Bolt buffers

[Fla Trooper 265]

Are bolt buffers really needed in a 10-22 are they just a fad.

 

[AJGUNNER]

For under 5 bucks they do serve a need. If you don't shoot your 10-22 alot, you will never know the difference. I have one that has seen 20,000+ rounds and the hole the bolt stop pin sits in, is actually egg shaped. If you think about it for a minute---steel bolt beating against a steel pin, that is through a hole in aluminum---yes it will eventually do some damage.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

AJ, when you pull the receiver from the stock and turn it sideways do the pins fall out? :wink:

Is a buffer necessary? Of course not, but it sure can't hurt so why not? Shoot a 10/22 with and without one then decide.

 

[Mobuck]

I put buffers in ALL my 10-22 rifles. It doesn't cost much and is good insurance against receiver damage so why not use them?

 

[AJGUNNER]

AJ, when you pull the receiver from the stock and turn it sideways do the pins fall out? :wink:

On this particcular one, yes it does fall out. I have about 10 that get used pretty regularly. When removing them from the stocks, some will fall out, some can be pushed out real easy, and others still need the help of a punch to get them out.

 

[Kevin]

I haven't used any, but then I don't shoot my 10/22 too much. I haven't heard the receiver damage issue before. But it does make sense. I do hear that the clack of shooting will be much quieter.

 

[BayouBob]

Bolt buffers help if you want to use a Leupold scope. The impact of the bolt hitting the steel pin will break the crosshairs on a Leupold.

 

[Jim Puke]

Bolt buffers help if you want to use a Leupold scope. The impact of the bolt hitting the steel pin will break the crosshairs on a Leupold.

Not hardly.

I own and have seen more than a few with Leupolds on them, with no ill effect.

 

[Precision32]

I run Leupold and Nikon with th OEM stop pin and have never heard of either brand being damaged by the bolt hitting the bolt stop. Where did you find this little tidbit?

The OEM bolt stop deflects the bolt downward when the bolt hits it and forces the bolt to bump the small ramp on the top of the trigger group before it starts the return trip to battery. This is intended to slow the return speed of the bolt. There is not a thing wrong with the OEM stop pin.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

There is not a thing wrong with the OEM stop pin.

Gotta disagree. The 10/22 I bought my son has many 1000s of rounds through it. The trigger group pins and OEM stop pin fall out when you turn the receiver sideways. The stop pin holes are visibly oblong. This could not happen with a polymer buffer.

 

[rugerguy]

see lots of guys around here use either a plastic(rubber) sleeve over the metal pin or swap it out for a nylon ( delrin) or some such replacement pin.............easy enough to make one.
Especially for those folks that like to use "hot" hyper velocity types of .22 rimfire....... :roll:

 

[AJGUNNER]

Bolt buffers help if you want to use a Leupold scope. The impact of the bolt hitting the steel pin will break the crosshairs on a Leupold.

When I read this my light bulb lit up :idea: ---I run $75 Tasco 2.5 x 10 scopes on several of my 10-22's. I have actually had 2 of them break cross hair wires while I was firing---watched them break then slowly fall/work there way to the bottom. I just figured I got what I paid for with a budget scope---never even thought of the bolt buffer making a difference. By the way---Cabelas has no problem exchanging these. All my 10-22's that get used, have had buffers in them since the idea came around (5-6 years back), and now that I think about it I have not broken a cross hair since.

For the nay sayers---think what you want to, but egg shaped holes don't lie. I am convinced they do make a difference, and for the price how could you go wrong.

 

[9x19]

They didn't exist until about 15 years ago, so...

They were dreamed up by a guy at RFC who was looking for a way to make money while laid up and unable to work. (Yes, I was there... bought some of the first ones he "made" for $1 each). The first were simply cut from orange 1/4" industrial round belting.... the kind that comes on a huge spool and is cut then melted together to make belts for automated equipment.

Folks got along fine without them for quite a few years and I don't remember seeing a huge pile of worn out 10/22s before they came along.

That said, for me, the best thing they do is quiet the action a bit... sorta takes the clack out of the click-clack.

 

[ArmedinAZ]

They didn't exist until about 15 years ago, so...

They were dreamed up by a guy at RFC who was looking for a way to make money while laid up and unable to work. (Yes, I was there... bought some of the first ones he "made" for $1 each). The first were simply cut from orange 1/4" industrial round belting.... the kind that comes on a huge spool and is cut then melted together to make belts for automated equipment.

Folks got along fine without them for quite a few years and I don't remember seeing a huge pile of worn out 10/22s before they came along.

That said, for me, the best thing they do is quiet the action a bit... sorta takes the clack out of the click-clack.

Hope the guy's a millionaire!

Wouldn't it be taking the click out? The clack is the bolt hitting the barrel! click-clack

 

[BayouBob]

I watched the crosshair on a Leupold Vari-X II break right at the junction of the crosshairs while I was shooting the 10/22. Leupold fixed it but didn't seem surprised when I told them what rifle the scope was on. I was picking on Leupold but the rifle did the same thing to a Bushnell scope too. Once I put the plastic buffer pin in it I never had a problem again. And it was a little over 15 years ago. The old Weatherby Mk II semi-auto's would do the same thing. The stop pin on them would eventually bow from the bolt hitting it.

 

[9x19]

They didn't exist until about 15 years ago, so...

They were dreamed up by a guy at RFC who was looking for a way to make money while laid up and unable to work. (Yes, I was there... bought some of the first ones he "made" for $1 each). The first were simply cut from orange 1/4" industrial round belting.... the kind that comes on a huge spool and is cut then melted together to make belts for automated equipment.

Folks got along fine without them for quite a few years and I don't remember seeing a huge pile of worn out 10/22s before they came along.

That said, for me, the best thing they do is quiet the action a bit... sorta takes the clack out of the click-clack.

Hope the guy's a millionaire!

Wouldn't it be taking the click out? The clack is the bolt hitting the barrel! click-clack

Nope... no patent, didn't take long for lots of other versions to show up.

I could get the same belting at work, so I made my own after those first few.

For my magnums, I used a piece of 1/4" OD vinyl air tubing with a core made from drill rod. Quieted the action, and held up better to the heavier bolt than the plain buffers did.

 

[Precision32]

Now I have to wonder how my Leupold scope holds together on my 30-06 M1.

Of my 7 10-22s the best shooter I have has every pin fall out of it when turned side ways.

 

[VA Shooter]

do the bolt buffers come stock from Ruger or do you need to upgrade

 

[9x19]

do the bolt buffers come stock from Ruger or do you need to upgrade

The buffer replaces the bolt stop, which is a 1/4" steel pin as it comes from the factory.

 

[ranger1]

do the bolt buffers come stock from Ruger or do you need to upgrade

They are an aftermarket part. I installed Tuffer Buffers on my 10/22s and have been very satisfied. They are priced right too.........3 of them for $12.00 shipped.
http://www.tufferbuffer.com/
http://michigancenteroutdoors.com/tuffer_buffer.html