I wanted an original N1 marked Colt fiberlite stock but they are out of my price range. So I set out to find the closest repro. I decided to roll the dice on one of the newer entries, the B5 Systems version that Brownells is selling. I was really impressed with the quality of B5’s Bravo stock which I have on five of my AR’s so figured I would give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised when it came in, the fit and finish are about as close to an original as you can get. To give you an idea of how close it is, the only major difference I could find is instead of the three little round mold marks the Colt has it has two bigger round marks. It’s barely noticeable. And instead of an N behind the lever it has a B. I am very happy with it, it’s the best repro I’ve seen.
Diemaco/Colt Canada still use the N1 on the C7/C8 family. When I was building our C8 for my girlfriend, I sent photos of the build to friends Up North and they couldn’t believe I hadn’t somehow found genuine CC parts down here.
Didn’t try it on a “correct” 4-position tube, but it works just as well on the newer 6-pos. (My arms are shorter than hers, so we had to depart from Book Spec so it would fit me as well as her.) If I end up having to build her a 20" C7 to go with it, will DEFINITELY be buying another of these.
I have one of the Brownells stocks and can confirm they are a nice stock. I also have two actual N1s but oddly I’ve never actually sat down and compared the minute details with the Brownells.
The M&A parts CAR style stocks were a good stand in too, I think I have like three of them, they were going for $25 last time I bought one. But awhile back apparently M&A or whoever they get their stuff from, changed the latch retention mechanism from the roll pin to some kind of hokey E-clip thing. I know a lot of guys in the Arfcom Retro forum were pretty bummed about it. I don’t know if M&A went back to the pin or not as I haven’t bought any more of their CAR stocks.
Brownells CAR stocks are good to go. Some complain about wobble but original N1’s wobble to. In a blind taste test you will not notice a difference.
True story. They did fit rather loosely. I never liked the waffle stock, so I moved a plastic CAR stock from gun to gun in the era before all these sweet aftermarket ones.
The only Diemaco part that I have for certain seen in person in the US was a floor plate that I picked up at Knob Creek prior to needing readers for up close stuff.
Wiggle usually isn’t enough to matter, but Duplicolor truck bed liner ends up with a smooth surface that can be built up some inside the stock body by squirting the bed liner on something like a pipe cleaner and painting strips along the bottom to cause it to draw down. Just paint pairs of strips roughly symmetrical and test fit. If built up a little too much it can be smacked on and worn in or if way too much some sort of solvent will strip it as needed/wanted.
I used the Brownells stock on a clone of an early M4. I was very pleased with it.
I can’t believe I’m without an original N1 stock. I was fine with those when everyone was ditching them for the latest and greatest. I’m kind of accustomed to a rubber butt plate now however.
I’ve bought two of these stocks and I’m very impressed with them.