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Posted: 10/7/2009 2:19:45 AM EDT
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Has anyone used this stock? debating whether to get this, or look for an original... ive been thinking of going the repro way just because ide probably get the tube reanodized and have the buttstock dipped in plastic coating..(Soft Plastic)
So, has anyone used the recent Essential arms buttstock? it says theyre powder coated but...? Ethan |
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The older Essentail Arms stocks were a dead ringer for the original colt polyvinyl acetate coated ones,but they don't offer it anymore.They pop up once in a while here and on GB.. But here is an original if your interested.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142439151 |
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Quoted:
The older Essentail Arms stocks were a dead ringer for the original colt polyvinyl acetate coated ones,but they don't offer it anymore.They pop up once in a while here and on GB.. But here is an original if your interested. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142439151 +1 I've had original Colts as well as EA stocks, and the EA ones were as close as you could get to an original. I'm sorry they don't offer them anymore; I miss the 2-position buffer tubes they used to have too. |
(other than the one on GB now..)
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I called E/A when I was in the market for a stock and they told me they were out of all of them with no plans to continue. So, if you haven't you may want to call. Last I checked they were still on the site, but not available. If you can find one they are a good option. Cheaper than a Colt, but still pricey.
I paid around $90.00 for a coated E/A off the EE. It looks good. Now that you guys are talking about it you got me to wondering. The E/A stock and extension are commercial; 1.17. The Colt extension and Gen III stock I have are military; 1.15. Did E/A make a military version early and a commercial version later? I suspect they may have been using Bushmaster commercial stocks and coating them - mine is marked with a "B". The reason I mention this is if you get an E/A stock, it may be commercial and need a minor modification to fit a Colt extension. (It's an easy fix). Here are pictures of three stocks and extensions: Left: Coated E/A marked with a "B". Middle: Gen III Colt. Right: Current Colt M4 style  
Top: Older Colt two position Middle: Current LMT, mil-spec. Bottom: E/A four position, commercial  
The E/A is a little unusual since it is not the typical slant back you see on a lot of commercial extensions. |
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I found very well used USGI stock body on EE awhile back. $140 for the body only, but I like well worn parts. If you see one, grab it, or you'll regret it later. Everyone's building a retro carbine nowdays.
ETA: My EA coated stock was a commercial body on a milspec tube. No marks at all. |
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I got one of the last few EA 2pos stocks. If it makes you feel any better, the sucker rattles like a baby toy!
At the time, he offered another stock that was a dead-ringer for the 2-pos but was a 3 or 4 pos tube IIRC. He might still have one of those. Or you could wait for one to pop up on Gunbroker or the EE. |
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Quoted:
I got one of the last few EA 2pos stocks. If it makes you feel any better, the sucker rattles like a baby toy! At the time, he offered another stock that was a dead-ringer for the 2-pos but was a 3 or 4 pos tube IIRC. He might still have one of those. Or you could wait for one to pop up on Gunbroker or the EE. I've also got one of the EA two position stocks, but it's pretty rock-solid. |
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Quoted:
I got one of the last few EA 2pos stocks. If it makes you feel any better, the sucker rattles like a baby toy! At the time, he offered another stock that was a dead-ringer for the 2-pos but was a 3 or 4 pos tube IIRC. He might still have one of those. Or you could wait for one to pop up on Gunbroker or the EE. well...if ya ever wanna sell it...  ...
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| When I ordered my smooth EA stock last Dec,I was told then by Mr.Johnson that the smooth ones were originally sold with the original colt 2 pos tubes.At that time there were NO more tubes.The smooth stock was mil spec 1.14.The other (textured) aluminum stock they offered was commercial 1.17 and could supply them with a tube.The smooth stock set was called "colt upgrade".It was shortly after I got mine that he said they would NO longer be selling the smooth stock"colt upgrade".So If anyone does order make sure you do ask if mil spec or commercial sec on the stock bodies.. |
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Quoted:
When I ordered my smooth EA stock last Dec,I was told then by Mr.Johnson that the smooth ones were originally sold with the original colt 2 pos tubes.At that time there were NO more tubes.The smooth stock was mil spec 1.14.The other (textured) aluminum stock they offered was commercial 1.17 and could supply them with a tube.The smooth stock set was called "colt upgrade".It was shortly after I got mine that he said they would NO longer be selling the smooth stock"colt upgrade".So If anyone does order make sure you do ask if mil spec or commercial sec on the stock bodies.. So, not only can I NOT get the 2-pos tube but I can NOT get the smooth stock? Ok...that officially sucks. I was going to use a EA smooth stock on my IDF build.  
eta: sorry, hemiman, I'm keeping mine! |
| I don't know much about the IDF builds,,that's Texsquirrels gig,but I thought they used colt generation lll plastic bodies on them?? Anyway,look at the top of this thread,I posted a link to a colt alum stock with colt 2 pos tube above. If I were you tho,I would call EA and verify what they do currently sell rather then rely on these reports here,,stranger things have happened,he may have found one that was hiding.Be prepared to call many times,,seems like most who tried from Feb thru April took 1-2 weeks to get thru. |
| Just an added note,,be glad you were'nt looking for one last Jan thru May,,there was a total feeding frenzy on the original stocks to the point where some on GB sold for as much as $425 body,tube,end plate,lock ring,others here on EE for $375..I know it as fact because that's when I needed one,and watched every auction,for sale add out there untill a member (willp) posted he saw one at sarco,I went out the next morning and traded for it.They've come down alittle since then.. |
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IDF builds use whatever is laying around.
I've seen aluminum and plastic CAR stocks and M4 stocks. I had an aluminum stock on mine until this evening. I changed to a later plastic Colt stock to make an already light duty rifle even lighter. Also I want to save the aluminum stock for another carbine build. I don't know what it will go on, but I don't want to scratch it all up. The plastic is already a little worn so getting bumped around in the rifle rack in the trunk isn't a big deal. |
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