Finding the right 9mm AR buffer can be a challenge. Especially if you’re looking for something that is high-quality and reliable swimming in a sea of low-quality and crappy looking models. But knowing how to distinguish the best from the not so good will take skill and a little time before you make your final decision.
To help you in the right direction, we’ve put together a list of the six best 9mm AR buffers that are currently on the market.
These buffers are a very important part of a 9mm AR-15 pistol for a few good reasons. We’ll talk about that plus how you can choose a buffer that best fits your personal needs, preferences, and even your pistol itself.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for 9mm AR Buffers
- OUR TOP PICK: Spikes Tactical ST-9X 9mm Heavy Buffer SLA009X
- BEST BUFFER SPRING: Luth-AR 9mm Carbine Buffer Assembly
- BEST BUFFER SPACER: Spikes Tactical 9mm Buffer Spacer
Comparison of the Best 9mm AR Buffers
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What is a Buffer?
The buffer is a tiny piece that is located inside the buffer tube of numerous rifles. Along with the buffer itself is the buffer spring that supports it and gives it the ability to move around. The buffer tube is attached to stocks. But in the case of a 9mm AR-15, most of these buffer tubes will be void of a stock since AR-15 pistols do not require them.
Foxtrot Mike Products - AR-15 9mm Receiver Extension Assembly Pistol-length
The purpose of the buffer itself is to make the firing ability of your pistol more effective. Without it, it’s just another single shot machine that is clunky and not as effective. The buffer does its part in absorbing a good deal of recoil that will allow for better resistance on your end.
Without this buffer, the energy will be too much to handle for the spring located inside and can break apart and thus makes BGC cycling much more difficult.
What Makes a Great 9mm AR Buffer?
There are some things that will make a buffer stand out much better when pitted against those that are ineffective and crappy in quality. Knowing what makes a great buffer will help you make that distinction between which is better than the other. Here are a few things on what to look for while looking for a 9mm AR buffer:
Material
Most of the buffers will be made from rubber. This material will likely be your best bet if you intend to absorb and resist a great amount of recoil and the shock that goes with it. This will also help make the buffer spring handle a lot more while still being able to move. If you’re looking for a buffer spring, steel might be your best option here since it is a much tougher metal material for situations like this.
Price
If you’re a budget shopper, the price tag will be a lot more important. Especially when you’re looking for the best buffer that you can afford. Once you find something that’s high in quality and fits your budget, odds are you might have found a winner. As a rule: never settle for cheap. A cheap price tag can mean poor quality.
Will it Fit Your Buffer Tube
Not all buffers will be created equal. So it’s important to get a good idea of whether or not it will fit your buffer tube in particular. Consider measuring the buffer tube itself while you’re looking for a suitable replacement buffer. If you don’t have one, you may want to consider getting a buffer tube along with the assembly itself. It should also be noted that some buffer tubes will come with an assembly itself.
Review of the Best 9mm AR Buffers
Below is a list of the six best 9mm AR buffers that are currently on the market. As you go through each one, be sure to take note of the features and functions. This way, it will give you a better determination of whether or not it matched your ideal buffer.
Close enough is a lot better than nothing at all. Now, let’s begin our list by unveiling our “best overall” choice for 9mm AR buffers:
Best Overall:
Foxtrot Mike Products - AR-15 9mm Receiver Extension Assembly Pistol-length
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers were satisfied with this buffer kit. In fact, one buyer said that it was good enough for him since all the needed parts were right there. It was convenient for him since it saved him a good deal of money and time rather than spending it tracking down every separate part.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This has the whole kit and kaboodle right here. All you need is in one package. The entire kit is easy to assemble and are all made from high-quality materials for long-lasting usage. Other than that, it will deliver a solid performance like nothing else. It’s about what you’ll expect from any kind of buffer assembly that’s a step up from the standard, factory-issued buffer assembly.
Who Will Use This Most
These will be used by those who are on a budget and simply want a full assembly kit. This will definitely save them a good deal of money and time. We know that tracking down every little part can be a challenge. It can also be really expensive.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One of the things that could improve is making it so it can be one of the closest things you can get to a universal assembly. This does support 9mm AR-15 pistols, but it can have the potential to support more AR-15 pistols that have different calibers.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an assembly kit that is built to last and easy to install, the Foxtrot Mike AR-15 9mm Receiver Extension Assembly could very well be your best possible choice. Especially if you want the entire assembly all present and accounted for. This is perfect if you’re looking for a suitable upgrade or if you’re building an AR from the ground up.
