Images: https://www.frytech.biz/
As AR-10 shooters know, most of those rifles will deliver some fairly stiff recoil, depending on caliber. AR-10s, as we all know, can come in various calibers, including the .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, .243 Win, .260 Rem, .300 Win Mag, and Sig’s new .277 Fury, among others.
None of these calibers is chintzy with recoil. Granted, the push-back gained from these may not be a whole lot (depending on caliber, of course), but any reduction in recoil is welcome. Even the less-powerful AR-15-class of cartridges can generate recoil that bothers some sensitive people
For years, recoil has been handled in either an AR-15 or an AR-10 with a coiled steel spring located in the buffer tube, attached to the buttstock. This works, but I ran across something that looks even more promising… magnetically-dampened recoil. This is the magnetic buffer system (MBS).
Enter Frytech Technology
Frytech Technology came up with a better idea. They put 8 repelling neodymium magnets inside a sealed buffer tube. The advantages of using rare-earth magnets in place of the coil steel spring are smoother recoil absorption, consistent cycling, faster target re-acquisition time, and reduced maintenance.
Another plus is that the magnetic buffer absorbs and distributes recoil energy more smoothly than spring-based buffers. It’s ideal for high-power cartridges used in AR10 / DPMS Platforms. Also, know that the Frytech magnetic buffer system has been patented. That says something.
With this magnetic buffer, something else is missing… that “Sproinnnggg” (for lack of a better description) sound of the coil spring bouncing around in the buffer tube every time you shoot. That’s not exactly terrible, but it can be distracting. I remember way back, the first few times I shot an AR, I thought something broke. Later, I learned it was supposed to be that way. Not so with this system!
The magnetic buffer is engineered for both rifle (MBS-R10) and carbine-length (MBS-C) systems. This allows the proper number of magnets to be placed in the tube for maximum recoil reduction. In an AR-10, the rifle length provides consistent recoil impulse, improved cycling, and optimized bolt travel. Rifle tubes provide the space to use more magnets that are specifically tuned to handle the heavier weight of the AR10 / DPMS Bolt Carrier Group in order to tune one of the most comfortable recoil control options on the market.
By staging magnetic resistance, the MBS absorbs bolt carrier inertia in multiple phases—each calibrated for the mass and velocity of your specific caliber. This progressive damping delivers faster follow-up shots, better control, and less shooter fatigue.
MBS-R10 Ideal Use
- Long-range shooters needing fast second-shot control.
- DMR and precision gas rifle setups.
- Suppressed rifle users.
- Battle Rifle large caliber builds.
MBS-R10 Compatibility
- Fits all mil-spec AR10 & DPMS lowers
- Tuned for .308/ 7.62×51 & 6.5 Creedmore
- Compatible with FRT Triggers
- Compatible with Super Safety (may require modification to detent spring.)
- Works with all Rifle A2 mil-spec stock systems
- Compatible with buffer retainers
- Replaces buffer tube, buffer, and spring
- This is an A2 Rifle Tube and does not require a castle nut or endplate.
- Maintains normal AR10 receiver takedown.
Installation
The MBS is a true drop-in replacement. Install it like any other A2 mil-spec tube, then pull the release tab to activate the system.
Torque spec: A2 Buffer Tube — 35 ft-lbs
Important: The MBS is not designed for disassembly. High-power magnets inside can cause injury if mishandled. Tampering voids the warranty. Use caution during installation or removal (vice and included tools required for install). See videos for more resources.
Is There A Carbine-Length Tube?
Is there a tube that can be used with AR-15-class cartridges like the 5.56mm? Sure. The MBS-C is tuned for both .223 and 9mm. This one is carbine-length. The tube itself is a 6-position 7075-T6 aluminum CNC-milled buffer tube, so it should last.
And, more from the Pamax Tactical website… they say it better than I could…
MBS Compatibility:
- Fits all mil-spec AR15 & AR-9 lowers
- Tuned for 5.56/.223 & 9mm Calibers
- Tuned for Pistol/Carbine/Mid-Length Gas Systems (Rifle Length Systems MAY require adjustment)
- Compatible with FRT Triggers
- Compatible with Super Safety (may require modification to detent spring.)
- Works with all mil-spec stock systems
- Compatible with buffer retainers
- Replaces buffer tube, buffer, and spring
- Uses standard or included castle nut & end plate
- Maintains normal AR15 receiver takedown
Installation
The MBS is a true drop-in replacement. Install it like any other mil-spec tube, then pull the release tab to activate the system.
Torque spec: Castle nut — 25 ft-lbs
Important: The MBS is not designed for disassembly. High-power magnets inside can cause injury if mishandled. Tampering voids the warranty. Use caution during installation or removal (vice and included tools required for install).
So, there you have it. If you want to reduce recoil with your AR-15 or -10, you might want to give this buffer a try. I know I’d like to try it on my suppressed HM Defense Stealth 5.56… the tube seems made for suppressed ARs, since those sometimes can really work a recoil spring.
If you are interested in more information about the magnetic buffer, please contact Pamax Tactical. They have the buffers on their site, and also many other AR-related parts. Also, information is available on the Frytech site linked above.
