What A5 buffer system to buy?

[Pappabear]

I am rebuilding a lower and wanted to add an A5 system. I think BCM started making one and Vltor..

Anyone know where the best place to acquire for price and in stock, I'll start my search now.

And does anyone know the standard buffer weight for the original A5 system, I see BCM has a few different weights. I just want this gun to run anything since it doesn't have an upper yet. Safest most reliable option for an A5.

PB

[JediGuy]

Price is just a matter of shopping the deals…which generally are pretty good right now.

VLTOR of course has everything. I bought several of their Vulcan (blem) tubes.
BCM has their system which is practically the same.
SOLGW has a kit, and FCD uses their tube.
If I wanted to throw away money, I’d probably check out the Cobalt Kinetics version that they did in coordination with VLTOR.
Magpul has receiver extensions, but I haven’t seen them for a while; I may just be missing them.
My favorite receiver extension is the LMT MWS. It fits tighter than the others, though it doesn’t have as many “holes” as some do.

You can piece together your kit. Pick a tube, pick the end plate/castle nut, get a standard rifle spring, JP polished spring, or Sprinco green spring, and then your choice of VLTOR or BCM buffer.

[Hammer_Man]

The standard A5 spring and buffer kit from Vltor comes with a 5.3 oz buffer. I believe the buffer itself is their “A5H2” model if you buy it separately.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003408914?pid=148116

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100340914?pid=248917

The A5 system is basically a rifle length spring coupled to a proprietary sized A5 buffer, shoved inside an AR10/SR25 receiver extension.

[Defaultmp3]

If I wanted to throw away money, I’d probably check out the Cobalt Kinetics version that they did in coordination with VLTOR.Don't forget the V7 versions, coming in 2055, Grade 5 titanium, or 416 stainless steel.

[sidewaysil80]

I use LMT receiver extensions, end plate, castle nut, Vltor A5 buffers, sprinco green sorings, and FCD buffer retainer pin

[1168]

Of the small handful I’ve handled, the BCM tube is nicest. The dry-film lube is applied most liberally. As far as weight goes, drop one H off of whatever carbine buffer is working best for you. So if thats an H2, you want an A5H1. I use Colt rifle springs. I’d imagine the one included with a BCM kit would be equivalently GTG.

[Pappabear]

Thanks guys, great info.

PB

[One More Time]

I went with the EMOD stock kit just to get an A5H2 buffer when there were none available and had been backordered forever.
Once the A5H2 was back in stock I put another A5 together with a .308 extension tube I had and a green spring.

[HKGuns]

Good luck finding an actual VLTOR rear end anywhere.

They’ve regularly been out of stock everywhere and won’t answer questions as to what is going on PB.

I usually get the standard spring kit from Midway USA and buy the RE separately if / when they are available.

[Hammer_Man]

Good luck finding an actual VLTOR rear end anywhere.

They’ve regularly been out of stock everywhere and won’t answer questions as to what is going on PB.

I usually get the standard spring kit from Midway USA and buy the RE separately if / when they are available.

That’s how I do it. I piece it together with an A5 buffer weight of my choice, then couple with a rifle length recoil spring, and shove it in an A5 length receiver extension. LMT 308 receiver extensions, and Forward Controls Design A5 receiver extensions are my two favorites.

[crosseyedshooter]

From what I can recall when I built a few lowers with A5, my two big takeaways were to use the actual buffers that had the patented biasing spring and get the receiver extension with the right holes.

For the internal spring, it appears only Vltor and BCM buffers have it. A5H2 is the “standard” weight as it’s similar to a rifle buffer and roughly equivalent to a carbine H3. If I plan to shoot anything that would have trouble cycling Carbine H3, I keep an A5H0 on hand (equivalent to Carbine H1).

For the extensions, they’re all roughly the same length but the holes for stock positions can be different. If I remember right, the AR10 tubes typically have six hole positions and won’t allow short carbine stocks to lock fully collapsed. Vltor also sells a 7-position stock that addresses this. The BCM stock has, I believe, 8-positions and locks with their carbine stock fully collapsed.

[davidjinks]

https://www.revivaldefense.com/a5-builder-kit

I’ve purchased 4 of the A5 builders kits from them. Solid company with exceptionally fast shipping.

I went with the A5H2 and Springco green spring for all of my rifles. Zero issues with that setup and the benefits “seem” to be a plus. Smoother recoil, better ejection, and a better range to adjust LOP.

To add to this; I’m using the FCD CN5F castle nut and the FCD ESF-H1 end plate.



I am rebuilding a lower and wanted to add an A5 system. I think BCM started making one and Vltor..

Anyone know where the best place to acquire for price and in stock, I'll start my search now.

And does anyone know the standard buffer weight for the original A5 system, I see BCM has a few different weights. I just want this gun to run anything since it doesn't have an upper yet. Safest most reliable option for an A5.

PB

[Hulkstr8]

There are differences from the Vltor A5 and the BCM Mk2 from what I've been told; different springs (??) if I remember correctly. In all likelihood the BCM version is an improvement but the finish on the Vltor A5 has always been superb for me.

[Disciple]

Vltor A5H1 (https://ar15discounts.com/products/vltor-a5-light-weight-buffer-4-56-oz/) for $30.57 with code.

