I was wondering the history on why there are plastic and metal buttstock doors and which is appropriate for what builds?
Thanks
I was wondering the history on why there are plastic and metal buttstock doors and which is appropriate for what builds?
Thanks
The butt plate has always been plastic even on the M16A1 (E type buttstock) so nothing new there and the trap doors have been plastic for several years on the M16A2/A4 so nothing new there either. There was a period where some M16A2 buttstocks had metal trapdoors, but that was short-lived. For a while, Bushmaster had metal trapdoors on their A2 buttstocks. So long as you have a steel hinge and pin and latch you are good to go. In addition, The "plastic" trapdoors are actually high impact nylon material that is many times better than aluminum or pot metal doors. The nylon trapdoors will not crack, shatter, burn you in hot weather or stick to bare skin in frozen conditions.
"A Bad Day At The Range Is Better Than A Great Day Working"
USMC Force Recon 1978-1984
US Air Force Res. 1995-2004 (Air Transportation)
M16/AR15 shooter since 1978, gun collector and AR builder since 2004
my sp1 has a metal trap door on it though and im the original owner, is the civilian type e stocks different?
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The E type stocks were made with metal and polymer trapdoors throughout the years. I have older E type stock with polymer, but my 1977 SP1 has a metal trapdoor. The E type stocks have been around since 1971 which was during the middle of the Vietnam War. I have a strong feeling that many of the trapdoors built during that time were polymer and not metal due to the environment to which the M16s were subjected. It is cheaper to produce a polymer trapdoor and they are more impervious to the environmental elements.
"A Bad Day At The Range Is Better Than A Great Day Working"
USMC Force Recon 1978-1984
US Air Force Res. 1995-2004 (Air Transportation)
M16/AR15 shooter since 1978, gun collector and AR builder since 2004
Every Type E stock I've seen had a metal trap door. Every M16A2 I was issued between 1987-2006 had a metal trapdoor. My last A2 was an FN, the only FN I ever was issued, and it was like new when I drew it in 2001. I turned it in in 2006 as I transferred back to a line unit and got an M4, which I carried until 2012 when I retired. I never encountered a plastic trapdoor, but I've heard of others say their M16A4 had them.
Last edited by Cerberus; 12-21-18 at 22:35.
I have a new in wrap USGI metal trap door and it is dated 07/06. All the ones I have seen up to the M16A4 have been metal.
Thought they went to the plastic doors when the A4 came out
Ducti Amore Patriae
Every E series Stock I have ever seen or purchased for builds or looked at at Funshows in last 10 Years has had a Metal Trap Door (If I were going to build a 603 Clone again it would have one ,again ) MY A2 builds are mixed (But one of my USGI "Takeoff" A2 stocks has a Metal Door ) and I used a Metal door on my latest M16A4 build .
All the M16A4 that I have seen have been plastic. None have been metal on the new ones.
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