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 M1A in vltor stock
GR00VYJERRY  [Member]
11/22/2011 10:20:19 PM
Any one know how to put a rail on this stock for a vertical grip like this one? I came across this picture online and I really like the look of this vertical grip but the stock does not come with a rail like this on it.


chuck1  [Member]
11/23/2011 10:32:44 AM
I'm in the process of adding rails to the front of a GI fiberglass stock. I bought a section of picatinny rail and drilled the holes in it and a matching piece of 1/8 x1/2 steel to go inside of the stock for the mounting place. I could have used just nuts but i felt the place would help make the front end more rigid. The plate rubbed at the very front where the sling swivel was mounted so I had to modify that and use a nut that I thinned out to clear the op rod.

A short section like in the pic won't require milling of the stock but the piece I used is 11 inches long so I had to do some milling towards the mag area. The inside also needed to be flattened out as it wasn't very flat. Nuts wouldn't require cleaning up the inside.

Since the front half of the vltor stock is a USGI stock you can do the same thing or have it done. I will get some more pics up when it is completed in a couple of days. I have to add some short side rails to attach a sling swivel.

I plan on epoxying all the parts on once it is all fitted.

Don't mind the magic marker on the plate. That is to check and see if anything was rubbing.



GR00VYJERRY  [Member]
11/23/2011 9:49:27 PM
Thanks for the pics and break down. Looks nice. Where'd you get the top plate (the one inside the stock)? I will just need a short one so no fitting to the stock necessary. Post the pics when you are done. I'd like to see the final product.
chuck1  [Member]
11/24/2011 11:32:02 AM
I got the plate from work. It is 1/2 x1/8 thick. You might be able to find it or something close at home depot or a hardware store. If not a metal supply company will have it. There isn't much room under there so i think 1/8 inch is about as think as you can go. I used 10-32 screws.

For a short rail section there are quite a few made for ARs that already have the holes drilled and should mount right up. You will just need to match up the threaded holes in the plate.
chuck1  [Member]
11/27/2011 11:39:04 AM
I git it finished up yesterday. Now with the bottom rail I can switch my bipod from my Ar10/15 to my M1A. I thought about making a folder with a pistol grip but with the 22 inch barrel I don't see a need for it.

The side rails just went on with drilling the holes and finding different length screws than what they came with.







GR00VYJERRY  [Member]
11/27/2011 12:10:11 PM
That looks sweet!!! Nice set up. Love the paint and rail setup. I am going to attempt to do this to a couple GI stocks I have around before I attempt it on my vltor. With the side rails, did you secure them with a base plate on the inside like you did with the bottom rail? Or did you just secure them with a bolt a nut? I bet that long rail on the bottom helps stiffen up the forearm on that stock too.
chuck1  [Member]
11/27/2011 12:43:11 PM
Thanks

On the side rails I just used nuts as there really isn't enough for a mounting plate due to the top on the forearm having a lip on it. If you lower then rails then you start to move onto the radius built into the stock.

Good plan on playing with the surplus stocks first.
I bought 3 or 4 GI stocks years ago when they were plentiful and cheap so I can afford to experiment on a couple.

The rail does stiffen it up some. I noticed playing around with it that it doesn't flex as much on the bipod.