I like being able to carry a cleaning kit back there, but after putting the rods and a brush in, there is just enough room for a "small" bottle of clp.  Anyone got any tips for making the best use of the storage compartment.  Im also thinking of strapping a small pouch to the right side of the buttstock to give me more storage space (more CLP, few rounds, etc..)

I carry all the "necessary stuff" in a range bag, and 3# of lead in the buttstock.

If you need more space, get yourself a trapdoor pistol grip, although they are a bit awkward, since they are wider.

A campfire.

I also have a lead wedge in mine.
I may have to shave it down to carry my papers.

"can I see your papers please"(said in a german accent)

Pig

Poop stock.

...a humidification unit and two cigars.

Eastwood123--  It sounds to me you have all you need in the buttstock.  That is exactly what I carried on active duty, and carry in my AR.  The "kit" you have in your buttstock is all you need for field maintenance of your weapon.  If you need to carry more cleaning gear/ammo/food/water/shelter...then you need to invest in some 782 gear such as a LBV, Cartridge belt, butt pack, canteens W/holders, ammo pouches, poncho & poncho liner, ALICE pack...

Semper Fi

A couple of brushes are in mine.

The best use i've found for mine so far is to carry good old fashioned air in mine!It doesn't rattle around and make noise, when you open the trapdoor it doesn't all fall out into the dirt,it's really light, and after a hard day shooting, everyone could use a breath of fresh air!
[grenade]

Eastwood123:
Get one of the pistol grip plugs - cheaperthandirt for $5.

I have had one for a while, unless I got a unusually large one, I don't think it will ever accidentally fall off.

Please tell me you don't realy use that sectional rod to clean your bore.

I carry the Colt supplied cleaning kit with a few patches rolled up in a red mechanics rag that has been trimmed a bit. And a GI 'tooth brush'. No CLP because I've never found the small bottle, but I've never looked too hard, either.

And, yes I have used the sectional rod in the bore. Just not this rifle.

Twenty yrs. ago I had an SP-1 and was hunting prarie dogs with a friend. It started to rain while we were afield. So I turned the rifle upside down on my shoulder and carried my .22  muzzle down.

I dropped a .22 shell and squatted to pick it up. Wanna guess what got jammed an inch into the mudd.

Thankfully, I carried the kit in that rifle as well. I now carry something similar whenever I'm hunting. Just in case. That's what that sectional rod is for, Just in case. I use a coated one-piece Dewey at home.

And when you get so much crap crammed in there, nothing is going to rattle or fall out. [;)]

Bubble Gum

Spare Aimpoint battery for sure!

On the grip plugs ... I bought a couple from Brownells (think they were made by DPMS) ... in field use it would fall out. Second one did the same thing. Sent 'em back. Though I saw a Marine reservist with one, held in place by that cure-all, "100 mph" tape.

YMMV, but might want to go the trapdoor grip route. Bushmaster sells 'em:

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/buttstocks/56pt7spg2.htm

Ear Plugs

[sniper]