View Full Version : A2 Buttstock Data Thread
2023 Colt AR15A4 takeoff stock, black
--note the Colt trap door is a completely different design from PRI and Bushmaster
12.3oz
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/947133312084889653/1184188127380787280/IMG_9309.jpg?ex=658b1022&is=65789b22&hm=341217300a3db9fba696fe1e80708e78ecbc8a23770822a980f02e6ee5c7ccfb&=&format=webp&width=1296&height=900
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/947133312084889653/1184188126231548015/IMG_9314.jpg?ex=658b1022&is=65789b22&hm=d17687d5c155aa5151d760b198a74d2ecb063f6b82e6302901e83b097b4b7af8&=&format=webp&width=308&height=897
2023 Bushmaster A2 stock (discontinued greyish model) sold with buffer tube, A2 spacer, rifle buffer and spring (CS) direct from Bushmaster
12.4oz
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/947133312084889653/1184188127921844374/IMG_9310.jpg?ex=658b1022&is=65789b22&hm=3556d4308b897695cf1c8e7f2fdad3a3ce5ae3ea62b52b5581fe7289fd8500f3&=&format=webp&width=1278&height=900
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/947133312084889653/1184188126575472770/IMG_9313.jpg?ex=658b1022&is=65789b22&hm=7dbfb583948c16c5d7cf9c069e9921b6dd0ac6c8a3202f819c3a47d528b5dd86&=&format=webp&width=279&height=900
2023 PRI A2 stock FDE sold with buffer tube, A2 spacer, rifle buffer and spring (spring is black) direct from PRI
--when you install the stock the gap at the top closes once you have tension on the screw
15.4oz
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/947133312084889653/1184188128454524988/IMG_9311.jpg?ex=658b1022&is=65789b22&hm=53278a7b6e08ce033875a6877619c502034e46de58d9222f08676a6e2eb3eb69&=&format=webp&width=1316&height=900
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/947133312084889653/1184188126885855313/IMG_9312.jpg?ex=658b1022&is=65789b22&hm=aaa14ad2b6a1d39101c59fab335a232c47d743ea5d7dc30e286d03bc8f40aeff&=&format=webp&width=384&height=900
KAC M110 FDE, circa 2011
17.6oz
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/947133312084889653/1184188129075286196/IMG_9315.jpg?ex=658b1023&is=65789b23&hm=c7855e9a418f4f2a0cd24f33212f78e3a1be181e9ef60f5bc8b8eef715016503&=&format=webp&width=1354&height=900
I have one A2 stock in all of my set ups. I honestly don't know if it's a Colt or Bushmaster or what. The only reason I have that one is because the ACOG allows me to shoot with the excess L.O.P. from the A2 stock.
I have one A2 stock in all of my set ups. I honestly don't know if it's a Colt or Bushmaster or what. The only reason I have that one is because the ACOG allows me to shoot with the excess L.O.P. from the A2 stock.
Did pics open for you Mark? Troubleshooting issue but definitely working across my devices.
Pics don’t work.
Not showing up for me on Tapatalk.
Not sure why they don't show on tapatalk, just installed to see what you were seeing. Works on Firefox, Bing, and Safari across PC/Mac/Android/iOS. Might be an issue with how M4C is configured to work with tapatalk but I am definitely not a mod/admin here. I used discord to share links which typically works well.
titsonritz
12-12-23, 14:06
I can see the pics
Pics work for me.
The Bushmaster stock body looks more like my Colt's as ordered through Brownells a couple years back. Pictured Colt butt plate and trap door is still the same. The Bushmaster butt plate and trap door is the same as the commercial type RRA/Windham Weaponry ones.
Now that PRI stock looks nearly identical (going off memory) to the FDE UTG A2 stock I installed for someone a few years back. I also remember that it felt heavier yet cheaper in plastic feel than the real deal A2 stocks. Even came with a black painted spring if I remember correctly.
Actually I do see some difference in the older Colt butt plates.
