Collapsible Stocks - Is this normal?

[Euclidean]

My question comes from the frame of reference from owning two AR15s. I have noticed something that doesn't really effect how well the rifle functions per se, just how it "handles" and "feels", which are very subjective things.

It seems to me that when you've an AR15, unless you spend the $$$ for a Magpul stock or something similar, you have to choose between solid feel, and adjustable LOP.

I say this because the same rifle, when wearing a fixed stock vs. a 6 position collapsible stock, feels very different even though it functions about the same even with the carbine length buffer in place. The fixed stock makes the rifle feel much more rugged. The collapsible stock, no matter what I do, always feels like there's "play" in it. It makes the rifle feel somewhat fragile.

At first I chalked it up to my own incomptent installation, but after handling some factory AR15s (Bushmasters mostly) I noticed that they had a very similar "feel". Anyone else I know that has an AR15 has a fixed stock, so no data available there other than they all feel "solid". So basically it seems across the board, you can have either a "solid" feel (fixed stock) or an adjustable LOP but with some "play" in the stock (collapsible stock).

This "play" in no way affects anything that deals with the functionality of the rifle so I'm not terribly concerned about it. I also feel it's mostly in my head. I'd still much rather have the collapsible stock vs. the fixed one in many cases. However I'm curious if it's just me, or if there's some kind of consensus on this?

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Well, what you need is a buffer tube that is tightly held to dimensions and a stock that is tightly held to fit on those dimensions. Having said that, i think there are some design limitations that make it difficult to achieve a good tight fit with the normal telestock.

One of those design limitations is that it is more expensive to produce a reliable, tight-fitting telestock at a reasonable price. If you have the choice of paying $60 for a telestock with a bit of slop in it, $100 for a telestock that fits tightly or $150+ for a high-end collapsible stock - most people choose either the top rung or the bottom rung.

 

[C-5Driver]

Collapsible stocks

I put a 6 position stock (not the expensive Mil-Spec type) on my M4gery. After shooting a standard A2 for several years, the play in the collapsible stock really annoyed me too. A suggestion from one of the gun boards (I forget which) was to stick a strip of the fuzzy side of some self-adhesive Velcro on the inside of the stock tube to tighten it up. IT REALLY WORKED! No more rattle and feels rock solid! The possible downside is if you use too much Velcro (like I did!) it makes the stock rather difficult to adjust for LOP. I don't mind because I don't change the length very often. Best thing about this mod is that if you don't like it, you just peel out the Velcro (not real easy to do) and you're back where you started with no ill effects.

Dave

 

[Jackal]

I just layed a 6" long piece of electrical tape along the top side of the buffer tube, tightened the whole thing up nicely.

 

[matt9052]

It might depend on the brand. I have an olymlpic arms M-4 with the six position stock and it is a very tight fit with no rattles or movement.

 

[Euclidean]

Interesting fixes, I think the velcro thing might help with the particular "play" I have on one rifle. I guess that when it comes down to it, a little bit of "play" is just something you either have to accept, spend money to fix, or southern engineer a solution to. Unless of course you're lucky like matt9052.

I actually plan to either just buy a better collapsing stock eventually, or get a short fixed stock and be happy with it, but I was curious if I was just crazy or if there was something to this. Maybe both?

 

[goon]

I think it may just depend on the individual stock.
My Olympic rattled like an old pickup truck.
I bought an RRA 6 position stock to replace it and the RRA feels much more solid. There is still a little play but there almost has to be.

 

[dleong]

Ditto here on the electrical tape fix. A few lengths of black electrical tape on the outside surfaces of the buffer tubes of my M4-geries eliminated most of the lateral play in the stocks.