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The industry today is flooded with suppressors, and it’s becoming increasingly rare to see an unsuppressed AR out on the range.
There are, however, those of us who choose to remain unsuppressed; whether it’s the NFA red tape, the cost of a can, or simply the fact that a suppressed AR-15 still isn’t hearing safe. You’re still going to reach for your ear pro regardless, so why bother?
I currently own a rimfire suppressor and one for my 9mm PCC, but I’ve decided not to suppress my AR-15s at this time. My primary reason is exactly what I mentioned above: it still isn’t hearing-safe, so I’m still wearing ear protection every time I shoot.
Beyond that, I’d rather put that money toward a training course or more ammo. A suppressor on an AR is largely about flash suppression at that point, and that’s not something I’m particularly concerned with. For those of you in the same boat, this one’s for you.
The Short-Barrel Problem
Anytime you go shorter than the standard 16″ barrel, you start dealing with over-gassing, a sharper recoil impulse, and the potential for malfunctions that follow.
The gas port on a 10.5″ barrel is sized to cycle the action with a relatively short dwell time, which means the bolt carrier group is seeing higher-than-ideal gas pressure when the bolt unlocks. Left unmanaged, that translates into a violent, snappy recoil impulse and accelerated wear on your components.
10.5″ AR pistols are more common than ever these days, and a fair number of them are running unsuppressed. So what’s the ideal buffer setup for a build like this?
The Sweet Spot: H2 Buffer + Sprinco Blue Spring
After running my 10.5″ AR extensively, I’ve found that the H2 buffer combined with the Sprinco Blue buffer spring is the sweet spot for unsuppressed shooting. It delivers a smoother, more controlled recoil impulse, consistent cycling, and a clean 3 o’clock ejection pattern. As a bonus, this setup functions just fine if you decide to throw a can on it down the road.
The H2 buffer comes in at approximately 4.6–4.7 oz, heavier than the standard carbine buffer but not so heavy as to cause cycling issues in a short-barreled, unsuppressed configuration. Paired with the Sprinco Blue spring (which provides slightly more tension than a standard carbine spring), it gives the bolt carrier group enough resistance to slow things down without causing failures to feed or eject.
I’ve run an H3 buffer in the past and ran into periodic malfunctions. While the H3 will likely run suppressed and unsuppressed, it’s slightly on the heavy side for an unsuppressed 10.5″. If you’re experiencing failure to lock back on an empty magazine, especially in cold weather, stepping down from an H3 to an H2 is the first thing to try.
Recommended Setup Options
Optimal (Unsuppressed): H2 Buffer + Sprinco Blue Spring — the starting point for most unsuppressed 10.5″ builds running standard pressure 5.56.
Alternative (Under-gassed / Failure to Cycle): H1 Buffer + Carbine Spring — if your rifle isn’t cycling reliably, drop down to an H1 and see if that resolves it before looking elsewhere.
Alternative (Smoother Recoil / Slightly Over-gassed): H3 Buffer + Standard Spring or Sprinco Blue — worth trying if you’re running hotter ammunition and finding the recoil impulse too sharp even with an H2.
Premium Option: JP Silent Captured Spring — a self-contained buffer and spring assembly that eliminates spring noise and offers a highly tunable, consistent feel. Expensive, but excellent if you want a refined, plug-and-play solution.
Key Considerations
Watch Your Ejection Pattern. This is the easiest diagnostic tool you have. Aim for a 3 to 4 o’clock ejection pattern. If your brass is landing at 1–2 o’clock, the rifle is over-gassed — increase your buffer weight. If it’s landing at 4–5 o’clock or you’re getting short-strokes, you’re under-gassed — decrease buffer weight or check for other issues.
Gas Port Size Matters. A 10.5″ barrel typically has a relatively large gas port to ensure reliable cycling across a range of conditions. That’s precisely why an H2 or H3 buffer is necessary — running a standard carbine buffer in this configuration accelerates wear on your bolt carrier group and results in a punishing recoil impulse.
Test with Your Ammo. Buffer tuning is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. What works perfectly with 55-grain XM193 may not behave the same with 62-grain M855. Run a few boxes of your preferred ammo through the gun before calling your setup done.
Bottom Line
For a 10.5″ unsuppressed 5.56 AR-15, start with an H2 buffer and a Sprinco Blue spring.
It’s the most reliable starting point for managing the high gas pressure of a short-barreled carbine, and it leaves the door open for future suppressor use without requiring a buffer swap.
Dial in your setup using your ejection pattern as a guide, test with your ammo, and you’ll have an AR pistol that runs the way it should.
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