The ones I've had from a couple years ago look like this. > https://www.apexgunparts.com/colt-ar-15-butt-plate-assembly-polymer-new.html
I prefer the commercial RRA/Windham/Bushmaster type trap door and butt plate in every way. That is if I don't use my own 90's era NOS surplus A2 butt plates and NOS aluminum A2 trap doors. ;)
Just to add to this thread. Any "AA" markings on the receiver tabs of any of your A2 stocks? > https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/A2-stock-question/127-783942/
And maybe you might want to try the "mil-spec" one from WOA next? From the pics on their site it looks like the Colts I have but without the grey/silver dry film lube applied. >https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/a2-buttstock-assemblies.html
Too bad none of them make a Colt "CS" length.
Too bad none of them make a Colt "CS" length.
It's honestly really disappointing seeing so many obviously different manufacturers of A2 stocks and not a single one of them is willing to. No one wants the A2 stock, not even the cloners. The only reason we have to talk about it at all is because there's no other option.
Surprisingly, no one has even done a repro A1 stock right (not counting the ones on the Colt reissues) so I'm not holding out much hope. The A2 stock is just something we have to settle with because the bean counters that run the companies that make the A2 stocks are too busy counting beans and not caring about what the shooting public wants.
Here's what needs to happen... Discontinue production of the A2 stock and make the CS stock in it's place. I assume most of the reason that no one has done a CS stock is because they can't justify the cost of running both production lines. So get rid of the stock that no one wants and put the stock that most would rather have in it's place... Problem solved. You would recover your costs for new CS stock molds quickly due to actually offering a product that most fixed stock users would actually want and would go out of their way to buy vs. something they feel forced to settle for. The CS stock can also just continue selling to whoever they were selling A2 stocks to before as an in-line change, just drop the spacer and the longer A2 stock screw.
Again looking over the Colt A2 stock pictured by ryanm it sure looks like the A2 stock that Brownells is selling under their own name might possibly be one in the same? Just looking at the details of the butt plate itself and the texture of the stock is what's selling me on that possibility.
https://www.brownells.com/gun-parts/rifle-parts/rifle-stocks-parts/ar-15-a2-buttstock-4fac9bd3/
I like a2 stocks, it’s what I’m used too and feels right to me.
I like a2 stocks, it’s what I’m used too and feels right to me.
Well there goes my theory. :laugh: There are obviously some odd outliers that will prefer A2 stocks. I assume those that are 7' foot tall with a long-ish wingspan would be pretty happy with the A2, but that's not the average. I'm 6' foot 2" with fairly long arms, but the original A1 length stock is perfection to me. I can use an A2 fine, but it's sometimes a slight bit of a stretch to get my nose up close to the charging handle for proper iron sight or ACOG use. Though I still have more A2 stocks on my rifles than any other stock because they are the only true to the original looking quality fixed stocks around. I still feel like most are just settling for them though, including me.
I've actually been thinking about buying a few more of the Colt A2/A4 stock bodies through Brownells just to have them on hand, but now that they might have changed their subcontractor I'm not so sure.
Having just gone through the mental gymnastics with my 12 year old for his rifle build, we too found it frustrating the lack of good A1 stocks. His choice? The magpul moe.
There are quite a few other fixed options available
https://imidefense.com/product-category/stocks/
I have an SRS, ASB and FSB—I like all of them. Have not tried the operator model. SRS one of of my favorites at this point.
vltor option also good to go and actually available again
https://www.vltor.com/shop/ar/stocks/arm-rifle-stock/
Have one of these coming to try
https://b5systems.com/bravo-c-stock/
When I want a1 I go here:
https://www.uscollectorsordnance.com/product/usgi-m16a1-original-furniture-set/
I have an HRS light that I also like
https://hera-usa.com/product-category/fixed-stock/
I debated one of these on a lightweight build but went with the Hera
https://wilsoncombat.com/buttstock-wilson-combat-smoke-composites-closed-shoulder-9-5-lop-carbon-fiber.html
https://www.luth-ar.com/product-category/buttstocks/
mba1 is solid option as well, have not tried the 2
I still use carbine adjustable stocks too, but I find that I’m usually fully extended on most. In my case I popped into the world with long arms and XXL hands so A2 is magic for me. I should have been better at basketball! I grew up snowmobiling and no way I was going to sacrifice sled time for ball sports.
