Buffer Retainer Broke Through Buffer Tube

[carlson1]

Should I replace the buffer tube?

I don't think so unless there is some problem with it that caused an interference and therefore prohibited it from seating all the way to begin with. Try screwing it in and see if it retains the spring pin. Might just have been a manufacturing oversight. But if the spring pin (buffer retainer) is bent, you obviously will need to replace that. Pretty minor.

The buffer retainer definitely has to be replaced. It is bent so bad that it will not even fit in the hole anymore.

$0.98 at Brownells: http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/re ... 17559.aspx

If you need the spring, that's another $0.95 at Brownells: http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/re ... 17560.aspx

Thanks TAM! They should be on the way Monday.

[The Annoyed Man]

Should I replace the buffer tube?

I don't think so unless there is some problem with it that caused an interference and therefore prohibited it from seating all the way to begin with. Try screwing it in and see if it retains the spring pin. Might just have been a manufacturing oversight. But if the spring pin (buffer retainer) is bent, you obviously will need to replace that. Pretty minor.

The buffer retainer definitely has to be replaced. It is bent so bad that it will not even fit in the hole anymore.

$0.98 at Brownells: http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/re ... 17559.aspx

If you need the spring, that's another $0.95 at Brownells: http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/re ... 17560.aspx

Thanks TAM! They should be on the way Monday.

[SigM4]

But it did not "break thru" the buffer tube. There is an "on -purpose" recess there in order to catch the outer lip of the spring pin. Here is my S&W AR-10:

Interesting. I've never encountered a buffer tube with the recess.

[bulletslap]

A few months back I had a malfunctioning problem with a 40 year old SP1 Colt AR.

The buffer tube had loosened and backed out slightly allowing the buffer detent to raise up too high and it was bent by the buffer slamming into it. There isn't a castle nut on a full stock old style AR.

A few weeks later I read about how up until the middle 60's, M16s & AR 15s were drilled for a roll pin that ran perpendicular to the buffer tube.

[RogueUSMC]

A few months back I had a malfunctioning problem with a 40 year old SP1 Colt AR.

The buffer tube had loosened and backed out slightly allowing the buffer detent to raise up too high and it was bent by the buffer slamming into it. There isn't a castle nut on a full stock old style AR.

A few weeks later I read about how up until the middle 60's, M16s & AR 15s were drilled for a roll pin that ran perpendicular to the buffer tube.

How did that happen? The eggplate is what indexes your extension. The eggplate would have had to rotate and you'd think you would notice that...

[der Teufel]

I bought a Bushmaster AR-10 (technically, an Optics-Ready-Carbine in .308) a few years ago. Whenever I fired it, after a few rounds the buffer retaining pin and spring would pop out. The spring got bent, so I called Bushmaster and they sent a new pin and spring. The cure was just as TAM said, loosen the castle nut and screw the buffer tube in one more turn. It's been working flawlessly since then.

[bulletslap]

A few months back I had a malfunctioning problem with a 40 year old SP1 Colt AR.

The buffer tube had loosened and backed out slightly allowing the buffer detent to raise up too high and it was bent by the buffer slamming into it. There isn't a castle nut on a full stock old style AR.

A few weeks later I read about how up until the middle 60's, M16s & AR 15s were drilled for a roll pin that ran perpendicular to the buffer tube.

How did that happen? The eggplate is what indexes your extension. The eggplate would have had to rotate and you'd think you would notice that...

It is a full stock rifle, it doesn't have a egg plate.