Best for the Money:
Spikes Tactical ST-9X 9mm Heavy Buffer SLA009X
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were satisfied with the buffer overall. It was very affordable for most budgets and definitely makes for a solid unit for heavy duty AR-style firearms. Especially those of the 9mm caliber. Recent buyers loved the overall performance and reported no jamming or reliability issues after 100+ rounds.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Now, we take a look at the buffers that stand up to the heavy hitters. This is built from stainless steel and is solid as a rock. Despite being a bit weighty, it does have its advantages. In fact, it will absorb a lot of recoil and shock much better than standard AR buffers.
Who Will Use This Most
Obviously, this will be best used by those who have AR-style pistols and 9mm rifles that will pack a good deal of punch. So they will need a heavy buffer that can handle all that energy. This might be the closest that they are going to get when it comes to “tough and affordable”.
What Could Be Improved and Why
Despite the fact that it has a good deal of weight, it might add a marginal amount on your rifle or pistol overall. One thing that could be improved with this would be to include a spring that will have the ability to handle this buffer in particular. Not all regular buffer springs can handle the weight of this specific buffer.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for something that is built tough and doesn’t suck the life out of your bank account, you’ll definitely want to give the Spikes Tactical ST-9x Heavy Buffer a shot. It’s heavy in weight but heavy in duty. That means it’s built to last and built to take on whatever recoil your AR can dish out.
Best Buffer Spring:
Luth-AR 9mm Carbine Buffer Assembly
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This is another easy to assemble kit that can be put together rather quickly. Most recent buyers had no trouble assembling it or adding it on to their 9mm AR-15 pistol or similar firearms. One buyer said that the including of a buffer tube was more than enough to get him to purchase it. The buffer tube is even durable enough to handle all kinds of pistol braces.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This kit has the ability to handle the heavy-duty carbine-style AR pistols and rifles. Once again, this has all the parts you need to fully assembly the buffer system for easy installation. Perfect if you’re using it for a pistol or an SBR. Either way, it can handle some multiple instances of shooting.
Who Will Use This Most
This will likely be used by those who are target shooters or competitive shooters. Specifically, this will be a favorite among AR-15 pistol owners and even a handful of SBR shooters. The parts are strong enough to handle multiple episodes of shooting. Even during an extended range day, it can handle the load.
What Could Be Improved and Why
Despite no obvious cons, this assembly kit should only be used for carbine-style AR-15 pistols. The odds of this working with pistol length gas systems are not favorable. So err on the safe side and use this if you know your 9mm AR is a carbine-style AR.
Bottom Line
While the focus is on a buffer spring, you get a pretty solid spring with the whole entire kit to boot. If you’re looking for a pretty good kit assembly for carbine-style 9mm ARs, make no mistake that this is the best possible option for you. This can handle the heavy duty stuff that a regular pistol length gas system might consider too much to handle.
Best Buffer Spacer:
Spikes Tactical 9mm Buffer Spacer
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were in search of a buffer that would reduce a great deal of friction. This spacer is designed to prevent any reliability issues within the buffer assembly. It also plays a role in making sure your buffer is working properly and is able to handle the recoil and shock of every shot.
Why it Stands Out to Us
A spacer is a must-have part of your buffer assembly. We can say with confidence that without it, the buffer assembly is not so much useless but rather it will make firing your AR a little more awkward. This spacer is made from high-quality materials that can stop some of the shock associated with recoil.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be used mostly by AR-15 pistol and SBR owners. Either way, it’s a buffer spacer that will be used for all kinds of applications and purposes. It will also be used by those who just want to install a buffer assembly and be ready to fire off their rounds on the same day.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One of the improvements would be to make sure that it’s measured properly to fit all kinds of buffer tubes. This way, it’ll save a lot of time and frustration for users who might spend time making modifications to ensure a perfect fit.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a high-quality part that is vital to the buffer assembly, the Spikes Tactical 9mm Buffer Spacer might be exactly what you’re looking for. It will do its part in making the buffer work properly while reducing a good amount of shock that could otherwise throw your shot off.
5. Armaspec Sound Mitigation AR-9 Buffer - ARM158-9
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers were happy with the installation process of this buffer. It took minutes and the right kind of tools. This saved them the time and money that would otherwise go towards a professional gunsmith. Once installed, the firing ability was solid and cycling was smooth and reliable. No jamming or any related issues were reported.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This already has the buffer and the spring itself assembled and ready for action. Aside from that, you can bet that this will probably be one of the easiest buffers you’ll install on any 9mm rifle or pistol. Other than that, it’s a solid little unit with a whole lot of toughness when standing up to recoil.
