ACE Ultra light Stock A-UL Review

ACE Ultra light stock A-UL Review
Ace Ultralight Stock Assembly Rifle Length, AR-UL

If you are looking for the ultimate light weight AR15 you need light weight components. There is only one stock which is exponentially lighter than other stocks all while still being stronger and that stock is the Ace Ultra Light Stock.  The Ace Ultralight is a stock extremely popular in the three-gun scene and also popular with those who want to trim the fat on what have become obese rifles now carrying easily 2-3 extra lbs of optics and do-dads. Now part of the merged DoubleStar, J&T Distributing, and Ace firearms family, Ace dramatically increased its distribution during the merger which means you should be seeing these stocks in all your usual gun shops and not just primarily online.

The Ace stocks are unique and many would call them “Space Stocks” referencing a stock style found on world class open sight AR marksmanship rifles with prices exceeding that of your first nice car. The unique look is inevitable.  As Ace developed a stock to be the lightest as possible, the stock design was stripped down to the base components of stock tube and buttpad, but there is more than meets the eye.

Typically, a heavy barrel profile nets an AR around 7lbs, however my goal was to be under 6.5lbs with a heavy barrel profile.  In this case I was able to surpass that goal with the help of a light weight Mega Machine Billet lower receiver, Mega monolithic upper receiver, and most importantly the Ace Ultralight stock.  

FEATURES
Before we start discussing fit, feel, and functions, I wanted to run through the features and options available on the Ace Ultra Light stocks.  Like their original Ace Skeleton stock, the Ultra Light version is available in a “rifle” and “tactical entry” length.  The rifle length version provides a 9.75” length of pull without the ½” buttpad attached and the tactical entry version shortens that up about 2” to 7.625” with the ½” buttpad attached.  I have plans to build up an entry rifle with the Ace Entry length stock, so I will review those specifics during that later build article.  The Ace stocks are also available as the stock alone or as the “assembly” version I picked up which includes a rifle length buffer for more pleasant and reliable shooting and buffer spring.

Despite the fact the Ace Ultra Light Stock looks like nothing more than a stock tube with a buttpad, the tube is a very strong thick walled aluminum tube reinforced with the 7075 billet machined primary buttpad and receiver gusset /backplate.  Included accessories are a foam cheek tube cover, ½” reversible rubber buttpad, and single point sling swivel.  The stock tube is locked to the receiver via Ace’s proprietary receiver gusset/backplate, which actually adds substantial strength to a noted AR lower weak point.

FIT & FEEL
For the 95% of us who are not packing out with 40lbs of body armor and need a shorter stock to overcome the unnatural bulk or want more maneuverability for an entry weapon, we always run our six position stocks all the way out at A2 rifle length.  The Ace Ultra Light Stock with the ½” buttpad attached provides this same length of pull.  Tuning flexibility is limited to adding or removing the contoured ½” or optional 1” rubber buttpad or reversing the contour to fit how you shoulder a rifle. If you want an Ace stock which is adjustable, they have another model for that which is heavier, however if you want light, you have to sacrifice full adjust-ability and in this case I think it is a great trade all while still allowing some shooter sizing adjustment.

Comfort though is not something you sacrifice with tAce Ultra Light Stock but actually improve.  First off, the full length rifle length buffer in the “assembly” stock kit is much more comfortable to shoot. Pair it with a mid-length gas system with a good muzzle brake and recoil feels dramatically different than a carbine length system with carbine length buffer.  In fact this 6.45lb rifle shoots as smooth as a heavy weight mid-length counterpart. Makes me wonder why I ever got rid of my rifle length buffered A2 stock on my other rifles. The other comfort feature is the foam tube cover which is quite a bit more comfortable to shoot from than any hard piece of plastic on your average stock and replacements are available once they get old.  The foam also prevents that scalding feeling on your cheek after shouldering a hot sun baked black rifle. 

From a fit, finish and quality perspective, the Ace Ultra Light Stock is top notch. It is so good, I will most likely use them in several future builds.  I have not reviewed Ace’s original Skeleton stock, but the Ultra Light version does not feel ultra-light from a durability perspective, and was designed to handle more than a standard M4 stock.  Because everything locks down wiggle free the stock provides a very solid mount for target shooting with no rattle which I believe is very important for a defensive rifle.  I suppose I am just catching up to what all the three-gun guys knew years ago about the Ace stock... light but more solid than any adjustable stock.

FUNCTION
Install was straight forward and required the complete removal of my old DPMS tube and 6-position stock assembly.  The Ace Ultra Light Stock tube is screwed in enough to retain the buffer over-travel stop and the combo 7075 billet receiver gusset/backplate with single point mount and tube locker is slid on and tightened via a machine bolt.  Being the cautious type, I used just a bit of removable LockTite on the tube and hex bolt to assure everything locked down, however Ace technical support indicated it was optional.  You have the choice at this point of attaching the 1.25” QD single point sling on the left or right side and Ace provides two machine screws to cover one or both of the stud holes just to keep things tidy.  Ace recommend rubbing the tube with just a dab of oil to allow the foam cover to be slid on otherwise, as I found out, you cannot get it all the way on.  At the rear, the billet buttpad/plate features an integrated sling mount and is vertically aligned by hand.  The really picky folks can adjust Cant of the buttpad to optimize shoulder fit.  I just lined mine up vertically and tightened it down with the machine bolt.  At this point you have the choice of leaving the buttplate as is or attaching the included ½” rubber buttpad as I did.  If you need even more length, Ace has an optional 1” buttpad which will extend the length of pull to 13.8”.

Functionally the Ace Ultra-Light Stock is a great snag free clean design all while delivering reduced felt recoil thanks to the rifle length buffer and single point and traditional rear sling mount points.  The stock weight reduction does change the balance however I like a barrel heavy feel especially for offhand shooting. Not that I tested it with a timer, but the general feeling at the range was that the stock felt quicker than my old adjustable stock.  Maybe the weight reduction, the fact that it provides a more solid feeling mount instantly, or perhaps it was just in my head, however I know I like the way the stock feels.  After all, it is 9 ounces lighter than a standard AR15 A2 stock... it should feel lighter and faster.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Pure and simple, I easily shaved 9 ounces off the weight of my complete lower receiver.  That is a substantial weight reduction which could offset the weight of optics or simply make a trim iron sight rifle even lighter. In this case I was able build a 6.45lb ultra-light rifle with a heavy profile barrel. More surprising was the overall shooting and comfort improvement.  This is a top notch very high quality stock, which not only drops significant carried weight, but improves shooting comfort.  Even the more expensive complete stock assembly kit is less than half the price of many “premium” stocks.  This stock is a sleeper that more people should know about an use.  If you want to loose a significant amount of weight without compromising strength, this is an outstanding option.

SPECS
MSRP w/Buffer & Spring $114.99
MSRP $99.99
WEIGHT (Excluding Buffer & Spring) 5 OZ.
Length without butt pad 9.75"
L.O.P. without butt pad 12.8"
Post ban compliant
Material Aluminum and Billet 7075

SOURCES
Ace Ltd. USA
http://riflestocks.com

J&T Distributing
http://jtdistributing.net/store/product1712.html
Double Star
http://star15.com/