A2 stock adding weight options and cost

[BobbyJ]

I built a couple of 24" Varmint 223 ARs which are a little front heavy. To balance them out a little I'm going put a A2 stock on one of them to balance the weight. I know many things can be added to that compartment but I was looking for a cheap way to add weight and how much weight can be added.
I used one of my ARs to do a test fill using a cotton ball as filler between door and bbs.

Short story is a range of 0 to 5.7 pounds can be added to the rear compartment.
And .5 (roll of quarters) - 1.4 pounds (tungsten 1" rod same length 2.75") can be added to the buffer tube if using a carbine buffer/spring in the A2 stock. Bringing the combined max to 7.1 pounds over a A2 stock.

I did not want to mess with glue or lead. I Just wanted something easy to do and reverse and needed. Assuming you don't have anything to start with the cheapest was Crosman BB gun BBs.
1.7 pounds + .5 pounds in the buffer tube using quarters = 2.2 pounds

I did some quick calculations on costs to do other things. Again assuming you have nothing laying around to start with. Some items have minimum orders like 25 pounds of lead shot which is over kill.

Bars:
Steel bar ? Max A2 would be 2.4 pounds
Lead bar - 43 + ship Max A2 stock compartment load 3.5 pounds
Tungsten bar - Not available but if it would around 5.7 pounds

A2 BB fills
Shot calculations based on BB size of 4.4 mm. Using smaller sized will give more weight in stock.
Steel bbs - $2/lb max A2 stock 1.7 pounds (approx 2200 bbs)
Bismuth shot - $20/lb min order 10 pounds Max A2 - 2.1 pounds
Lead Shot - $2.6/lb min order 25 pounds Max A2 - 2.4 pounds
Tungsten shot - $55/pound min 5 pounds A2 maybe 4 pounds depends on bb size.

Density g/cm³
Sand 1.6
Steel 7.85
Lead 11.3
Bismuth 9.78
Tungsten Carbide 15.6
Tungsten shot 18.3
Tungsten 19.3

 

[Walt Krafft]

They make a lead weight specifically for the A2 buttstock.

 

[Walt Krafft]

They make a lead weight specifically for the A2 buttstock.

White oak armament 3.5 lbs.

 

[BobbyJ]

They make a lead weight specifically for the A2 buttstock.

Yes I put a photo of it and price of it along with its weight.

"Lead bar - $43 + ship Max A2 stock compartment load 3.5 pounds"

 

[Walt Krafft]

List a wanted ad. A2 stocks are not used as much as they used to. Probably some sitting around holding the world down

 

[BobbyJ]

List a wanted ad. A2 stocks are not used as much as they used to. Probably some sitting around holding the world down

Thanks! Wish I thought of that before. Well was getting other things and saw they had A2 + buffer + spring for $53.00. Price seemed decent but its probably not like the A2 on my old 1990s AR mine has a hard plastic butt the UTG one has rubber but does have foam rear compartment. Could be junk, I'll soon find out in a day or so.

 

[Walt Krafft]

A dab of grease in the buffer tube will quiet the booong.

 

[David Milisock]

I built a couple of 24" Varmint 223 ARs which are a little front heavy. To balance them out a little I'm going put a A2 stock on one of them to balance the weight. I know many things can be added to that compartment but I was looking for a cheap way to add weight and how much weight can be added.
I used one of my ARs to do a test fill using a cotton ball as filler between door and bbs.

Short story is a range of 0 to 5.7 pounds can be added to the rear compartment.
And .5 (roll of quarters) - 1.4 pounds (tungsten 1" rod same length 2.75") can be added to the buffer tube if using a carbine buffer/spring in the A2 stock. Bringing the combined max to 7.1 pounds over a A2 stock.

I did not want to mess with glue or lead. I Just wanted something easy to do and reverse and needed. Assuming you don't have anything to start with the cheapest was Crosman BB gun BBs.
1.7 pounds + .5 pounds in the buffer tube using quarters = 2.2 pounds

I did some quick calculations on costs to do other things. Again assuming you have nothing laying around to start with. Some items have minimum orders like 25 pounds of lead shot which is over kill.
View attachment 1377697
Bars:
Steel bar ? Max A2 would be 2.4 pounds
Lead bar - 43 + ship Max A2 stock compartment load 3.5 pounds
Tungsten bar - Not available but if it would around 5.7 pounds

A2 BB fills
Shot calculations based on BB size of 4.4 mm. Using smaller sized will give more weight in stock.
Steel bbs - $2/lb max A2 stock 1.7 pounds (approx 2200 bbs)
Bismuth shot - $20/lb min order 10 pounds Max A2 - 2.1 pounds
Lead Shot - $2.6/lb min order 25 pounds Max A2 - 2.4 pounds
Tungsten shot - $55/pound min 5 pounds A2 maybe 4 pounds depends on bb size.

Density g/cm³
Sand 1.6
Steel 7.85
Lead 11.3
Bismuth 9.78
Tungsten Carbide 15.6
Tungsten shot 18.3
Tungsten 19.3

Lead shot.

 

[55fairlane]

Go for the gusto, compilation machine space gun buttstock. Add or subtract as much weight as you want, plus tailor the stock to fit you.

 

[jepp2]

I built a couple of 24" Varmint 223 ARs which are a little front heavy.

