I don't completely understand the need for collapsible stocks

In South Dakota, its legal to have loaded, uncased weapons of the cab of a vehicle. I find a collapsable stocked AR rides nicely in the passenger seat, barrel pointed out the passenger door. When driving pastures checking cattle and whatnot, I find this much preferable to what was commonly the other option for carrying a rifle out of its case, muzzle downn the floor, resting on the seat. Should a coyote or other target of opprotunity presents itself, I find an AR carried in a such a way far easier to deploy than a standard rifle would be.

 

I see no downside to them and I think they look better. I use it when going from body armor to none and when putting it in the safe.

I suggest everyone look into getting some armor, it is very available and inexpensive now. Front/rear level IIIA in a plate carrier that you can attach a few extras for under $300. Mine has a spare pistol mag, AR mag, light, flex cuffs and an empty pistol holster. Pretty darn handy provided I have the 5-10 sec. I need to toss it on. Keep it under the bed.

Heck, a pair of level IV rifle plates can be had for under $400, level III+ rifle plates a tad over $200/pair. http://www.thetargetman.com/product/2-triple-curve-atc-spartan-ar500-armor/

 

Um several excellent reasons.

1. Different sized people
2. Shorter for storage/transport, vehicles, etc. A simple way to removed many inches of length.
3. Adjustable for body armor

 

I prefer fixed stocks myself but have a number of collapsible and folders too.

Eye relief and scopes/LOP for different shooters is the best reason, off the top of my head. Not counting transport/storage.

Kids will always want to shoot the one that looks "coolest" and that one has more "stuff" going on than others.

 

Body armor plus optimal LOP (at least for me) is different in the prone versus more dynamic, up and moving types of shooting.

 

Yep, not every gun needs an adjustable stock but they are handy on a few.
Different body's and shooting positions make a handy weapon even handier.
I know it makes some peoples hair catch fire but shooting while sitting in the cab of a truck requires a shorter LOP.

 

I don't have an issue with adjustable stocks, but it is kinda funny reading the reasons.
I don't loan guns.
This is southern Arizona, it's ALWAYS t-shirt weather.
I am too fat and and old to worry about looking like an "operator" - when I was young an operator answered the phone when you dialed "zero".
Nobody else shoots my rifles.
I haven't been able to find a match to shoot in for 6 years, so I don't really care about multiple shooting positions.
My armor, (yes, I have a set), has the "shooters cut", from http://www.ar500armor.com/ ,(they have armor packages starting at $175), and I don't notice any real difference for LOP with my SA vz-58,(that has a folding stock for storage), and yes, I have fired my rifle while wearing the plate carrier with plates in it, just to see what it was like. I also wear it about twice a year. Maybe. Nice stuff to have.



Having said all that I DID have an adjustable stock on a shotgun, the CZ 712 Utility with the ALS stock on it. The idea was to try to get my son into shotguns...didn't work. Same thing - I picked a length and kept it there.

Now when I get the proper Mother-May-I official Fed approval to SBR my Scorpion I might get an AR style adjustable stock, for the look, and because it will fit easily on the adapter I already have.

I can see everyone's point, and it's true, you guys do have a lot of good reasons to own adjustable stocks, just none compelling enough for me to go out and get one.

BTW, I have shot in the cab of a truck, but it was an armored truck and it was out a gun port. Rifle was a Mini-14 and no, it wasn't a robbery attempt - testing the setup years and years ago. That was when i became seriously interested in bullpup rifles.

 

Sheepdog,

I figured you for LE with that username. But, anyway, you are correct in assuming that body armor is a situation where having a collapsible stock comes in very handy. When wearing body armor at work (particularly plate armor) I like to shorten my stock a bit.

Also, having the collapsible stock can help when conducting room clearances, or any other operations where you might want a slightly shorter firearm.

On the civilian side of things, I really like the collapsible stock when trying to introduce smaller shooters to a rifle. They seem to prefer the shorter length of pull that these stocks allow for. It's a pretty big deal in my opinion.

Finally, a collapsible stock makes a rifle easier to store in a smaller case, container, vehicle, whatever.

