I understand how it all works but in practical application how well does it work?

Alot of the jersey compliant models run that particular configuration. Ive shot a few and never had an issue.

I do not think one has anything to do with the other.

The buffet system is part and parcel of the gas system. That's why there are multiple weights of buffers for carbine gas systems, and lightened carriers and buffers so you can turn the gas down to an absolute minimum with an adjustable gas block.

 

Unless someone has built a barrel with a seriously undersized gas port, carbine gas plus rifle buffer works fine.

... carbine gas plus rifle buffer works fine.

 

As does a rifle gas system with a carbine buffer system.

Thanks Guys!

Not only does it work fine, it is actually softer feeling. I never understand why people in NJ build carbine type recoil systems given our stock laws. Unless you are 5ft tall or wear body armor a lot either a A1 or A2 stock would probably fit you better, feel softer, and make legal compliance a lot easier.

Allow me to be the dissenting voice. I have an RRA lower that had a rifle buffer & spring in it. I mated this to a POF upper with a 14.5" barrel (with pinned comp to get legal). I encountered short stroking. POF told me that their upper had been set-up to run with a carbine buffer & spring. Rather than start fooling around with buffer weights - which I assume would also have affected spring weight, POF offered to open up the gas port to work with the rifle buffer & spring. All is good now - but the rifle buffer & spring with the carbine gas system did cause the problem. Maybe apples and oranges since the POF is a piston gun. Just sayin'

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Regarding why go with a carbine recoil system over a A2 stock in NJ...

 

I prefer the cheek weld feeling of say.. a Magpul ACS over the standard A2 stock. I also prefer the "look" of the various carbine stock options over the OEM look. Yes, it may be vane, but aesthetics do also influence my choice of parts. Also, depending on the purpose for the AR that I'm building, I'll pin the stock anywhere from A2 standard length or shorter. One could also play with carbine buffer weights if he/she is having a problem or wants to make adjustments.

If you are going to use a piston upper then of course use whatever the manufacturer recommends, as far as I'm concerned that is no longer the same rifle. Looks I can't really argue with, to me ARs are ugly anyway, so I rather have the best bits that work, and in my opinion the rifle length tubes (and the many stocks that fit it, pick your cheek weld) are functionally better, not to mention stronger.

Allow me to be the dissenting voice. I have an RRA lower that had a rifle buffer & spring in it. I mated this to a POF upper with a 14.5" barrel (with pinned comp to get legal). I encountered short stroking. POF told me that their upper had been set-up to run with a carbine buffer & spring. Rather than start fooling around with buffer weights - which I assume would also have affected spring weight, POF offered to open up the gas port to work with the rifle buffer & spring. All is good now - but the rifle buffer & spring with the carbine gas system did cause the problem. Maybe apples and oranges since the POF is a piston gun. Just sayin'

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

That would be why I said "unless someone built a rifle with an undersized gas port". One of the limiting factors on barrel life is gas port erosion. SOmeplace that builds a nice integrated rifle like POS does/has in the past (hedging my statement because I know they changed ownership at one point), in order to a get a nice soft feeling rifle, they will only open up the gas port as much as is needed for their planned gas system. Also, POF rifles are piston guns, not direct impingement. You get all the quirks grafting on a piston system to a DI design gets you.

 

If that's the case, you can either drill the hole out, or install a delrin spacer in your buffer tube and run a carbine buffer system in a rifle length tube.