New to ARs

[MikeyDiesel]

So I just bought a new S&W M&P15 Sport II. Overall, Im in love with the gun except for one little thing...even having the 6 point stock fully extended, it still feels too short for my liking. Can I just add an A2 buffer tube kit to make it longer? Or will I need to buy a new stock as well as buffer tube?

Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[JHB51]

The A2 tube is a round tube there is no provision for the stock latch pin to lock into.

 

[vonn]

You might research butt pad/ recoil absorbers for adding length to your stock.

 

[jagular]

An aftermarket recoil pad might give you another 1/2". Mind I ask how tall you are? I have friends that are 6'2 and 6'4 and they still don't fully extend the stock. You can put an A2 buffer and stock on without much effort. You'll need a lower bev block, castle nut wrench and vice or you can take it to a gun smith who should be able to make the swap in 15-20 minutes.

 

[sgtsandman]

Are you leaning forward into the rifle? That will help the length of pull issue some.

 

[Rastoff]

This is a common response by new AR shooters. This rifle is not held like normal rifles. Every new shooter I've worked with has extended their stock too far.

Stand more square to the target. Your hands should be close to your body. Your nose should be about an inch from the charging handle. Some put their nose right on the charging handle, but I find that too close.

The stock is not too short. You just need to get used to a different type of rifle.

 

[Racer X]

But if you really want longer, a Luth AR MBA-3 stock is itself adjustable, as well as sliding on the tube. Ads just over an inch, and you could add a pad. Very sturdy, but not overly heavy. I own one and like it very much. Luth is run by the founder from DPMS, who is an industrial engineer.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

I think these rifles were built to fit everyone, wearing from little to full armor and even heavy battle attire. They shoulder quickly, hot weather to cold weather. They were designed to fight with outside or in close quarters. Same as the AKM-47 platforms around the world. Length of pull goes out the window. With a red dot or holo scope sight, or even without, they were made for fast target acquisition. They were not made to extend away from the body
like a 28" 12 gauge that fits your length of pull. They take a little getting used to, but it is worth it.

Know a man with an 8' wingspan that wants to buy one. Told him he would be better off with a .338 Lapua Magnum or a .50 cal. That way, he could learn how important each shot is. He is a massive man, so the recoil should not bother him. He's a special young man that wants to join his friends at the range to shoot with.

Kvar makes the Warsaw Pact and the NATO length stocks for the AK, but they are still both shorter than what you seek. Sometimes special people need special items, so maybe someone like Kvar would try to help you out if you spoke with them. There are many manufacturers out there that have most likely dealt with the same situation before. If my friend decides on an AR, I feel we may have to go looking, too. Good luck to you.

 

[MichiganScott]

This is a common response by new AR shooters. This rifle is not held like normal rifles. Every new shooter I've worked with has extended their stock too far.

Stand more square to the target. Your hands should be close to your body. Your nose should be about an inch from the charging handle. Some put their nose right on the charging handle, but I find that too close.

The stock is not too short. You just need to get used to a different type of rifle.

^^^^^^^^^
What he says.

My high power competition rifle has an A2 stock and I find it too long for any position other than prone. I'm 6-3 and weigh about 200lbs.

My 6.8 SPC that I use for hunting has a 6 position stock. It's usually kept at 2-3 notches out because of cold weather clothing. When my 5ft tall wife gets behind her AR, the stock is never more than 2 notches out.

 

[MikeyDiesel]

An aftermarket recoil pad might give you another 1/2". Mind I ask how tall you are? I have friends that are 6'2 and 6'4 and they still don't fully extend the stock. You can put an A2 buffer and stock on without much effort. You'll need a lower bev block, castle nut wrench and vice or you can take it to a gun smith who should be able to make the swap in 15-20 minutes.

I'm 6'2. maybe i just need proper training on how to hold/shoot the AR.

 

[Pro2nd]

I prefer my stock fully extended.. but to each their own..

 

[cyphertext]

I prefer my stock fully extended.. but to each their own..

While this shooting position works well with a full stock, not so much with the collapsible. Notice that he is canted sideways, still allowing a cheek weld that puts the shooter's eye up close to the rear sight (nose to charging handle). With the collapsible stock fully extended, my cheek is no longer on the stock when shooting with the sideways stance but is resting on the receiver extension. So, shortening the stock and taking a more square stance to the target gets me back on the stock.

 

[Flash_80]

I shoot fully extended on everything but the ACSL stock (longer length of pull) and I shoot it one notch forward. But I ain't too tactical and likely just shoot it like I would a deer rifle or something. I don't hold the handguard like I'm playing tug of war either.

 

[BB57]

This is a common response by new AR shooters. This rifle is not held like normal rifles. Every new shooter I've worked with has extended their stock too far.

Stand more square to the target. Your hands should be close to your body. Your nose should be about an inch from the charging handle. Some put their nose right on the charging handle, but I find that too close.

The stock is not too short. You just need to get used to a different type of rifle.

I agree. I was taught to shoulder the M16A1 with my nose on the charging handle to develop and maintain a consistent cheek weld.

I have an A1 stock on my A2 Service Match rifle, because the A1 stock is 1" shorter and fits better in offhand and sitting positions.

The only place I use the longer A2 stock is on my varmint AR as a) it's nearly always fired prone, and b) has a scope that requires longer eye relief than iron sights.

The A1 stock also works well with the original Colt scope given the more up right head position.

Consider this for a minute. It's a 16" carbine built with a fixed entry stock and despite being equal in length to a fully collapsed tele stock, it still isn't too short for someone with normal proportions:

 

[vonn]

I prefer my stock fully extended.. but to each their own..

Nice pic! If you look at the uniform,steel pot ,definition of the muscles,veins,etc. it makes you think the pic cold be the real deal from the RVN.

 

[Rastoff]

I don't hold the handguard like I'm playing tug of war either.

I don't know what this means.

 

[arnoob]

Thanks BB57 now I need to change my shirt because this one is saturated with drool. Beautiful rifles, that is what an AR should look like. Color me envious!