Buffer extension: commercial vs. mil-spec (not your usual question!)

[Rittmeister]

I've got a Rock River rifle that I bought a few years ago that I've done some modifying on. It's still got the factory RRA Operator stock, which is a nice piece.

I built another gun myself that I stuck a Magpul MOE stock on, which I also like a lot. The built gun has a mil-spec buffer tube, while the RRA was supplied with commercial-spec.

While it's true I like the Operator stock, I've been considering adding a Magpul CTR stock - this is the sliding stock that has the additional friction lock for more stability. The Operator stock has the usual sliding-stock shake (naturally).

My question is this - would it make sense to swap the commercial tube out for a mil-spec, just for commonality with my other gun (and legions of others)? I can get the tube for under $20 so budget isn't really an issue. I could simply re-use the buffer and spring, and I could then swap stocks between the guns at will if I felt like it.

Just curious. Obviously I could save money by just getting a commercial-spec stock (or not changing anything at all) but I like the idea of interchangeability.

Comments welcome. Thanks!

 

[Quentin]

I went through this 6 years ago, and swapped a commercial tube for milspec diameter so my first AR would be the same as my later ones. It turned out to be a smart decision as over the years I've moved stocks around a lot. It would have been a real pain to have both sizes.

Some brands Loctite the threads which makes removing the tube a hassle. A buddy ran into that problem with his Bushmaster. And of course some castle nuts are staked but I don't think RRA stakes theirs.

Yeah, it's wise to have the same diameter tube if you have multiple ARs. And the Magpul CTR is my favorite stock.

 

[NWcityguy2]

If you already have a stock wrench and lower vise block, swapping out the stocks will be easy. Will it really matter? That depends on how much you like to play around with things. Generally, my guns wear one stock for their entire lives, 2 at most.

 

[Hookeye]

Yup, set it and forget it.
Want something different?
Build another whole rifle.

 

[Jackal]

Yup, set it and forget it.
Want something different?
Build another whole rifle.

Haha, funny. It takes 5 min to swap buffer tubes/stocks. I would however just get a MFT Minimalist instead, for your commercial tube, if you dont want to swap it out. Simply one of the best stocks on the market. Very tight fit (zero wobble), extremely lightweight. Here's a link: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/30...malist-stock-collapsible-ar-15-lr-308-polymer

 

[MachIVshooter]

I would however just get a MFT Minimalist instead, for your commercial tube, if you dont want to swap it out. Simply one of the best stocks on the market. Very tight fit (zero wobble), extremely lightweight. Here's a link: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/302...lr-308-polymer

IT is a good stock, and check your local wally world first. They've been clearancing their "tactical" stuff; I snagged one of these stocks last week for $25.

 

[MistWolf]

I would swap out the commercial RE for the milspec RE. If it were me, I would spend the extra money for the BCM A5 style RE to get a more reliable and smoother shooting rifle

 

[HammsBeer]

How much smoother is the A5 buffer system? And I assume it's the milspec diameter?

 

[MistWolf]

I run one on a 20 inch rifle. It's smoother than it was with a standard carbine RE and others report it's more forgiving and makes the rifle easier to tune. I don't think it's a big difference but it's noticeable. The scope stays on target a bit better. When I get the chance, I'll try it with a16 inch upper

 

[henschman]

It's hard to measure how much smoother shooting a setup is, but people who have them say they shoot pretty much like a fixed stock setup... so it definitely makes a noticeable difference.

Yes, A5s are mil spec diameter.

 

[wally]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it, but the CTR stocks have slightly different lengths between military and commercial versions, with the ones for commercial spec tube being ~3/8" longer because of the taper at the rear of the commercial tube.

I don't know if this matters to you, but I prefer the military CTR for this reason. They do sell a pad to lengthen the military version to match the commercial if your preference is opposite of mine.

 

[Hookeye]

Not trying to be funny.
If not ideal at the start, the progression should still be one way.
And parts swapped out become merely dust collectors.

Changing stocks or buffer tubes back and forth...........is silly.

Less hassle to just pick up a lower and set it up if need be...........and I think that rather silly as well.

If swapping lowers back and forth (outside of NFA).
Just build a whole 'nuther rifle.

 

[Hookeye]

Mil or commercial............I prefer the Magpul "enhanced pad'.
Looks better, but doesn't offer any recoil absorption IMHO.
Had a CTR on M4 grip adapter on Contender carbine in .35 Rem. Worked great but looked like crap (compared to rest of gun).
Run CTR on some AR's. Mil and commercial..........bought whatever was on sale locally.
They may not interchange...........but then they aren't going to be interchanged. If I break one I probably mangled more than just the stock.
If so............I have a backup rifle all set to go. No wrenching required.

 

[Rittmeister]

It's true that most folks are likely to choose certain hardware and never change it - myself included. My frankengun wears an MOE carbine stock and I like it a lot, and have no plans to replace it. I wanted to try the CTR on the second gun for the friction lock that eliminates play.

Another thing I've noticed about the RRA commercial w/Operator stock. When pulled the whole way out, it's longer than I prefer. I know where to put it but it still takes a second. With the MOE on my self-built rifle, I just pull it the whole way out and it's exactly where I want it. I'm not sure if this is due to the commercial tube being just a bit longer, or if the RRA stock has more LOP. Either way, having the CTR on a mil-spec tube, my gut feeling is I could just pull it out the whole way as I do with the MOE on my other gun and be ready to go.

Plus remember - 1, I like the idea of interchangeability. Will I? I don't know. Might I? Of course! And 2, I like to tinker. It's not the best for my budget and some will view it as unnecessary work, but I enjoy modding things (guns, cars, house, etc) and will never be able to stop, so this kinda falls in line with that too.

All comments appreciated!

 

[HammsBeer]

I always shot with my CTR about two clicks out from fully collapsed, but hated the wobble and the front of the CTR grabbing facial hair, so I ended up putting on a magpul fixed carbine stock and it has the same lop but without the hair pulling! Available in both com and mil diameters.