I see foam tube covers for round buffer tubes. Does the same exist for carbine length tubes that are 6 position in geometry?

So you are wanting to run a carbine tube on a pistol with no stock or brace?

I've never seen a pre-made foam, but you could probably make one.

Not foam , but THESE WILL DO THE SAME

Maybe cut this to size?

https://www.zoro.com/tundra-1-14-x-6-ft-pipe-insulation-38-wall-6xe038158/i/G0456696/

Or if 1-1/4" isn't big enough, maybe the 1-1/2" size?

https://www.zoro.com/tundra-1-12-x-6-ft-pipe-insulation-38-wall-6xe038200/i/G1242552/

I think those might interfere with the charging handle.  It is pretty thick.

The pistol buffer tubes I have that have a foam cover on them only the rear few inches are covered, the charging handle doesn't pull back that far.

All depends on how much of the tube OP wants covered.  I think a pistol tube would be a better course and sell the carbine tube or use it elsewhere.

I would concur.  All three of the pistols I have run a short plain round pistol style buffer tube.  Given the current political climate I think that is safer than using a carbine tube.  Plus it is shorter and lighter.

A good friend machined down a carbine receiver extension (he likes doing this stuff) and when fininshed he plastic dipped the tube multiple times in the stuff you use to coat plier handles and hammers...came out great....

Just an idea

Plastic dip pistol tube sounds neat. Got me ??

I say do what you want to, but would that be legal?

Yes. For now anyway.

That sounds like a man shopping for an excuse to start a project.

Is a standard tube without a stock legal or is it only legal with something blocking installation of a stock?

Definitely not my area of experience, and I missed the part about no stock earlier.

As far as a carbine RE on a pistol,  the SBA3 brace utilizes a carbine RE, so that much is obviously legal at this point in time.  

Attached File

With the SBA3 you can't reach 13.5" LOP, which seems to be the sticking point for ATF when it comes to rifle/pistol designation.

A tube is a tube and without a stock is just that.  Now if you do possess a short barreled AR with a tube and don't possess a brace, but do possess a stock, you may fall within the very gray area called constructive intent if you don't also possess a 16" upper

That I did not know.

I se that they also sell a LOP limiter for std carbine REs.

I would have to agree. (But I've been wrong before).

So much regarding pistol ARs is constantly changing it's a shit show.

I may be mistaken on the tube.  I know my brace will only go to 12.75", but it may be in the brace and not the tube.  Thinking where I read about filling the last hole was when using a Law folder hinge.  Sorry about any confusion.  I do know that the LOP is a thing with ATF and pistols.

Their site shows 5 pos RE. (I had to look it up).  

That settles that

I was mistaken. Webpage pic shows their LOP limiter installed on a std RE:
Attached File


This is a pic of an SBA3 RE next to a 6 pos for comparison:

Attached File

My brace was already installed on their tube when I got it, all I did was thread it on the lower.  First thing I noticed was it didn't come to full extension and just assumed it was the tube.

I would have as well.

Came to post this. A Thordsen with a side saddle.
Attached File

I don't think so, at least I've never seen it.

That's a carbine RE and an A5 RE.

There is no length of pull for a pistol.

We are talking about a man that makes his own pencils so he can use the lathe

You are correct,  it is an A5. Missed that.

Carbine RE is 5 position though.  


If no LOP for a pistol then why market a LOP limiter?

Eta:

Per ATF guidelines, AR pistols equipped with braces may not have a length of pull longer than 13.5 inches — in other words, at full extension, the distance between the trigger and the rear edge of the brace cannot exceed 13.5 inches.

This says the opposite. Someone with more experience will need to confirm/deny.

This has all been hashed and rehashed, I don't have the energy to go back and forth about it.

Please provide a source for your quote.

There is no LOP on a pistol.

Well, for the sake of all that is holy, don't expend all of you energy replying to an actual question in a tech forum.

I maintain that there is no law pertaining to pistol LOP. I can't produce what doesn't exist. If you have a claim that there is, please produce it.

Thanks.  I didn't know about these.
I ordered one and installed it.

A couple notes.

1) Over the last week or so, Thordsen Custom website has been a bit flaky.  
Even right now, if I google "Thordsen Custom" I get a link, but it won't load.
However on my phone, if I select the "Cheek Rest" link, it comes up.  WTF?

2) So there are 2 models.  
I ordered the one with the Enhanced Pistol Cheek Rest, Extended Tube, with Mission First Tactical cheek rest, because it included a pistol tube, has a storage option (which I probably won't use) and it was more expensive.
There is also a CAA version.

This is a comparison video that shows the basic differences between the 2


3) I didn't get instructions, but I used the Googles and there are youtube installation videos from Alan Thordsen.

4) My MFT version was fully assembled, so I had to get the cheek rest off the tube. In retrospect, I might not have needed to do that.

5) The MFT version came with a custom buffer tube.  Its flares out at the thread end so when you put the cheek rest on it squares up.
What this means, is you will have a damn good time when you need to torque it down.  
My MAGPUL armorers wrench won't slip over that wider part.  
Nor would my generic armorers wrench.  
In the video, the wrench he used had an armorers wrench which dropped down from above (after 2:00)



No, the tube in that video isn't the one I received.

Overall I really like it, its perfect for NTC shooting, great support.

This should show you what I mean about the buffer tube near the threads
Attached File


I haven't had a chance to see how bad an idea 6.5g is from a 10.5 barrel (w/ Hera Linear Comp).