Looking for a brace for my SP5 pistol (with the 8" barrel, not the K).
Anyone have any experience or guidance with the SBT5A folding brace from SB Tactical?
Thanks in advance.

It's well made and easy to install. Overall fairly sturdy and length of pull is usable. I have three MP-5 clones, a K SBR, a full-size post sample machinegun, and a full-size with the brace. The brace keeps up fine.

My experience is that it needs fitting. Wouldn’t fit on either my Zenith Z-5RS or HK SP5 without opening the pushpin hole in the adapter.

I had the same issue on fitting, but its easy to fix, I just ran a reamer through it and gtg.
But on the other hand in the end after some use I really decided I don't like folders and prefer the telescopic options and so went with that.

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
I had the same issue on fitting, but its easy to fix, I just ran a reamer through it and gtg.
But on the other hand in the end after some use I really decided I don't like folders and prefer the telescopic options and so went with that.

Good input. Thank you.
What was it about the folder vs telescoping?

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
My experience is that it needs fitting. Wouldn’t fit on either my Zenith Z-5RS or HK SP5 without opening the pushpin hole in the adapter.

Thank you.
I wondered about that pin.
You mean the adaptor that comes with the brace?
I appreciate the guidance.

quote:

Originally posted by ScotP7:
What was it about the folder vs telescoping?

Telescoping HK stocks/braces are a much slicker solution that doesn’t add width when compacted.

The SB folding one with the B and T logo from HK parts is awesome and needs zero fitting. I’ve read the telescoping one needs a screw removed and/or buffer trimmed sometimes.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:

quote:

Originally posted by ScotP7:
What was it about the folder vs telescoping?

Telescoping HK stocks/braces are a much slicker solution that doesn’t add width when compacted.

Voshterkoff,
Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho:
The SB folding one with the B and T logo from HK parts is awesome and needs zero fitting. I’ve read the telescoping one needs a screw removed and/or buffer trimmed sometimes.

Lincoln,
Thank you.
I am pretty sure that is indeed the sbt5a.
Very helpful info.

If you want a telescoping one I recommend you just save your pennies and get the B&T one. Its a world better than the rest but with the usual B&T price. I did not have the same experience on the folding HK Parts one that LSE had and had to trim the buffer to make it all run properly. But it was a trivial project.

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
If you want a telescoping one I recommend you just save your pennies and get the B&T one. Its a world better than the rest but with the usual B&T price. I did not have the same experience on the folding HK Parts one that LSE had and had to trim the buffer to make it all run properly. But it was a trivial project.

Thank you.
How is the B&T slider's stability vs the SB folder's?

The HK Parts folder uses a real B&T polymer end cap and a B&T/SB marked folding brace. It's good and better than the SB marketed version.

The B&T telescoper with a Tailhook Mod 1c is simply the highest quality available. Fits perfectly, works perfectly. The rail do not ride in the slots on the side of the SP5 though, they float a little away from the sides.

Gearheadworks side folder based on the Choate folding stock is good too. Built like a tank and heavy enough to use a club. Again the Tailhook Mod 1c is the ideal size.

And just for fun I grabbed the new Magpul telescoper. It's great for the money. Rails slide in the slots on the gun like a real HK stock. Seems sturdy. It's a blade style with a QD socket on the back.

Of the folders the B&T end cap based one is certainly better than the SB one. for me the SB one required a serious amount of fitment both to get the pin to fit and the buffer to be right.
Of the telescoping ones LS has it right the B&T one is miles ahead. The SB HK version looks and feels like a couple of high school kids did it for a shop project. and its not that much cheaper.
All this in the end depends on what you want. I've a bunch of these HK's and tried a lot of choices. What optic (if any), what height to use it, what constraints on size and shape etc. etc.
For example I've been really happy with the spuhr M4 adapter and the SB brace as it gives a really nice height for an AR type optic and that works better for me when I use an SP5 in PCC type competitions, but its doesn't fold or slide or do squat for the size.
But in any case to the original question, lacking other specific constraints get the B&T and be really happy.

quote:

Gearheadworks side folder based on the Choate folding stock is good too. Built like a tank and heavy enough to use a club. Again the Tailhook Mod 1c is the ideal size.

Well I've got a few choice words about the 2-pin version of this GHW folding mount...

