Collapsible Stocks For The M-16

Many manufacturers offer stocks for ARs. The AR is the most versatile weapon system ever created and the range of stocks available reinforces that versatility. One company that has made a great contribution in the field of AR furniture is Magpul. The advanded polyers used by Magpul resist chemicals and corrosiion as well as impacts, scuffing and scratching and are much safter to touch in very hot and very cold conditions than bare aluminium. Polymer is also easy to dye and these stocks are available in black, dark earth, OD green and forest green. Magpul stocks have found their way into the US military in large numbers as private purchases and they have proven extremely popular with sports shooters, law enforcement officers and private security contractors. They are available in two versions specific to either military or civilian diameter buffer tubes.

The Magpul MOE stock (Magpul Original Equipment) is their baseline model and is very inexpensive. Fewer options are included as you would expect with an entry level stock. For example it has only four sling slots in the cheekpiece and a hole in the toe of the butt to take a clip on or improvised paracord sling. To protect the stock from collapsing unintentionally, Magpup placed the stock release catch in the A frame under the cheekpiece where it is unlikely to be actuated by accident. An extra power lock mechanism uses a premium chrome-silicon spring to prevent collapse under recoil or vibration and a soft, synthetic rubber buttplate prevents it from slipping from the firer’s shoulder. All in all this stock is an excellent choice as a starter stock for someone building an AR on a budget or experimenting with the collapsible stock concept.

The Magpul CTR stock (Compact/Type Restricted) is their top of the range conventional infantry rifle/carbine stock. It combines utilitarian features with those you might expect on a DMR or sniper rifle. Wobble is eliminated by an enhanced locking mechanism that tightens the stock once set to prevent wobble and offer a rock steady shooting platform. A wider comb gives a much better cheekweld than the USGI carbine stock. Risers can be purchased to raise the comb, but these are best used on non-AR weapons as they foul the charging handle unless the stock is fully extended. Three optional depths of butt pad are offered with the 0.30″ included with the military and a 0.55″ with the commercial type – 0.70″ is the deepest option. There are more sling options than the MOE as a rear QD swivel mount has been included to accept swivels of up to 1.5″ width.

The Magpul UBR stock (Utility Battle Rifle) goes a step beyond what you would expect from a normal combat rifle stock. The stock offers seven positions and a favourite can be selected in advance by locating a machine screw. The cheekpiece of this stock does not move fore and aft, resulting in an absolutely consistent cheek weld. Sling swivel options are again enhanced with two sling swivel mounts that can be positioned on the desired side – ambidextrous mounts are available at extra cost. You can also have an aluminium strike plate with a sling loop at additional cost. The A-Frame includes a storage compartment for batteries etc, but this can be removed to revert to the ‘skeleton’ look. Again various butt pad options are available. To fit this stock to a fixed stock A1 or A2 rifle you need to replace the buffer and spring with M4 units. This is something it is unlikely Army or ARNG personnel will be allowed to do to their weapons, hence the comparative scarcity of pictures of this stock in operational theatres.

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