Best A1 stock kit

AR/M4 Vintage ARs
1

The only one a see readily availible is the CMMG for about a hundred bucks. The KAK looks like it is A2 length only. Do I have other choices?

2

I https://www.cavmfg.com/C1-Buttstock-C1.htm. I order mine from cav arms.

3

Still a CMMG @ $100 bucks but not many choices for Full kits. Just the A1 stocks are aplenty but kits are a bit harder at the moment. I’ll keep looking for ya.
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/stock-parts/buttstocks/ar-15-a1-stock-kit-w-receiver-extension-prod135729.aspx
https://ar15sport.com/product/reproduction-m16a1-buttstock-kit-ret-repoa1bs/
Anyone I find that’s less than $100 is Out of Stock. The CMMG is good stuff !

4

Why not go with vintage stuff?

5

Here is the thing, NONE of those stocks mentioned are A1 E type stocks. The only way you are going to get a real A1 type stock is to find an original. Brownells has discontinued their repro stocks, although they were repros of a D type stock. US Collectors Ordnance is a good place to look for originals, but they will be pricey.

https://www.uscollectorsordnance.com/product-category/m16-furniture-parts/

6

Damn, looking at those prices makes me thinking of sell mine. I guess I got a good deal.

7

With the Cavalry Arms product what are you giving up other than authenticity?

8

I’m not familiar with A1 stocks, but compared to an A2:

  1. They’re hollow, without the hard foam fill. Some people don’t like that, either because of the sound, the weight, or the suspicion that it’s not as strong.
  2. The supplied buttplate is flimsy (but you can substitute an A2).
  3. The design leaves the toe of the buttplate poorly supported — there’s a gap between the underside of the buttplate and the shelf surrounding the lower screw. If you have to “mortar” the rifle to clear a malfunction, and you happen to hit the toe rather than the heel, the buttplate can collapse into the stock and split it open. We’ve had a thread or two about this over on TOS.

I like the Cav stock well enough, but I do use a few washers as a spacer to span the gap.

ETA: 4a) The slot for the sling swivel is oversized relative to an A2 stock, and 4b) the supplied swivel is crude, although here again you can substitute the real thing.

9

Thanks.

10

This is a real original E type stock as used on the M16A1 from 1971-1982.

You can see the difference in design and material between this one and the others being offered by those who have been aforementioned.

11

They’re flemsy as F@#K!! Even if you upgrade the cheap ass butt plate it comes with, the stock is still weak. I could grab mine and twist it on the RE because you can’t get it tight enough to be solid.

I’m a big A1 stock fan. The best I could find was vintage pull off of surplus. They don’t have butt plate doors, but a solid stock without storage is more important than a cheapo with storage.

The strongest A1 length stock I ever tried was the Magpul Fixed carbine. It doesn’t have the classic buttstock look, but it is a friggin tank.

12

I’ll scratch that off the list. It seems there are no good contemporary shorter-than-A2 options for the rifle extension, fixed or adjustable. I wish the UBR Gen2 was not so expensive.

13

Best stock out there is the Colt “CS” marked stock.

I have one and lucked out. Shop had it for $50 with the buffer tube.

14

In A1 length, if the vintage look is not the goal, I like the Vltor ARMS rifle stock. You can still find them around. It’s even a full ounce lighter than my CavArms with A2 buttplate.

15

Those are the gold standard, but very hard to find.

16

I think these are in between A1 & A2 length.

https://magpul.com/firearm-accessories/stocks/moe-rifle-stock.html?mp_global_color=118

17

They sure are hard to find.

18

I’ve had one on a Dissy and so far have had no problems with it whatsoever. I’m using an A2 buttplate on mine. It has stayed together and although it’s not the mil-spec A1 of the Vietnam era it has served it’s purpose. Until you can find a real good original A1 at a decent price (they’re still out there as well as A2 stocks) the Cav Arms should serve just fine for the price and get you to the range. :+1:

19

Of course Stickman has a photo.

20

The CS were hard to find 20 years ago. Might find them via estate sale by now.:eek: