AR Buffer Tube question....
- Thread starter Skans
- Start date
AGENT TIKKI
New member
um.....when's the last time you saw aluminum rust? 
the difference is strength, 7071 is stranger than aluminum. I believe milspec tubes are 7071. Honestly for the recreational shooter, a 6061 tube is fine.
Just check out how many forearms are made in 6061.
the difference is strength, 7071 is stranger than aluminum. I believe milspec tubes are 7071. Honestly for the recreational shooter, a 6061 tube is fine.
Just check out how many forearms are made in 6061.
marine6680
New member
I think he meant the steel would rust.
But yeah, the 70 series is stronger than the 60... if all you plan on doing in plinking and range use, 60 is fine.
For serious use, the 70 is better, especially if you plan on doing lots of hard training with the rifle. When I was in the Marines, we used the rifle to two man lift a 3rd person over walls, plus melee training for close quarters and running out of ammo... I don't know about the carbines, but the A2 was a tough rifle... Most people will never even get anywhere near that level intensity of use with the rifle.
But yeah, the 70 series is stronger than the 60... if all you plan on doing in plinking and range use, 60 is fine.
For serious use, the 70 is better, especially if you plan on doing lots of hard training with the rifle. When I was in the Marines, we used the rifle to two man lift a 3rd person over walls, plus melee training for close quarters and running out of ammo... I don't know about the carbines, but the A2 was a tough rifle... Most people will never even get anywhere near that level intensity of use with the rifle.
AGENT TIKKI
New member
Maybe, but, you were asking the difference between 7071 and 6061 aluminum. Either way, if you do want the strongest, make sure you get the milspec type, not commercial tube. Milspec is smaller in diamter externally ergo its stronger.
chris in va
New member
Plenty of mountain bikes are made with 6 series aluminum. I'm sure it's fine for a flippin buffer tube.
madcratebuilder
New member
A true mil-spec RE is FORGED 7075.
Most 6061 RE's are extruded. You would have to work very hard to cause a 6061 RE to fail. The forged 7075 is a stronger part no doubt, but is it really needed? If price is near the same I would like the 7075 but I'm not going to pay a whole lot more for it.
Don't confuse RE's advertised as "mil-spec diameter" to be forged 7075, they are not.
Most 6061 RE's are extruded. You would have to work very hard to cause a 6061 RE to fail. The forged 7075 is a stronger part no doubt, but is it really needed? If price is near the same I would like the 7075 but I'm not going to pay a whole lot more for it.
Don't confuse RE's advertised as "mil-spec diameter" to be forged 7075, they are not.