M14 Forum

TheTinMan

More or less uneducated about AR-15s here. Don't own one, but I finally bought an LRB lower for $90 OTD on Sunday so it's time to learn. I want to build a carbine primarily for use with iron sights. No more than 200 yards. Theoretically SHTF application. 16" barrel with mid-length gas system. (I have read Zedicker's Competition AR-15 Builder's Guide.)

There are carbine stocks with carbine buffers and rifle stocks with rifle buffers. Then there are Mil-Spec buffer tubes and commercial buffer tubes.

Are carbine buffer tubes only necessary to accomodate shorter carbine stocks or are they needed for shorter barrel lengths? I've got fairly long arms and am 5'11" tall, so longer length of pull would be nice. The short stock AR-15s I've mounted just feel wrong to me, so can I put a rifle stock on my carbine build? Alternatively, are there relatively long cabine stocks?

What determines Mil-Spec vs. commercial buffer tubes? The upper receiver or is it just my choice of stock? Any advantage of one over the other?

YardDogOne

you can put a rifle stock on a carbine, rifle buffer for a rifle buffer tube

carbine tubes are shorter so will need the carbine buffer

Mil spec is probably the way to go, more choices to choose from, the commercial tubes are a different diameter, they do not interchange,

your receiver will take either one, your choice,

Get a good carbine stock set up and keep it extended if you prefer but can always retract it if need be

Mikey

Ok, hopefully I can answer all your questions here,

First off, a rifle buffer tube is meant for fixed stocks like the a2 - there is no mil spec or civilian tube here - it's one size fits all - on a side note - I'm 5' 10" and for shooting Irons the a2 fixed stock is my favorite.

Carbine buffer tubes on the other hand are meant for collapsible stocks. The difference between mil-spec and civilian is the diameter and I highly recommend sticking with a mil-spec tube - that's what most stocks are made for now a days.

As for barrel lengths, any stock will work with any barrel length. The only thing that can effect function is the weight of the buffer - a rifle buffer tube houses a 5 ounce buffer while the standard carbine tube houses a 3 ounce buffer. That said in your set up, anything should function fine - the only time I've ever heard of a problem was 14.5in barrels with mid length system and a heavy 6.5 ounce buffer.

Essentially what it boils down to is pick the stock that you like best from an ergonomics stand point and they will all work with your set up - if you then want to further tune your rifle, you can swap out the buffers for different weights.

Finally, Vltor has an a5 buffer system out which is an elongated version of the carbine system designed to allow the better reliability of a fixed stock with a collapsing butt-stock. I haven't used it first hand but have heard nothing but good things about it.

colder

The diiference between commercial and Milspec is the diameter of the tube. It's only fractional but, will not allow you to swap stocks
Ah, too late, Mikey got it before me.

Mikey

Victory!!!

ArmyCPT

OP, ensure that you get a milspec receiver extension (aka buffer tube). Here's one for a good price:

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Milsp...0extension.htm

Considering that you're running a carbine, I'd highly recommend ditching the idea of a fixed stock and trying Magpul's CTR. It locks up in a very secure manner; additionally, there's a lever-controlled lock that you can engage that essentially gives you everything a fixed stock gives you...with a variety of adjustments (e.g., shooting while wearing an IOTV or plate carrier).

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Magpu...20%20black.htm

I'm right a 6 feet in height, with a 35" sleeve length. I find the -A2 stock to be too long for my purposes. I prefer to lock my CTR on the first setting from the castle nut (about an inch extended), with the tip of my nose resting on the charging handle.

bd111

Good luck with your build. I was gonna alert to an issue but it has to do with your choice of the upper. Your LRB lower will be fine for anything you want to do with it.

TheTinMan

Guys - thank you all for the fast and very helpful responses!

Mikey - that Vltor A5 buffer system looks very interesting.

Albud3

The TinMan,
If you do decide to go with the fixed buttstock, you might want to check the different LOP between the A1 and A2 stocks. The A2 stock is 5/8" longer than the A1, but both use the same rifle buffer tube, but the A2 uses a spacer and screw that is different than the A1. Some people (like me) like the old A1 LOP better than the A2 for certain applications. The A1 buttstock is still widely available.