Spent a large part of last night reading the archives looking for posts on shock buffers and gas ports. I seems as if a lot of people have had issues with shock buffers and that Mike's gas ports may work better with hotter handloads. I am going to be shooting only factory or surplus loads. Do a lot of you have the shock buffers installed? What is their real world advantage? Same with the ports regarding factory or surplus ammo. Thanks
Shock buffer and gas ports
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Most people shoot factory or surplus ammo from their Minis.
The amount of gas vented through the gas port of Mini is excessive. It makes the rifle operation more reliable, especially if it's purely maintained but the exta powerfull slam of the slide assembly into the receiver causes accelerated wear on parts, deteriorates the bedding, ruins optics, hinders the follow-up shots, increases discomfort of recoil and reduces bullet velocity.
If you replace the factory gas bushing with the one that has the minimum opening that still ensures reliable operation and install the shock buffer, you will get all those problems ameliorated regardless of what ammo you use.
If you don't like it, which is very unlikely, you are out of $25.
V.
The amount of gas vented through the gas port of Mini is excessive. It makes the rifle operation more reliable, especially if it's purely maintained but the exta powerfull slam of the slide assembly into the receiver causes accelerated wear on parts, deteriorates the bedding, ruins optics, hinders the follow-up shots, increases discomfort of recoil and reduces bullet velocity.
If you replace the factory gas bushing with the one that has the minimum opening that still ensures reliable operation and install the shock buffer, you will get all those problems ameliorated regardless of what ammo you use.
If you don't like it, which is very unlikely, you are out of $25.
V.
I recently installed a gas port and recoil buffer on my 196 ranch mini-14. I purchased both from Mike K. I started out with the medium sized port (of the 3 supplied). I was shooting lake city ammo. I found that I was not recycling properly and that I would not extract / eject cartridges reliably. Thouse that did eject, went around 3 feet.
I installed the largest port and tried shooting some PMC ammo with good results. Cartridges were ejected about 5 feet.
I recently started shooting American eagle with good results. I did notice that the rounds were hitting about 7" higher at 100 yds than the previous ammo.
Chris M
:usa: Semper Fi
I installed the largest port and tried shooting some PMC ammo with good results. Cartridges were ejected about 5 feet.
I recently started shooting American eagle with good results. I did notice that the rounds were hitting about 7" higher at 100 yds than the previous ammo.
Chris M
:usa: Semper Fi
Just a word on using different ammo. It will have a different POI (point of impact) on the target. The velocity, bullet shape, and bullet weight will make a difference. It may seem strange, but if you sight in your rifle at 100 yds with 55 grn ammo to shoot dead on, then shoot a heavier bullet say 62 grn, the POI of the heavier bullet will be higher. The reason is the heavier bullet is slower out the barrel so muzzle jump will be higher before the bullet leaves the muzzle. Also the recoil on a heavier bullet is greater. So scope settings should be for a specific ammo. Next time you are at the range check it out.
The only ammo I shoot is 55g. Point taken about shape and other characteristics though. I haven't bedded this rifle yet. It's my next task. The best grouping I've gotten is about 3" at 100 yds. The biggest factor so far is that I'm a lousy shot and require more practice. Guess I'll just have to go :ar15: some more!
Chris M
Chris M
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2,146 Posts
I am useing the buffer tec buffer. I had to trim it in half because it was not allowing the hammer to go all the way back and was occasionaly double tapping. I am a bow hunter and the thought occured to me one day to cut a piece off of a limb saver, "vibration buffer made for bow limbs" and I made a recoil buffer that fits over the gas piston and keeps the slide from slaming into the gas block. This has worked great!! Really took the smack out of it. I also purchased the Houge o/m stock and bedded it with accraglass green. Average groups are 1", but the other day I shot one three shot group that measered 0.217 center to center with a digital caliper. Im sticking with that load!!! Humidity, tempature and everything else must have been perfect. I packed my range bag and went home on a high without fireing another shot. If you try the limbsaver thing let me know how long it lasts you. Mine so far has held up the nearly 500 rounds or more so far.
:sniper:
:sniper:
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2,146 Posts
No I do not have a digital cam at this time. But here is all you need. The product is made by simms vibration labrtories and the standard limbsaver for non split limbs is the one you want, it is cheaper. It is shaped like a mushroom and are solid black. It is very seldom that you find a product that will do just what it says. This is not the first time it has been used for something other than originally intended. I think it was designed to take the womp out of tenise rackets. Then to golf clubs, baseball bats, and then archery equipment. I love the product so much I could be a sales rep for them!
Hope this helps.:sniper:
Hope this helps.:sniper:
Swordslinger, I put a 1/8" slab of neoprene rubber in the same location. It worked great for 500 rds, then it cracked so I removed it. The heat cracked it. While it worked it took the rattle out of the slide rod, bolt, and absorbed shock. What sort of material is the limsaver made of, and how thick is it? I've been looking for something a little more heat resistant. It gets hot in there!
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2,146 Posts
Im not sure what type of material it is. It comes in a mushroom shape and I just sliced it off at 1/8'' and cut to fit. I had tried the rubber also and it lasted 200+ rounds befor it came apart from the heat. This stuff seems to be holding up very well. Its worth your time to give it a try in my opinion, but you know what they say about opinions.
:sniper:
:sniper:
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