Is there a way to reduce an ar ejection distance?

[greyling22]

I know I can play around with an adjustable gas block and change where on the clock face brass is being ejected, but is there a way to reduce *distance* that is being ejected? Could I shorten the ejector spring?

 

[Blue68f100]

Yes, I cut off 1 coil off the ejector spring on all of my AR's. Doing this my brass goes about 5-6' not 12-15'. It also cuts down on denting the side of the brass too.

 

[Tirod]

Interdasting . . .

 

[mcb]

IMHO you're better off using a brass catcher of some type than messing with ejector springs.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Blue68f100: "I cut off 1 coil off the ejector spring on all of my AR's. Doing this my brass goes about 5-6' not 12-15'."
As a rifle range shooter, I must say that civilized cartridge case ejection is courteous to the other shooter to your right.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

Being a curious sort I bought a Deflector Brake Kit from UniqueTek and put one on each rifle. They actually work quite well. Just have to be careful to put them on in the right place to allow the dust cover to open and close without interference.

 

[wiscoaster]

I think a brass catcher is a better solution than modifying your rifle.

 

[garandsrus]

Cutting a coil off the spring is pretty common and works very well.

 

[Ifishsum]

I trim ejector springs on all the rifles I shoot matches with. I also have spare springs just in case, as they are cheap - and I probably wouldn't do it on a rifle my life depended on, but I don't believe I've ever had a malfunction that I would attribute to the shortened spring. Most of my brass lands about 1:00, 3 feet or so from my firing point.

 

[Tirod]

Cutting a coil off the ejector spring is UNCOMMON. I've been building AR's for over 10 years, first I heard of it. Then again I stick with milspec concepts.If someone is modifying their range rifle to make it easier to pick up brass, it's their option. That doesn't mean it's a valid recommendation for a FIELD rifle.

How many modify the ejector spring on their handguns to pick up brass more easily? Never heard of that either.

 

[LoonWulf]

How many modify the ejector spring on their handguns to pick up brass more easily? Never heard of that either

The only ejector springs on handguns im aware of are the ones using a rotary bolt head.....
I have tuned recoil springs to loads so that ejection is less vigorous, but primarily thats to reduce battering on the firearm as much as possible when running very hot loads.
Also modified both the gas system and the ejector ledge angle and length on my sks to reduce its tendency to throw my very expensive brass into the bushes 30ft away.

On a semi rifle using a plunger ejector ive not messed with trying to tune one tho.

 

[doubleh]

A brass goat will take care of that and keep the brass right on the side of the rifle. That might not be the solution you are looking for but it certainly works and you don't even have bend over to pick up brass.

 

[mcb]

What about this?


https://www.amazon.com/Deflector-Brake-Rifle-Brakes-Charging/dp/B06XKYLB8J

Its a soft bumper that goes on the brass deflector to slow and protect the brass during ejection. I have never used it but it might do what the OP wants without modifying the gun and compromising the reliability. You could probably make your own if you have some self adhesive foam rubber weather stripping lying around. Probably would not last as long or look as good but would be cheaper.

 

[Craig_AR]

What about this?

That is the Deflector Brake linked in post #6 from Steve in Allentown. It is less expensive from Amazon than from the primary web site. Same product and company.

 

[mcb]

That is the Deflector Brake linked in post #6 from Steve in Allentown. It is less expensive from Amazon than from the primary web site. Same product and company.

Great minds think alike but clearly my is slower and paying less attention this morning. Sorry about that.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

It is less expensive from Amazon than from the primary web site. Same product and company.

$2 cheaper than Amazon at UniqueTek but you'd have to determine shipping costs to do a total cost comparison.

I put one on a 6.8 and it drops all the ejected cases in a single spot so brass retrieval is easy. 5.56 is the same. Like @mcb said, it's unobtrusive and weighs nothing.

 

[Tirod]

Found this: https://www.ar15.com/forums/training/How_To_Modify_AR_Ejector_/14-225441/

Seems its "common" on tightly packed range fire lines with competitors within a few feet of each other. Being pelted with hot brass many apparently trim the spring to be "nice."

Basically a bunch of guys who frequently shoot together and who are all trying to cut down on distractions. Another range competition modification for precision shooters - a very limited application.

I'm not bothering - Tula isn't worth picking up.

 

[wiscoaster]

What about this? ... <snip> ...Its a soft bumper that goes on the brass deflector to slow and protect the brass during ejection. ...

Thanks for posting that. Wasn't aware such a widget existed. Looks like a great idea that will do the trick.

 

[The Glockodile]

"He can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me..."

Just because one doesn't do it doesn't mean it's uncommon

 

[LoonWulf]

Thanks for posting that. Wasn't aware such a widget existed. Looks like a great idea that will do the trick.

I just ordered a couple to keep my bolties from dinging up their cerakotes...they look alot nicer than my home made versions lol.

 

[HankC]

I stick a rubber pad that you can find at stores used to protect furniture. It soften the ejection and protect brass from denting.

 

[Varminterror]

Drop straight down at your feet...

 

[Bcwitt]

I'd have a few reservations about messing w ejector spring. Things like that always sound like a good idea, but you dont know the negatives till you do it. They made it that way for a good reason.

 

[AK Hunter]

Yes there is it's called a brass catcher. In fact it helps because you don't have to pick your brass up after shooting.
Some just use a deflector to point the brass in a downward direction.

https://www.tacticalbrassrecovery.com/

 

[LiveLife]

is there a way to reduce *distance* that is being ejected?

Yes there is it's called a brass catcher.

I use brass catchers with my ARs/PCCs and reduce ejection distance to like 2-3 inches and don't even have to bend down to pick up brass. (bad back) https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Resistant-Convenient-Mountable-Collection/dp/B004SKCUME