I’ve decided I’m going to go with an A1 stock on my carbine. I know I’m digging down into real minutiae here, but what’s the best way to go about this? As I understand from posts on this board, the Cav Arms C1 is much more durable than the original A1, but the fittings that come with it aren’t the best out there. Meanwhile, Fulton has the good stuff when it comes to the fittings department, but how is their stock. Does any of this really matter?
IMHO the best A1 length stock is the Colt CS stock. Same A1 length but made of the same stuff as an A2. The Cav Arms stock isn’t bad and on the few I’ve owned in the past I ran a real Colt or other buttplate on them, the Cav Arms buttplate is cheesy.
I have the fulton A1 stock assembly and am very happy with it.It has the trap door butt plate.It looks identical to the cav arms.I have been told that it is a cav arms.
Is there a good place to buy one? I did a google search and came up with nothing.
Fulton Armory uses the Cav Arms A1 stock. The main difference is that Fulton Armory uses a metal trap door assembly instead of the cheap plastic piece that comes standard when purchased from Cav Arms. I use one and like it a lot.
I, too, have a Fulton Armory A1 stock (complete kit). I haven’t installed it yet, but all the components seem to be good quality.
At the time of my purchase, FA was the only place I could find a complete stock kit. I really found no other A1 choices at the time.
After researching the pros and cons, the only A1 stocks I have are Colt A1s.
I just can’t remember where I got 'em…
look on the equipment exchange or gunbroker for used a1 stocks- they will usually serve well. I have a preference for the early version without the trapdoor buttplate but that is just me. I recently completed a build using a VLTOR A1 fixed stock and found it nice too.
+1 on the VLTOR A1 stock, I went with the ARM-1C (Clubfoot)
The Fulton Armory A1 stock kit has served me well.
The plastic is more “platicky” than the material found in A2 stocks, but the metal materials in the stock kit (buffer, buffer tube, trap door) are of excellent quality.
Pretty good deal for a complete stock kit if you ask me. Works like a charm on my SPR-ish rifle
I like the texture on the Cavalry Arms stock…
Another endorsement for the Vltor A1 length Modstock.
I have Carbines with both the A1 length Modstock and the GI issue from Colt. Like 'Em both, although
I really don’t see a lot of practical use for the Vltor unit. OTOH, it mounts a pad easily, and has a lot of
sex appeal.
I have the Vltor A1 clubfoot and Cavarms A1. I dumped the rubber buttplate from the Cav for a trapdoor from an A2 I had. It fit great.
The Vltor is nice as it allows more cheek rest with the side tubes added.
In my current shooting style, I find both a little too long.
I’ve gone with the RRA entry fixed stock (7") and added a 1" spacer. This puts the stock out at about 8 1/2" (same place I run collapsibles).
If the 10" A1 is longer than you want, the Sully stock (http://prostores2.carrierzone.com/servlet/defensive-edgenet/-strse-Sully-Stocks/Categories is 8" and they offer a 1" extended butt plate option (my next purchase).
Good luck.
Thanks all, I’m going to go with the Cav Arms A1 with Fulton furniture. Seems like the right combo for me. I know that alot of people love the VLTOR stocks but they just don’t work for me. I just want something nice and simple.
I agree on the “cheesiness” of the Cav Arms.
So what exactly is a “Colt CS” A1 length stock and where do I get one? It sounds perfect for me.
These will be military surplus with your choice of aluminum or plastic trap door in the buttplate: http://uscoreplicas.net/. Look in the section for M16A1 parts.
Those look like plain A1 stocks. The CS stock is the same as the A1 but made with A2 materials.
The CS stocks are rare, and not likely to be “in stock” in any type of store. Same with the CAR stocks. You only find them sporadically when people decide to sell one in an EE type setting.
What were/are those early M16 non-trapdoor stocks made of? Were/are they well made and sturdy?