Flatwire Chrome Silicon Buffer Spring
This isn’t your standard milspec buffer spring. I know what you’re thinking: “It’s a stupid spring…..who cares?”. If you are of this train of thought, then you are in good company….or rather, you were in good company. After receiving and using the David Tubb Flatwire Chrome Silicon buffer spring, I can 100% say that yes, it does make a difference.
Standard AR-15 buffer springs use music wire, which in as little as 500 compression cycles, begins to lose the ability to compress and rebound with the same force as when new. The more you fire, the weaker the spring gets. Guys will then resort to getting the extra power springs, which can become problematic for those who shoot weaker ammo. In order for that ammo to work, the have to do one of the following: Decrease cycle weight (lighter carrier or buffer) or increase barrel gas port hole size. Typically the former approach is taken as most guys don’t want to mess with their barrel, nor have the means to. The problem with this is that 1) The new spring is of the same type of material as the original (music wire), and 2) They’re trying to fix a symptom and not getting to the root of the problem.
End of Flatwire
In comes the Chrome Silicon Flatwire spring. Like the name implies, it’s made of chrome-silicon, and it is made using flatwire. Literally, the coils are flat…..think of it like a slinky. Anyway, the claims on this spring (and others like it) are as follows:
1) Consistent spring weight throughout its compression length
2) Stiffer initial compression weight, lending to longer bolt lock, leading to higher velocity
3) Compression cycles of 1,000,000 times without progressively losing power
4) Same power as extra power springs, with a lighter spring weight
I might have missed a couple points in there, and it appears that something has changed since I bought mine a year and a half ago. However, the same main selling points remain. And in that 1.5 years of usage, I have become a believer. Immediately upon putting it in my rifle, I noticed that there is ZERO bolt bounce. You can feel the extra power in racking it back, and when you sent it home, it goes home with authority and STAYS home. It’s one quick thud and done. I believe this to be because of the stiffer initial compression versus the standard spring’s progressive compression rate. Not 100% on that, but that’s what my gut is telling me. Another thing I noticed is that it feels a little bit smoother. That classic “sproing” noise is still there, but it did smooth out the feel a bit. And lastly, over the 1.5 years, it has not eased up over time, gotten lighter or weaker at all.
Flat Coils
Now, the weird thing that surprised me about this is that it feels stiffer and stronger, but I didn’t change anything about my system to account for the “typically”required increased pressure to cycle the system. I can still fire weak rounds and heavy round alike and they both function perfectly. My rifle wasn’t overgassed prior to this upgrade. I was expecting to have to change my Spikes ST-T2 Tungsten buffer, but that wasn’t the case, and I was really happy about that. The bolt locks back every time, every case is ejected and every new round is fed properly. Could it be true that this “extra power” spring really does have a lighter spring weight? Seems to be true for me. A few people online had other things to say about this issue, but I didn’t have their problems whatsoever.
It is my honest to God belief that these springs do enhance the reliability of your AR-15. They last longer, they act more appropriately for firearm use via consistent pressure weight, and they help to slow down the timing to get that pressure built up to push out the bullets a little bit faster. Now, I need to note here that I have not experimented with this product in any other platform other than my 14.5″ midlength barrel with a full auto carrier and a Spikes ST-T2 buffer. Maybe my setup just happened to have the perfect combination of specs (weight, gas port size, gas length, etc), but I cannot say with 100% surety that you will have the same result. I am confident you can get it that way with some tweaking, but again, I cannot guarantee it. For $20-$25, I don’t really think you can go wrong. Try it. If it doesn’t work for you, someone else will be more than happy to pick take it off your hands for nearly what you paid for it. I am very happy I bought it and it will certainly stay in my rifle, and should it fail, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one.
I recommend this product to anyone with an AR-15 looking to enhance performance and reliability. It's been a great upgrade for me and it's very cheap. I can understand the skepticism at it's seemingly "gimmicky-ness", but I can seriously feel a difference. I don't think you can go wrong with this one!
I use a Strike Industries Flatwire Buffer Spring. I can definitely feel more force on the bolt lock and no bolt bounce. Also better feeding from magazines. Great $20 upgrade
Hi Steve! Thanks for your comment.
Funny enough, I just recently purchased this exact spring for a rifle length buffer tube’d AR-15 and it has definitely met my expectations. Another worthy upgrade right along side of the David Tubb spring!
I built 2 AR-15 rifles over the past couple years. The first was a 16 inch mid-length. It short stroked, ejecting the spent round but didn’t pick up the next round. After doing some research I discovered the chrome silicon buffer springs, without modifying or changing anything else on the rifle, could correct short strokes. I figured it was worth a try and the rifle functioned 100% after the spring was installed, and making no other changes.
My 2nd rifle was an 18 inch, also mid-length, and it also short stroked. Again, purchased a chrome silicon spring and it also corrected the issue.
I’ll spend a few dollars extra on every build I do from this point and include a chrome silicon buffer upgrade. I’m sold on them.
Thanks for your comment, Daniel. I 100% agree! I’ll never put music wire springs in my AR’s again….
Short stroking seems like a gas problem. I’d check to be sure your gas block is properly timed I’ve never seen an AR short stroke. The spring didn’t fix the problem.
Tom, you’re absolutely correct jn saying short striking isn’t the problem. Undergassing is the problem. Short strong is a symptom of it. So, you’re right!” You’re also wrong as well. Short stroking is the manifestation of under par reliability which ultimately is the buzzkill and potential life threatening result should the rifle ever need to be used in a self or home defense situation. Now, there’s ALWAYS more than 1 way to skin a cat. Ironically, you’re wrong in your prognosis by saying it’s a timing issue with his has block. The issue is actually in the diameter of the gas port on his barrel. You see, setting the timing, we all know you really meant tuning, of his gas block is really no different of a solution than the flatware buffer spring is. He actually needs to scrap the barrel and buy a new one to fix the problem properly. That’s ridiculous tho and we all know It. Hence the reason we have multiple different buffer weights. In fact, I’ll bet your budget isn’t standard weight. Probably a H or heavy just like most of us use in our guns. So, if you’re not going to tell the man what the REAL and PROPER solution is when you critique him then it’s best not to say anything at all. Its best to remain silent and let ppl think you’re stupid than to open your mouth and remove all dlubt about your stupidity. Author unknown to me. Lol.
I apologize for all the wrong and misspelled words in my reply. It would seem my phone says whatever it wants too!! Smile, laugh and plz, by all means, critique my response!!!
I never had a problem with short stoking but my ar had a really bad spring twang that was driving me crazy it. Putting a flat wire spring almost completely got Rid of it and in my opinion that makes it Worth $20
Std spring reverb does not mean the BCG is locking in & out. The bolt will lock and stay there while the spring does its thing.
Flat wire springs are like everything else on the AR15, one change here or there can affect the way it runs, and affect the characteristics. Longevity of the spring has to do with the wire used and post treatment(s). A spring that fully binds still works, but you’ll be getting that last bit of energy as a kick in your shoulder.
no, in this case longevity is due to the flat wire spring not stacking and almost fully compressed like the round wire spring does. it still has room to go, therefore isn’t fully compressed, therefore lasts much much longer. to check this, pull the bolt back with the T-handle all the way and verify that it goes back further than the round wire spring can. also see the David Tubb video where he has a cutout (see-thru) buffer tube.
I never had a problem with twang. heard others that do. so this spring isn’t fixing that problem for me. but what it does do, is make some godawful scraping noise like opening a rusty screen door and it’s LOUD. came here to see if others are experiencing it and what do they think about it.