Who Will Use This Most
This will have the ability to handle multiple rounds of gunfire. In translation, it will be tough to handle the recoil again and again. So this will likely be a choice among target shooters and competitive shooters since they are more likely to go through rounds upon rounds. This will last a good while so long as you take excellent care of your 9mm AR-15 pistol.
What Could Be Improved and Why
While there are no obvious cons to report, some recent buyers have reported receiving an incomplete set of parts that went with this. If your buffer arrives with missing parts, you’ll need to contact customer service from the store of where you purchased it.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a 9mm AR buffer that is considered the one of the best of the bunch, you’d be hard pressed to find something as reliable and tough like the Armaspec Sound Mitigation AR-9 Buffer. This will definitely work to your advantage whether you’re using a 9mm AR-15 pistol or rifle of your own.
6. Angstadt Arms AR-15 9mm 5.4 oz Carbine Buffer Assembly w/Carbine Buffer Spring
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most of the recent buyers had no issue with the installation process of this buffer tube. Once installed, the shooting ability was smooth and didn’t jam through 100 yards. One recent buyer even said that he even noticed a slight reduction in recoil, but not enough to its liking since he didn’t have other accessories to make it less noticeable. Most buyers used this for either their Colt or Glock pistols and were able to fit them with little to no issue.
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the things that make it stand out is that it’s a lightweight unit that adds literally no significant weight to the rifle itself. Other than that, it’s slightly longer than some buffers with springs. This will work with two of the best types of pistols there is on the planet. Even in the heart of the Glock vs Colt debate, there is a buffer that treats these pistols equally.
Who Will Use This Most
Obviously, this will be used by those who might either have a Glock or a Colt 9mm AR-15 pistol. But don’t consider it the only pistol you need to use this. It’s the best in terms of compatibility. But if you’re a target shooter or a competitive shooter looking for a solid buffer to work with, then this could be yours to own.
What Could Be Improved and Why
Nothing out of the ordinary, but the spring itself might be a little stiff to move. It could be a good thing when it comes to handling recoil but it shouldn’t be mistaken for being ineffective or even useless. Lightening the spring a bit without jeopardizing the quality might be a worthy improvement.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a viable alternative to the previous Armaspec buffer, the Angstadt might be the closest thing to it. It’s a little longer than its Armaspec counterpart and will definitely work to your advantage in applications where you’re going through magazine after magazine of your favorite 9mm rounds.
Cautious Considerations When Buying
Before you consider purchasing a buffer for the sake of an upgrade or simply just to add it to a building project, there are some things you need to consider. The reason being is that this is one of these accessories that would make a 9mm AR hard to use without the entire assembly. With that in mind, here’s what you need to carefully consider:
Know Your Gas System
You’ll either have a carbine gas system or a pistol gas system. No buffers were created equal. Some of them are designed for pistol length gas systems, but cannot handle anything as powerful as a carbine. Likewise, a buffer made for a carbine won’t work effectively with ARs that are equipped with a pistol length gas system.
Make Sure You Have All The Right Parts
This is essential. A buffer tube won’t be the same without a buffer and the spring. The buffer won’t work if it’s in the confines of a buffer tube. In short, make sure that you have the right parts that can be assembled and put together in the rifle itself.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a 9mm AR buffer, then one of these six could be yours. Find one that is excellent in quality and delivers on the promise when it comes to reliability. The higher the quality, the better the chance it will last you years or even decades. Regardless, this will definitely boost your firing ability a lot better than your standard, run of the mill buffers.
What People Ask
The following are a couple of frequently asked questions that come from recently new buyers of these 9mm AR buffers. Use this section so you’ll be able to know a little more about these buffers and what their purposes are. Here are the following questions:
What is the Ideal Weight of a Buffer?
The short answer: it depends. To give you a longer explanation, it will depend on the gas system that you’re using. For example, if you’re using a carbine buffer then the ideal weight for a buffer should be about 3 ounces in weight. Heavy buffers will be slightly heavier by at least one ounce (4 ounces).
What Material is Best for Buffers?
There are three kinds of materials that are high in quality but are made to make buffers durable and less likely to damage easily. Most buffers are made from aluminum, but can also be made from either tungsten or steel. Of the three, steel is proven to be the toughest of the bunch.
