Buffers - which are the best?

[hcook]

Greetings,

My Form 4 finally came in for my Vector... :clap ...and there was much rejoicing.

I know I'll need to replace my buffer eventually, and wanted to know if the Black Jack buffers are any better than any of the other buffers. For that matter, which buffer is the best?

And, while we're on the subject, what is the max thickness for the buffer? I remember a thread about it, but my search parameters must have been wrong.

Thanks,
Hans

[SMG4Me]

Buffer Length Thread (http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2252&highlight=length)

[pmf]

I think any buffer is about the same. Its just a $5 piece of plastic. An erasor would probably work as well. I got the ones for semi-auto uzis. Here's what worked for me:

1. I cut 3/8 an inch off the smooth end of the buffer. I suppose there are lots of ways to do this. I used a exacto (long) razor blade. I grabbed the end of the blade with a pair of vice grips and then heated the blade over my range until it got very hot. Then I melted my way through the buffer. You can discard or save the 3/8 piece.

2. I taped sandpaper to my basement floor and sanded the melted end until it was smooth and level. I had to sand the sides a little also to get it to fit. It should easily pop in and out.

3. There are 3 holes that go through the buffer. One has plastic covering it. Cut the plastic off to form an open channel for the spring guide (or whatever that thing is called). It fits in front of the orange cardboard buffer at the end of the guide.

This thing makes the gun run a lot faster. I only use it occasionally because it really eats ammo with it in.

[SMG4Me]

pmf,

In step 1, by the smooth end do you mean the end opposite of the one referenced in step 3 (where the plastic is covering the spring guide)?

If yes, why do you cut this end? It seems that if you cut the 3/8" off the end where the plastic is covering instead you wouldn't have to do step 3. Is there a reason why it's better to cut the other end?

[tommygun2000]

Originally posted by SMG4Me
pmf,

In step 1, by the smooth end do you mean the end opposite of the one referenced in step 3 (where the plastic is covering the spring guide)?

If yes, why do you cut this end? It seems that if you cut the 3/8" off the end where the plastic is covering instead you wouldn't have to do step 3. Is there a reason why it's better to cut the other end?

which aids in inserting the buffer into the receiver. Not a big deal and will most likely work the other way as well. You can always re bevel the cut end, but why "make work"?
The thing you want to make sure of, is a square cut so the bolt isn't made to tip left to right in the receiver as it travels back and forth after bouncing off the buffer. This will cause unnecessary wear on the insides of the receiver.
You will find that the gun is a bit more controllable with a slightly higher rate of fire, than the factory chug chug chug that it comes with.

[SMG4Me]

Thanks tommygun2000!

[SMG4Me]

Two more questions -

(1) Why does the buffer go in front of the orange piece rather than behind it?

(2) The newly cut channel for the spring guide faces up, yes?

BTW, I used a 10" power miter saw to cut the buffer lickty split. Nice smooth even cut too. No need for sanding. Then I used an exacto knife to cut that plastic piece off so the spring guide could go through. That also worked pretty well.

[KarlPMann]

You can put the buffer to the rear of the "Red/Orange buffer", but that compresses the spring and WILL cause damage/compressing to it. It also slows the ROF down at the same time that the shorter stroke speeds up the ROF. That may or may not be what you want, but the spring wont lat long. What newly cut channel? Karl.

[stymie]

Karl...

...except that the small *bridge* at the rear has been removed with two razor cuts, so that the recoil/rod spring assembly can lay in from the top... rather than insert from the rear!

...kinda sorta maybe!

[SMG4Me]

stymie has it right.......if you can understand what he said.

(basically it's the new cut I made to comply with step 3 above)

[KarlPMann]

OK, I got it now. Karl.