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Old 11-12-2015, 11:31 AM
Dirtrider711 Dirtrider711 is offline
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Default M&P15 Sport Buffer Tube

First off I will say I am new to the AR world. I recently purchased the M&P15 Sport and I absolutely love it. I've done some research and I've found that the buffer tube is Mil-Spec so I need a Mil-Spec stock when I upgrade it. Now I've already said I love the rifle, but I don't like how "flimsy" the stock/buffer tube is. When I shoulder the rifle and fire a shot down range I can hear the spring rattle inside the buffer tube. I'm kind of anal about this kind of thing so I would like to make it feel a little more solid. My question now is if a different buffer tube/buffer/spring combination will get rid of this sort of rattle from the spring. It almost sounds like a BB/pellet gun when it fires. I don't know if anybody else has ever noticed this before, and it could just be an AR thing due to the adjustable stock design. I don't know. But if anybody could chime in and give me some more information that would be great. Thank you all.
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Old 11-12-2015, 12:03 PM
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To an extent it is just an AR thing. However, you might be able to install a heavier buffer, such as a H2 or H3, and get rid of the rattle. Possibly a different buffer spring may work. I have seen some people say that lightly lubing the buffer spring will reduce the rattle. Your mileage may vary.

If you want to keep the collapsable stock configuration there are other stock options that allow you to lock the stock down once it is adjusted to your liking. The Magpul CTR is one example, there may be others too.

Last edited by Tbat; 11-12-2015 at 12:05 PM.
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Old 11-12-2015, 12:24 PM
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The rattle is 100% normal. If it bugs you, remove the spring and put a LIGHT coating of good grease on it. Rattle gone.
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Old 11-12-2015, 01:37 PM
Dirtrider711 Dirtrider711 is offline
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Thank you guys for the info. I will be looking into this more to see what buffers Ivan get in my price range.
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Old 11-12-2015, 04:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirtrider711 View Post
When I shoulder the rifle and fire a shot down range I can hear the spring rattle inside the buffer tube.
Don't be too quick to want to change this. Personally I see it as a feature rather than a detriment.

Yes, there is a "boing" every time you shoot, except on the last shot. Then there is a simple thud. This change in sound alerts you to an empty magazine. Could save time in a match or save your life in a self-defense scenario.

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Originally Posted by Dirtrider711 View Post
I've found that the buffer tube is Mil-Spec so I need a Mil-Spec stock when I upgrade it. Now I've already said I love the rifle, but I don't like how "flimsy" the stock/buffer tube is.
The Mil Spec buffer tube is actually more robust than the civilian version. It is made from a different type of steel and should withstand more abuse than a civ buffer tube.

I believe what you're feeling is "flimsy" is the fact that the adjustable stock doesn't lock down tight when in position. When shouldered you shouldn't feel movement at all though. I know I don't on any of mine.

There are stocks out there that have locks to eliminate this movement. Their best feature is in separating you from your money. Seriously, they don't improve the function of the gun at all.
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Old 11-13-2015, 06:34 AM
bikendan bikendan is offline
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i replaced my flimsy stock with a Magpul CTR.
took all the flimsyness out.
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Old 11-13-2015, 09:26 AM
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A chrome silicon spring will remove the spring noise. Damage Industries has the best prices. .Enhanced Spring, Recoil Buffer, Action, Carbine | Damage Industries If you wait a bit until closer to Xmas they should go half price like they did last year so you can buy two and give one to a shooting buddy for Xmas.

Spikes makes a ST-T2 buffer that uses tungsten powder instead of weights rattling back and forth which eliminates a little noise but I didn't notice much. Being slightly heavier it can make carbine gas systems softer shooting which is the primary reason folks buy them. Primary Arms usually has the lowest price but here is a link to Spikes,
Lower Parts - Spike's ST-T2 Heavy Buffer [SLA00T2] - $37.95 : Spikes Tactical.

I have both on my rifle and would buy again. Though... now that I have an adjustable gas block I probably wouldn't buy the Spikes.

The stock shouldn't make any noise when up against your shoulder shooting but some guys prefer the locking mechanism on the Magpul CTR stock. They are also equipped with QD sling attachment points which I use.

