I had one of these in my safe for over 35 years. I’d never fired it, so I took it out today lubed it up, and was planning on a range trip sometime in the next few days. However, I was a little mystified when I took it apart, and didn’t see a rubber or synthetic recoil buffer. I know these can disintegrate over time, so I’m wondering if the SWD M11-A1 .380 SMG originally had any sort of recoil buffer, or not. Any info appreciated.
SWD M11-A1 .380 SMG Buffer?
- Thread starter PA32
- Start date
They all shipped with one. If it’s missing it didn’t dissolve totally into thin air, it was forgotten during reassembly at some point.
Add one, soft/spongier the better. Buy spares.
Add one, soft/spongier the better. Buy spares.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
Uzi Talk Life Member, MacExpert!
Yes they all came with a urethane buffer. The originals have a tendency to crumble and disintegrate with age. You can buy a new one or cut one yourself from a sheet of rubber or silicone.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
Uzi Talk Life Member, MacExpert!
Yes
MitchWerbellsGhost87
Uzi Talk Life Member, MacExpert!
I’m gonna ask Shane about this but I think it’s fake news and I find it hard to believe, though I could be wrong (it does happen sometimes…lol). It’s very odd that RPB guns would have come with buffers and then Wayne would have decided to change a crucial assembly process and ditch the buffer (essential for the rear end of the gun not to blow out) on the SWD guns, and only on the 380, since the 9mm and their occasional M10 builds always had buffers. In every exploded diagram I have of the 380 gun from SWD, the buffer is included in the schematic. As well as every factory original new old stock SWD machined SMG bolt I have seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them now. I have never seen a factory OEM original SWD bolt in any caliber that did not come with a buffer.
Here is an SWD brochure from 1985, first year of manufacture for their M11A1 .380, the exploded view is of the M11a1 .380, with an RPB cast bolt, but it has the SWD Cobray marked small size strap hanger, and the stock struts only have one set of locking notches (also an SWD thing), so the photo was up to date for 85, and the buffer is absolutely featured. I don’t know of ANY Mac/Cobray SMG that did not come with a buffer from the factory, with the exception of 1981 RPB open bolt semi autos that had 3 steel buffer plates installed instead of one plate and a buffer.
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why is it that sometimes buffers sit at big angles? Some buffers I have seen look like the holes are not drilled in the proper spot for the guide rod or ejector so they sit crooked once installed. Are the buffers for 380 and 9 different?
Buffers are the same for the M11 380 and M11 9. I've seen a buffer installed wrong on a bolt I've gotten from other people's spare parts (not the norm). I'm guessing someone will chime in that knows more about these parts than me.
HighriseATX
UZI Talk Life Member
FYI Just pulled out a NIB SWD M11A1. About 75% of the buffer was in the box as tiny black pellets, 10% still inside the gun, 15% where it should be, stuck on the recoil spring.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
Uzi Talk Life Member, MacExpert!
Yes this is what I figured was the case with the guns that have “no buffer from the factory”. The black rubber buffers that SWD used in the 80s did not survive very long. Almost every single SWD parts kit I’ve come across in its original packaging has a pile of black dusty crumbs floating around in the bottom of it. Those SWD buffers literally disintegrate over time. They will look to be perfectly intact but if you so much as touch it, it just implodes into a pile of black dust and chunks. The old MAC/rpb white nylon textured buffers and hard black urethane buffers were much more durable and many have withstood the test of time in excellent condition, but that cheap shitty black rubber SWD used for their buffers did not last very long at all. I am yet to find any of the original SWD buffers that don’t start to crumble immediately upon contact. Even when they still look to be brand new in the original packaging, that material dry rots very easily. A product of the cost reducing measures frequently seen with SWD components.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
Uzi Talk Life Member, MacExpert!
I think this is an anti-gun psyop, an infiltrator or government plant trying to trick guys into destroying their SMGs in an effort to disarm us… ?
Jack007
UZI Talk Life Member
All my NIB SM11s had buffers. Unlike the textured thinner white ones (as described above by Mitch) in the SM10s, these were/are a black nylon. I say are, because they're still intact and pliable as they were in the 1980s. The newer ones must have been the same 90D urethane as the suppressor wipes. Those literally disintegrated years ago. My late and dear friend Larry Bullock at Buffer Technologies predicted as much years ago. He purposely utilized a different polymer in his designs.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
Uzi Talk Life Member, MacExpert!
These are the other buffers that were used by MAC/RPB… I always thought that these were made from 90 durometer urethane just based off the smooth, kind of hard (but still flexible), shiny texture and durability.. but I guess its indeed the urethane buffers that dry rot and crumble. I always assumed the disintegrating SWD buffers were made from some kind of cheap rubber, learn something new everyday.
These black nylon OEM buffers do seemingly last forever. SWD cheaped out on the buffers (as they did with literally everything)… the durable black nylon buffers you describe were factory original MAC/RPB production, and like the white textured nylon, they lasted/last forever.
Here is an original black nylon buffer on an RPB manufactured cast M11 .380 bolt. The buffer is in exceptional condition, these are virtually indestructible.
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