I use the 3.5 pound molded lead weight in the butt stock on my prairie dog AR's. The balance is terrible, but with the scope on 24 power, I can see the bullet impacts no problem.

 

[Downhill]

Lead #9 shot in a cloth bag (piece of pantyhose maybe). Adjust fill to desired weight. I made a form from a commercial A2 weight, filled it with #9 shot and fiberglass resin, trimmed off the narrow end until I found a weight that balanced my varmint rifle out.

 

[Jeff Porter]

45 cal 200 gr lead wadcutters in a tube sock.

 

[BobbyJ]

I use the 3.5 pound molded lead weight in the butt stock on my prairie dog AR's. The balance is terrible, but with the scope on 24 power, I can see the bullet impacts no problem.

Yea there is give and take on these. You get a 24" heavy barrel on the AR and pay the fiddler in terms of balance, weight and that Straight gas tube in the stock makes it harder to use a scope vs bolts.

Does it still tip forward with 3.5 pounds? I'll start with BBs because they were handy and give a great option if you only need 2 pounds which is all I might need. Stocks not hear yet.

 

[BobbyJ]

Go for the gusto, compilation machine space gun buttstock. Add or subtract as much weight as you want, plus tailor the stock to fit you.View attachment 1377847

Interesting option but need to put the price in to compare to A2 options. 0-6 pounds. How much does that weigh? Does it come with extra weights?
I have two identical Varmint ARs so its an option for the 2nd one. Link me to who makes it.

Would have to try one. I tend to use the angle of the stock to make elevation adjustments does not look possible with that stock.

 

[jepp2]

Does it still tip forward with 3.5 pounds?

No, I am way heavy in the buttstock.

I switched to using the A2 buttstock for a different reason however. I used a Magpul PRS when I first started hunting prairie dogs. But I couldn't get enough vertical elevation adjustment for the variety of shots I encountered without always changing my front rest shims. So with the slope on the A2 buttstock I could get much more adjustment. More like a traditional bolt stock.

 

[BobbyJ]

No, I am way heavy in the buttstock.

I switched to using the A2 buttstock for a different reason however. I used a Magpul PRS when I first started hunting prairie dogs. But I couldn't get enough vertical elevation adjustment for the variety of shots I encountered without always changing my front rest shims. So with the slope on the A2 buttstock I could get much more adjustment. More like a traditional bolt stock.

View attachment 1377916

Nice rig you have there! Is that a 1" 24" barrel? Looks very similar to what I'll have.
Good to know 3.5 pounds was too much, Maybe my $2.00 1.7 pounds of BBs will do the trick.

Any idea on how high that scope is mounted above the center of barrel? Might have to not use a headset with mine, I can't get a good scope sight using a headset, its doable but awkward.

Do you use a brass catcher on it or just pick it out of the grass? I have a velcro one that does not stay put very well.

 

[jepp2]

Nice rig you have there! Is that a 1" 24" barrel?

It is a WOA 24" 20P barrel. Per WOA

Barrel diameter under the handguard is 1”, .875” at the gas block, and .850” forward of the gas block.

Any idea on how high that scope is mounted above the center of barrel?

As I recall I'm about 2.5" for sight height when I run a ballistic program.

Do you use a brass catcher on it or just pick it out of the grass?

When I don't use a brass catcher I lose about 50% of the brass fired. Just disappears never to be seen again. I use the Caldwell model that attaches to the picatinny rail. That way I only need 1 brass catcher, just have the attachment on all my rifles. The mesh is only good for a few thousand rounds and it gets holes in it and you start losing brass. So I just take some denim fabric and safety pin it to the inside. Lasts forever that way. I just leave the bottom open and let the brass drop into my catch pan. Looks kinda different but it works. Here is my setup.

 

[BobbyJ]

It is a WOA 24" 20P barrel. Per WOA


As I recall I'm about 2.5" for sight height when I run a ballistic program.


When I don't use a brass catcher I lose about 50% of the brass fired. Just disappears never to be seen again. I use the Caldwell model that attaches to the picatinny rail. That way I only need 1 brass catcher, just have the attachment on all my rifles. The mesh is only good for a few thousand rounds and it gets holes in it and you start losing brass. So I just take some denim fabric and safety pin it to the inside. Lasts forever that way. I just leave the bottom open and let the brass drop into my catch pan. Looks kinda different but it works. Here is my setup.
View attachment 1377944

Half the time I got to range I forget mine or even if I bring it end up shooting without it on. Yea that works nothing catches brass better than Folgers Roast! Nice touch matching the Scope rings to the classic roast catcher

 

[55fairlane]

Interesting option but need to put the price in to compare to A2 options. 0-6 pounds. How much does that weigh? Does it come with extra weights?
I have two identical Varmint ARs so its an option for the 2nd one. Link me to who makes it.

Would have to try one. I tend to use the angle of the stock to make elevation adjustments does not look possible with that stock.

https://gotxring.com/ you will find that buttstock under accessories. They are not cheap $350 ish. There heavy 6 to 8 pounds , I never weighed mine, Gary Elisio owns the place, very knowledgeable high power guy. Don't be afraid to ring him, very knowledgeable guy.

 

[Tempest]

For service rifle I used flat tire weights.