M1A wood stock vs synthetic, weight and price

[Nickle]

If you want the paint to be really impervious to solvents and such, take it to a local body shop and have them shoot it with Imron or a comparable paint. Tougher than nails, and withstands years of regular cleaning solvent spills. Even withstands brake fluid, which will usually lift any normal paint.

[Kratos]

The synthetic stock is definitely lighter than the wood stock, which is heavier on the front end.

How did everyone fill the gaps on the G1 stock when you drop in your M1A barrel/receiver?  I will take pictures to show where I have holes/gaps.

[desertrat144]

Kratos,

The only gap I have filled  in the past is the selector switch cut out.  First set some wire into the cut out, 1/8 inch into the stock walls, leaving about as much hanging in the open; set at 3,6 & 9 o'clock positions.  The 3 & 9 o'clock should be a bit below the tops of the cut out.  From there I just tape both sides with masking tape forming a wall, then fill with fibre glass Bondo, 1/3 of the way at a time.  The masking tape adhesive does not present any problems, and actually cleans up readily.  A friend of mine made a wood filler piece, pinned, then Bondoed (sp?) around it.

The rest of the gaps around the receiver, I don't touch; I always figured they belonged, and helped with heat dissipation.  I haven't had any problems with dust, &tc. out here when desert camping.  Cleaning with Bore cleaner (Hoppes), then wiping with Break Free CLP does the trick.  The only critical gap adjustment I come across so far is the the metal to metal contacts at the front ferrule, but there's scores of info for that.

[Whisker]

I was beginning to wonder if that extra space between the stock and the receiver was contributing to inaccuracy.  Is this true?  My groups widened a bit since I put on that fiberglass gi stock... Though, I could just be getting rusty.  My 14 was bought off a guy who I think fibbed about how many rounds went through it.  Who does a good 14 check up?  How does one know when to rebarrel?

[desertrat144]

Re; groups opening up with the stock, check out the gap at the front ferrule (metal part that is the first contact) for spacing.  That dimension is pretty critical.  As to the rest, it depends on where you live- there are still a lot of VN era armorers that advertise those services.

Tom

[Reveille]

The beauty of the synthetic stock is you can add a pistol grip to it with some patience and fiberglass.  I primed and added some matt black wrinkle finish.  Here are a couple of pictures.  This is a new LRB M25 installed in a modified GI synthetic stock.