View Full Version : Vltor A5 on M16/Mk18
Have a new project, M16A1 lower with DD MK18 upper. I ordered a carbine buffer tube for it; however, now i'm wondering. Should I have gotten an A5 system instead? Does anyone run that/recommend that? I did a search and only came up with 1 thread (and the guy was having problems with it).
Have a new project, M16A1 lower with DD MK18 upper. I ordered a carbine buffer tube for it; however, now i'm wondering. Should I have gotten an A5 system instead? Does anyone run that/recommend that? I did a search and only came up with 1 thread (and the guy was having problems with it).
The A5 is the new best thing. But as the military and many others have been running Mk18 uppers with regular carbine tubes for years and years with countless thousands of rounds through them, you'll be ok.
Could be wrong, but I thought the A5 was for rifle length gas systems.
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The A5 duplicates & improves upon a rifle length buffer system.
In general, both of these are compatible with all gas system lengths.
IMO, an M16 lower deserves an A5 tube.
Could be wrong, but I thought the A5 was for rifle length gas systems.
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I would likely use an A5 on an M16, along with 8" BLK, 12, 16 and 20" 5.56mm uppers. SSF trigger.
I run an A5 -4 on my 12.5 M16. It lowered the cyclic rate and improved handling incredibly.
Bottom Rifle...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/9841618005_d25046a342_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101418915@N07/9841618005/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101418915@N07/9841618005/) by corycop25 (http://www.flickr.com/people/101418915@N07/), on Flickr
Did you have a video of this one ?
I run an A5 -4 on my 12.5 M16. It lowered the cyclic rate and improved handling incredibly.
Bottom Rifle...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/9841618005_d25046a342_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101418915@N07/9841618005/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/101418915@N07/9841618005/) by corycop25 (http://www.flickr.com/people/101418915@N07/), on Flickr
Did you have a video of this one ?
Not to step on the OPs thread but her are two videos. The first is with an H2 buffer and carbine receiver extension which is standard in an M4 and the second is with an A5 -4. Both videos are shot suppressed and you can see the difference between the cyclic rate and the recoil......
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/CoryCop25/Videos/th_51522646.jpg (http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/CoryCop25/Videos/51522646.mp4)
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/CoryCop25/Videos/th_AA6237CD-809B-4627-AC8D-48475692E195-13464-000005AE666C2FBF_zpsc8e11d31.jpg (http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/CoryCop25/Videos/AA6237CD-809B-4627-AC8D-48475692E195-13464-000005AE666C2FBF_zpsc8e11d31.mp4)
If I had a full auto lower I would be using it. I remember someone else posting a vid on YouTube and it slowed the cyclic rate and appeared to much more controllable.
Right, it was real slow like a BAR.
Chug,chug,chug
ETA: found it
RustedAce's w/A5H3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2xwiDFJk_8
If I had a full auto lower I would be using it. I remember someone else posting a vid on YouTube and it slowed the cyclic rate and appeared to much more controllable.
I run an A5 -4 on my 12.5 M16. It lowered the cyclic rate and improved handling incredibly.
Thanks for the real-world feedback...
Not to step on the OPs thread but her are two videos. The first is with an H2 buffer and carbine receiver extension which is standard in an M4 and the second is with an A5 -4. Both videos are shot suppressed and you can see the difference between the cyclic rate and the recoil......
No, this is exactly the type of feed back I was hoping for! I am really surprised at the difference.
Right, it was real slow like a BAR.
Chug,chug,chug
ETA: found it
RustedAce's w/A5H3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2xwiDFJk_8
Thanks for posting that. That gun seems really controllable. This also seems to show how much a can will increase cyclic rate (over the other video posted).
This is the thread I saw that concerned me about running the A5:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=74980
I think this settles it tho. I'm going to run the gun with the carbine buffer system for a week or two then buy the A5 system. I'll take a video of both and post up the results.
What buffers are recommended for a full-auto Mk18 for a carbine buffer and A5 system? H2 and A5-4?
*edit: interesting, the video Clint posted is the same guy in the trouble-shooting thread I was posted
What buffers are recommended for a full-auto Mk18 for a carbine buffer and A5 system? H2 and A5-4?
Mil rifles have H2 buffers in them. From my experience with DD 10.3 barrels, you will be fine with an H3.
You will really need to play around for the feel you are looking for. I know for a fact that my 12.5 will not cycle Wolf or Tula the way I have it set up but I don't care as I don't shoot that ammo. You also want to take into account that if this is your only rifle and you want it to shoot anything, you may wanna use a lighter buffer. It is going to be a give and take. You can give up a little felt recoil for the security of knowing your rifle will cycle everything or just use good ammo....:ph34r:
Mil rifles have H2 buffers in them. From my experience with DD 10.3 barrels, you will be fine with an H3.
