Buffer Tube Hone?

[dial1911]

Ok- help me out here. A couple AR buffer tubes of mine feel like they were extruded over a fence post- the inside is rough as hell. It's really noticeable when operating the charging handle.

I've used a few flex hones in other applications and it seems like the tool for the job here. I'm sure I could get creative with some sandpaper and a wood dowel, but I think I'd rather just have a coarse and fine flex hone to clean up the inner walls of the buffer tube.

Anybody got any experience or suggestions?

Probably going to go with something like this in a 1" diameter:

http://www.brushresearch.com/brushes.php?c1=1

 

[Righter13]

Ok- help me out here. A couple AR buffer tubes of mine feel like they were extruded over a fence post- the inside is rough as hell. It's really noticeable when operating the charging handle.

I've used a few flex hones in other applications and it seems like the tool for the job here. I'm sure I could get creative with some sandpaper and a wood dowel, but I think I'd rather just have a coarse and fine flex hone to clean up the inner walls of the buffer tube.

Anybody got any experience or suggestions?

Probably going to go with something like this in a 1" diameter:

http://www.brushresearch.com/brushes.php?c1=1

Just shoot more. It'll smooth out.

 

[dial1911]

Just shoot more. It'll smooth out.

And here's option B... Shoot more, possibly with the addition of some alox grit or something bumping around in there.

 

[Righter13]

And here's option B... Shoot more, possibly with the addition of some alox grit or something bumping around in there.

I wouldn't put any grit in there that might work it's way into the trigger or BCG or barrel...

 

[dial1911]

I wouldn't put any grit in there that might work it's way into the trigger or BCG or barrel...

I wouldn't put any grit in there- I was mostly kidding. I'm sure it will get better over time, but it seems these PSA tubes are pretty poor quality- at least on the surfaces you can't see.

 

[Righter13]

I wouldn't put any grit in there- I was mostly kidding. I'm sure it will get better over time, but it seems these PSA tubes are pretty poor quality- at least on the surfaces you can't see.

Ohh.....


Yeah, you get what ya pay for. Could always go w a JP silent spring. It's like going from a Geo to a BMW

 

[dial1911]

Ohh.....


Yeah, you get what ya pay for. Could always go w a JP silent spring. It's like going from a Geo to a BMW

You're right.

And I've heard of the JP silent spring, but have never seen one in action.

 

[chance]

You could hone it out, but you will remove the anodizing. Might be best to replace it with a quality one

 

[dial1911]

You could hone it out, but you will remove the anodizing. Might be best to replace it with a quality one

I've read the anodizing argument before... doesn't concern me. I've worked on a lot of aircraft parts before and I have no fears of a cadmium plated buffer spring doing anything to harm a 6061-T6 aluminum tube in my lifetime. So long as I keep it out of the ocean, there's little chance of doing serious harm.

I am planning on swabbing it out with some aluminum black after it's cleaned up. That will do about as much as anything to surface coat the aluminum.

 

[Willy Leadwell]

I wouldn't put any grit in there- I was mostly kidding. I'm sure it will get better over time, but it seems these PSA tubes are pretty poor quality- at least on the surfaces you can't see.

So what you're saying is that the inside of PSA buffer tubes are about as smooth as their triggers?

 

[Willy Leadwell]

You're right.

And I've heard of the JP silent spring, but have never seen one in action.

Worth every penny in a suppressed gun. Smooth as butter. Not sure I'd spend the money otherwise though.

 

[dial1911]

So what you're saying is that the inside of PSA buffer tubes are about as smooth as their triggers?

Good analogy.

 

[dial1911]

Worth every penny in a suppressed gun. Smooth as butter. Not sure I'd spend the money otherwise though.

Well, got the suppressed part covered.

 

[Righter13]

Worth every penny in a suppressed gun. Smooth as butter. Not sure I'd spend the money otherwise though.

I just swapped mine out for an A5 system. My JP spring doesn't seem strong enough to strip a round and fully go into battery like it did when it was new. I'd say around 1500 rounds through it.

Could probably be easily remedied with a stronger spring.

Ran it on a suppressed 10.5 gun that has a WAR upper.

 

[Willy Leadwell]

I just swapped mine out for an A5 system. My JP spring doesn't seem strong enough to strip a round and fully go into battery like it did when it was new. I'd say around 1500 rounds through it.

Could probably be easily remedied with a stronger spring.

Ran it on a suppressed 10.5 gun that has a WAR upper.

I'm running mine in a 5.5" 9mm. So I probably won't have that problem. I'd say I've got 1,500-2,000 through it so far without a single hiccup aside from a magazine issue.

 

[cmshoot]

Replace the receiver extension tube with a quality one. Ain't that expensive.

 

[Righter13]

I'm running mine in a 5.5" 9mm. So I probably won't have that problem. I'd say I've got 1,500-2,000 through it so far without a single hiccup aside from a magazine issue.

Gotcha. Mine seems to run into issues when trying to lock the lug.

 

[dial1911]

Worth every penny in a suppressed gun. Smooth as butter. Not sure I'd spend the money otherwise though.

Y'all some expensive friends...




This thing is slick though!

 

[dial1911]

Oh- and that Ergo stock is a one piece tube/ stock... that's why I was thinking I'd have to hone it. That tube is good inside.

The cheap tubes I've got are crap.

 

[dial1911]

Just one more picture-



This lower is turning into a money pit.