Bushmaster AR-15/M4 question - telescoping stock latch

[wooderson]

I've got a Bushmaster XM-15 E2S M4 (the short carbine with telescoping stock) and have the hardest time getting a comfortable shooting position with it. To get a good spot on the front sight, I've got to put the rifle way out on my shoulder (less steady) or lean my head until my ear is just about resting on the buttstock (uncomfortable, impossible with a headset). I have no such problem with most bolt-action rifles, ala the Remington 700 and the CZs. No real experience with other rifles.

I'm slightly above average in size (6'1", long arms), so I'm wondering if the stock is at a less-than-ideal length for my size. I was going to play with the telescoping - but the "telescoping buttstock latch" described in the manual doesn't seem to do anything. I can even unscrew it completely, and the butstock still ain't moving. The manual is no help at all.

Any owners of this model or something similar who might be able to shed some light?

(http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/pcwa2x14m4my.asp - my model, FYI)

Thanks, MP

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

Do you have the post ban version of the "collapsible" stock?? If so, it is actually a fixed stock that looks like the collapsible stock. If this is the case, you won't be able to adjust it.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Sounds like you have a postban telestock that is fixed in position. You'll need to replace the stock if you want to adjust it.

 

[Jackal]

I have a very similar problem. I am 6' and slender, and no matter what I do, my Bushy's telestock is horrid. To get a decent sight picture, I have to bring the bottom tip of the buttplate and just about set it on top of my shoulder.

 

[wooderson]

I may indeed have the fixed-stock version - wrote it off looking at pictures on their website, as the pictured fixed-stock has no flash suppressor and mine does. The rifle was a gift from my father last year (year-end bonus for putting up with some real wackjobs we built a house for), and the markings weren't a help, so I was a bit in the dark as to the exact model (I was also wrong about it being an A2 - it's an A3).

I'm going to call up Bushmaster with my serial on Monday to see if they can tell me the exact model to doublecheck.

The folks at ar15.com suggested a riser as a way to get past the sight issues - I'm thinking that that and/or a medium-power scope (targets and plinking) would put the sight picture up high enough to alleviate the problem.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Jackal, have you tried closing the telestock in a few positions (or is it also fixed)? Generally that will solve the issue you describe to some degree.

Wooderson, there were a number of fake flash hiders made for postban firearms, including muzzle brakes that look like flash hiders. You can usually tell these by the diameter of the hole in the muzzle device. If it is the same size as the bullet, it is some type of fake flash hider or muzzle brake. If it is a large open area, then it is generally a flash hider. Then again, now that the ban is over someone may have just mated a preban upper with a postban lower...