You will really need to play around for the feel you are looking for. I know for a fact that my 12.5 will not cycle Wolf or Tula the way I have it set up but I don't care as I don't shoot that ammo. You also want to take into account that if this is your only rifle and you want it to shoot anything, you may wanna use a lighter buffer. It is going to be a give and take. You can give up a little felt recoil for the security of knowing your rifle will cycle everything or just use good ammo....:ph34r:
This is my work gun, so it must work every time. The DD 10.3" already seems a little over gassed and we shoot strictly .223 .... we'll see what happens with the H2!
Actually, I havent shot it with the rifle buffer tube... i'd imagine the cyclic rate/recoil would be similar to the A5. When I get back in town i'll shoot it with the rifle buffer tube and then swap it out for the carbine and see what happens
Yeah, I do not understand DDs reasoning for such a large gas port on their 10.3 barrels. I have a 10.3, 11.5, 12.5 and 2 16 inch DD barrels and only the 10.3 is gassy.
That is also my work gun and the over gassed 10.3 was one of the many reasons I went with the 12.5 instead. We use Hornady 75gr TAP 223 as our duty round and it runs great in the 12.5 and our BCM middys that are in the cars.
Yeah, I do not understand DDs reasoning for such a large gas port on their 10.3 barrels. I have a 10.3, 11.5, 12.5 and 2 16 inch DD barrels and only the 10.3 is gassy.
That is also my work gun and the over gassed 10.3 was one of the many reasons I went with the 12.5 instead. We use Hornady 75gr TAP 223 as our duty round and it runs great in the 12.5 and our BCM middys that are in the cars.
Neither do I, but i've read they've since change the size of the GP. I've not shot a 12.5 but i'd def like to. I was so sick of my 16" HBAR i wanted to get the shortest gun possible, which is why i went with the 10.3.
I wish we were lucky enough to use 75g TAP! We have 55g varmit rounds to prevent over penetration :rolleyes: I'm trying to convince the boss to buy me the Black Hills 50g round...
We have several multi story apartment buildings and 4 town house developments in my town so the lack of penetration that the TAP is known for is actually the better choice for us. I would like to test the SSA round with the 70 gr Barnes total copper bullet.
BigLarge,
I have been using the A5 system since shortly after it was introduced thanks to Father Kino.
I have one SBR lower where I rotate an 11.5" and 12.5" BCM upper. Both of them are also set up for suppressor use.
I have well over 10K between the two with multiple varieties of M855, M193, Hornady Steel TAP, etc.. and they have never had a malfunction. Most of the time I was using a standard BCG until I switched to the LMT enhanced carrier (early this year or late last year).
All of my AR's now use the A5 system and I have yet to experience any malfunctions.
All of my AR's now use the A5 system and I have yet to experience any malfunctions.
Same here
Gunz, which A5 buffer are you using? I'll be running a DD MK18 upper on a SBR lower. I know Cory has previously stated the DD is way gassy with their 10.3's and the only thing I need for my A5 setup is to land on a buffer weight...
I use the A5H4 in mine. My 16" carbine uses an A5H3.
Gunz, which A5 buffer are you using? I'll be running a DD MK18 upper on a SBR lower. I know Cory has previously stated the DD is way gassy with their 10.3's and the only thing I need for my A5 setup is to land on a buffer weight...
I use the A5H4 in mine. My 16" carbine uses an A5H3.
Green spring with the A5H4?
I use Springco springs in all of my AR's. Specifically the green one with the A5.
Green spring with the A5H4?
First time running this combo....
Colt M16A1 Lower
DD MK18 upper
Carbine buffer tube with H2 buffer
Privi .223 55g
The gun pushes back pretty hard, but there is really little muzzle climb. It was easy keeping the gun on target. However, I think the gun would be more practical with a slower cyclic rate (ala an A5 system)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apXhx52m-LY
Gunz put me in several of these Vltor's and they have been run in every possible configuration from 10.3 to 18". And they run and run and digest ammo in a boring fashion.
I just bought a couple more standard buffers from Midway. I got some heavies in a couple guns.
I didn't think my question warranted a new thread, so I am here to piggy-back off what was already asked.
Today was my first time out with my MK18 and a 12.5" Noveske upper and the VLTOR A5, previously I had been using an H2 as the lower was still in it's "NFA purgatory" ie. pistol form. I normally don't get all hung up on ejection patterns, but I think I can smooth these both out a bit, ejection was typically from the 1-2 o'clock. I was also using an AAC Mini 4 for part of the time and the ejection pattern didn't really change much. Ammunition used was PMC Bronze, XM193, a bit of Wolf and 64 grain Speer Gold Dots. I was using the standard buffer that comes with the A5 system, but if what I am reading here is correct I should be able to install the A5H4 - at least while suppressed; should I use the A5H3 when not?
Thanks in advance for the help.
** Edited to Add ** I also have a spare LMT Enhanced Carrier and bolt laying around, should I install that in combination with the heavier buffer?
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