If you’re like me and aren’t really pleased with the slop in the standard Magpul MOE stock, then you can snug it up for next to nothing and forget forking out $60 for a CTR.
All you need is 3 pieces of foil tape 2.75" long. Take the stock off the buffer tube and wipe off the back 3" with some alcohol or degreaser. If you don’t have any oil or lint on it anyway then you can even forget that step. Apply the tape longways to the top back and centered at the end of the buffer tube. Mine needed 3 layers to tighten it up without being too tight to still be able to adjust. You can test the fit of yours after each layer and add or leave off however many you want til you’re happy with the snugness. That’s it!
If you want to tighten the side to side twist, you can cut a small strip of the foil tape to put on each side of the bottom notch. I only put one layer each side there. They should also be 2.75" long or they can show with the stock fully extended.
I figure someone else had thought of this, but thought I’d share for those who hadn’t. Gotta say I’m pleased with the results. No more slop and no foil tape showing through the side slits of the MOE stock. Hope this helps!
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Neat idea. I really hadn’t noticed slop in my MOE stock, but now I’m gonna be looking for it… thanks for that! LOL! If I notice it being excessively sloppy I’ll try your tip out.
I typically put one on each side of the notch and one on the top, one is so sloppy it required 3 pieces on the top but is nice and snug now.
I kinda figure that a bit of “slop” is ok. Kinda makes room for dust, mud, leaves and other whatnots so the weapon will still function in adverse conditions. But the stock? Maybe that should fit a bit closer. I’m not an operator so I don’t think I’ll get much mud and jungle leaves stuck in my gun but I wonder how the pro’s feel about it?
If you get a tube with a smaller diameter but within tolerance and have a stock with a larger diameter but still in tolerance there can be more movement. It’s referred to as tolerance stacking, it can make fitment super loose or super tight between two in spec parts. Most people end up upgrading away from the MOE stock. When sand and mud get into it it can be hard to adjust, but adjusting the stock typically comes when you’re able to do maintenance and not when you need to shoot. We had guys use electrical tape overseas, I brought a ACS-L stock.
yes sir, I understand tolerance stacking. And I really don’t think it matters much for the stock, loose or not, it’s gonna do it’s job. I plan on checking mine out and keeping this tip in mind, I like it… and hate loose noisy parts. Funny thing is, I figured going to the MOE was an upgrade, LOL!
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Hadn’t thought about drainage, but I don’t think most guns are designed to take beatings like AKs. After my first moe stock, I did notice reviews of other ones where folks mentioned or asked about the fit. Plus Magpul having stocks like the CTR and STR that tighten up on the buffer made me realize it wasn’t just mine that had play. Since then I’ve had a Fab Defense and an MFT that fit better than the standard MOE.
Not sure about the pros, but on the tv show “Seal Team” they have a lot of MOEs and MOE CTRs. Lol!
Did you use foil tape or electrical tape on yours? I figured some others had to have thought of it.
I gotta admit, I chose the magpul because I wanted something other than the m4 stock. I have the m4 stock and pistol grip on my first rifle and was sort of “meh”. I put a Fab defense horizontal fore grip on that rifle, I think I’ll stick with MOE for this one and get an AFG. I like the QD on the CTR, but this one doesn’t have it. Maybe I can add one.
I was wondering why the stock is as “loose” as it is and learned that it’s because they make it to fit both mil and commercial tubes. Definitely gonna check mine tonight and shim if needed. I have some foil tape I got from my pellet stove guy that sticks to anything and lasts. 
Yeah, the MOE is a nice stock and it’s used in the military. (at least it is on the Seal Team tv show). 
This is the first I heard that they are made for both commercial and mil spec though. Maybe I confused it with a different stock, but I thought they did make separate ones for commercial tubes. I’m also keeping mine since I figured out how to tighten it up! 
I just read that they make one for commercial and one for mil-spec. The mil-spec tube is Ø1.185 the commercial tube is Ø1.170 . Now I’m wondering what I got, I never measured it, If the stock is mil-spec it will fit the commercial tube with a bit of slop.
Last night I added some electric tape to my tube (the electric tape was right about .010" thick while the aluminum tape was .002"). I put a strip on top and one each on both sides. It still rattled because the guide was undersize also. So, I moved the side tapes down to the side of the guide. It was still a bit rattly so I added a piece of aluminum tape under one side. I was able to carefully slip the stock back on without bunching up the electric tape… took a few tries. Once it slipped on past the tape it seemed to open up a bit. Worked great. Free movement and no rattle.
Thanks for the tips guys. I fixed an issue I didn’t know I had! 
If it is a commercial tube it will have a slanted rear end while the milspec tube is straight. TBH, I haven’t seen a commercial tube in years.
Nice, I’m glad that worked for you! I never measured the tape thickness, but I went with the aluminum tape cause it seemed less likely to curl edges due to it’s stiffness. It’s also got a slicker surface for the stock to slide on, plus the tube is already made of aluminum. My first try I put the tape too far down the sides and it showed through the openings. Now it’s completely hidden until the stock is taken off.
That’s what I thought about them making one for commercial tubes. However, I thought the commercial tubes were bigger than the milspec.
Anyway, nice job and happy shooting!
I was going to use the metal tape but I was worried that I would see the silver through the openings. I have some really good metal tape I got from a buddy that installs pellet stoves. Real sticky stuff. But I went with the electric tape because of the thickness. I’ll see if it holds up.
I see there are 2 different diameters to each tube. The diameter at the threads and the diameter of the tube itself.
Mil-spec at the threads is 1.185, the smooth section is 1.145-1.150 and the butt end is squared off. The thickness of the guide is .485-.495 . The threads are roll threaded, that’s why they are slightly larger… and stronger.
The commercial version is 1.170 at the threads and 1.163-1.173 in the smooth section and usually has a 6° slant on the butt end. The thickness of the guide is .475-.485 . The threads are cut.
Commercial tubes are cheaper to make, and the stocks ain’t really interchangeable. A commercial stock will be mad sloppy on a mil-spec tube and a mil-spec stock will fit too tight on a commercial tube.
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For what it’s worth, I bought a Palmetto Arms BLEM PSA AR15 COMPLETE MOE EPT STEALTH LOWER, FDE. I was pleased with the quality of the metal parts and had picked out a fixed, nonadjustable stock from Brownell’s to replace it. However, when I received it, I was amazed to find there was no play at all, even fully extended. Looks like Brownell’s lost a sale! This lower has very high quality furniture.
Just picked my second PSA MOE EPT lower. Got first one in 2019. It had the MOE+ grip which has a rubberized hand grip. This one is plain Jane and “blem” but it looks great anyway. $139 + $17 shipping. The one with the milspec regular trigger was $149. Anyway, any suggestions about rubberizing the grip, besides slip-on?
P.S. No PSA receipt/serial number, item description, order number, or any type paper with my name, order# was in the carton. Just the complete lower…
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My favorite grip is the B5 Type 23. It’s a little more vertical, has a good texture and is very comfortable. It is similar to the Magpul K2. I like rubberized grips, but eventually the rubber rubs off, especially if you use gloves.
