My M4-Based SBR Build: Buttstock Assembly

I have completed the first assembly for my M4-Based SBR build, and it is the Buttstock Assembly. Total price was at P6,547 (approximately USD 152). By US standards, it is shockingly expensive, as I have seen similar assemblies on Amazon sellling for only USD 50 in the US. I was initially thinking of getting a Magpul CTR Stock, but prices of such stocks in Philippine Gun Stores are insane, and I had problems finding an original one from a source that would ship to the Philippines.

The M4 Standard Stock showing the individual parts of the assembly


The M4 Standard Stock with all the individual parts assembled


Even if I could find one, the prices online, while much lower than the insane prices from the Gun Stores, still would've been much more expensive than the Standard M4 Stock. I also thought that in terms of looks, I think the Standard M4 Stock is better than the Magpul CTR as it is sleeker in appearance.

I could've bought these Standard M4 Stocks for much cheaper prices from some Chinese websites, but by the time I "discovered" them, I had already bought most of the items. Besides, I had excess parts from my Glock Machine Pistol build in form of the Tapco Rubber Pad and Buffer Tube, and didn't want them to go to waste, so I just decided to build around them instead.

(Update - July 2012) Magpul Products' Availability in the Philippines

Three months after I posted my first blog about the availability of genuine Magpul Products in the Philippines, I was finally able to buy some of these products. Below is a picture of some of them:

From left to right: Magpul MIAD Grip, Magpul MOE Trigger Guard and Magpul BAD Lever


The parts seem genuine, the packaging is complete and top notch, and the parts themselves seem to be made of genuine high quality Polymer that Magpul is known for, instead of the lesser quality Polymer or even ABS Plastic materials that the copies are made of.

'ebay.ph'
I bought the above items from ebay.ph, from a seller in the US. The prices were great, just a couple of dollars above the typical retail listed prices for these items, way better than the ridiculous prices the local gun stores sell them for. The only problem with these parts is that the availability tends to be inconsistent at best, and this is mainly because the sellers are mostly individuals, not stores, and therefore could only have a few items at a time on their stocks.

My guess is that they buy these on sales, and turn around and sell them online. The available parts on sale is probably only limited, and their budget is also limited, and thus could only stock a few items at a time. So if you see one being sold, I suggest you grab one immediately as they may not be around for long.

My Review for the M4 Collapsible Stock for Glock

After the fiasco of using a Magpul UBR Stock copy for my Glock, which turned out to be too heavy for the unit, I wanted to use the lightest possible M4 Stock available to pair with my Endotactical Tactical Stock Adapter - Glock (TSA-G). After looking around some firearms forums, it turns out that the stock or factory standard M4 Collabsible Stock is among the lightest available.

I chose the standard Mil-spec M4 stock mainly because it was available, and cheaper than the other light stocks like the Colt Super-Stoc of Magpul CTR. In terms of looks, it doesn't look too bad either. I got the "ribbed" version (as opposed to the "dotted" or "ultra-thin" version. Oh, wait, those are for other things, sorry), which I assume to be the more modern one as it allows various accessories to be fitted to the stock if you so desire.

I wasn't able to measure the weight of the stock, but information from the forum threads say they are around 6 ounces, or less than half a pound. Material is reportedly some sort of ABS Plastic, and the workmanship was fantastico! No flashes or other imperfections to be found anywhere on the stock. The finish was quite good, best seen in actual because it doesn't translate very well into digital pictures.

My Magpul UBR for Glock Review

'Magpul UBR Stock'
I was able to buy a China-copy of the Magpul UBR to go with my Endotactical TSA-G. I went with the Magpul UBR mainly because of its looks. I have seen pictures of Glocks with the TSA-G and Magpul Compact Type - Restricted (CTR) stock, and it looked awkward, as the stock looked too big for the pistol. On the other hand, the Magpul Utility Battle Rifle (UBR) looked just about right with the pistol as it is less bulky overall compared to the CTR stock.

In fact, among all the Magpul stocks, as well as collapsible M4 Carbine stocks made by other manufacturers, the UBR looks the most compact, probably after the Ace Ultralight Stock. The Ace Ultralight Stock was actually my first choice, but I just couldn't find anybody selling it in the country, or online.

The seller advertised it as a "Magpul PTS UBR", but I know better, because the unit is marked "Magpul Industries Corporation" on one side, and "Boulder, Colorado, USA" on the other side. A genuine Magpul PTS UBR would've been marked "Magpul PTS" and/or "Professional Training and Simulation". Besides, the unit was priced only have of what a genuine Magpul USA or PTS UBR.

The unit is very well made, though. The workmanship is excellent, very little flashes, no unsightly marks, and the fit of the parts are tight, almost no wobble when the stock is fully extended. The only fly in the ointment is a wayward nut that was not installed properly on one side of the unit, causing it to tilt during installation, of which up to now I am unable to correct. Nevertheless, I'm pretty happy with the unit.

The unit felt a bit rear-heavy initially, so I decided to remove all the items that I do not intend to use with the unit, namely the:
- Storage Plate and Cover;
- Quick Disconnect (QD) Sling Mounts, both front and rear, and the Screws, Nuts, Washers, and Mounting Cups.

Magpul Products' Availability in the Philippines

(Update Note: I have updated this blog, click here to read about the latest developments about the topic)

MAGPUL is a relatively new company, that has taken the firearms world by storm the last couple of years. The company's official name is "Magpul Industries Corporation", and was founded in 1999. The company is best known for their plastic accessories and parts, specifically for the AR-15/M-4 platform, and their products are not only very well made, but also very elegant and high-tech looking, which is a big part of their success.

I started buying some of their stuff for my Glock (why I am buying M-4 parts for my Glock? Long story, to be taken in other blogs), and I have had a bit of confusion with regards to which of their products are genuine, which are copied from China, etc. So I did a little bit of research, and I would just like to share some of the things I found out.

First, it turns out that Magpul has two main plants in different locations, producing slightly different parts. And these are MAGPUL USA, and MAGPUL PTS.

'Magpul USA'
Magpul USA or officially, "Magpul Industries" is located in Colorado, USA, and the most important thing to remember about them and their products, is that they only serve the US market. US laws by default forbid them to export these parts and/or accessories for high powered rifles to other countries. They can apply for export of these parts and accessories, but for some reason, they have opted not to do so. As a result, this has had a huge impact on the prices of their products outside of the USA.

That inability to export their products is the primary reason for the outrageous prices of ORIGINAL Magpul USA parts in the Philippines. For example, a "Magpul Compact Type - Restricted" (CTR) Stock in the US costs only USD 80, but some shops at the Makati Cinema Square (MCS) sells the same products for approximately USD 348. That is more than four times the retail price in the US. Another example, would be the Magpul Back Up Sight (MBUS) Generation 2 sights, for example. These retail for only USD 40 in the US, but in an MCS shop? P12,000 (approximately USD 279), or around SEVEN times as much.