The Right Ar Stock For The Job

Levers are common for adjusting LOP by releasing and resetting the lock pin, which holds the stock in the desired position. Some levers are recessed inside the stock’s profile to shield it from snagging, while others include a cutout in the stock’s body to shield the lever and for easy access and adjustment.  In addition, many stocks have an additional manual friction lock to add tension and further secure the stock to the buffer tube, mitigating stock movement.

In general, there are four methods of adjusting LOP and securing your stock on your rifle.  

Some stocks have a Single Tension method to secure the stock to the buffer tube. This method includes a lever with a locking pin to change LOP and maintain the position of the stock on the rifle. There is no additional source of tension to hold the stock in place.

For stocks with Active Tension, the user manually activates the lever and moves the stock to the desired position on the buffer tube. When the lever is released, the pin seats in the adjustment hole. To add extra tension that stabilizes the stock on the buffer tube, a manual friction lock must then be closed to create that tension.  

For stocks with Passive Tension, additional tension to secure the stock is either automatically released and reapplied when the lever is activated (Dual Tension), or the tension always remains in place (Continuous Tension). In both cases, the shooter does not have the secondary step of opening or closing a separate, manual friction lock. With Dual Tension, when the lever is activated and released, the secondary tension is released and reapplied. With Continuous Tension, the additional tension remains at all times and there is a noticeable sensation and sound of friction as the stock is adjusted.

A Fixed Clamp method permanently attaches the stock to the buffer tube using hardware or includes its own buffer tube that attaches to the rifle. It prevents the stock from moving on the tube and is the most secure method of attaching a stock to the rifle.

Some Fixed Clamp stocks are used for precision shooting and provide a very stable platform. They also include knobs and tooled adjustments for LOP.

Simply put, ergonomics includes any interface or touchpoint between the stock and the shooter. Whether it’s the stock’s size, shape, surface, or the ease of use and logical manipulation of the controls, designing for ergonomics is vital. The result is a stock that comfortably fits the shooter’s individual needs while being intuitive to operate. This enables enhanced employment consistency.

Because they’re the part of the firearm that takes the brunt of firing recoil – and tend to be on the receiving end of hard use – AR stocks need to be built from quality materials to ensure strength and durability in even the most demanding situations. Different stocks with different missions also need to be constructed from uniquely different materials to align with the qualities required by that stock’s mission.

Also, too much weight in the firearm can make carrying it a chore and can impact mobility. However, adding greater strength and the ability to handle hard use generally also adds weight to the materials used in construction. As a result, lighter is better to a point, but not at a compromise to the ruggedness of the stock and its ability to stay in one piece and operate effectively.  
 

 Stock storage allows important items such as batteries to be held onboard the firearm and close at hand. Some stocks have internal storage capability for small items. This storage can be built into the bottom of the stock or in the cheek weld. In the case of cheek-weld storage, this also flattens and widens the shooter’s cheek weld surface area.  

Most stocks have multiple ways to attach a sling for easier carry and better control of the firearm. A sling loop or footman’s loop provides a slot for a sling to be threaded through. A quick disconnect (QD) socket uses a push-button system to attach and detach a sling.

A stock can do many things, but if it doesn’t give a shooter a consistent, stable, solid platform to work from, it doesn’t do them any good downrange. AR stocks must be purposefully built to support repeatable precision by removing shooting variability caused by the stock. This allows the shooter to focus on factors other than the stock that can affect precision and accuracy. Precision stocks offer more adjustments for cheek weld, LOP, and other ergonomics, providing an optimal and completely individualized interface for the shooter. 

The more complicated a firearm component is, the less likely it will be used, or used correctly. AR stocks should be simple in both design and function. This ensures every stock’s controls and features are intuitively designed and logically placed, allowing even new shooters entering the world of firearms to efficiently and effectively use the variety of stocks for the AR platform.   

Value, performance, and quality are all important factors in choosing a stock. More high-quality features may increase the stock's price, but may not be important to different shooters. Precision stocks are extremely specialized due to their adjustability and come at a much higher cost. Each stock is designed and optimized for a specific need, mission, and feature set. 

Different colors provide shooters with options in their build, ranging from blending into their background and camouflage to simple taste, because not all black guns are actually black guns.