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How to Pin a Collapsible Stock On a Rifle

Drill Press
Gotta pin your collapsible stock? We quickly go through all the supplies and steps with tons of pictures. Plus some non-permanent alternatives!
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    Learn how to easily pin a collapsible stock to satisfy the Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) criteria with a drill, roll pin, and epoxy.

    Blind Pinned and Epoxied Stock
    Blind Pinned and Epoxied Stock

    Note the disclaimer that this is for educational purposes only and that you should double-check all laws surrounding this.

    Tools Needed

    • Drill & Bits: Hopefully you have something at home or can borrow someones since you’ll only need it for a second.  I went with a 1/8″ drill bit but as long as you can match up the bit to the roll pin, you’re fine.
    • Roll Pins ($13): I bought a monster pack since I’m always losing them in AR builds.  This one will definitely have several 1/8″ roll pins.
    • Epoxy ($6): I went with a plastic bonding epoxy since you want it to stay to the polymer rifle stock.

    Pinning a Collapsible Stock

    I’ll be pinning my Bravo B5 stock ($60) but this should translate to any adjustable polymer stock.  I like the B5 since it’s really light and has that angle that gives me a really good cheekweld.

    First make sure that you have your stock in the correct length.  So if you have any optics (Best Scopes & Optics for the AR-15), make sure you have proper eye relief and length of pull.

    1/8" Drill and Roll Pin
    1/8″ Drill and Roll Pin

    Get a matching set of drill bit and roll pin.  I’m using 1/8″ for both since it looks pretty thick and should stand up to some abuse in the rare chance that my collapsible stock tries to move.

    Drill Press
    Drill Press

    Use a hand drill or drill press to drill the stock and the bottom part of the buffer tube.

    Drill Through One Side Only
    Drill Through One Side Only

    Make sure to not drill through the entire buffer tube.  You want to just clear the first wall.  Reason is we want to make it a “blind” pin so you can’t just knock out the roll pin from a hole on the other side.

    Pin In
    Pin In

    You might have to trim the pin depending on the initial length.  But make it so it will fit all the way to the wall of the buffer tube and be near flush with the stock.

    I just used a pair of wire cutters.  But you can see that mine is a little too long for taste so I added some liberal force with a punch.

    Blind Pinned and Epoxied Stock
    Blind Pinned and Epoxied Stock

    Mix up some epoxy and put it over the hole.  Since the roll pin is hollow you might have to reapply so that there’s actually epoxy over it.  And…you’re done!

    Here’s a video of the process too:

    Alternatives to Pinning Your Stock

    Something new has come along…the Stock Lok ($35).  It swaps out the adjusting pin in your stock so that it becomes fixed.  Perfect if you don’t want to pin after reading this tutorial.

    Stock Lok
    Stock Lok

    An even easier method is with Strike Industries Stock Stop which is a piece of rubber that stops your standard buttstock from moving.

    Strike Stock Stop, Bottom
    Strike Stock Stop, Bottom

    Genius and super cheap at under $10.

    Conclusion

    Looking for more help in building a featureless rifle or upgrading your AR-15?  Check out our AR-15 Resources and How to Build a Featureless AR-15.

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    4 Leave a Reply

    • DJ

      In the write-up you say to make sure to set the stock to the length you want. But then in the video you mention you can't havd it all the way in, shortest length, according to the law,
      Is that true?

      April 7, 2017 12:00 am
      • Plune Krandek

        The law says that the overall length cannot be less than thirty inches, so if the rifle is less than thirty inches while the stock is collapsed, then you'll have to pin it open more, or do one better and move to a free state; since there is no satisfying the morons in Sacramento.

        I don't get Californians. A critical examination of these stupid laws clearly shows that they are absolutely ridiculous and do NOTHING to make guns "safer". Sacramento politicians are the equivalent of a high school student council flexing. They are petty, arbitrary, capricious, tyrannical fools. If you don't leave California then you are voluntary supporting this idiocy with your tax dollars.

        May 24, 2021 10:10 am
        • Andrei

          Bro, calm down.

          June 7, 2021 6:56 am
        • Brian k Wilson Sr

          Some people are cowards like you some people stand and fight you run away plus you're probably too poor to live here anyway let's be honest

          August 20, 2022 8:53 am
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