Anyone ever broke a buffer retainer?

[zippygaloo]

The buffer retainer looks like a very easy part to break. Has anyone ever broke a buffer retainer? Will an AR still function without a butter retainer?

[Iraqgunz]

Zippy,

Please do not take this the wrong way. Go back and look at some of your posts as it relates to the AR FOW. Look and see if there is a pattern there.

Do not worry about little stuff like this. A buffer retainer pin will last a long time as long as the weapon is assembled properly, quality parts are used and the weapon is not abused. The only time I have replaced them is when there was a lack of operator headspace.

Originally Posted by zippygaloo

The buffer retainer looks like a very easy part to break. Has anyone ever broke a buffer retainer? Will an AR still function without a butter retainer?

[Robb Jensen]

I see broken ones from time to time. Within the last year I've repaired broken ones on an Oly Arms AR and on another AR where the assembler used a Blackthorne kit.

When assembled an ARs buffer doesn't ever hit the buffer retainer. When you assemble the upper on the lower the carrier pushes the buffer off of the retainer and the buffer is in direct contact with the carrier as the rifle works.

I know some competitors who run their rifles without a buffer retainer or spring at all. It's makes assembling the upper on the lower harder but it works. Some of them have done this for years because they've have retainers come lose within the lower. When assembling the stock onto a lower this is why you make sure there's enough of the receiver extension holding in the retainer. The better/best carbine receiver extensions have more of a lip on the bottom edge to hold it in. In the old days sometimes you would have to file down some of the top of the receiver extension so that your carrier wouldn't hit the receiver extension and you would have enough of the receiver extension to keep in the retainer. Some newer ones have the lip and some have the lip and a small relieved area for the tip of the retainer to protrude through.

[Skintop911]

Originally Posted by zippygaloo

The buffer retainer looks like a very easy part to break. Has anyone ever broke a buffer retainer? Will an AR still function without a butter retainer?

Seen a bunch of them, all from the usual suspects.