I love my first AR-15, the S&W Sporter. I've ran a few hundred commercial rounds and also some of my re-loads through it. What fun!!

As y'all know, recoil isn't much of an issue. However, do the aftermarket buffers make a difference? I'm plinking for the most part, still learning things. Would a aftermarket buffer be worth the money? I'm looking at Spikes buffer and it's not that expensive but will it, like others, soften the recoil?

Just curious.

Hobie

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First off, forget the Spike's buffer. Their products are junk.

Buffers are generally misunderstood. They don't affect recoil directly, but rather timing. A heavier buffer offers more resistance to the bolt carrier group starting it's rearward travel after pressure has built in the carrier during a shot. A heavier buffer causes the BCG to come back a tiny bit later and a little slower. Both of these are good things as they work the brass and the action less vigorously.

A buffer that is too heavy can cause short stroking, especially with very light loads. That's the potential down side.

Carbine buffers come in regular, H, H2 and H3. Each additional H denotes that a steel weight inside has been replaced with a tungsten weight, making it heavier. An H buffer is generally a good upgrade, and that would be my recommendation to you. Your carbine should feel a tiny bit less snappy on recoil, and brass ejection will move slightly clockwise. Don't expect a huge difference here.

Now a pet peeve of mine: Carbine buffers are suppose to rattle. The loose weights inside act as a dead blow hammer on a round chambering, settling bolt bounce faster. This is only needed in fully automatic fire, but I'm kind of a purist when it comes to ARs. The loose weights and dead blow effect are good, leave them be. This is one of the reasons the Spike's buffer with it's powdered metal whatever inside annoys me.

Dan

I appreciate your info and time. I'm really enjoying the new gun and am not all that intent on modding it out. Maybe a good FCG might be my next move. I have to say that my gun's trigger is heavy(understand why)but crisp. My application of my new gun is target/plinking and so a lighter trigger wouldn't be a bad thing.

Thanks again for your input.

Hobie

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It's an expensive trigger, but I highly recommend the Geissele SSA. There's nothing worthwhile under $100, any for what you'll pay for a Timney or RRA, you might as well go all the way with the Geissele.

For your current trigger, try cleaning it with mineral spirits, then put some good grease on there. Next, take the lower off, and with your thumb positioned to catch the hammer, dry fire it a couple hundred times. It won't lighten the pull, but it will clean up any creep you have and it's free.

I found that putting some ammo through the gun got the trigger to loosen up a bit. It's still heavy- compared to my Rem. 700, but then again, it's a totally different design rifle. Hobie, I agree that the trigger is crisp; it's not bad at all.

I wouldn't dismiss the Spike's buffers. I have used ST-T2 on a couple of my carbines for years and I have one on my M&P15 (Ares piston mod) and each of them runs smoother, whether due to claims of less felt recoil or improving cyclic rate--there is a difference to me. On staying away from something that definitely short-strokes, avoid the Enidine hydraulic buffers. They function fine but the bolt does not lock to the rear on the last round, although I have not tried this with anything over 62gr, so maybe a heavier 75 or 77gr bullet might be enough force to drive the carriage back far enough to lock. Also, I run either RRA NM 2-stage or single-stage 3lb Timney's in my ARs (RRA, M&P15, and some complete custom builds). My dad runs the Chip McCormick drop-in single-stage 3-3.5lb trigger on his M&P15. The single-stage triggers are great for fast, smooth, clean/crisp drops that are consisent every time.

Oh I've dismissed it all right. Nothing says "mall ninja" like spiders on or in your carbine. The hydraulic buffer is even worse.