Why plastic buffer?

[jeepjeepwhat]

First of all I would like to say hello, and I'm proud to be a new member to this forum.

I recently purchased a 22a and of course the recoil buffer is plastic. I know there is no problems with getting news ones and replacing them. My question is WHY are they plastic? Could they have used a material that doesn't break down and doesn't need replacing? If it is possible to make it out of metal does anyone know where I can get one?

 

[handgunner356]

The idea is to stop medal-to-medal contact. They should be good for several thousand rounds. Using standard velocity ammo you may never need one. If you find in the future that they aren't lasting that long you should replace the recoil spring.

 

[jeepjeepwhat]

I've managed to put around 1000 rounds down range already and I can see noticeable wear on the buffer.

I think my main topic I want to address is in designing a weapon with a part that needs replacement, even if it is after thousands of rounds. Its hard for me to believe that this is the best system s&w could have came up with.

 

[john traveler]

Plastic recoil buffers are a necessary evil, but an expedient one.

Gun mechanisms with heavy, repeated recoil impacts (machine guns, automatic cannon, etc) are likely to go with a spring-loaded "counter recoil" buffer mechanism or such, but they add considerable cost to the design and manucturing. The considerations include cost of the replacement part, life cycle costs, time required to replace, effectiveness of the part, etc. What it comes down to is if using a 50 cent standard, readily available part avoids the trouble and expense of designing, manufacturing, and proving a buffer mechanism, why not?

You will find the plastic/polymer buffers more widely used in inexpensive, consumer-quality mechanisms. Specifying a plastic buffer for a $200 .22 pistol is hardly in the same category as designing a buffer used in the Space Shuttle, for example.

 

[RV4driver]

There should be an extra buffer in a little envelope if you got the gun new. They do get flattened out with use. Also, they are not attached very securely. This a cheap, entry level gun. You're not going to find it to be a top of the line defense gun. Still, you'll probably lose the part before you wear it out.

Jeff

 

[handgunner356]

The other problem you have with .22s' is that they have no delay lockup, strickly blowback operation. Standard 36-40gr bullets run anywhere from 1050 to 1400fps. It's hard to make the gun work for all loads equally well. If you were only going to shoot one load you could spring the gun just for it and not require the buffer. The Browning Buckmarks use the same setup, Rugers will offen not cycle standard velocity without lighter springs, early Colt and Hi-Standard guns were designed for standard velocity only. Untill your buffer starts to come apart or mashes out to where it is rubbing the slide there is no need to replace it.

 

[jeepjeepwhat]

Thanks everyone for their responses. Especially John, I think you really summed it up and put the issue in its place.

Jeff

 

[BigSwede]

Several hundred rounds, no problems