A Magpul UBR Gen 2 at Lanbos is $153. Not too bad compared to an A5 tube, QD end plate, and stock purchased separately, if it suits you.

[Dutch110]

https://www.revivaldefense.com/a5-builder-kit

I’ve purchased 4 of the A5 builders kits from them. Solid company with exceptionally fast shipping.

I went with the A5H2 and Springco green spring for all of my rifles. Zero issues with that setup and the benefits “seem” to be a plus. Smoother recoil, better ejection, and a better range to adjust LOP.

To add to this; I’m using the FCD CN5F castle nut and the FCD ESF-H1 end plate.

You beat me to it. This has been my recipe as well on the 4 builds I have done A5s on. Really like this set up.

[Dutch110]

I will add that when I did my first few builds using the A5 set up I was kind of just meh on the whole thing. When I started adding cans to the mix is when I really started to appreciate them. Especially on my two X39 builds.

[tb-av]

Same here A5H2 + Springco Green. Works for everything I have shot.

[calvin118]

Over a decade ago I experimented with different barrel lengths, gas systems, and buffer systems. I tested the operating envelope of different systems by gradually closing an adjustable gas block and observing what point the system began to fail to lock back or fail to cycle.

The takeaway was that the a5h2 with a standard rifle spring was at least as forgiving as a standard rifle spring with h buffer. In some systems it was definitely more forgiving, others equal. The a5h2 systems, at least for me, definitely stay on target better for follow up shots and make it more pleasant to shoot suppressed.

I have gone with the a5h2 system in all of my lowers and not look back. They make the guns very pleasant to shoot and I have found them to be utterly reliable.

[vandal5]

I just got one of the BCM A5 compatible buffer tubes. From reading here it seems the A5H2 with green Springco spring is a popular set up? I know it's hard to say unless you know the rifle set up... but is this a good place to start?

Currently has a BA Hanson 10.3 barrel and a ST-T2 that's been in my rifle the last 13 years or so. Guessing I could start with the A5H2and see how it runs?

[opngrnd]

I've put thousands of rounds downrange using the Springco Green/A5H2 combo. I don't know if it's the end all be all, but it's a safe bet. My climate ranges from sub-zero to 100 degrees, no issues here. I'd possibly consider a different combo if I was in a predominantly saltwater environment.

[titsonritz]

I’ve used A5 tubes from BCM, Vltor, Magpul and FCD, all have worked fine. I stick with a Sprinco Green spring and A5H2 buffer from Vltor. I’ve not yet tried BCM buffers.

[1986s4]

I have two of the BCM A5 tubes [they call it something else]. I bought the blemished version for less than full price. I like them enough to have two, I built one up from scratch with the A5 and thought enough of them to upgrade another. One of my uppers is very overgassed so I have the BCM #4 buffer with a Geissele super 42 rifle spring which has tamed it to 3:00 ejection from 12:30...

[Dutch110]

The only caveat I would add is if you are running suppressed. Depending on port size you might want to up the buffer weight. Mostly a fine tuning concern. Not like its not going to run with the A5H2 but it might run better with the A5H3. Keep in mind the A5H2 is roughly 5.3 oz which is the same, I believe, as a plain jane H3. Just more spring behind it.

[vandal5]

Thanks Guys for the insight, looking forward to getting it set up and seeing if I can feel any difference.

Don't think my current set up is too over gassed but I haven't shot may others to compare it to.

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[ChattanoogaPhil]

BCM 14.5 ELW.
M193 and IMI 77gr.
Unsuppressed.

MK2 Recoil Mitigation System has a selection of different buffers. Which one would be the best for the above? T1, or T2... or? I contacted BCM a couple months ago but the answer was basically try different buffers till you get the right one. Yeah ok... but at $40 and higher I'd like to start with the most likely candidate.

[HKGuns]

I would start with an H2 if you are talking the A5 system. It works with everything I shoot.

ETA: I have that setup in 10.4" to 20" rifles and I shoot mainly 77gr hand loads. But I have also shot a fair bit of 55gr 193 as well as hand loads. I have one 18" rifle with the green spring for testing that I've not yet gotten out to test with so nearly all of mine use the VLTOR spring and 7 position RE.

[STAFF]

I just got one of the BCM A5 compatible buffer tubes. From reading here it seems the A5H2 with green Springco spring is a popular set up? I know it's hard to say unless you know the rifle set up... but is this a good place to start?

Currently has a BA Hanson 10.3 barrel and a ST-T2 that's been in my rifle the last 13 years or so. Guessing I could start with the A5H2and see how it runs?

Yes this is a great set up.

[opngrnd]

BCM 14.5 ELW.
M193 and IMI 77gr.
Unsuppressed.

MK2 Recoil Mitigation System has a selection of different buffers. Which one would be the best for the above? T1, or T2... or? I contacted BCM a couple months ago but the answer was basically try different buffers till you get the right one. Yeah ok... but at $40 and higher I'd like to start with the most likely candidate.

I'd start with as close to original rifle buffer weight as possible.

[jnr4817]

Just installed bcm version with their spring and t1 buffer(h2). No issues.

[rrich1]

Bkings firearms now sells an A5 system branded by them. Might be a solid choice to save some money.

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