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Polymer Port buffer (shell deflector)

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8.3K views 23 replies 10 participants last post by  Shattered Mind  
#1 ·
Well I recently purchased the Polymer port buffer that HKParts sells. I was hoping that it would save my brass so I could start reloading.
But after using it at the range they don't offer any protection for the casing. (Which really Sucks!)
I Emailed Adam and was told that their buffer was only to keep the shells from being thrown to the next county.

I can't believe I paid $29 for a useless piece of plastic! Live and learn!

Hopefully you guys won't make the same mistake as I did.

Now I need to order the real port buffer from robertrtg.com

If anyone want a useless Polymer buffer PM me and make me an offer. LOL!!
 
#3 ·
No I didn't keep any of the brass from the range. (Too dented) it was exactly the same as if I didn't have any buffer. It just didn't go flying across the next guys table.

Adam Webber (HKParts.net) stated to me that, "that's all it suppose to do. NOT Protect the brass".
 
#4 ·
Toku, I've thought about modifying one of these polymer buffers by adding a rubber 'face' to cushion the impact of the brass. There are multiple ways to attach the rubber bumper... dovetailing the polymer and casting the rubber into it, bonding the rubber with an appropriate adhesive, etc. Give it a shot... or send me the buffer and I'll give it a go.
 
#6 ·
NONE of the buffers will save the brass. The plastic ones or the metal ones with the rubber. Like Adam said, they are not made to save the brass.
Face it folks. These guns are military designs made with that end user in mind. The most important thing is getting the empty out as fast and as reliably as possible so there is room for the next live round to do it's thing. After a round is fired the only thing the designers want it to do is LEAVE. Beyond that it doesn't matter.
BTW, as a warning to new HK shooters, don't get the fingers of your off hand to close to the ejection port. I tend to grip around the front of the receiver's mag well and sometimes my ring and pinky fingers will wind up nearly under the port. You cannot imagine the force those empties come out with until one of them careens off of the tip of a finger. Damn thing was numb for minutes! And I've done it more than once, I'm ashamed to admit.
 
#7 ·
NONE of the buffers will save the brass. The plastic ones or the metal ones with the rubber. Like Adam said, they are not made to save the brass.
Face it folks.
Well actually my buddy has the metal buffer on his SR9 and his brass is good to go! (Very minimal abrasion marks on the shell) He reloads his brass. I've seen his brass first hand and compared it to mine. (with the Polymer buffer) mine still looks like I don't even have a buffer.
A few of his shells showed very slight denting. But for the most part his Metal buffer did what it should.

I don't really care about the shells being thrown 30' away. A $9 shell catcher can take care of that!
 
#9 ·
What's interesting is, my HK91 doesn't dent the brass... launches it a quarter mile but doesn't dent it. I have only fired NATO surplus which is made with thicker walls though. My 93 would nearly fold brass in half. Now that it has a metal/rubber buffer it leaves no mark.
I'm wondering if this is relative to ejection 'energy' and how it is related to bolt gap.
 
#23 ·
FWIW to anyone, a year ago I purchased the polymer port buffer/shell deflector as well. . . had to cut it a bit to appropriately fit around the welded-on picatinny rail that came with my PTR-32 rifle, but the end result was a perfectly tight, snap-on fit.

Alas, I had a bad experience taking my rifle out to the range and shooting it with the polymer shell deflector installed. The rifle experienced FTE's 50% of the time, due to the spent casings getting hung-up on the shell deflector.

For the PTR-32, I absolutely would not waste your time (or money) on this product. Such is my recommendation based on personal experience.