Alternatives to vltor a5

[Krazykarl]

Having spent the last week thouroghly pouring through all of the searchable threads concerning the A5, I noticed that two things are obvious:

1. Vltor A5 discussions peaked in 2016.
2. Vltor A5 kit is hard to find and frequently out of stock.

Does anyone else besides BCM sell a conversion kit? This itself is not a perfect solution as BCM evidently does not include the correct buffer weight with the RE. I am using the A5 kit to replace the A2 stock on my 20" rifle. If I have to order parts one piece at a time to make this work so be it. Just trying to avoid paying a lot in different shipping fees. This has really been harder than anticipated...

[Krazykarl]

Should add that I put this in technical section as it concerns putting together parts that may not be normally used together to mimic a well established product.

[opngrnd]

Just get on the notification lists of a few websites. Almost anything I own ends up with A5 guts, whether it be UBR or Vltor RE. It's a bit annoying at times, but if you don't have a case of "need it now", you won't have problems getting it. I usually just grab parts randomly when I'm getting other things I need from Midway.

[hk_shootr]

MidwayUSA has the receiver extension and buffers in stock Wednesday

You can use a buffer tube from LMT, the model for the MWS 308, the BCM or the VLTOR

[sig1473]

Magpul also makes an A5 RE:https://www.magpul.com/products/magp...sion-sr25-m110

[26 Inf]

Magpul also makes an A5 RE:https://www.magpul.com/products/magp...sion-sr25-m110

I have the Magpul Enhanced extension listed above and the BCM extension. Both work fine.

The Magpul has ten adjustments, the BCM has eight. So the Magpul offers more/finer LOP adjustments, but not much. I measured the web between the holes and came up with these measurements:

.355 - random 6 position carbine tube
.210 - BCM 8 position
.145 - Magpul 10 position

So the Magpul adjustment is roughly .065 (1/15ish) finer than the BCM. I say roughly because I did these right by the gun safe and the light wasn't optimal). I really can't say I've noticed any LOP difference.

I use Brownells CS rifle springs and sourced my A5 buffers through BCM as VLTOR was always out of stock. I use a A5H2 in my 16inch and an A5H3 in my SBR. I bought those based on forum searches, suppressed I'd probably be better off one higher in each rifle, but they function fine.

Good luck.

[titsonritz]

If I have to order parts one piece at a time to make this work so be it. Just trying to avoid paying a lot in different shipping fees.

This is what I do anyway now regardless of availability of the kits as neither have the parts I want.


The Vltor one is better than the BCM (which comes with a A5H0, where the Vltor comes with A5H2 buffer). If you buy stuff from Forward Controls they sell A5 buffers as well, between FCD, BCM or Magpul (for tubes), Brownells and Sprinco I've had good luck finding the parts I want, I bundle stuff together and/or order multiples to save on shipping

[GH41]

Having spent the last week thouroghly pouring through all of the searchable threads concerning the A5, I noticed that two things are obvious:

1. Vltor A5 discussions peaked in 2016.
2. Vltor A5 kit is hard to find and frequently out of stock.

Does anyone else besides BCM sell a conversion kit? This itself is not a perfect solution as BCM evidently does not include the correct buffer weight with the RE. I am using the A5 kit to replace the A2 stock on my 20" rifle. If I have to order parts one piece at a time to make this work so be it. Just trying to avoid paying a lot in different shipping fees. This has really been harder than anticipated...

There is NO correct buffer weight. BCM sells the weight that most rifles will run reliably with.

[Jwknutson17]

There is NO correct buffer weight. BCM sells the weight that most rifles will run reliably with.

But BCM includes the most useless buffer weight. Probably to compensate for crap ammo people shoot. But if they were basing the buffer weight off of their overgassed barrels they should include A5H3 buffers instead.

Not directed to you GH41... Fyi

[markm]

We love the A5 buffer system. But I'd honestly just run a carbine system with H2 if there were any difficulty sourcing the A5 components. If a gun is gassed right, the H2 carbine is just fine.