Some scoff at the MGI Defender because it costs a few bucks but it has all the updises of the O-ring without the downsides.
It's wedge shape premits enough freedom of movement to prevent it from becoing 'coil bound' for lack of a better phrase.
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Some scoff at the MGI Defender because it costs a few bucks but it has all the updises of the O-ring without the downsides.
It's wedge shape premits enough freedom of movement to prevent it from becoing 'coil bound' for lack of a better phrase.
I learned this the hard way on my 14.5" LMT. I found the O-ring just wasn't needed, and in fact caused issues when shooting brass cased ammo from the upper. I started noticing a number of brass shavings collecting on the face of the bolt, in the barrel extension, and inside the upper receiver. Eventually one of these shavings worked it's way into the ejector and caused it to jam into the compressed position, which in turn rendered the rifle in-op. From there on out I stopped running the O-ring in my uppers.
Mike Pannone's article was written well before the A5 came out.
Either way, I've had very good experience with Sprinco springs.
I've seen that recommendation (probably here) but I didn't see it as being universal. I doubt that enough people have tried the Sprinco springs for there to be a widespread recommendation.
With the new "white" Sprinco springs that are only standard strength, I see no drawback to using those springs other than cost, and if they last half as long as claimed then I think $20 is a reasonable price to never worry about the spring losing its strength and causing malfunctions.
With the stiffer "blue" and "red" springs I think you need to do some testing and possibly use a heavier buffer to get full benefit and reliability. They could potentially cause reliability issues if they don't mesh with the rest of your setup, I suppose. Based on moderate use so far I'm quite happy with a blue spring and H2 buffer on the back end of a 16" midlength. Can't guarantee that will work for anyone else though.
Here's sprinco springs for anyone not already familiar with them:
http://www.sprinco.com/tactical.html
In a nutshell, what he found after all the observation and testing:
"...The difference was that I used a heavier Sprinco buffer spring (correctly called an action spring), a DPMS Extra-heavy buffer (.2oz lighter than a Colt H3 buffer), and a 5 coil extractor spring with a Crane O-ring for added extractor tension. Those drop-in parts made my rifles obscenely reliable, and still do..."
Would an H2 actually improve reliability over an H1 in a 16 inch carbine gas system when shooting standard gun store ammo like xm193?