folding stocks...why?

Mm...storage? Vehicle transport? Packing it long distances or in the woods? Any number of reasons.

^^ What he said. Storage/portability is what it's really about.

I don't care to shoot with a folding stock folded. But something like the folding stocks that look almost exactly like a fixed stock, but with a folding mechanism are good in my book.

I don't really care for the underfolders or the Romanian wire folder type stocks, but if you want them, go ahead. No skin off my nose...

^^^ What the Commander said.

Compact transport requirements and Macho are the only two reasons that I personally know of for acquiring folding stock.

Easier to store and transport.

If the left side folder wasn't available I'd get the fixed stock. I don't want the folder to effect shootability and that's the only folder that doesn't.

Unfortunately, you need a different receiver and trunnion to install one. BSW

That's the one I was talking about. Looks and feels like a regular stock, but you get the folding benefit.

I like folding stocks on AKs { most of them } ---- yes , they are easy to case/store. But who can argue that when folded , you can fit one under a rain,trench,or mid-thigh outer garment. There could be times , "Riot" or "Katrina" etc. where you may have to abandon your vehicle and walk to a safer place. With a full size rifle , you may not want people to "notice" you are armed.

As to a proper "cheek weld " --- with a little practice , you learn to just shoot with a more "heads up" style and with the soft recoil of the AK 47/74 , it is really not a problem.

StorkPatrol said:

I've shot AK's with side and under folding stocks, and I can't get a comfortable cheek weld.

Click to expand...

If you didn't get a comfortable cheek weld with one of these, the AK platform is probably not for you

AKS-74 clone


AK-74N clone


The Russians have emulated the shape of their fixed stocks with these side folders.



I personally don't like the wire side folders or under folders, for your reasons, among others.

In Michigan (with folding stock) it is registered (under 30") as a pistol and with a CPL can be carried accessable in a vehicle.

I'm wanting one because it allows a full sized rifle to be carried more discretely. Say you want to travel across country and be well armed but not draw suspicion. It's easier to stick a folding stocked rifle or shotgun out of sight.

It makes it easier to carry when slung with a pack.

-z

I'm not a big fan of the Underfolding, or Wire Folding Stock. But a Folding Synthetic or Folding Skeleton stock makes sense because they offer a better cheek weld and just feel a bit more solid IMO.

Dang Zak, that's a nice Michigan pistol you have there!

Storage, primarily. Although I have a collapsible stock, people don't generally see that as "useless", else everyone's AR would have a fixed stock on it. Obviously, this is good for close quarters, as well as storage, which is why I like it.
The side folding stocks are useful to make longer rifles more compact for storage, and ease of transportation.

In Michigan, we have a peculiar law. (There is a proposal to change this definition but it hasn't been passed yet.)

Rifles or shotguns that can be fired that are over 26 inches in length, but less than 30 inches in length, are considered pistols and have to be registered as such.

So a folding stock might put the rifle/shotgun in that "middle" length category.

Therefore, you register it as a pistol and, if you have a CPL, you can carry it as a concealed carry weapon.

A unique reason to have a folder in Michigan.

I've shot my AK with the stock folded. It can be shot fairly accurately out to 25 yards or so. I can easily keep a full 30 round mag in a 4" circle, standing, off hand, without even using the sling to support it. It's about the same as I can do with a handgun.

Are we, as a shooting community, obsessed with things like folding stocks, flash hiders, and pistol grips simply because somebody out there is trying to tell us we can't have them?

Click to expand...

As far as the folding stocks, yes, most certainly. But that doesn't mean that they don't have useful functionality.

It's a niche application. I imagine very few citizens of Michigan routinely carry a folded rifle under their coats in daily life. In a vehicle, the short length can be handy for storage, when hiking, the same.

But attempting to shoot one that way limits it's effectiveness to the same short distances of a pistol. To get any long distance accuracy, the stock needs to be unfolded and used.

Check the POF video on line to see it's use. The user may be carrying it folded, but he doesn't shoot it much folded. Most shooters wouldn't expect any accuracy at all shooting folded.

The folding stock craze of the '70's/'80's brought all that out back then. The result is that those inclined to use folders gave them up - especially the pros. It was more complication than needed, and on some platforms like the AR, not possible. The logic is that if you're carrying a rifle, it may be needed, and if needed, needed right now and accurately. It's actually rare that transporting it shortened is more important than having it ready and operational for use.

It's why mostly civilians bother with them.

