What's the point of an enhanced end plate for an AR?

[Snora]

It's Friday, I'm shopping for parts for a new build and I come across this for the first time:



I know there's some tacticool / aesthetic decision here, but seems like a very complicated way of reinventing what was otherwise a simple, affordable, and functional design. Does anyone here run one? And why?

Strike Industries AR Enhanced Castle Nut and Extended End Plate Up to 10% Off w/ Free Shipping — 4 models

Shop Strike Industries AR Enhanced Castle Nut and Extended End Plate | Up to 10% Off 4.7 Star Rating on 57 Reviews for Strike Industries AR Enhanced Castle Nut and Extended End Plate...

www.opticsplanet.com

 

[cookiecutter]

Seems like an answer in search of a question. Took me a bit to figure out where it even went but it looks like it might take care of locking the castle nut so you don't have to stake it ... staking it has worked for decades and isn't difficult to do right. I'd be a hard pass on this one ... but some may like that zero anodizing is harmed in the install

Personal tastes are personal.

 

[Davidk]

The point is to extract money from you

 

[snax]

Call me old fashioned but high quality standard parts are the way to go.

 

[Snora]

Also saw this one which has a mechanism to keep the nut from backing out. Interesting solution to a problem I'm not sure we have. I don't shoot as much as some guys here, but I wonder how often even a castle nut that isn't staked is going to back out.

Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System — 2 models

Shop Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System | 4.8 Star Rating on 18 Reviews for Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System Best...

www.opticsplanet.com

 

[Davidk]

Also saw this one which has a mechanism to keep the nut from backing out. Interesting solution to a problem I'm not sure we have. I don't shoot as much as some guys here, but I wonder how often even a castle nut that isn't staked is going to back out.

Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System — 2 models

Shop Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System | 4.8 Star Rating on 18 Reviews for Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System Best...

www.opticsplanet.com

View attachment 805481

$50! Lololololol

 

[pastera]

Call me old fashioned but high quality standard parts are the way to go.

I'll even take low quality parts if the price is right

 

[chris_1001]

I just stake all mine.

Only “enhanced” one I have is a BCM one with a QD hole. $13 and I’ve never used the hole.

 

[cams]

I just stake all mine.

Only “enhanced” one I have is a BCM one with a QD hole. $13 and I’ve never used the hole.

There are so many jokes in there for a Freaky Friday night.

 

[kerryman71]

Also saw this one which has a mechanism to keep the nut from backing out. Interesting solution to a problem I'm not sure we have. I don't shoot as much as some guys here, but I wonder how often even a castle nut that isn't staked is going to back out.

Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System — 2 models

Shop Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System | 4.8 Star Rating on 18 Reviews for Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System Best...

www.opticsplanet.com

View attachment 805481

That looks like the tool I use to remove the cap to get to the spring on my mountain bike's suspension fork

 

[Amputee Marksman]

Also saw this one which has a mechanism to keep the nut from backing out. Interesting solution to a problem I'm not sure we have. I don't shoot as much as some guys here, but I wonder how often even a castle nut that isn't staked is going to back out.

First AR build I ever did I put red locktite on the castle nut instead of staking it. I ran it that way for several thousand rounds before I took it apart. Castle nut never moved then I added a fancy QD end plate and staked the castle nut on reassembly.

 

[Dressed to Kill]

A solution to a non-problem

 

[weekendracer]

Put it on a $500 AR, BOOM $1500 custom build.

 

[mac1911]

It's Friday, I'm shopping for parts for a new build and I come across this for the first time:

View attachment 805468

I know there's some tacticool / aesthetic decision here, but seems like a very complicated way of reinventing what was otherwise a simple, affordable, and functional design. Does anyone here run one? And why?

Strike Industries AR Enhanced Castle Nut and Extended End Plate Up to 10% Off w/ Free Shipping — 4 models

Shop Strike Industries AR Enhanced Castle Nut and Extended End Plate | Up to 10% Off 4.7 Star Rating on 57 Reviews for Strike Industries AR Enhanced Castle Nut and Extended End Plate...

www.opticsplanet.com

Because there are people who need to buy expensive parts just to show the poors where they stand.

 

[mcb]

This makes me want to buy an AK

 

[Mesatchornug]

@SOTAR just did a video on these

View: https://youtu.be/LJ979IVAdNw?si=IRLTJmHaOVgRgz84
(Not sure these ones ratchet, but the idea is the same)
Edit: just watched the video for the one in the OP. It is actually worse. They're just saying this one doesn't need to be staked. No info on why. Maybe because there's more thread area, creating more fiction? Maybe the torque deforms the castle nut? Maybe because it looks cool for folks who won't shoot a lot?

 

[dhuze]

Also saw this one which has a mechanism to keep the nut from backing out. Interesting solution to a problem I'm not sure we have. I don't shoot as much as some guys here, but I wonder how often even a castle nut that isn't staked is going to back out.

Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System — 2 models

Shop Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System | 4.8 Star Rating on 18 Reviews for Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System Best...

www.opticsplanet.com

View attachment 805481

I've never staked one and none of them have backed off. Even if it did it's not very hard to tighten it back down.

 

[mac1911]

Also saw this one which has a mechanism to keep the nut from backing out. Interesting solution to a problem I'm not sure we have. I don't shoot as much as some guys here, but I wonder how often even a castle nut that isn't staked is going to back out.

Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System — 2 models

Shop Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System | 4.8 Star Rating on 18 Reviews for Fortis Manufacturing AR-15 LE Omega Clip Castle Nut/End Plate K2 System Best...

www.opticsplanet.com

View attachment 805481

Jezus really, Maybe under high use machine gun use your castle nuts might come loose?
Tighten the f***ing thing.
My bottom of the tier parts build took 6k rounds of steel case crap with minimum maintenance and the cheezy parts stayed together?

 

[MAGA99]

I just stake all mine.

Only “enhanced” one I have is a BCM one with a QD hole. $13 and I’ve never used the hole.

I love the QD hole ones. Most of mine have. Perfect sling attachment point.

That’s all the ‘enhancing’ I need.

 

[chris_1001]

I love the QD hole ones. Most of mine have. Perfect sling attachment point.

That’s all the ‘enhancing’ I need.

If you are using a single point sling with that QD hole, I hope you are wearing a cup...