 

Collapsible and folding stocks became a dream of mine during the Clinton AWB. I was just getting old enough to buy what I wanted, and they were off limits. So, thanks to the AWB, I have this absolutely absurd fascination with them... Thanks Bill...

 

Think room clearing. Shorter OAL is a retention asset here. Black guns were not primarily designed as sporting arms.

 

If I'm being completely honest, my preference is based purely on asthetics, which is just a fancy way of saying "cause they look purdy!".

 

I use them on my hunting AR's for weight reduction; a CTR on a milspec buffer tube is lighter than most any other option and keeps the rifle's balance point at/just ahead of the barrel nut.

 

Because then I don't have to cut the stock down to a 12.25 lop, or try out various pain in butt setback ring set ups. Really like the newer style of bolt gun stock with removable spacers. Am short , with short arms and fit means a lot in consistent accurate shooting.

Bought new stocks for favorite hunting rifles, and cut them down so rifle didn't lose value.

 

Comming from "black boot" Army and being 5'4", we all had 20 inch M16's (a1's and a2's) with fixed stocks. I can tell without a shadow of a doubt, that long guns and short people with short arms are a pain to train with. We did it, but it took a bunch of practice. It was worse when I ended up in a REMF unit with 5'0 females. Again we did it, but it took a bunch of work and practice. One day we were out in the field and had these two Air Force FAC guys assigned to us. They show up with CAR15's. What a night and day difference! We all wanted to trade our A2's in for these short, handy, much-better fitting carbines.

Many years later, 3 AR's sitting in my safe, all are in an M4 configuration.

 

The first sentence on your original post says it all! Unless you are a professional operator, or 1 rifle is going to be shared by multiple family members of varying size, there really is no need.

 

Well, that obviously depends a bit. For my use, the fact that it can be readily and safely handled in the cab of a pickup truck definitely fills a need. Next time you see a coyote, and have a few seconds to get a shot off, tell me whats easier to deploy from the cab of a vehicle...16 in AR with collapsible stock, or your typical 22-24 in barreled bolt-gun and a standard stock. There are definitely times when the shorter, more compact package of a collapsible stocked rifle comes in handy or fills a need....and I'm far from an "operator" nor do lots of people shoot my gun....but something as boring as storage/concealment can be easier with a smaller overall package

 

That's not true at all. Like many of us already said: A collapsible stock is very useful for storage. It's also nice to be able to adjust the stock for different shooting positions; for dynamic CQB-style shooting I use the stock almost fully collapsed, but for target-type shooting I extend it more.

Also, most fixed stocks are too long for CQB-style shooting, and they make the rifle more cumbersome -- two things you don't want if your AR fills a home-defense role. So sometimes the only way to get a stock that's short enough is to have a collapsible one.

 

The name wasn't deeply thought out. I knew I wanted one that wasn't gun brand or caliber specific. What I didn't realize 5 years ago was by choosing a name, I wanted to use that name in different forums to have some consistency in who I am across the web. The only sheepdog I am to is my family. Not sure what I would choose today for online handle but it would be a bit more self deprecating.

 

What?

Whats to understand?

 

"one rifle is going to be shared by family members" happens a lot, especially when families are willing to put almost $1OOO into a quality ar15 rig, and you still want everyone even the up-and-coming operatoddlers to be able to enjoy shooting sports and the no- recoil design.
i personally know a husband and wife that share an ar in 458 socom for deer season and run a T6mod for that very reason.

 

Eye Relief.

 

The collapsing/adjustable stocks I've used havent really favorably impressed me. I like the A-2 stocks. A lot. The collapsing stocks arent very comfortable to me compared to the regular stock (guess whats "regular" has reveresed over time). Even with a parka on, the fixed stocks have been OK for me. None of my other guns adjust and I get by OK with them also. I also prefer 20" barrels on AR's. I think I'm either in the geezer catagory or maybe retro.

I dont clear rooms. I dont own armor. I rarely carry an AR around in a vehicle unless going plinking, it simply doesnt do anything I need done with a rifle that others wont do better for me. The rifles I carry on a regular day to day basis are larger caliber lever action or bolt actions.

Guess thats what makes the world go 'round.