Has anyone shortened an AR15 ejector spring?

[Bang]

Been reading Wagner's Home Page. That man sure is talented and interesting. I reload .223 for two ARs. I shoot with a small towel draped over the ejection port and keep most of the expended shells on the bench near the gun. If I forget to do that, the shells go a pretty good distance. Sometime the towel gets flung by the impacts of the ejected brass. I really don't need the brass to get beat up like that.

Wagner explains how to shorten the ejector spring and reduce the distance the brass goes, which would of course reduce impact with anything the brass strikes.

I'm gonna try it. Springs are cheap. I'll pick up a couple at Oaks this weekend.

[P89]

Get yourself one of these and call it a day.
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/77...FUVYDQodMjACKQ

And get a few more of these...
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/94...are-rail-mount

[Tim Ault]

When I shot the AR in high power it was pretty common place to trim it slightly , Shooting prone the brass would pile up about 2-3 ft at the two o'clock position from my rifle

[Hawk]

When I shot the AR in high power it was pretty common place to trim it slightly , Shooting prone the brass would pile up about 2-3 ft at the two o'clock position from my rifle

+1
Cut 1.5 coils off the existing ejector spring. As Tim says it will eject the brass two or three feet to the two o'clock position when prone (in grass, dirt, or gravel). A little further on concrete or when on the bench or standing.

[P89]

When I tried that I would stove pipe constantly.
Does it matter if it's gas driven or piston driven with this mod?

[Bang]

Wagner doesn't mention piston driven so I was assuming direct impingement. Is there a timing difference resulting from piston? The spring is 99 cents to $2.98 depending on source, so playing with a few is no biggie.

[Hawk]

Not a big fan of the brass catcher bag. Some of the High Power shooters use one of these instead of cutting the ejector spring:

p_100001133_1.jpg

They have them in both for A2's and A3's: http://www.brownells.com/shooting-ac...prod18554.aspx

[Hawk]

When I tried that I would stove pipe constantly.
Does it matter if it's gas driven or piston driven with this mod?

I've done it (only) on 3- 20" barrel match AR's that were gas driven. The amount you cut off can be critical. Buy a few springs and start with cutting only a half coil off. I think I cut off 1.5 coils on two of my rifles and 2 full coils off of another to get it where I wanted it. Your extractor can effect the ejection. If you're running some extractor mod it may impact the results of the ejector spring mod.

[P89]

I chamfered the extractor.
I didn't like the catcher either but I got used to it.

[Hawk]

I chamfered the extractor.
I didn't like the catcher either but I got used to it.

The "chamfer" was to the top of the extractor to make it slip over the rim of the case easier? If so, that shouldn't make any difference to ejection.
Any mods that stiffen the extractor will affect ejection. Like replacing the extractor spring with a heavier spring, an extractor upgrade kit, or adding a #60 O-ring around the extractor spring.