My M1A and a possible J Allen stock.

[Chaotic Mind]

So I really like my Springfield Armory M1A and I've been considering dropping a good amount of cash on a new stock for it and the stock I've been looking at is the JAE-100 GEN 2 Precision Rifle Stock. The picture below is the one and it's in the colors I was going to get (will be getting the bipod for it and a new scope as well). I'm wondering if anyone has some experience with these stocks and what you think of them and also some of the extras that you can add are new to me so I was hoping someone could enlighten me on them a bit. Now I know some people would ask "why spend so much money" but for me I've got it and I feel like putting together one nice rifle for my collection. Anyway, here are some of my questions.
http://www.jallenenterprises.com/jae100gen2pricing.htm
1) Barrel tensioner?
2) What could I put on the side PICATINNY RAIL's?
3) Whats the difference with the ADJUSTABLE CHEEK REST w/SPACERS & ADJUSTABLE CHEEK REST w/THUMBWHEEL?
If you happen to look at the site and you see something that you think I overlooked that would be a nice thing to have please let me know. Thanks for helping a noob to modifiying his rifles.

Oh, and when I finally get it put together I'll put a picture up for all to see what their knowledge helped me build.

 

[browningguy]

Well I like barrel tensioners, and I like adjustable cheek rests, but man they charge a lot for a $1 screw and $1 piece of plastic.

Barrel tension screws allow you to adjust an upward presure point on the barrel to fine tune accuracy, they actually work very well. The adj. cheek piece allows you to adjust so that your cheek weld to the stock always hits in the same place, and lets you get a good cheek weld with scopes.

I guess you could hang some gadgets like lasers etc. on the side rails. On my smaller EBR's I use them for flashlight mounts for night hunting varmints and pigs.

Sidewheels are convenient, but then everyone and his dog wants to play with the thumbscrew adjuster (and you might be tempted too). Get the one with spacers, set it up for you, then don't play with it. I have an adjustable comb on my sporting clays gun and used to play with it all the time. I finally set it where it worked for me then put red loctite on the screws. Now I shoot much more consistantly.

 

[Jason_G]

The best thing about these stocks is that they achieve the same function as a bedding job without the goop; you can take the action out of the stock for a thorough cleaning as often as you want without worry of ruining your "bedding job".

I would totally own one if they didn't cost half the price of a whole new rifle... and if someone made one that looked like a USGI stock with the same aluminum bedding block, I would happily plunk down that much.

Jason

 

[H2O MAN]

JAE makes a nice stock, but I prefer the simple, rugged light weight SAGE CQB stock.
Not Cali-legal though. Have you looked at the new stocks LAW483.com is coming out with?
They have an awesome new Cali-legal stock that may work out for you.

 

[Deckard]

I'm gonna go ahead and ask why would you want to drop more money on the stock than you spent on the rifle?

 

[Retro]

My G2 Stock is great. I still have not figured out exactly how to fine tone my barrel tensioner... I always thought free-floating barrel is more accurate, and hence I didn't quite understand the concept of barrel tensioner... Any pointers?

 

[Kind of Blued]

I'm gonna go ahead and ask why would you want to drop more money on the stock than you spent on the rifle?

Well, they look cool. Deciding whether that is justifiable depends on how much money one has.

 

[lipadj46]

I'm gonna go ahead and ask why would you want to drop more money on the stock than you spent on the rifle?

Maybe because the stocks do not cost more than an M14 type rifle. Unless he got a smoking deal on the rifle or the stocks really jumped in price since the last time I priced them.

Yes they are expensive but if you want a modern self-bedding M14 stock that is Ban State compliant this is the best IMO.

 

[Coronach]

I'm gonna go ahead and ask why would you want to drop more money on the stock than you spent on the rifle?

Well, that all depends on how much you spent on the rifle.

The main reason, to me, is to get the functional equivalent of bedding the rifle (which almost always helps make the M14 system more accurate) without the inherent problems of bedding. If you're making a nice precision tactical rifle, it is probably worth it.

As to aesthetics, I've said it before and I'll say it again; Jason G is right. J Allen Enterprises needs to fold this chassis system into a stock that, on the surface, looks like a USGI fiberglass stock. If they did that, and if the weight was not excessive, it would be a wonderful thing. As is, I might buy one of these stocks. If they made its exterior profile match that of the USGI stock, I'd definately buy two.

getting back to the OP

1) Barrel tensioner?

As was said, it adjusts tension on the barrel. You can play with the tension placed on the barrel to see if it reduces group size.

2) What could I put on the side PICATINNY RAIL's?

Flashlights and laser are the usual things to put there. Resist the urge to hang a bunch of crap on the rifle if you don't need it. The M14 is already heavy.

3) Whats the difference with the ADJUSTABLE CHEEK REST w/SPACERS & ADJUSTABLE CHEEK REST w/THUMBWHEEL?

The adjustable cheek rest allows you to change out the spacers to adjust the height to the comb (the part of the stock you rest your cheek against when shooting). You probably will need a cheek rest if you're shooting with an optic, since the glass will sit pretty high above the bore. The thumbwheel system allows you to adjust the height just by turning the wheel.

If it were me, I would say "yes" to #1, I would get the picatinny rails but probably not put anything on them (may not even mount them), just to keep my options open, and I would get the spacer system in lieu of the thumbwheel. The reason for #3 is that you are adding cost, weight and complexity to get an adjustment that you really only need to make once, and can probably be done just as easily with a spacer.

Mike

 

[Chaotic Mind]

Thanks for the info mates. As to a few of the questions posed to me:

I'm gonna go ahead and ask why would you want to drop more money on the stock than you spent on the rifle?

I like the M1A and I don't mind putting money into my rifle. I'm not married yet so I figure I had better do it now rather than later when I would have to get yelled at for doing it (why didn't you spend that money on me!!!). And I'm an RN so I make good money. I don't need many rifles, but the once I do own I am looking to mod a bit. Also I think the M1A has a close place to my heart as it was the rifle we used when I was in the Navy (M14) so I don't mind tricking it out a bit. OH. One more reason. I want to spend money on my rifles because Obama told people not to buy guns. So I plan on improving mine and buying a few more, just to be a stinker.