I emailed McMillan and got some bad news for me. I've been saving to get an M40A3 stock. They told me they no longer carry the correct 2 bolt cheek piece. That kind of hurts the point of paying their crazy price to get the real deal.
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Did McMillan just kill M40A3 and M40A5 builds?
- Thread starter Nates4Christ
- Start date
Well their old dual screw system was kind of a piece of shit so I get why they would want to upgrade that system. I was curious about all of this so I talked to a McMillan rep today and he said that officially yes, they're not offering the Gen I style of saddle cheek piece anymore but they do have a limited stock for those that want to do clone builds. Keyword being limited stock. Otherwise, if you order a saddle cheek piece you get the single knob clamp bar set up, which is a better system compared to the Gen I.
There's also this just in case:
mcmillanusa.com
There's also this just in case:
MCMILLAN USMC M40A3/A5 SADDLE CHEEK PIECE (GEN 1)
mcmillanusa.com
Well their old dual screw system was kind of a piece of shit so I get why they would want to upgrade that system. I was curious about all of this so I talked to a McMillan rep today and he said that officially yes, they're not offering the Gen I style of saddle cheek piece anymore but they do have a limited stock for those that want to do clone builds. Keyword being limited stock. Otherwise, if you order a saddle cheek piece you get the single knob clamp bar set up, which is a better system compared to the Gen I.
There's also this just in case:
MCMILLAN USMC M40A3/A5 SADDLE CHEEK PIECE (GEN 1)
When I called he said they had 20 of them and they are reserved for warranty claims. The person on the phone said to you they can make one with the two piece by request?
Is that one you listed the correct piece for a later A3? Not that sharp hook first batch.
That was my understanding talking to Gerry/Jerry (sp?), if someone was doing a clone build they could try to get them set up with the dual set screw system. Again, that was based on how many they had.
I don't know what the sharp butt hook A3's had, but thats the only Gen 1 saddle cheek piece set up as far as I know.
I don't know what the sharp butt hook A3's had, but thats the only Gen 1 saddle cheek piece set up as far as I know.
I called and talked to Jeree. I've been sitting on the pot for a while on buying one of these and this is the push I needed. This is the last chance to get the correct cheek piece and I was able to order one. Thank you very much for helping me with this.
I'm hoping they continue to make these as needed. I recall them trying to talk me OUT of buying the USMC version and instead get the updated cheek riser version. But what it sounded like is they would make them in batches as needed. With or without the EFR inlet. If you guys have gotten your stocks, photos would be helpful. Specifically the cheek riser they are being shipped with.
Yeah, those early twin thumbscrew cheek rest just had helicoil inserts in the fiberglass stock. They seemed to back out of the fiberglass pretty easily. I ended up putting steel threaded inserts with some epoxy to correct the weak design.
I doubt it nothing kills people from doing whatever it is they want to do if they want it bad enough .
Emailed McMillian today to ask about these stocks and they confirmed they will continue to offer these stocks for those looking to build clones. No plans to cease production of these is what I was told.
They said they will continue making them for clone builds. I'm personally a bit confused why anyone would buy the stock that doesn't intend to do a clone. The M40A4 stock is outdated now that they have the M40A6 and other updated McMillian stocks. What spot does the M40A4 stock fill besides someone that wants to have a rifle that looks like the M40A3 or A5? The integrated cheek piece seems much better that is on the A6 and other more modern options they offer.
For cloning purposes, there are two A3 variants generally recognized: the standard A3 and transitional A3.
The “transitional” A3 had the Badger m5 / AICS mags and PGW EFR. The PWS shop also used Badger rails and other parts in addition to the DD Ross stuff, including scope bases for both the A3 and A5. McMillan also changed the buttonhook portion of the A4 stock at some point after their initial introduction, the first design seen most often seen on the A3s. There may be other updates but those what I recall from the top of my head.
Well, it's hard to clone something that even the originators have no hard and fast configuration control of.
There have been quite a few official changes and testing changes done to the A3.
A3 with Unertl, big hook stock, and fixed internal box magazine.
A3 with Unertl, normal hook stock, and fixed internal box magazine. 3-4 years of use (if I recall correctly)
A3 with S&B or Premier, normal hook stock, and fixed internal box magazine. (Major use)
A3 with S&B or Premier, normal hook stock, PGW, and fixed internal box magazine. (Major use)
A3 with S&B or Premier, normal hook stock, PGW, and DBM.(Major use, last issued A3 gun with phased-in A5)
Testing was done with various types of suppressors, scopes (Nightforce, S&B 4-16x42, come to mind quickly), forward mounts (US Optics M40A3MVP), side bolt release, etc.
A3 with Unertl, big hook stock, and fixed internal box magazine.
A3 with Unertl, normal hook stock, and fixed internal box magazine. 3-4 years of use (if I recall correctly)
A3 with S&B or Premier, normal hook stock, and fixed internal box magazine. (Major use)
A3 with S&B or Premier, normal hook stock, PGW, and fixed internal box magazine. (Major use)
A3 with S&B or Premier, normal hook stock, PGW, and DBM.(Major use, last issued A3 gun with phased-in A5)
Testing was done with various types of suppressors, scopes (Nightforce, S&B 4-16x42, come to mind quickly), forward mounts (US Optics M40A3MVP), side bolt release, etc.
When researching for my A5 build it became clear that there was a lot of mixed information involved with this project. Every manufacturer claimed they were the "correct" supplier for such and such parts. That others only supplied a finite number of parts to fill the gap in demand. Others claim that certain parts were only made in house. Ultimately after talking to the SNCOIC at PWS, I was comfortable mine was build by a 2112 just as it would have left their shop during the GWOT days.
And that is why McMillan will try and talk folks out of the stock unless they intend to make theirs 100% correct. With deviations in the specs here and there, might as well go with the better product vs the "spec" one.
I've had a couple of A5's and other clones built over the past 15 years or so... and I'd never go with a "better" product over a "spec" one. Hopefully there is enough stocks in the secondary market if Mcmillan is out of the game.
To me Issued parts are the unicorns of the clone game.
Quantico still doing civilian builds? I've had a couple of reliable sources tell me that shop builds are a no go, period. However, I talked to one collector that has a couple of pws builds in process right now.
You always have to know someone to get something done hobby lobby.
Reviving and old thread, but we now have McMillan A4 stocks for the M40A3 and for the M40A5 in-stock, usually no waiting. We have contracted with McMillan to provide a flow to meet the needs of the M40 shooter or the gunsmith making rifles. Eventually, we will have the barrels, the EFR (now in stock), bottom metal, R-700 receivers, etc. We are not building rifles, just the parts for this special rifle.
McMillan stocks for the M40A3/5 sniper rifle at Charlie's
McMillan stocks for the M40A3/5 sniper rifle at Charlie's
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