of my M4's or mid-lengths.
The equation is different on rifle length stocks, since the springs length and spring rate are different…so the weight of the buffer relates differently.
An AR with a CAR gas system runs very well with a rifle length buffer & spring. I’ve never measured the ROF but I’m guesstimating that it’s somewhere near the rate of using an H2 buffer.
A rifle length buffer & spring on an AR w/CAR gas system will certainly run more reliably than the same AR upper using a CAR buffer & spring.
Rifle buffer (5.2oz)
CAR buffer (2.9oz)
H buffer (3.8oz)
H2 buffer (4.57oz)
H3 buffer (5.6oz)
9mm buffer (5.6oz)
The Bushmaster in the closet is set up like you describe I belive (have not looked at buffer/measured spring) (but it does have A2 stock) and it runs great.