Ask Ian: Why Does the AR15 Have a Buffer Thingie

Cool Forgotten Weapons merch From Arvid on Utreon: Why does an AR15 need a buffer thingy Why can t it just have a spring like every other normal gun The Ar15 really doesn t need the buffer and tube, but it is a holdover from the origins of the system: the AR10. The intent of the AR10 was to create a 7. 62x51mm battle rifle that was very lightweight (under 7 pounds, originally) but still softshooting and controllable. In order to do that, Eugene Stoner. has to pull out all sorts of tricks. As it applied to our question today, this included a straightline design with a buffer on the end of the bolt carrier to absorb any residual impact of the bolt carrier on the end of the receiver tube. At this time, there was no apparent need to allow for a folding stock, so the bolt was allowed to run th