Last edited by ChattanoogaPhil; 11-13-2015 at 11:45 AM.
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Old 11-13-2015, 02:15 PM
McE McE is offline
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You don't need a new buffer tube, you just need a new stock.
The Magpul CTR, for example, has zero wiggle with its two locks.
It's what I have on my M&P15 Sport. Original buffer tube, because they're all the same anyway.
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Old 11-13-2015, 02:30 PM
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If you like spending money and getting something unique, the JP Captured Spring is an option I have heard good things about. It is much quieter than even a coated spring. JP - Buffer Springs and Silent Captured Springs
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Old 11-13-2015, 02:35 PM
spad124 spad124 is offline
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The boing noise threw me when I first shot the first AR I bought, which had an A1 stock on it. You get used to it.

And Rastoff is correct that there is a different sound, more like a thud, when the bolt locked back on an empty chamber. That is because the spring is still partially compressed because of the locked back bolt. Think of it as the AR version of the Garand "ping" as the clip is ejected.

Though given the choice of sounds, I prefer the ping.
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Old 11-13-2015, 02:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil View Post
A chrome silicon spring will remove the spring noise. Damage Industries has the best prices. .Enhanced Spring, Recoil Buffer, Action, Carbine | Damage Industries If you wait a bit until closer to Xmas they should go half price like they did last year so you can buy two and give one to a shooting buddy for Xmas.

Spikes makes a ST-T2 buffer that uses tungsten powder instead of weights rattling back and forth which eliminates a little noise but I didn't notice much. Being slightly heavier it can make carbine gas systems softer shooting which is the primary reason folks buy them. Primary Arms usually has the lowest price but here is a link to Spikes,
Lower Parts - Spike's ST-T2 Heavy Buffer [SLA00T2] - $37.95 : Spikes Tactical.

I have both on my rifle and would buy again. Though... now that I have an adjustable gas block I probably wouldn't buy the Spikes.

The stock shouldn't make any noise when up against your shoulder shooting but some guys prefer the locking mechanism on the Magpul CTR stock. They are also equipped with QD sling attachment points which I use.
Seconded. I LOVE my Damage industries buffer spring, a very underrated mod for the reasons given in this thread.
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Old 11-18-2015, 05:09 AM
Shootingfun Shootingfun is offline
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BCM makes some nice Mil-spec butt stocks. Light weight and sturdy, I got to check one out on my buddies rifle and liked it.
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Old 12-01-2015, 07:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil View Post
A chrome silicon spring will remove the spring noise. Damage Industries has the best prices. .Enhanced Spring, Recoil Buffer, Action, Carbine | Damage Industries If you wait a bit until closer to Xmas they should go half price like they did last year so you can buy two and give one to a shooting buddy for Xmas.
Half price now.

Enhanced Spring, Recoil Buffer, Action, Rifle | Damage Industries
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Old 12-02-2015, 05:09 PM
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For me to quiet the annoying rattle a Spikes Tactical (ST-T2) buffer and JP tuned and polished buffer spring (JPS- OSC) with a little lithium white grease, which goes along way.
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Old 12-02-2015, 07:48 PM
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Ace Hardware budget fix:

Buffer spring noise - separate upper and lower receiver, remove buffer and spring, lightly grease spring, reinstall buffer and spring.

Stock wobble - adjust stock to furtherest back position and mark using masking tape, remove stock from buffer tube, using the felt side of velco self stick pads and apply to the top of the buffer tube behind the masking tape, reinstall stock.

Total cost $5...at most.
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Old 12-02-2015, 08:05 PM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirtrider711 View Post
First off I will say I am new to the AR world. I recently purchased the M&P15 Sport and I absolutely love it. I've done some research and I've found that the buffer tube is Mil-Spec so I need a Mil-Spec stock when I upgrade it. Now I've already said I love the rifle, but I don't like how "flimsy" the stock/buffer tube is. When I shoulder the rifle and fire a shot down range I can hear the spring rattle inside the buffer tube. I'm kind of anal about this kind of thing so I would like to make it feel a little more solid. My question now is if a different buffer tube/buffer/spring combination will get rid of this sort of rattle from the spring. It almost sounds like a BB/pellet gun when it fires. I don't know if anybody else has ever noticed this before, and it could just be an AR thing due to the adjustable stock design. I don't know. But if anybody could chime in and give me some more information that would be great. Thank you all.
Never try to solve a problem that isn't. The sound you describe is normal. You will find this same noise on the Colt LE6920, the closest you can get to the one they sell to the military.
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