Reduced power buffer springs

[Wethepeople]

I confess to being somewhat ignorant on the subject of reduced power springs.

Looking for the hordes knowledge on practical applications for these springs. Are they primarily used for pistol calibers?

[A5BLASTER]

They can be used with any caliber. But it's not worth the money if your not going to run the whole system.

System being adjustable gas, lowmass bcg and lowmass buffer along with the reduced power buffer spring.

[Klem]

I agree,

Plus there is a downside...You store less energy for the return cycle of the BCG into battery. Energy = spring acting on BCG mass/momentum, is needed to strip rounds from stiff mags and feed into the chamber with positive locking.

[Wethepeople]

So a complete system improves the recoil impulse is what you're saying? Mostly for race guns?

[Klem]

Whether a reduced energy recoil system is an improvement on a normal one is debatable. An AR fires from the closed bolt position, not like the old free-floating bolt systems on sub machine guns. With an AR, the cycling will be finished and no longer an influence by the time the trigger starts its pull.

As for recoil impulse, you can also change that with ammunition, muzzle device, and weight of rifle etc. I suppose it could be improved...

[Wethepeople]

I just don't get it. If the practical application isn't to imorove/smooth recoil impulse or is debatable, what does a complete system accomplish? Weight reduction?

Not trying to be difficult. Just trying to understand where and why these systems are used. It seems to me to have the potential to introduce reliability issues. What am I missing?

[Klem]

You're not missing anything. If it was without cost we'd all be using them.

No doubt someone who has gone to the effort/expense will chime in with their impressions.

[A5BLASTER]

I just don't get it. If the practical application isn't to imorove/smooth recoil impulse or is debatable, what does a complete system accomplish? Weight reduction?

Not trying to be difficult. Just trying to understand where and why these systems are used. It seems to me to have the potential to introduce reliability issues. What am I missing?

It will reduce the overall weight of the rifle yes. Not by much at most say lil less then 1/2 pound. It does improve the recoil impolse and make it feel smoother.

Anytime you change things it can effect reliability. But taken as a whole system and keep maintained properly they can still be very reliable. Don't think anyone has ever done a true mil spec vs full lowmass setup to see where the reliability threshold is at.

I have run just about all the lowmass stuff you can do, including the taccom reduced power spring and polymer buffer system.

The difference between that and a jp scs and a jp carbine spring with normal carbine buffer, being driven with a lowmass bcg and adjustable gas is. About 2 clicks difference on the adjustable gas block.

Don't get me wrong I love my lowmass setups and the recoil impolse is indeed a better feel compared too when running a standard or jp buffer spring and carbine buffer, but the reality is it's a 2 click difference in gas adjustment.

If your the type of person who will intentionly push his rifle to the point of failure by not properly keeping things clean then the lowmass system isn't for you. Stay with the mil spec stuff. If your the type of person that keeps his bcg clean and well lubed and maintains his buffer setup, then you will be fine with the lowmass gear.

Hope this helps sir.

[Wethepeople]

Thanks guys. That provides the clarity I needed. Appreciate the help.

[Wanderson]

I had to run a Sprinco yellow (lighter) buffer spring on an 8” .300bo.
Wouldn’t cycle at all with a std. BCG & spring, a lightweight BCG helped but still occasionally short stroked, with the Sprinco it’s 100%.
For a Grendel, never. Less mass & lighter spring is less force stripping a round from a mag. 5.56 & .300bo feeds pretty smoothly from AR mags but some variants like 7.62x39, 5.45x39 & 6.5 Grendel take a bit more force.
When I dialed in the gas block of my 12” it was with a FA carrier, std. spring & H2 buffer.

[StoneHendge]

I run a 5.56 Varminter / High volume mid range practice AR with the Taccom Reduced Recoil Spring, Taccom Ultra Lightweight Rifle Buffers (it is a rifle stock), Superlative Arms AGB, VG6 Epsilon brake and STANDARD mass BCG. Sight picture doesn't move much more than a .22 and I WATCH, not see hits and prairie dog explosions. Thousands of rounds and I haven't had a single jam/FTE/FTF etc. once I dialed it in (I only use one load in it - 55 grain NBTV @ 3150 from a 20"). The little movement I get is a slight dip to 7/8 o'clock when the BCG returns to battery. I don't know how it would work on a 6.5 G since they are specifically designed for 223/556, but when dialed in properly and combined with a good muzzle device, it runs smoothly and flawlessly for me in 5.56. Whenever I let someone shoot it, the look in their eyes after the first shot is priceless.

[dpete]

As is said by a sage veteran on another forum. "Don't complicate shiite with complicated shiite!" E. Stoner designed these rifles to perform with fairly simple components and the creators of the variant calibers went from there. Yes you can buy this or that upgraded and fancy part from many places but then you introduce other variables into the system that have to be accounted for and compensated for. Stonehenge has what sounds like a great rifle to shoot but by his admission is very specific in what he shoots. My Colt 5.56 feels almost like a .22 when I shoot it simply by adding a very good muzzle break. It also eats anything I put into it.