But attempting to shoot one that way limits it's effectiveness to the same short distances of a pistol. To get any long distance accuracy, the stock needs to be unfolded and used.

Click to expand...

The idea as I see it would be to open the stock before use if possible. If not possible, shoot the rifle with the stock folded to eliminate any immediate close range thread while you find cover, then deploy the stock.

Worse case, you have something that shoots as accurately as a handgun, but with the penetration capability and ammo capacity of a rifle (full 16" barrel on my AK). Best case, you have the 5 seconds or so required to deploy the stock and you now have a fully functional rifle that would be much more effective than any handgun at mid to long range.


If you accept the intimidation factor, that just presenting a gun may stop a thread, you can't argue that an AK or similar rifle would be much more intimidating than a handgun.

I carry a rifle hiking from time to time, and a folding stock definitely makes it handier to tote around.

Folding stocks allow transport of a rifle in limited space (same reason why as takedown guns, which were more popular at the turn of the century when a lot of sportsmen traveled on public transportation (train, omnibus, trolley car, etc). Also, for military collectibles that were originally made with folding stocks, that's just the way they were issued.

Practically, to me, little value: although once I did have my M1A1 with me on an ATV when I probably would not have had a full size rifle.

My M1A1 and M70AB2 have folding stocks because that is what they had as military issue and "civilianizing" a gun owned primarily as a military collectible is nonsense.

ADD:
obsessed with things like folding stocks, flash hiders, and pistol grips simply because somebody out there is trying to tell us we can't have them?

[soapbox]
My question is, why is somebody out there is trying to tell us we can't have folding stocks, flash hiders, and pistol grips.

Crime control? Locally, a drug dealer ambush was carried out with Elmer Fudd single barrel, single shot shotguns not even sawn-off like on TV or the movies: ordinary farmer's helper single shot rabbit guns. Other murders were carried out with knife, baseball bat, conventional handgun. Not a single one carried out with a gun with military style features: folding stock, flash hider, pistol grip, banana clip, whatever. If the goal of gun control is crime control, what is the point of banning cosmetic features that really don't figure in a significant number of crimes? Symobolism? Voodoo criminology? Incrementalism? The problem with crime is criminals, not scary looking guns with shoulder things that go up.

Those obsessed with banning things are the ones who ought to answer for their obsession, not us.
[/soapbox]

The folding stock configuration is supremely portable and is also handy for storage (though a lesser concern for myself, may be an issue for some). A folder adds little (or no) weight and is obviously more compact. Additionally, it requires less than a second to deploy and can be utilized folded if required. Time permitting I would always deploy the full stock.

Point is, a folding stock can be the difference between carrying a large handgun or a rifle (or shotgun). All else being equal, the rifle will always come out on top.

Along with a short barrel they pack almost as good as a pistol and are more usefull.

I've been on this AK-74 researching kick for about a week now reading everything I can about all the different makers and variants currently available. I've looked at lots of awesome pictures and read lots of useful opinions. One thing I just don't get is the whole folding stock thing. I've shot AK's with side and under folding stocks, and I can't get a comfortable cheek weld. It dosn't make sense to shoot it with the stock folded. That would be like having a PGO shotgun, which as far as I can tell is a nearly useless format.

...

Does anybody shoot with the stock folded? Do you just like to have a smaller rifle case? For all of you with a folding stock rifle...why do you like it? What practical advantage does it give you? Your thoughts?

Click to expand...

Stocks don't fold for shooting, they fold for transport. It allows you to have a gun that stores as compactly as a PGO, but shoots like a gun with a shoulder stock. Same idea as a takedown rifle, but a whole lot less hassle.

I have a sidefolder on my own AK (Romanian SAR-1), and it is handy when transporting the rifle to the range or toting it slung (the stock doesn't stick out to bang on things). I wouldn't shoot it that way. FWIW, I shoot USPSA with this carbine.

Are we, as a shooting community, obsessed with things like folding stocks, flash hiders, and pistol grips simply because somebody out there is trying to tell us we can't have them? I don't want to start a pissing contest. This was just a thought that suddenly hit me while looking at posted pictures of another forum member's admittedly sweet looking folder AK.

Click to expand...

Folding stocks are nice for storage. Pistol grip stocks are (IMO) more comfortable when shooting (no chicken winging) AND they make muzzle-down ready a lot more practical, which is safer than high ready in a defensive role. Flash suppressors are, again, helpful on a HD carbine, regardless of what the stock looks like.