Goal: Replace the CA Stoner stock assembly with a M4 style stock - without having to modify the stoner's stock plate
Observations: while the original plan to not modify the stock plate was a good one, it is not practical to ensure that the buffer tube is secure and that there is no up and down or side to side movement. 2 nut/bolt assemblies were used to make sure that there was no movement - meaning that the stock plate needed to be modified.
Tools used: 2mm and 3mm Hey keys, dremel, power drill, 2 robertson bolts and nuts to match, doner M4 buffer tube and stock
The start of the plan
all projects should include coffee ...
This is what we started with, a telescopic stock that had side to side movement (slight) and to be honest, just isn't comfortable for long periods of time.
The donor M4 buffer tube and stock
The original test, this shows that it's the threads that are preventing the buffer tube from fitting into the stock plate. Get rid of those and in theory it should fit ... that's the plan anyway
the buffer tube threads, eliminated with a dremel. Not the cleanest job ever, I'll admit, but it worked like I had planned. I'm planning on re-painting the stock plate and buffer tube this summer, so scratches and dings on the surface are not a big deal.
HOLY CRAP ... it fits ...
the original Plan, allow the set screw (that was part of the original assembly) to hold the buffer tube in place.
You can't really see it from the photo, but there was too much play at the top of the buffer tube, allowing for the stock to move back and forth and up and down ... felt rather flimsy ... so the Alternate plan had to come into play ... modification to the stock plate.
The stock plate and buffer tube was drilled for a robertson headed bolt, used the original location of the set screw. The top of the stock plate and buffer tube was then drilled out for a matching robertson bolt
The hex nuts that were used were tightened down to prevent the buffer tube from moving, the entire stock is now straight, tight and has zero wobble in any direction.
[Follow up comment] as a follow up project, I'm trying to figure out how to use the AEG buffer tube screw and washer set up (what we usually use to screw into the back of a V2 gearbox on a M4) and a straight bar to allow for the buffer tube screw to hold a retention piece across the stock plate. The purpose of this is to prevent the buffer tube from pulling out of the back plate should a bolt loosen off ... still working on finding a suitably strong bar to place across the inside of the stock plate to form the retention bar which would fit in the gap between the top and bottom of the stock plate
The finished product. The stock has no movement in any direction, feels very solid and is much more comfortable. I love it when a plan comes together.
Thanks for looking through this, I know its not much of a tutorial, but hopefully it gives you a few ideas or just enough inspiration to finish that project that you've pushed to the end of your workbench... Thanks to Spike for giving me the inspiration to get this done, I saw his in the SAW gallery and fell in love, Thanks again!