Hearsedriver
Member
Some of you may have read my post on this topic at the AR15.com forum but, I thought I would share my story here.
I bought a new M&P-15 OR about 3 weeks ago that I really, really love. The only issue that drove me nuts was the loud, "cat on a chalkboard" scraping sound that I got every time I pulled the charging handle back. I tried lubing the buffer tube spring but, that didn't help. Finally, I noticed that the inside of the buffer tube was extremely rough. Almost felt like fine threads. I knew that it was the spring compressing and retracting against this rough surface that was causing the noise. I went to the auto parts store and bought a $10.00 wheel cylinder hone. These are adjustable from 11/16" to a little over 2". I spent about 5 minutes honing the inside of the buffer tube, keeping plenty of oil inside the tube, cleaned the inside if the buffer tube , and applied a light film of red grease to the inside of the tube and outside of the spring. The results are a super quiet charge handle with no scraping noise at all. To do this repair, all that has to be removed is your upper. The flexible shaft of the wheel cylinder hone allows the operation to be done with the buffer tube attached to the lower. This solution received mixed reviews at the AR forum. Some saying just "shoot it enough and the noise will go away" I call BS because my buffer tube was exceptionally rough. I had already put 400 rounds through the gun with no change whatsoever. Anyway, if the noise bothers you like it did me, you might check the tube for roughness . Thanks
I bought a new M&P-15 OR about 3 weeks ago that I really, really love. The only issue that drove me nuts was the loud, "cat on a chalkboard" scraping sound that I got every time I pulled the charging handle back. I tried lubing the buffer tube spring but, that didn't help. Finally, I noticed that the inside of the buffer tube was extremely rough. Almost felt like fine threads. I knew that it was the spring compressing and retracting against this rough surface that was causing the noise. I went to the auto parts store and bought a $10.00 wheel cylinder hone. These are adjustable from 11/16" to a little over 2". I spent about 5 minutes honing the inside of the buffer tube, keeping plenty of oil inside the tube, cleaned the inside if the buffer tube , and applied a light film of red grease to the inside of the tube and outside of the spring. The results are a super quiet charge handle with no scraping noise at all. To do this repair, all that has to be removed is your upper. The flexible shaft of the wheel cylinder hone allows the operation to be done with the buffer tube attached to the lower. This solution received mixed reviews at the AR forum. Some saying just "shoot it enough and the noise will go away" I call BS because my buffer tube was exceptionally rough. I had already put 400 rounds through the gun with no change whatsoever. Anyway, if the noise bothers you like it did me, you might check the tube for roughness . Thanks
