Military Times Tests Various Collapsible AR Stocks

[Justin]

Buttstock Bashfest: GearScout finds out just how far tough talk goes.

What makes a good collapsable stock? One that’s rigid, offers a good cheekweld surface, has a solid, simple locking mechanism and the ability to hold up to bumps and drops inherent to battlefield conditions.

Solid lockup can be had across the board, but look for a secondary friction lock if you get annoyed by rattling. Though, that rattle also equates to a tiny amount of play in the system and could have an effect on the rifles accuracy when taken to extremes.

Sling attachment points should suit your carry and shooting style. Tube tops should be smooth and fit your face. That goes for the hairy among you, interruptions in the cheekweld surface will pull beard hair and cause a loss of concentration. Of course, weight and size are constant considerations, and modularity fits here, too. Some stocks have removable storage that can be pulled to save ounces if not needed.

Click article link for the whole interesting read.

 

[HKGuns]

Boy, not many of them appear to be very good.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Tube tops should be smooth and fit your face. That goes for the hairy among you, interruptions in the cheekweld surface will pull beard hair and cause a loss of concentration.

Amen to this. That is my ONLY real complaint about the std. Colt M-4 stock is the little hole that rips the hairs out of my beard. I tried pac-skin on it but if you move the stock to far forward the charging handle can pull up the pac-skin. Why that hole is there? I don't know I suspect it's drilled all the way through as part of the Mfg. process.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Boy, not many of them appear to be very good.

It's a decent test, but most of the stocks are just fine, even near the bottom. You don't actually hear about most of those breaking in real use.

Why that hole is there? I don't know I suspect it's drilled all the way through as part of the Mfg. process.

Not certain but I believe the stock is simply molded and the hole is not needed for anything drilled. Some buffer tubes have numbers etched on the top to tell you the stock position. My guess is that the hole is there so you can read those numbers.

 

[jpwilly]

Why wasn't a standard 6 pos stock tested against the rest?

 

[taliv]

vast majority of collapsible AR15 stocks i've seen broken were from "pogoing" and firing heavy recoil cartridges

can't speak to military dropping their rifles, but dropping a gun in most competitions is instant DQ. if someone drops one more than once, i'm going to start suggesting different hobbies.

 

[-v-]

JP - It was. It was the M4 DS Arms stock, which by all appearances is your standard plane-jane 6-position M4 stock. Its the 2nd one written up on the list.

I believe the hole on top of most collapsible stocks is for the installation of the locking mechanism into the stock. Not sure though.

 

[madcratebuilder]

vast majority of collapsible AR15 stocks i've seen broken were from "pogoing" and firing heavy recoil cartridges

can't speak to military dropping their rifles, but dropping a gun in most competitions is instant DQ. if someone drops one more than once, i'm going to start suggesting different hobbies.

+1

Only dead AR stocks I've seen are from pogoing.

I think this test would be more meaningful if the used a rifle and not a dead weight. Dropped from different angles to test side force impact.

 

[Tirod]

Most stocks in military use can be broken regardless. If the stock didn't, then the buffer tube would be the next weakest link. You can shoot a busted stock, you can't shoot a busted buffer tube.

With fixed, there's a lot more engagement at the back of the receiver, I imagine it would take 1000's of drops to damage something - likely at the butt plate where it seems to crack or split.

What it does go to show is that if you make something more complex, it has a higher likelihood of failure. If absolute reliability and extreme durability is paramount, then don't use a collapsible stock. Or, live with it. It's a matter of choice, not a hierarchy of moral puritanism.

 

[jpwilly]

JP - It was. It was the M4 DS Arms stock, which by all appearances is your standard plane-jane 6-position M4 stock. Its the 2nd one written up on the list.

V, thanks for pointing that out missed it.