The buffer tube/stock of my AR wobbles side to side?

[ThatTokenGuy]

I just got an almost bnib ati 15 and I noticed the buffer tube wobbles about 10-20 degrees side to side. I hand tightened the castle nut but it still wobbles. How do I get rid of the wobble?

 

[Sam1911]

The tube itself wobbles? Or the stock wobbles?

I can't imagine how the tube would wobble. Unless the lower receiver is utterly ruined ---> threads stripped out of the buffer tube ring on the receiver, or that ring cracked and letting things move.

You shouldn't be able to turn the castle nut at all without a wrench. If you can loosen the nut, spin the tube out and inspect the threads and the rear of the lower receiver.

The good news is that lower receivers are like $60 these days, so if you have to replace it it isn't much of a big deal.





EDIT: ATI, does that mean it's a polymer lower? If so, I'll double/triple my suspicion that something's broken. Strip the gun down and get a flashlight and find out what's cracked or stripped.

 

[ThatTokenGuy]

The tube itself wobbles? Or the stock wobbles?

I can't imagine how the tube would wobble. Unless the lower receiver is utterly ruined ---> threads stripped out of the buffer tube ring on the receiver, or that ring cracked and letting things move.

You shouldn't be able to turn the castle nut at all without a wrench. If you can loosen the nut, spin the tube out and inspect the threads and the rear of the lower receiver.

The good news is that lower receivers are like $60 these days, so if you have to replace it it isn't much of a big deal.





EDIT: ATI, does that mean it's a polymer lower? If so, I'll double/triple my suspicion that something's broken. Strip the gun down and get a flashlight and find out what's cracked or stripped.

My lower is aluminum. I dont have a castle nut wrench atm but i used hand strength+rag and no dice. I stripped the rifle and nothings broken. The rifle fires fine its just the buffer tube keeps twisting left/right.

 

[rcmodel]

but i used hand strength+rag and no dice

That won't do it!

If you can't afford the proper tools to tighten it?

Borrow a friends channel-lock pliers!

Or scrounge up $15 bucks somehow and have a gunsmith tighten it with the proper wrench, to the proper torque.

You simply cannot tighten it too spec torque, bare handed with a rag!

(Unless of course, your name is really Clark Kent.)

rc

 

[plexreticle]

The wrench is $6 at Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/97...nch-ar-15-buttstock-1911-barrel-bushing-steel

 

[ThatTokenGuy]

Kk ty. I was trying to be a cheap bastard haha

 

[Jackal]

Is it screwed in all the way/far enough? Even hand tight, it shouldnt wobble THAT much. If you have a brass punch and hammer, you can tighten in that way too.

 

[ThatTokenGuy]

Is it screwed in all the way/far enough? Even hand tight, it shouldnt wobble THAT much. If you have a brass punch and hammer, you can tighten in that way too.

Yes it is. It doesnt wobble if i shake it but if i grab it it will twist and it loosens while shooting.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Buy the wrench, or at the very least, grab a friend, a hammer and a ~1/8" punch. Reason for the second party with the latter shadetree method is so that one of you can hold the stock straight while the other taps the nut tight. Unless, of course, you don't care. Personally, I'm OCD enough I'd actually lose sleep over a crooked stock.

 

[ThatTokenGuy]

Buy the wrench, or at the very least, grab a friend, a hammer and a ~1/8" punch. Reason for the second party with the latter shadetree method is so that one of you can hold the stock straight while the other taps the nut tight. Unless, of course, you don't care. Personally, I'm OCD enough I'd actually lose sleep over a crooked stock.

Im like that too. Its rly bothering me even tho i know the weapon functions fine. Ok thanks for the advice!