I’m going to be buying a new buffer and spring for my midlength. Which buffer would be best? G&R has an H2 for $27 or an H3 for $35. They have an “LMT Heavy” for $19. I’ve read that 9mm buffers work well in midlengths but how about any of these others?
Thanks,
Joe
A standard H buffer will work well.
Assuming this is a 16" mid-length the “H” should be more than enough.
Joe, I personally run an H2 in my middy’s and run H3’s in my carbines. The reason is that the pressure on the carbine gas system is much stronger than the middy gas sytems. I also run ISMI springs (which improve felt recoil as well).
As you know, car, H, H2 and H3 will all run in carbine or middy gas systems. I do think the heavier buffer improves reliability and decrease muzzle flip.
C4
Thanks guys. Dinger’s response is the type I was looking for- I wanted to know when it was too much…
So an LMT Heavy as opposed to a CMT H2?
ETA: I knew the reasoning for heavier and mid versus car, but didn’t know how far to take the “heavier is better” theory.
H3’s even on 16" barrel’s?
Yep (as long as it has a carbine gas system).
C4
HUH? JLM is questioning your statement that they run in middy systems.
“As you know, car, H, H2 and H3 will all run in carbine or middy gas systems.”
Check your IMs too…
Sorry, misunderstood. Yes, you can run an H3 in a mid-length gas system, but I would not.
The setup I listed above is what I run in Carbine classes so I know it works very well.
C4
And if I’m running a M16 bolt carrier, what you recommend H2 or H3?
I only run M16 carriers so my opinion stays the same.
C4
One more question, if the H3 and 9mm buffers weight almost the same, what are the advantages of the H3? There are other differences between this two exept that the H3 its aluminum and 9mm its steel?
The Military Spec states that the buffer body has to have three chambers in it. The purpose of this is to keep the weights inline. 9mm buffers do not follow this req and is usually the reason why they are cheaper.
C4
The head portion of the 9mm buffer (part that contacts the carrier) also moves (I’m not sure why but it does) and it’s body is made of carbon steel. An H3 buffer by outward appearances functions and looks just like a CAR, H and H2 carrier where the body is one solid piece.
A Colt 9mm buffer is one piece, it’s only the RRA or other aftermarket units that have the pinned-on movable head.
Bumping this back up,
The H2 and H3 buffers, do they have NSNs and or Colt Parts Numbers?
Convinced the PTB’s to do a test using heavier buffers to see if it will lower our bolt shear problems, but only if the buffers have either NSN’s or PN’s from Colt.
9mm buffer is not an option, must be buffers made for the M4
Colt ships all their weapons with H2’s now so getting a PN from them shouldn’t be hard. I do not know about the H3.
C4
I order a Rock River 9mm buffer
It Has NO SCREWSS whatso ever
its black with a green Plastic buffer at the end? I dont know how many weights it has inside? And it dont look like the buffer in the RRA catalog
Anyway I put the 9mm buffer in my LMT Defender 2000 with SOPMOD
The M4 runs great useing several types of ammo M193,M855.MK262,BH77,BH75,etc! It does seem to work
But on the other hand my Bushmaster/VLTOR runs a H buffer and runs great also
I wonder if RRA has changed?
Mine is one piece
I’m pretty sure that the H3 is a Colt product. There should be a Colt part number for them.
TS