Hey all!
Package from Bravo Company arrived today, as expected, bearing my VLTOR stock kit. Opened it up and test-fit it to my 9mm AR lower that's being registered as an SBR
The assembly pictured has no barrel and is incapable of firing, so it's not a "semi-automatic assault weapon" as defined; no need to call the Fun Police on me.
Now all I need is for the AWB to die its rightful death (so a collapsing stock will be legal on the completed gun), and the BATFE to ***approve my f*cking Form 1*** (pending + 4.5 months now)
Some quick notes on the VLTOR, for those who have expressed interest:
1) Bravo Company's "buy a VLTOR stock kit and get a free H-buffer" promo translates to "get an H-buffer plus the standard buffer that comes in the kit", which was pretty cool. Now I have an extra carbine buffer laying around; guess I'll have to build a gun to house it.
2) The mil-spec VLTOR tube has 5 positions, where the commercial RRA/Bushmaster tube has 6. Fully extended, the VLTOR stock appears to be about 1/2" shorter than the RRA.
3) The VLTOR stock fits snugly on the tube, but is not entirely rattle-free. It
is better than the RRA in this regard - which is saying something, since the RRA is already better than the older CAR-type stocks.
4) I'm in the minority, but I prefer the shorter accessory tubes. There is no noticeable difference in cheek weld between the short and long tubes (assuming you mount the short tubes all the way forward), and the short tubes allow a tighter, more secure attachment of my CQB sling webbing (the web loop attaches around the stock in the conventional manner, rather than having to go all the way around the accessory tubes).
5) Speaking of cheek weld - the VLTOR does offer more comfort in this area, compared the standard M4 stock. It's not any different on the top, but the flared accessory tube provides support to the lower part of the cheek & jaw. It's nice, but it's not the vast improvement some claim, at least as far as
this face can tell.
6) VLTOR has redesigned the accessory tube caps to make them much easier to remove. The older caps that came with the short tubes I bought were a b*tch to get out, so I put them in the back of the tubes where they're not going to be used. You'd still be hard-pressed to remove the caps (and not lose them) under stress, so don't keep anything of "need it right now" importance in the storage tubes.
So there you have it. The VLTOR stock is an improvement over the "ribbed" M4 pattern, but is an evolutionary step rather than a quantum leap. It definitely scores Cool Guy Points and has some nice features, but how much storage space does one need on a rifle (I already have cavities in my pistol grip and VFG for batteries and parts), and is it worth the extra $$ ? That's something each potential buyer will have to decide for himself.
Am I keeping mine? Like, duh! Am I going to buy another one? I'll need to get some actual live fire with it before I make that decision.