Can someone recommend a reputable, and competent dealer/smith where I send my Colt lower to get a 6 position mil-spec LMT buffer tube installed and staked properly.
The Colt tube has a way long feeling LOP with SOPMOD and EMOD type stocks on the first click
Variable,
Why not do it yourself? Seriously it is not that hard and all you need is a decent wrench and a way to secure the lower. In reality a magwell vise block will work.
Any particular method or tools recommended for staking?
I use a center punch, I believe GotM4 crafted a tool that’s more “squared” off and gives the appearance similiar to the Colt staking. If concerned about a slippage or miss strike, triple layer duct tape the surrounding area.
I take my center punch and place it centered on the end plate and staking notch, tap lightly to start the dimple, couple, three more to deepen, then angle the punch at or about 45 degree’s towards the notch to work the metal into it. It doesn’t take much and I do it in both notches.
Clean with alcohol and touch up with cold blue and then oil.
Hope that helps
Mark
YOU CAN DO ET!
Mark described it pretty good. I use a nice sharp center punch and a brass hammer.
You’ve been around the boards for a long time, go ahead and knock this one out yourself. It is a very straight forward process, and the price of a castle nut wrench is probably less than what shipping would run you.
If you have any questions while you are working on it, shoot me an email, I should be around for most of the day.
Very simple task.
I use an old screwdriver blade modified by filing the tip flat.
Sell me that Colt RE. 
I changed the buffer tube today. Wasnt too bad.
I still need to stake it however. I will get around to that later.
Thanks for the tips all.
SOPMOD works much better now. It was out of place on the Colt tube due to the long LOP
