{simplegrade:5}
Manufacturer: Star Airsoft (Hong Kong)
Type: Stock
Special Forces Crane Stock with 9.6V 2000 Ni-CD Battery
I had a problem with my M4 R.I.S. and battery capacity a s many M4 owners do. I have owned both the Ready Mag and AN/PEQ solutions for my M4, but I was never happy with either solution. Then the Crane Stocks from various manufacturers started coming out last year and that peaked my interest.
Then I came across the STAR Crane Stock from WGC which has a different feature then other airsoft crane stocks in that you insert the battery from the rear. Other previous Crane Stocks, make you remove the stock to e replace the battery if you wire the battery down the stock tube. With the STAR version you simply depress 2 tabs and the rear butt plate releases and then batery pulls out. The other HUGE selling point was the STAR Crane Stock and 9.6v 2000MaH Battery cost $88.00.
I actually sent my M4 into AEX to get a Systema wire harness installed and asked them to take care of the wiring down the stock tube. (For some reason I couldn't open my Systema Metal Body… GAH)
The STAR Crane Stock itself is a pretty well built unit. There are some downsides though. The piston that holds the stock in postion on the stock tube wasn't secured well and would not lock in position. I fixed this by using a 4 1/2" X 3/8" X 5/8" polypropolene to fill a void to force the piston at a 90 degree angle and thus lock into place. (See images added at the end of this post) Less of an issue was the fact that when the battery is in the stock, it will not collapse all the way, but I think this should be a problem with most Crane style stocks that have batteries and wires in the stock tube.
STAR – Crane Stock – Coiling the wiring
STAR – Crane Stock – Showing how far it will collapse with batteries installed
But overall I feel this is a good solution. The stock works well with battery installed. It's a very comfortable stock and seems to offer a little more goggle clearance then the original stock. After getting used to the rear cap and battery replacement, it's done with relative ease. For the price it's a great deal and the fact you can carry a 9.6 2000mah bat is great! They make 9.6 3000Mah batteries for this stock, so your battery woes for M4 owners are over.
STAR – Crane Stock – Stock Fully Extended
How it looks…
An Arnie’s user recently asked what I meant about the polypropelyne insert I made for the Crane Stocki wrote on earlier. Here area few pics of the insert:
STAR – Crane Stock – Polypro Insert
STAR – Crane Stock – Polypro Insert Installed