AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

[BoilerUP]

Thinking about putting a collapsible stock on a preban J-15 lower with fixed A2 stock...and I know very little about ARs.

Research has shown that I'd likely need a carbine milspec buffer, buffer spring, and the stock itself...anything else that would be needed?

Easy enough DIY project?

 

[Pullum]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

also need carbine or similar weight buffer.

 

[RobertM]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Just my humble $.02, but depending on how much rifle experience you have, might want to try out someone else's collapsible stock AR before taking the plunge, see how it feels to you.

I built up a rifle with collapsible, and ended up not liking it at all. Did not need the adjustable length, who really does? Hated the loose feel of the thing. Being an olde farte, and taught to shoot a wood stock M-14, and early M-16 after that, my feeling for cheek weld and all dictate a solid stock. Recently went to an Ace skeleton and that works for me.

 

[cb_tikka]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Castle nut and end plate. Stock wrench

 

[338Federal]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

You'll need a whole new receiver extension (buffer tube) carbine length. Switching to carbine you'll need an end plate, and castle nut. Then your carbine buffer/spring. The castle nut wrench will save you some grief of trying to make something up.

Id say check youtube for some ar stock installs. Once your familiar with the process of installing it you'll find its not so difficult. Plus some of those videos give good pointers and tricks that will save you some pain. like watching out for the buffer detent being launched when you take your old tube off.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

So...stock, buffer, buffer tube, buffer spring, castle nut, end plate and stock wrench?

 

[Inogame]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Do you know what stock you are going with?

Not trying to add more confusion to the thread I swear, but it could be important.

For example, the Magpul UBR comes with a buffer tube and doesn't need a castle nut or end plate - so all you would need is a carbine buffer and spring. The wrench is also unnecessary for this particular stock.

Also, you need a mil-spec buffer tube with mil-spec stocks, and a commercial tube for a commercial stock - it's important to know which you are buying.
Castle nut, backplate, spring and buffer will not change.

The wrench is something very nice to have for tightening the castle nut.

 

[DocRDS]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Was just going to mention about the stock issue--Make sure your stock is compatible with your buffer tube.

If you purchase the buffer tube with your stock as part of a kit, then all is well.

This is a quite easy thing to do with little or no experience. Big thing is go slow and watch the spring in the back of the stock (takedown pin spring). I crushed mine by not going slow and paying attention (of course, a replacement was $1 at a gun show).

So even if you screw up, you can't do anything too bad.

 

[Zebra644]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Yes its easy to replace. Just remember these two things. 1 when you unscrew the castle nut the rear end plate holds a small spring in place. That spring applies pressure to your rear detent and take down pin. 2 The forward end of the buffer tube holds the buffer retaining pin and spring in place. When you unscrew the buffer tube enough it will release its hold on the pin and spring and it will shoot up on you and its not fun to look for lol.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

The lower is preban EA Co. J-15...so I assume it is milspec without actually removing the stock and visually confirming the buffer.

I was thinking the Tapco AR-T6 kit...

 

[Inogame]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Boiler, that kit will give you everything you need except the wrench for the castle nut.

Also for clarification, when we mention milspec or commercial, we are referring to the stock and carbine buffer tube.

The Rifle length tube in your A2 stock will not matter as it will be replaced by the carbine length tube.
Mil-spec and commercial was mentioned because the stock needs to match the tube or it will not fit.

Buying a kit clears this up because the company will match it.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Okay, one final question.

I found a Magpul MOE kit online for $100 that comes with everything needed for a conversion (including milspec buffer); this is about $35 more than the the Tapco T6 kit I found. A CTR kit is available for $20 more than the MOE kit.

Is the quality of the Magpul MOE worth the addtional cost over the Tapco? What about CTR over MOE?

Not trying to impress anybody with my rifle, just want the benefits of a collapsible stock (storage/transport and LOP for my wife) and would rather spend a little more money to get quality kit.

 

[sgtbutt]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Tapco products, IMO, between the two brands arent the greatest quality. The Magpul line up has been tried and true and beaten to breaking point. As far as additional features, the MOE has the various sling attachment points and CTR has the QD socket (reason for my personal purchase over MOE).

The Tapco will get you by, but look into what spec the RE is. I just looked on their page and it's MilSpec which is good but I would still go with the Magpul.

My personal opinion would be to get either Magpul kit with a Milspec buffer tube. They really are a huge improvement over standard AR15 collapsible stocks, more attachment points, guarded adjustment lever, color options if you care, and butt plate options.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

You want a small punch and hammer so you can stake your castle nut once everything is to your liking. The castle nut can back off over time and higher quality factory rifles stake this area. Avoid the locktite solution. You can actually get away with a nail if you grind the tip to blunt it a bit and you don't need to go crazy like the staking seen on bolt carrier groups. It doesn't have to look perfect and you can undo the staking by applying more pressure on the castle kit wrench, should you have reason to remove the receiver extension down the road.

 

[Inogame]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

I'm a magpul whore just for full disclosure.

I've got an ACS, a UBR, and a PRS - so far - there is an ACS on the for sale board here FYI, but it's more expensive than you're looking at and not a full kit.

Listen to sgtbutt about the sling points, it may or may not be important to you. I would purchase accordingly.

 

[BCP]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

TAPCO stock I had was fine on my stag carbine. I like my magpul CTR and ACS stocks much more though.

80-90$ for an MOE stock kit sounds about right to me, maybe 120 for CTR and 170-180 for ACS. CTR has a locking feature which helps to lower/eliminate the 'wiggle' some collapsible stocks have.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

Re: AR noob: replace A2 stock with collapsible?

Military Times did a non-scientific torture test of a dozen of the most popular buttstocks out there today. The test was repeated until the buttstocks failed. Some only lasted one drop. Here are the results, which might or might not have value to you, depending on what your rifle's role will be.

Article of results:
http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gearscout...ough-talk-goes/

Video of testing:
http://militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/?bctid=1371038227001