To start I have the Mod 1 on my SP5K-PDW; no real regrets but the 1c does seem to be more in scale with entire diminutive packaging of the SP5K. However the 2-pin GHW folder did require considerable fitting in order for it to attach to my gun, and the end result has a bit of wobble because of the elongation of a couple of slotting holes in order for the two retaining pins to sleeve completely through to the opposite side of the gun. In hindsight, it might've been wiser to have sent the part back to HK Parts (GHW was out of stock at the time) once the fitting problem was recognized and moved on to another mounting solution. But I wanted the Tailhook, so...

Apparently I'm not alone with this fitting problem. GHW now addresses this fitting issue on their product page with what in essence is a warning disclaimer about the problem that backhandedly dismisses it, essentially claiming that it's a user-induced installation problem and not a manufacturing defect. Considering how much effort I had to go through to get that bloody mount to finally align, I certainly cry foul on that. Even after I declared it "done", one pin STILL binds and in order to be removed it has to be taken off after the other pin is first removed, and in reassembly it has to go back into the SP5K first before the second pin is put in. So there is now 'a sequence' to this assembly/disassembly where there wasn't one before. I've chosen to leave it like this for concerns of making the mount even more wobbly in trying to achieve a "more finished" configuration. In reality, it seems to me that a much more real fix would've required a separate piece of steel being scabbed on to the problem bracket and new holes--this time properly located--drilled into the welded on metal plate. That would've eliminated any potential for inducing any wobble with the brace mount.

Y'all would think that it wouldn't be THAT big of a deal to get two sets of mounting holes properly aligned and drilled correctly...but I guess not, at least for a certain run of these mounts. GHW claims that "there are videos" showing the 'proper way' of installing this part, yet doesn't trouble themselves to provide any links to any of them on their product page. My own quick Google search didn't turn up any either. Maybe they exist, but where those would be is a mystery to me. Their own disclaimer on their product page claims that only the lower pin has been cited as being the point of contention, yet I had issues with BOTH pins aligning with one set of their mounting holes. Not only was that pair on the right bracket drilled in the wrong position relative to the pair on the left bracket, they weren't even spaced correctly in relation to one another(!). My unfortunate mount very much fits the description of the proverbial 'made-on-Friday afternoon' widget.

So what I personally am left to think is that they more likely made a sizable screwed up batch of these things that probably cost them more than a pretty penny. And now they're sitting on a ton of defects that they're trying to offload onto the market by claiming that it's actually "okay" and the end user is the one that's really at fault. They can certainly go ahead and prove me wrong, but in consideration of how much effort it took ME to get that stupid thing to fit, I for one will never believe it. So if anyone is considering one of these GHW folders for their 2-pin SP5K or clone, they should be very wary. And that's all I've got to say about this, well other than this whole escapade has left a foul taste with regards to GHW's QC.

^^^ Sorry to hear that. The plastic end cap single pin version for the SP5 (non-K) is fine. It is a bit tight to slip on the back of the receiver but other than that it's good.

My understanding was that these are Choate OEM mechanisms with only a different piece of plastic pressed onto the tenon. I grabbed the two-pin version from Midway during their brace blowout just in case I end up finding an SP5-K for a price I am willing to pay. So I may find out about the fitting issue sooner or later.

But that was before I got the B&T telescoper, so that would be my future choice for a K.

Thank you all for the great input.
What is the best source for B&T braces?

The best B&T dealer is Tar Heel State Firearms.
But B&T parts are sometimes not in the dealer channel and then you can use B&T USA webstore as an option.

quote:

Originally posted by hrcjon:
The best B&T dealer is Tar Heel State Firearms.
But B&T parts are sometimes not in the dealer channel and then you can use B&T USA webstore as an option.

Thank you.

Bringing back this topic because I never got around to ordering this GHW Tailhook and the B&T Telescopic brace (BT-200601), as I had intended. (Both were back ordered.)
Is a final ruling coming out 12/28?
I think the ruling is going to require braces to be stamped, but the $200 fee waived?
Since a stamp seems inevitable, would you do a brace now (and probably get grandfathered to miss a $200 fee), or is there an alternative real stock that you would recommend that would be far superior?
I am probably asking what actual stock is significantly superior, because the cost of the brace and Tailhook (and the SP5 itself) dwarfs the $200.
Thanks for advice.