• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • t5Tommy Gun Madness: The Thompson Submachine Gun
        • Firing the Full-Auto Steyr AUG
        • m60M60 Pig: America’s Jungle-Eating, Belt Fed Freedom Machine
        • image-60a08f67My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
        • PXL_20240209_171721326Pic of the Day, It’s Graduation Time
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • civivi2Civivi Brazen Review: The Best Budget EDC Knife under $75?
        • G43_Gen3-107G43 Review: The Compact Powerhouse for EDC
        • Photoroom_20250403_201449ARES Watch Company Diver-1 & Field Watch: Unstoppable Tactical Watches for Land & Sea
        • CZ2CZ P10S – The Budget EDC That Gets the Job Done (Mostly)
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Firearms Accessories

Tubb Precision flatwire springs overview

January 12, 2019 by Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer Leave a Comment

Tubb Precision flatwire springs overview

Growing up immersed in the “gun culture”, was a rewarding and character-building part of my childhood.  Being raised in rural Alaska meant the only window outside of subsistence hunting culture was through the monthly gun mags in the local grocery store.  When competitive shooting was brought up, one name was repeated over and over.  David Tubb.  Easily one of, if not the winningest competitive rifle shooter in American history, David is an authority on rifle function and accuracy.  While researching the last couple parts to finish up my Ultralight AR build (ver 2.0) article, I found mentions of his flat wire springs.  Ok, it’s the lightest I could find.  Why?  What’s different?  Is it better?

Tubb Precision flatwire springs overview

After contacting www.davidtubb.com I received an email from the man himself.  Sure, he was happy to send out a T&E buffer spring, but when the package came it contained more than just one spring.  It had four springs from the Tubb line-up that are AR-10 or -15 related.  Here’s a rundown of them, why they’re different and how I plan to use them.

  • AR-15 Flat Wire Buffer Spring (standard and carbine)
  • AR-15 Flat Wire Buffer Spring (lightweight for .300 BLK and Whisper)
  • AR-15 Flat Wire Magazine Spring (30 round)
  • AR-10/SR-25 Flat Wire Magazine Spring (20 round)
Flat wire magazine spring (L) versus standard wire (R)

So clearly, flat wire spring tech is at the core of all of this.  What’s the difference in using 17-7 ph Stainless steel?  A few reasons, with answers from the Tubb website:

Regarding longevity

“Why should you use Tubb Precision  Flat wire Buffer Springs? Extended life at optimum performance! Many conventional buffer springs are constructed from music wire or non post winding processed stainless steel. Their performance becomes suspect in as little as 500 rounds and can cause rifle performance to degrade to the point that rifle function will change. We fielded many questions from people complaining about “mystery malfunctions” when their rifles get past that round count , and we’ve found installation of a Tubb Precision  Flat wire Buffer Spring cures nearly all of them, and it cures them for good.”

Regarding performance

“Due to the superior nature of the materials used, a Tubb Precision Stainless Steel Flat wire spring has the same power as conventionally constructed “extra power” springs, yet provide that extra energy using a lighter spring weight. Correct timing and resistance on the recoil stroke and a controlled rebound ensures reliable feeding with consistent forward thrust. The result is that the rifle functions flawlessly and stays on target better.”

Regarding spring pressure (select passages from included literature and website)

“A 17-7 ph flat wire spring is considerably longer than a round wire spring yet occupies, when fully compressed, only a fraction of what the conventionally designed spring will.  (This) spring produces greater power compared to a stock spring (in battery load increase of 22% in Ar-15…).  The recoil impulse is softened, allowing the weapon’s gas system to function as intended.  There is less rifle movement so the sights stay on target better.

Standard buffer spring variation, 7.5 lbs.  Flat wire buffer spring variation, 3.9 lbs.”

Tubb flat wire recoil spring with Taccom3G lightweight buffer

Ok, so more consistency, a longer lifespan for an integral part and better performance.  This all sounds awesome on paper, but I’ve got a couple rifles laying around with old springs of dubious condition just waiting for an upgrade.  Likewise, I have some old USGI issued 30-round mags that followed me home after my enlistment (and were abused on all 5 of my overseas deployments).  I’m going to replace the buffer springs in two AR-15’s, one chambered in .223 and another in .300 Blackout, as well as the magazine spring in one of my USGI mags that’s having “performance issues”.  I’ll report back after meaningful round counts have been attained.

If you want to do yet more reading on 17-7 stainless flat wire spring tech, or if you’re wanting to check out upgrades for your rifle, head over to David Tubb’s website and take a look around.  He’s a wealth of information for all shooters, competitive or other.

-Rex Nanorum

 

Share This

About the Author

Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer is an Alaskan Expatriate living in Oregon with his wife and kids. Growing up on commercial fishing vessels, he found his next adventure with the 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt. After 5 tours to Afghanistan and Iraq, he roamed about the west coast becoming a commercial diver, rated helicopter pilot instructor (CFII) and personal trainer before becoming a staff writer with Loadoutroom.com

See All Jens "Rex Nanorum" Hammer Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • The Citizen Promaster Dive: Built Like a Bunker, Priced Like a Bivouac
    The Citizen Promaster Dive: Built Like a Bunker, Priced Like a Bivouac
  • Removing Rust From Firearms? No Problem
    Removing Rust From Firearms? No Problem
  • Hard Head Veterans Bump Helmet vs. the Wizardry of the ATE Gen III Ballistic
    Hard Head Veterans Bump Helmet vs. the Wizardry of the ATE Gen III Ballistic
  • The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
    The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
  • My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
    My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Ajita Sherer on The ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle)!
  • Raphael Hanna on The ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle)!
  • Daisy L. on CZ P10S – The Budget EDC That Gets the Job Done (Mostly)

Latest From SOFREP

Expert Analysis

The Death Spiral of Big Defense: How Anduril Is Gutting the Military-Industrial Complex Like a Breacher’s Buzzsaw

News

SOFREP Morning Brief: Putin Proposes ‘Direct Talks’ With Ukraine, Hegseth Eliminates Race Considerations For Admission to Service Academies, North Korea and Russia Flaunt Alliance

News

SOFREP Evening Brief: Trump Announces Ceasefire Between India and Pakistan, Putin Show Defiance as Ceasefire Talks Continue, Sudan Ravaged After Two Years of Civil War

War Stories

Delta Force Doesn’t Do Extractions from Brothels…Until We Do

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...