Rifle length gas system/ buffer tube --- adding adjustable stock??

E

Engineerguy30

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Hello All,

Just bought a PSA AR-15 with 20" barrel. I know it has a rifle length gas tube, as well as a fixed stock.

I am wondering the best way to put on a collapsible stock for my 12 year old son to shoot it. The fixed stock is a little long for him.

I am new to the AR platform, so any advice would be much appreciated. If this has been gone over, I apologize.
 
yup thats what's known as an "A2 style" stock. to add a collapsable stock you will need to disassemble the buffer system of your rifle (per video above), and replace it with a buffer tube with adjustable stock notches and an adjustable stock such as a Magpul offering. It's not a difficult job but will require some basic tools and tinkering which will also help you better understand the rifle's operating system (good for a new owner). Youtube will be your friend Brownells has some excellent videos on the basics
 
For the cost of a new buffer tube kit (tube, spring & buffer) and collapsible stock you’re gonna have $125ish in it. As said above its fairly easy with proper tools (an armorers wrench and lower receiver vise block). Now if you look down the road you know you’re gonna need another AR … one for you and one for your kid ... so save your money and time and just buy a carbine (16” w/ collapsible stock) and be done with it. Also that barrel being 4” shorter (weight hanging out there) will make it a little easier on your boy. Remember 1 is none and 2 is one applies a lot to firearms. PSA has a blemish deal right now for $499 that you might be able to work with the Lake Norman store on.


… and yes we here do love to enable/spend others money :)
 
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While you’re swapping, it would be a great time to put a set screw in the takedown pin detent hole…after threading if necessary.

If you don’t have a tap, or need a set screw, you can swing by my house one day and we’ll knock it out in a couple minutes. I’m on the Charlotte/Huntersville border.
 
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NCFubar said:
For the cost of a new buffer tube kit (tube, spring & buffer) and collapsible stock you’re gonna have $125ish in it. As said above its fairly easy with proper tools (an armorers wrench and lower receiver vise block). Now if you look down the road you know you’re gonna need another AR … one for you and one for your kid ... so save your money and time and just buy a carbine (16” w/ collapsible stock) and be done with it. Also that barrel being 4” shorter (weight hanging out there) will make it a little easier on your boy. Remember 1 is none and 2 is one applies a lot to firearms. PSA has a blemish deal right now for $499 that you might be able to work with the Lake Norman store on.


… and yes we here do love to enable/spend others money :)
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I am no AR savant as I have just recently gotten into the platform myself, but couldn't OP just get a rifle length tube with adjustment notches and recycle the existing spring and buffer? Still would probably be in it $75 for the tube and stock but makes it a little bit more palatable.

or just take @NCFubar advice and get a 2nd gun because why not 😇
 
If you go A1 you loose 1/2" "the black spacer" if 1/2" is short enough, buy the MagPul MOE rifle stock and you are good to go.

Remove the rear flat head screw, slide the A2 stock off. Remove the A2 spacer, slip over the MOE stock and you are done
 
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BigWaylon said:
While you’re swapping, it would be a great time to put a set screw in the safety detent hole…after threading if necessary.

If you don’t have a tap, or need a set screw, you can swing by my house one day and we’ll knock it out in a couple minutes. I’m on the Charlotte/Huntersville border.
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Set screw in safety detent?
 
Engineerguy30 said:
Set screw in safety detent?
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Sorry. Takedown pin detent hole. But I’ll assume you don’t know what that is either.

There’s a hole on the backside of the receiver where a detent and spring go:

EA3E8562-BF04-43A4-A5D2-55CFB83E1FA5.jpeg

Sometimes it’s threaded, most of the time it’s not. If you install a set screw in there, you won’t launch the spring and/or detent across the room when you remove the end plate (that you’ll have with the new setup).

If you watched the video above, you’ll see the spring and end plate.

Once you get the parts you need, let me know. You can swing by here and we’ll get them swapped out and I’ll get that set screw installed while we’re at it.
 
BigWaylon said:
Sorry. Takedown pin detent hole. But I’ll assume you don’t know what that is either.

There’s a hole on the backside of the receiver where a detent and spring go:

View attachment 511488

Sometimes it’s threaded, most of the time it’s not. If you install a set screw in there, you won’t launch the spring and/or detent across the room when you remove the end plate (that you’ll have with the new setup).

If you watched the video above, you’ll see the spring and end plate.

Once you get the parts you need, let me know. You can swing by here and we’ll get them swapped out and I’ll get that set screw installed while we’re at it.
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I would really appreciate the help, I will DM my info and when the parts come in, I will hit you up.
 
Changing a buffer tube is super easy! On a rifle gassed gun, I'm personally a big fan of the Vltor A5 buffer system. It's a little spendier but it retains the use of a rifle length spring for that buttery smooth recoil cycle you'd expect from a 20". It does use a proprietary tube and buffer though. Just another option!
 
This is generally a good rule of thumb tho there are some rare ones outside this
ar355-4-edited.jpg
 
Honestly the commercial buffer tube seems to have all but died out. Pick up a milspec tube and you'll be gtg.

Not even sure if anyone makes commercial tubes and stocks currently.
 
Cole_McD said:
Honestly the commercial buffer tube seems to have all but died out. Pick up a milspec tube and you'll be gtg.

Not even sure if anyone makes commercial tubes and stocks currently.
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Careful there.... Magpul, Wilson Combat, Fab defense, Mission First, etc ... are all still making commercial stocks. Just had to track one down for a buddy.
 
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