https://arisakadefense.com/stock/
Really like this solution on CTR!!!
https://onyxarms.com/index.php/product-category/rifleparts/lowerreceiverparts/grips/
There are quite a few other fixed options available
https://imidefense.com/product-category/stocks/
I have an SRS, ASB and FSB—I like all of them. Have not tried the operator model. SRS one of of my favorites at this point.
vltor option also good to go and actually available again
https://www.vltor.com/shop/ar/stocks/arm-rifle-stock/
Have one of these coming to try
https://b5systems.com/bravo-c-stock/
When I want a1 I go here:
https://www.uscollectorsordnance.com/product/usgi-m16a1-original-furniture-set/
I have an HRS light that I also like
https://hera-usa.com/product-category/fixed-stock/
I debated one of these on a lightweight build but went with the Hera
https://wilsoncombat.com/buttstock-wilson-combat-smoke-composites-closed-shoulder-9-5-lop-carbon-fiber.html
https://www.luth-ar.com/product-category/buttstocks/
mba1 is solid option as well, have not tried the 2
Yeah, there are other options for A1 length fixed rifle stocks, but other than the US Collectors Ordnance old surplus originals nothing has the right look to it for me since most of my builds are borderline clones trying to stay true to the original looks. Though I haven't tried buying from US Collectors Ordnance, I have ordered a few A1 stocks described as being in *excellent* condition from Fulton Armory and Apex Gun Parts and have never been pleased with them. The reproduction CS stock just needs to happen.
I still use carbine adjustable stocks too, but I find that I’m usually fully extended on most. In my case I popped into the world with long arms and XXL hands so A2 is magic for me. I should have been better at basketball! I grew up snowmobiling and no way I was going to sacrifice sled time for ball sports.
I still use Colt 4 position receiver extensions on my carbines, and even though I find A1 length stocks to be the perfect length I'm sometimes perfectly comfortable with using carbine stocks all the way collapsed... Though I do prefer to adjust them out 2 positions for the most part.
The only collapsible stocks I extend out all the way for comfortable use are the ones on my Beretta ARX-100s, as they are a bit too short when all the way collapsed.
ryanm, can you get any clear pictures of the latch on your Colt stock's trap door? Also, can you get any clear pictures of the hole in the top of the butt plate where the screw goes through? That plastic over-molded metal insert that the screw head bottoms out against is what I need to see more clearly to determine if it has that weird key slot at the 6 o'clock position. This key slot backing plate is an indication of more recent modern (possibly foreign) manufacturing, the Brownells and UTG A2 stocks have this and so do the Taiwanese Linemount/PSA/H&R repro A1 stocks.
You can see the key slot backing plate in the top screw hole in the picture you posted of the PRI (likely UTG) A2 stock's butt plate.
Can do, will take when I get home.
The KE Arms monolithic lower is set up at A1 length and according to Ian/Karl they had went around measuring carbine stocks at matches and found most were set to mimic A1 LOP.
The thing with A1 stocks is cracking due to the material is pretty much a when not if thing, although it isn't like they will just do a surprise disintegration one day.
The KE Arms monolithic lower is set up at A1 length and according to Ian/Karl they had went around measuring carbine stocks at matches and found most were set to mimic A1 LOP.
The thing with A1 stocks is cracking due to the material is pretty much a when not if thing, although it isn't like they will just do a surprise disintegration one day.
The A1 length just makes sense, so I'm not surprised they went with it on the KE Arms lowers.
As far as original old surplus it's just old at this point and polymer has come a long way since then. Even of the *excellent* condition A1 stocks that I've received, they were in pretty rough shape with visible cracks.
Did the Colt SP1 use the same type buttstock plastic as the M16?
Did the Colt SP1 use the same type buttstock plastic as the M16?
No idea on that one. :confused: I'm not sure if there was ever any change to the polymer formulations used to make M16/M16A1 furniture. I'm sure Colt would have been using the same furniture for their commercial rifles as well as their military rifles.
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