I am planning a new rifle, I plan on a BCM middy 16" with DD Lite 12" rail- I saw a primer on CTR and balance with Middy full rails (12), but wondered if anyone could throw me some advice on CTR or ACS and Pros/ Cons.
Which one should I go with and which balances out, do you have eiter of the options installed on a DD 12.
The ACS is a CTR without a friction lock and the addition of cheekrests.
The ACS weighs negligably more than the CTR.
I have a Colt 14.5" M-4 upper with pinned FH, Troy 12" MRF-CX FSP rail. The front of the carbine has a Magpul AFG and surefire M300A mini scout light. I am running the ACS stock and the entire package balances very well. The ACS is larger than the CTR, but I really like it. It has a very comfortable cheek weld. No experience with the CTR on my setup, but I like it very much on my father’s carbine with a 7" rail.
The ACS also has friction lock.
Check welds are also storage compartments.
ACS balances out 12" railed guns better than the CTR. I like my ACS but I’m a short guy with short arms and prefer the CTR/MOE for the shorter LOP. I’m reconfiguring my rifles with pencil barrels and lighter/shorter rails to better balance out with a CTR/MOE. I don’t give 2 shits about the friction lock but the ACS most definitely has it.
Do you have an ACS? As stated above it does indeed have the friction lock. Also IMO it weighs a damn good amount more than the CTR, and the ACS is a lot longer as well.
EDIT: pulled this from Magpul site.
ACS, Mil-Spec Carbine Stock (w/ Rubber Butt-Pad, 0.30")
* Weight, Stock: 0.86 lb.
* Weight, w/ Rec. Extension: 1.16 lb.
Length, Stock: 7.93 in.
CTR, Mil-Spec (w/ Rubber Butt-Pad, 0.30")
* Weight, Stock: 0.48 lb.
* Weight, w/ Rec. Extension: 0.79 lb.
Length, Stock: 6.60 in.
All in all, do whatever you want it’s your gun. I like both stocks just as well (run one of each on both my personal rifles) but I think on a non-SPR carbine from now on I personally will choose the CTR. The added weight and length of the ACS isn’t worth it to me. Also I don’t use the storage at all, IMO that’s what pouches on my rig are for, and I don’t want to add unnecessary weigh to my rifle.
The CTR is an amazing stock where light weight and short length of pull are top priorities. I love the one on my 16" carbine w/ standard handguards.
If I were gonna run a mid-length with a 12" rail though, I think I’d be much more inclined to favor the ACS as the extra stock weight would balance out that long rail a bit. I think a 12" railed anything with a CTR would be front-heavy.
But then, some people like front heavy.
In either case they’re great stocks and if you purchase one and decide it’s not for you you can always resell it for not much less than you bought it for.
Good luck!
I had the ACS and didnt like the seam where the battery storage is. It seemed to pinch me everytime I shot and I didnt like it.
I do however have a CTR and it has a seamless cheek weld area so I shouldnt have those problems!!!
Justin
This was very helpful for me:
http://www.03designgroup.com/technotes/ar15-buttstock-considerations
acs for the extra heft.
These 2 stocks are not my favorites out there, but if I had to chose it would be the CTR over the ACS. I know looks are subjective, and truly mean nothing in regards to function, but IMO the ACS is damn ugly. 
Thank you- all, exactly the information I needed!
if your intent is only to compare two Magpul stocks then I get the question.
but the ACS is different enough from the CTR as to be in a separate category.
a better comparison would be between the ACS and the Emod, IMO…
The ACS does have the friction lock, but in my experience doesn’t lock as tight as my CTR. My ACS really balances out my BCM BFH middy with DD 9" Omega rail. I’ve always had an OD CTR stock and I love it, however after using the ACS, even the cheekweld itself is enough for me to favor it over the CTR. I am waiting for DSG to have OD ACS in stock for my BCM rifle.
I like the feel of the ACS more than the CTR. I purchased the optional sling attachment for mine.
I also have a couple ARs with the PRS, a couple with the UBR and one with the CTR.
I haven’t shot anything with the SOPMOD or the EMod yet.
I believe you are mistaken. The MOE is a CTR without the friction lock.
The ACS is Magpul’s answer to the VLTOR SOPMOD but without the “catch-your-'stash” feature. It too has a friction lock.
I personally prefer the UBR (except it uses a proprietary buffer tube).