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Hard Cast Buffer Weights
With the recent increase in the cost of tungsten, heavy-weight buffers have become unaffordable for many shooters.
Hard cast lead alloy (90/6/4) is 50% heavier than steel, but less than a 10th of the cost of tungsten.
Variety of Size/Weight
We cast buffer weights in 4 sizes; 1x (which is the same size as a typical steel weight), 1.5x, 2x and 3x lengths. A rubber buffer spacer "steals" about a half of a 10th of an ounce of weight, or so, and we have yet to see any data indicating 3 identical sliding weights offers any advantage over larger buffer weights, so when maximum available mass is desired, spacer pads may be eliminated.
A carbine buffer stack of three steel buffer weights, shown on the far right. Mix and match with steel and tungsten.
Symmetry vs Asymmetry
While we haven't seen data that indicates any advantage of 3 separate sliding weights vs a single 3x length buffer weight, or any combination thereof, regarding "dead blow effect", there has been some discussion as to whether differing sized objects of similar density and/or similar sized objects of differing density may accelerate or decelerate at different rates. Mixing of sizes/weights in the same buffer column may result in a better "dead blow effect" than all things being equal.
If your rifle buffer has an aluminum spacer, as shown, you can add even more weight, but some rifle buffers are not bored full length.
B.Y.O.B.
The MSRx online store maintains an inventory of various buffer weights; hard cast, tungsten, steel; so you can mix and match to achieve your desired "sliding" buffer weight, as well as pre-measured quantities of both lead and tungsten shot for building loose fill dead blow buffers.
Steel buffer weight vs hard cast; 1x, 2x and 3x.
The typical steel buffer weight tips the scale at about .65 ounces.
A single hard cast buffer weight is about 50% heavier than steel, at an average .95 ounces.
Our 2x hard cast buffer weight has the mass of 2 single buffer weights, but it gains a bit more with the elimination of the spacer pad.
The 3x hard cast buffer weight incorporates the total of three single weights and, like the 2x, it gains a little extra mass as the spacer pads are replaced.
Examples of carbine buffer weight stacks, including various combinations of hard cast weights.
The standard AR-15 carbine buffer, with three steel buffer weights, comes in at a hair under 3 oz. Increasing to the H1 typically requires swapping in a tungsten weight.
A similar stack of three buffer weights, but with hard cast alloy instead of steel, will get you to the H1 level, yet at a small fraction of the cost of tungsten.
A 1.5x+1.5x stack will net another tenth of an ounce, give or take, due to the replacement of one of the rubber spacer pads with hard cast alloy.
If maximum mass is the top priority, the 3x length buffer weight may just be the ticket with it's full length hard cast alloy from tip to tail.