Ten years ago when i was tweaking my Mini guys were making buffers out of all kinds of stuff plumbing washers, leather and vacuum cleaner belts. Back then some guys used 1911 buffers but they seamed to be a little thick for Minis. They would thin them down a little and they would work fine. I am thinking that 1911 buffers must come in different thicknesses from brand to brand because their are guys on the forum using 1911 buffers and they are working well for them.

I chose to use vacuum cleaner belts. A friend just bought a used Mini and we are going to tweak it and see if we can make a shooter out of it. Today i made a set of buffers for it and while i was at it i made a new set for my Mini. Mine are ten years old and were still in good shape i put a new set in my Mini just for the heck of it. When i went to store to buy the belts i found the belt i use it is Bissell #8.



To make the buffers punch or cut a 5/16 hole in the belt leaving both ends a little long then cut the ends a little at a time until they fit the gun nice and flat. Here is a pic of the new buffers i made along with the ten year old buffers.



Here is a pic of the front buffer in place.



This is a pic of the rear buffer in place.



That's it there is not much to making your own buffers if you are so inclined.
51

does it really help tame the recoil?

Absolutly! No metal on metal either.

It tames the vibration and pounding of metal on metal that is hard on scopes.

__________________
" If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would send an entertainer..... our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent a Savior."

Yeah what they said. I don't know about other kinds of buffers the rubber buffers have a smooth bounce to them. Once i tried them there was no going back to shooting with out them.
51

any cycling problems?

Zero cycling problems on a 581 RR

I like that idea. Looks like tomorrow I will be going to look for some of these belts. Can you get them at a Lowe's or something or do I need to go to a vacuum store?

i just picked them up at lowes today. The wilson combat buffers and leather cant stand up to my mini on the gas block. The belt is slimer than the combat buffers, and hopefully tougher. I already like that they have more give than the wilson 1911. More bounce.. I'll find out tues if they can take a beating.

__________________
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good." -George Washington

How long do you expect the Bissell Buffers to last? I'm sure it depends on how many rounds what do you figure 300,500?

i think it depends on what model mini you have. My newer model does not have a flush face on the gas block end of the slide. On the receiver end it does. The gas block end chews up buffers, the receiver end not at all.
So the gas block buffer lasts maybe 100, the receiver end still has the original which is about 700 rounds now, and it looks almost new.
I think older mini's have a flush end that hits the gas block square.

__________________
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good." -George Washington

thank you for the superlative tip!

__________________
My doom has come upon me; let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter.

King, my 581 SS RR has just a very slight block shape molded in to the op. rod where it mates to the gas block. But it is almost smooth and I have had no problems with WC Buffers getting tore up on either end. It may be a different story if I did a lot of 30 round mag. dumps!

I had mine in my 197 series Mini 14 for ten years and they were still in good shape. I mostly target shoot with my Mini my son in law all so has a 197 series Mini 14 he likes to make his Mini rattle. He likes to spray ammo so much he sighted in his Mini hot. It takes him quite a while to cook belt buffers.
51

sounds great 51colt! Here is a WC buffer after 120rds that took 2 hours to shoot. I did dump the last 20 rounds.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good." -George Washington

how thick is the rubber?

__________________
My doom has come upon me; let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter.

the belt made it about as long as the others.. roughly 100 rounds. My mini just shoots better without anything on the gas block end. just the way it is. I like the vacuum belt on the receiver end best I must say.

__________________
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good." -George Washington

They are pretty thin about 3/16 thick and the belt rubber is tough stuff.
51

do the belts you buy have any thread belting type support in them or just pure rubber?

__________________
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good." -George Washington

Just rubber
51

I tried them on my 182 and didn't have any problems at all feels great awesome idea. It was a trick cutting the holes, I finally heated a piece of copper tubing with a torch, that worked pretty well.

Sweet, Good to hear it worked out for you. The bolt feels cool the way it bounces off the rubber buffers.
51

FYI, I got those vacuum belts from Lowes for 3.99, I'm about to make my buffers right now.

Something a Whole lot easyer guy`s is rubber toilet tank bolt" washers.... The one`s with the cloth inbeaded in them.... perfect in size for both end of your rifle.... A buck a piece @ your larger hardware stores . They sell both.... Plain rubber one`s and the one with the cloth in them . Just the right thickness also . My rifle is also a 581 model..... Keep your rifle from slinging your spent Brass" 30 feet away also .

Rubber / Cloth Toilat Tank Bolt Washer..... Buck a piece fellows .... 2500 rounds and counting