After 4 months with the Vltor A5, I have found that it just works – with everything. Every possible 5.56mm upper, and many other calibers, have been tested with the A5, and the results are always more than satisfactory. It builds on the reliability of the rifle buffer system while expanding the length of pull range of the traditional collapsible stock system. In addition, it offers increased durability when longer stocks such as the Vltor EMod or Magpul ACS are used.
I’m going to put together a rifle length with A2 stock, what is the best buffer to use with this setup?
Assuming that you’re in a ban state and can’t use the A5 for legal reasons, the standard rifle buffer would be the logical choice for a 20″ 5.56.
can this set up be used with any collapsible stock, i.e. a Magpul CTR, an IMod etc.. ?
If so does it take Milspec or commercial stocks?
It can be used with any mil-spec stock body.
Thanks for an interesting and informative review. Am I correct that the essential components are the A5 receiver extension, action spring and buffer?
Correct. Everything else can be sourced elsewhere – frankly, the action spring can be too (it’s a rifle spring), but I wouldn’t skimp on that if you do decide to purchase it elsewhere.
Would it be fair to say that at the seventh position and a stock shorter than an EMod (such as an IMod or CTR) the whole stock is in effect one position further out than it would be on a regular M4?
I’m thinking of setting up a midlength for my next “all purpose” rifle and the A5 system sounds like a good way to make an already very reliable system even more so but I don’t want the length of pull to get too long.
Yes, that would be accurate. I do not find it to be too long with one of the shorter stocks, or with the EMod collapsed all the way, even when wearing armor.
Don’t mean to pile on but since this is an extremely interesting development, more questions come to me as I think about it.
This one is about the different buffers.
Am I correct in understanding that the regular buffer is to enable the use of weaker ammo and/or an overgassed gun as well as regular ammo while the H3 buffer is better for a regular diet of 5,56 pressure ammo?
I’m not quite clear on what the H4 buffer is for; maybe suppressor use?
I believe that both the H3 and H4 were intended for overgassed carbines and/or piston ARs. The standard buffer should be sufficient for everything else, even a “normally gassed” suppressed AR.
I could be wrong.
I’ve used the H3 (6 oz) buffer in several 14.5″ and 16″ midlengths with no problems with the A5 system.
with sprinco green?
Do you know if the A5 system works with the Superior Shooting Systems flat buffer spring (which claims to fit both carbine and rifle length tubes)? If so, is there any advantage to using it over a standard rifle length spring with this setup?
I haven’t tried it with that spring. I do intend to test the rate of fire of a few other springs with the A5 kit.
Great analysis of a promising new product Andrew.
Do you have a general impression of the recoil using the lightest vs. the heaviest A5 buffers?
I plan to use the default A5 on the mid length system, perhaps the 6oz on the 2 carbine SBR’s (11.5 & 12.5in). I use slower training ammo on those (Asym Precision, PMC), and bolt lock back MAY be an issue on the middy running a heavy buffer.
I also bought a 7 ouncer for the full auto M4, which has an LWRC M6A2 14.5in upper as we speak. I only run Lake City M193 thru that and the cyclic rate is very high even with an H3 and Tubbs Flat Spring.
Keep up the great work specially the Slow Motion stuff; I too will be taking some vids with my Canon camcorder and the Time Stretch feature in Adobe Premiere.
Does this claim to work with the AR-10 platform? I would really love to get a collapsible stock without having to piece together parts from everywhere. When I say AR-10, I mean the Armalite A4 model in .308/7.62, not slang for copy-cats.
Finally got my first three A5 ‘s installed, easily done with the new Hammerhead Rifle Tool (specially good at overcoming staked castle nuts).
Fiocchi 223, Lake City XM193, Win q3131A1 (Korean mil) were used.
11.5in Noveske SS barreled carbine with KAC Triple Tap brake worked great with 6oz #3 buffer, shoots softer than with carbine setup.
12.5in Noveske SS barreled carbine with Brakeout adapter and 7oz #4 buffer was also smoother, bolt held back even with the Fiocchi 223.
14.5in Daniel Defense midlength upper with pinned Battle Comp was ultra smooth with regular A5, sinfully so! Installing the #4 buffer made little difference, and out of four attempts there was one failure to hold the bolt back.
Next weekend I will install the A5 on the M16 with an LWRC 14.5 upper. THAT setup cries out for a 7oz buffer!!
Thanks for the inspiration Andrew!!!
While waiting for Vltor to release their “middy” buffer I rolled my own, actually two. As you know the regular A5 (H2) buffer has two tungsten heavy weights, two stainless. Following suggestions made by other posters, I made an H1 (one tungsten), and an H0 (no tungsten, four stainless), 4.5 & 3.6 oz respectively.
Using a Daniel Defense 14.5in middy with a Battlecomp and the regular A5 H2 buffer, I was having very infrequent failures to hold the bolt back with PMC ammo, no problems with Fiocchi . However with ASYM training ammo, the rifle would not cycle at all, I guess because this ammo is loaded weak on purpose (while being the most accurate and softest shooting of the bunch!).
With the H1 4.5oz buffer, the carbine cycled well with the ASYM ammo, but there was one failure to lock the bolt back in ten full magazines. Going to the H0 3.6oz buffer proved 100% reliable.
Function with the Fiocchi ammo, the hottest tested, was perfect, with no failures to feed or bolt over base failures.
The middy was easier to control with these light buffers than with the slightly heavier A5 H2. The combo of the ASYM ammo and the light H0 buffer was incredibly easy to control! That will be my choice with this ammo. For PMC and Fiocchi I will stay with the H1, but for XM193 the regular H2 would be a better choice.
Have any of you tried similar combinations allready?
Thank you for all the great information. I am interested in your experience with the tubb flat wire spring. It would be great if you did a full review of it. Have you considered blogging about, or testing ar15, m16 and reduced mass bolt carriers?
Hello I wanted to know if you think the Vltor A5 system is worth the extra money. It would cost me around $170.00 by time I buy the tube, spring, buffer, and a tool to take off my milspec tube. I am not having any problems with my rifle but want to try and make it better as far as keeping the muzzle down and felt recoil. Thank you
I have a Noveske 16″ mid length barrel. would a sprinco green and A5H3 be the optimal choice?
hmm, I might go with the H2 first, but the H3 should work as well.
I just ordered the A5 kit with the 3.8oz buffer and tube. I am running an 18in MK12 profile barrel with rifle gas. I was running an ST-T2 and H1 carbine buffer on this set up but was getting occasional FTE’s with a 7.62 suppressor. Unsuppressed the carbine set up ran fine. Did you test a set up like this with the A5? Do you think the A5 will help solve my issue? Thanks for your time Andrew, I love the blog.