Precision Built in the USA
- Rifle Length 7075-T6 Aluminum CNC-Milled Buffer Tube — Stronger than standard mil-spec tubes
- Integrated Frytech Magnetic Technology — Built into the tube for seamless operation
- Caliber-Specific Tuning — The MBS-R10 is tuned for larger calibers including .308/7.62×51, 6.5 Creedmore , .300 Win Mag & More.
Compatibility
- Fits all mil-spec AR10 & DPMS lowers
- Tuned for .308/ 7.62×51 & 6.5 Creedmore
- Compatible with FRT Triggers
- Compatible with Super Safety (may require modification to detent spring.)
- Works with all Rifle A2 mil-spec stock systems
- Compatible with buffer retainers
- Replaces buffer tube, buffer, and spring
- This is an A2 Rifle Tube and does not require a castle nut or endplate.
- Maintains normal AR10 receiver takedown.
Installation
The MBS is a true drop-in replacement. Install it like any other A2 mil-spec tube, then pull the release tab to activate the system.
Torque spec: A2 Buffer Tube — 35 ft-lbs
Important: The MBS is not designed for disassembly. High-power magnets inside can cause injury if mishandled. Tampering voids the warranty. Use caution during installation or removal (vice and included tools required for install). See videos for more resources.
Here’s something that might help you as you work on your AR… a Wheeler Ultimate Armorer’s Kit. This $442 collection of tools includes just about anything you need to tune, modify, assemble, etc. your AR. Wheeler has a great reputation for engineering tools for gunsmiths… This kit can be found in many gunsmith shops. You can own it yourself…. just follow the link.
To sum up, there is more than one way to reduce recoil with an AR-pattern rifle, some more effective than others. But one sure way that works well is to provide more spring resistance in the buffer. Frytech has gone that route, while eliminating the coil spring. The rare-earth magnets truly cut recoil down… they just work. This system will allow shooters who may have had a shoulder injury, or who are sensitive for other reasons, to recoil. to enjoy shooting again.
That’s a win, in my book.
AR recoil?!? What recoil?
I’ve used 1″diameter x 1/8′ thick and 3/8″ thick magnets for many years at work. Those ones are extremely brittle, so even in a sealed tube, Im leery of them. Plus, I don’t want anything magnetic around my firearms where it can attract any unwanted ferris materials. I won’t even use magnets to have a gun handy in a car or behind a nightstand.
My personal experience is these types of magnets have a very strong repulsive forced and it’s an interesting idea. Still, I’ll stick with a hydraulic buffer and a precision ground JMI buffer spring tjbhanfjr recoil and the “sproing”.
Ferrous…my bad.
Let’s fix real problems, inventor guys…might sell something. There are ten kinds of buffers out there already, mostly they work as well as the factory. If the sound of spring movement in the stock bothers you, you have first world problems.
Did an accelerometer study in 2017 on buffers, all of them at the time. The slowest cycling buffer was the Enidine shock absorber, which reduced full auto cycle rate. Magnets also lose power when bashed around…dropped rare earth accelerometer magnets that would previously give you a blood blister just slide off.
Of course, it’s not about need…it’s about want. And instead of solving imaginary ones, we want you to work on real problems. It’s almost better when dopes are arguing which is best, eleven and a half or twelve and a quarter inch barrels…
AR’s have recoil? Who knew?
What an excellent idea.
RE: “MBS-R10 Compatibility…
“Replaces buffer tube, buffer, and spring.”
Appears to not specify whether or not the rifle length magnet tube utilizes the A2 stock spacer, mine have A1 length stocks. Tube sounds like a great idea for a new build if it works well without assistance from their brake, not changing my go-to .308 length hiders. And with no buffer length adjustment causes some concern for setting the space between a fully compressed bcg and bolt catch. Certain buffer decimal lengths, certain tungsten weights with certain springs, etc, etc. all help the end product perform. I use the lifter refacing stone on a Sioux valve grinding machine to surface the polymer ends a bit.
If the magnet tube offers presto reduced recoil and everything still works that’s fabulous however AR .308s are finicky enough to say if it is not broke don’t fix it. Besides I have 3 and what one gets they all get…explaining the cost of 3 after boasting around here how well mine run would not go well.
A great idea, but…
MBS-C Magnetic Buffer System is sealed(?), but how about it’s magnetic attraction outside the system?
I can see potential problems with shooting steel case ammo.
Not an altogether terrible idea, but a little half baked at this stage of development, IMO. The biggest red flag is the “one size fits all” marketing and lack of third party testing.
ARs come in way too many shapes, sizes, barrel and gas system length, gas port sizes, etc. for the same spring system to be optimized across all the variations. And that’s just talking about 223/556. The marketing claims that the same magnets also work for 9mm blowback ARs, which are notoriously finicky and require a lot of buffer mass to stop from beating themselves to death.
At the very least start off by giving us specs of reciprocating mass, uncompressed force and compressed force.
Did I miss how much they weigh in comparison to a “normal” buffer and spring? Considering its rifle, H4 up would be comparable.