I am looking for a Vltor A5 standard weight buffer and the associated spring. I’ve seen the buffer and spring kit on BCM’s website and a few others, but they are all out of stock. I already have the A5 receiver extension, I just need the buffer and spring kit. Does any one know where I can get one that is in stock?
BTW, I have another A5 on my Centurion Arms Mk12, and it runs great. The new kit is for a BCM 16" middy, and soon for a 11.5" SBR.
Thanks for the help.
I looked everywhere for these earlier this month. AFAIK, they’re out of stock from all vendors. I called VLTOR to find out what their lead time is and, as I recall, they said end of June.
I called VLTOR yesterday and they did not have any stock but they are taking orders so that when the parts are available they go out to the people that ordered them first.
DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THE A5 RECEIVER EXTENSION?
if not, don’t use the A5 buffer with a carbine RE.
bad things man, bad things…
Yes, I already have the A5 RE, as posted in my original post.
So I guess my best bet is to backorder it through Vltor?
Here is what I would do. Order the A5H3 buffer from Vltor, which is in stock. Then I would order a regular rifle spring from BCM or other source and your dilemma is solved. I know the SBR will run on the A5H3, not sure about the middy as I have only tested it with a standard A5 buffer.
What weights would I need to change to make the A5H3 into a standard A5? I have several carbine, H, and H2 buffers laying around that I can scavenge weights from to make it work.
Replace one of the tungsten weights with steel per Robb Jensen.
Thanks. Looks like I’ll be dismantling some buffers.
One question-
I read in one of the other A5 threads that the rifle spring that BCM sells is longer than the spring that comes with the A5. Is there any truth to that? I can see where a longer spring would cause problems.
So the A5 spring is simply a rifle spring?
I have a BCM Rifle spring in my A5 setup and everything has run perfectly for the last 700 rounds. I have not measured the spring that I got from BCM yet, but I can if needed. The only difference with the A5 kit is that the spring that comes with the kit is a green Sprinco rifle spring.
I had the same problem that the OP mentioned I couldn’t find the A5 kit in stock anywhere so I picked up an A5H3 buffer from Vltor and a BCM rifle spring. When I got the A5H3 I just swapped out one of the Tungsten weights for a steel weight and everything has been running like a sewing machine. I do wish that I had tried the A5H3 first but I wanted to run the A5H2 setup first because I was 99.9% sure that that setup would run the first time. Since this setup was put on my work rifle I wanted to be sure it would work the first time (I was on duty that night). I had to run to the range to make sure it would work with several types of ammunition before I really trusted it.
I will be trying the A5H3 on one of my off weekends to see if I notice any improvement or difference over the A5H2.
That’t what I get for chucking all of my springs in a storage bin. I think I’ve was using a longer carbine spring instead of the rifle spring in an effort to get one of my lighweight projects to cycle properly. :o
Just went and checked by BCM rifle spring it is 13" on the dot with about 700 rounds on it.
That’s definitely a rifle spring length then. Just took a measurement of the spring I thought came out of my A5 RE and it’s 11.5". I’m pretty sure I tagged the wrong spring, but either way that’s a pretty odd length as it’s too short for a rifle spring and too long for carbine. Oh well, they’re only a few bucks a piece.
A rifle spring should measure between 11.75 and 13.5 inches. So as far as I know you should be able to use a standard rifle spring.
i just measured two brand new springs that came with the vltor A5 kit and they’re both 12.25" long.
Does anyone know where I can get the same springs that Vltor uses? It seems that they are using a somewhat shorter than normal rifle spring.
msstate,
Don’t take this the wrong way. I think you are over-thinking this. I am 99% certain that you will have no problems with a rifle spring. There are variances in length with all springs. I recently received a Colt factory carbine spring and it was a hair over 10.5" inches. That’s not much more than the reject length.
I had a spring come from LMT that was just over 10.5" as well…
msstate56 - As for the Vltor vs rifle spring, regardless of their uncompressed length, they are both the same weight spring and either will work just fine. The only reason I used the Vltor springs in mine is because they came in the kit. I’d suggest using the rifle spring if that’s what you can get right now.
i’ve been using a regular rifle spring with the A5 ever since i started using it a while ago. you should be fine.