Help: Where does this spring go?

[coyn]

So, first off, I am just going to say that i'm a newb to the AR platform. Bought my first one a month ago, put new furniture on it and an XMR. With the nice weather we had this past weekend, I was finally able to shoot it. Took it home to start cleaning it and looked down at the FCG pocket and found this spring sitting loose and have no idea where it came from.

 

[42769vette]

Did one of your pivot pins come completely out during cleaning (or does it now)? Those pin's should not come out.

Under your pivot pin's there is a spring, and detent. That looks like the spring, and you mise well give up on finding the detent.

 

[M67]

Looks like a safety selector spring, but also looks a touch short

Buffer retainer spring?

 

[wsenefeld]

With as skinny as it is, my guess is the safety selector spring.

 

[coyn]

Hmm, I am not at home right now to check but I know the rear takedown pin will not come out. I will have to check the front pivot pin.

 

[coyn]

Now that i'm doing a little more research, I think it may be the buffer retainer spring.

 

[churchmouse]

I have lost 2 buffer spring assembly's as I am "Stoopid"
I know they want to be free and will escape. have gotten much better but I have 2 pin/spring kits for the AR's and 2 for the 1911's

 

[coyn]

I have lost 2 buffer spring assembly's as I am "Stoopid"
I know they want to be free and will escape. have gotten much better but I have 2 pin/spring kits for the AR's and 2 for the 1911's

Right there with you. I didn't mention, in the initial post, that the buffer retainer also came loose when shooting it. I didn't see it at first and didn't realize there was a spring under it when I put it back in. Just ordered 2 more sets. From what I've read, I may have messed up when I put the new end plate on by not screwing the stock in far enough and/or the castle nut isn't tight enough.

 

[churchmouse]

Right there with you. I didn't mention, in the initial post, that the buffer retainer also came loose when shooting it. I didn't see it at first and didn't realize there was a spring under it when I put it back in. Just ordered 2 more sets. From what I've read, I may have messed up when I put the new end plate on by not screwing the stock in far enough and/or the castle nut isn't tight enough.

My 1st AR build I did the same thing. I turn short on the buffer tube. Heard something rattling around in the gun......Spring loaded retainer pin.......I am "Stoopid"

 

[M67]

Buffer retainer spring?

Now that i'm doing a little more research, I think it may be the buffer retainer spring.

WooHoo!! Do I win a free gun?

 

[coyn]

WooHoo!! Do I win a free gun?

Haha, I'm not sure about the free gun but I did add some rep.

 

[Co Th G]

Right there with you. I didn't mention, in the initial post, that the buffer retainer also came loose when shooting it. I didn't see it at first and didn't realize there was a spring under it when I put it back in. Just ordered 2 more sets. From what I've read, I may have messed up when I put the new end plate on by not screwing the stock in far enough and/or the castle nut isn't tight enough.

That's why the castle nut is staked on a quality AR.

 

[M67]

That's why the castle nut is staked on a quality AR.

The castle nut on my POF wasn't staked.

It does have ears that support the extension by not being able to rotate around the buffer retainer, but the castle nut itself wasn't staked.