Custom Made Buffer Tube (pics loaded)

[DENCO]

Anyone make their own buffer tube?


Anyway I seen a company making AR pistols with a forward grip for Ca. The company is in Morgan Hill. OK so my pistol I built has a 10.5 barrel which I cut down from a 16" and threaded/crowned the end.

Well that pistol they sell- and I read the BTF letter they include on there web site (short story) as long as it is more than 26" long then it's legal in Ca to have a forward grip (grip pod) I have. Some barrel length requirments as well but I met all that so I should be good to go...

So my gun with a carbine buffer tube is 25 inches (26 including the flash hider) I did not want to weld or pin the FH so I made a buffer tube 1.5 inches longer. I made it a bit fatter than stock then I bored out the back end and put in a threaded cap to hold my BTF letter.

I am sure I could buy something longer but the fun was in making it.

Not done yet- a few more hours -I will post some once I finish.

edit, LOL no body wants top read all my BS!! parts is parts!

[556guy]

Nice work. I have been talking to a friend about doing this same thing.

[DENCO]

Nice work. I have been talking to a friend about doing this same thing.

Thank you it was a fair amount of work on a manual lathe. I got your PM as well.
I am going to ball mill the sides today then get it cleaned up and painted.
Let me think about what you asked and I will get back to you.

[ar15barrels]

Well that pistol they sell- and I read the BTF letter they include on there web site (short story) as long as it is more than 26" long then it's legal in Ca to have a forward grip (grip pod) I have. Some barrel length requirments as well but I met all that so I should be good to go...

So my gun with a carbine buffer tube is 25 inches (26 including the flash hider) I did not want to weld or pin the FH so I made a buffer tube 1.5 inches longer. I made it a bit fatter than stock then I bored out the back end and put in a threaded cap to hold my BTF letter.

Your muzzle device does not need to be permanent attached to meet California overall length as long as the barrel meets federal length requirements for the type of gun you are making.

Also, why did you cut long threads and use a carbine castle nut when you could have just shouldered the tube like an A2 stock?
I think it looks cleaner with an integral shoulder than the castle nut.

[Iskra]

I actually like the castle nut. Once you're threading anyway, might as well cut a little further for the nut, and it allows you to set your tube precisely against the buffer retaining pin every time.

[DENCO]

Your muzzle device does not need to be permanent attached to meet California overall length as long as the barrel meets federal length requirements for the type of gun you are making.

Also, why did you cut long threads and use a carbine castle nut when you could have just shouldered the tube like an A2 stock?
I think it looks cleaner with an integral shoulder than the castle nut.

Dang i dont know why LOL aways easier to look at things different after the fact!! Good point tho and yes it would be way cleaner looking. registration maybe a bit tricky with the groove for the rear plate tho. but i dont know have to think a little more on that one. All just in fun.. I can make more!!

I did not realize the flash hider would not affect the length issue since it is easy to remove. Although so is the buffer tube if ya think about it. Nothing just comes off without tools...

Over kill I guess for the cop with a harbor freight tape measure

Thanks for the good ideas.

[DENCO]

I actually like the castle nut. Once you're threading anyway, might as well cut a little further for the nut, and it allows you to set your tube precisely against the buffer retaining pin every time.

Thats whats cool about others input, I kinda like the nut too. But a shoulder if ya spend the time to get everything right would be cool too.

I have seen parts claimed mill spec that have a thread started maybe at the outside of the spec, then maybe a nut at the inside of the spec. Things get a bit off or require more torque getting things to line up thats when the nut maybe helpfull...

So liitle time- so many options

[ar15barrels]

it allows you to set your tube precisely against the buffer retaining pin every time.

So does a fixed shouder when you cut it to the proper length for the receiver.
A2 buffer tubes do not seem to have any problem retaining the buffer detents except when receivers are out of spec.
Out of spec receivers seem to be the domain of the 80% lower crowd though.
When you are making the buffer tube yourself, it's easy to correct for even an out-of-spec receiver...

[jfifer]

So i can have a pistol length barrel with a stock in cali?

[ADAM]

So i can have a pistol length barrel with a stock in cali?

no stock pistol,add stock its sbr

[jh4db536]

At what point of machining or molding does a (modified) buffer tube become considered a carbine/rifle stock on an ar pistol? Similar to the question when a 80% lower becomes a firearm...

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[DENCO]

At what point of machining or molding does a (modified) buffer tube become considered a carbine/rifle stock on an ar pistol? Similar to the question when a 80% lower becomes a firearm...

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk 2

As far as I understand never, its only parts. The lower is the only part that dictates a rifle or pistol. Keep in mind this is Ca.

[DENCO]

Slapped some funk on it

Next step is a stone impregnated rubber buffing wheel then paint- and it's done.

[ar15barrels]

At what point of machining or molding does a (modified) buffer tube become considered a carbine/rifle stock on an ar pistol?

When you make it so you can place it against your shoulder to fire it.

[L4D]

When you make it so you can place it against your shoulder to fire it.

like increasing the length?