So I took various buffers and springs, and a notebook to the range..
...expecting to tune two new ARs. I was really expecting to find a perfect fit for each, which in my mind was a:
~3:00-4.00 ejection with 5.56 and maybe 4:00-4:30 with 223/wolf but function with it.
So I took a 10.5" with .093" (Colt sized) and a 16.5" Middy (Its a Nordic barrel, and they are actually 16.5" to bolt face insead of the 16" advertised) with a .085" gas port. Had standard (on the long side, 11 1/8") and extra power buffer springs (Springco RED), H, Spikes ST-2, H2, and H3 buffers. Both have Denny's BCG build on Young Chrome M16 carriers, which I think have extra power extra springs but blue inserts, no o-ring. Wolf 223, PMC 223, and M193 (Armscor/Philippines). Now I'm complete freaking lost, my results do not make since. I didn't test every configuration, I was frustrated and limited in time. I was expecting both configurations to be overgassed but the Middy more so than the 10.5" carbine.
10.5" 5.56 chamber .093" gas port:
Standard Spring, H Buffer
Wolf 223: 2:30 13ft
PMC: 1:00 5ft
M193: 1:00-1:30 2-5ft
Standard Spring, H3 Buffer
Wolf 223: 3:00 9ft
PMC: 1:30 8ft
M193: 1:30 3-8ft
Heavy Spring, H Buffer
Wolf 223: 2:30 11ft
PMC: 2:00 4-8ft
M193: 2:00 4-8ft
Heavy Spring, H3 Buffer
Wolf 223: 1:30-3:00 5-10ft
PMC: 1:30-2:00 8ft
M193: 1:30-2:00 7ft
Functioned in every setup. The ejection results for the Heavy spring + H3 buffer do not appear to make since. At the time I ordered I follwed the advise to size stuff to colt size so everything would run in it, before I learned this is to much gas. I'm thinking of crushing the gas tube some or buying a adjustable gas block. I'm at a loss, I though a heavy spring and a H3 buffer would tame a colt sized gas port 10.5".
I was running out of time but took out my next rifle:
16" Midlength gas, .085" gas port (per manufactor), 223 wylde chamber:
Standard Spring, Spikes ST-2 (similar to H2)
Wolf: would not feed next rd, appeared to be short stroking
PMC 223: 50/50 results, same
5.56: 4:00 8ft and smooth
Shouldn't .085" gas port with a 16.5" Middy gas system be overgassed? I guess this is perfect if I onlyh shoot 5.56, will try a H next time out. It did function in fa on my selectfire that had a H2 with 5.56. I know another person took a .071" middy and cut it to 12.5" and opened to .080" and theirs ran with 5.56 and wolf 223.