I have one on my M4 and I love it =)
Very sturdy, and light. I also really like how it uses the friction lock to minimize play when locked in place.
Additionally, its ALOT cheaper, and i my opinion better. I personally have no trouble with cheek weild so it works for me =) I also have brand loyalty towards MAGPUL, I think they are a great company, so that factors in slightly also…Either way you can’t loose, both are a million times better than the traditional stock M4 option IMO.
Jerry
I can only compare my SOPMOD to the standard CAR stock…no comparison!!! Love my SOPMOD!!!:D:D:D
My point is that not all ARs are created equal. Meaning on a bone stock 6921 a CTR would feel pretty good and the gun would have pretty good balance. But take the same gun add a rail, a light, a forward grip, rail covers and an optic and all the sudden it’ll feel front heavy if using a CTR. This is where SOPMOD might work better. The CTR is a great stock and is not the holy grail but it does have it’s place.
I own a SOPMOD, a few CTRs, and a few VLTOR E-MODs, each of mine on my ARs balances out each rifle very well. In my experience I find that I prefer a neutrally balanced rifle or a slightly heavier in the buttstock area. A rifle that has a bias which is front heavy is harder to control when shooting and moving on multiple targets (like in 3gun) once moving the gun has more momentum and you can’t stop it as easily.
My 12.5" SBR w/SOPMOD
My 10" LMT SBR w/CTR
My 16" Colt w/PWS piston kit w/VLTOR E-MOD stock
Could you elaborate as to what type of weapon it was on, and why you preferred it? Thanks!
I see, thanks for that post! I think this really clarified your opinion on the subject. I would tend to agree as far as balance is concerned, I prefer a slightly tail heavy weapon too. This keeps the moment of inertia much lower on the weapon, which allows it to rotate much easier. I initially found this out when I was playing with a Mk18 during a Special Forces “career day” in Iraq 
The weapon was a straight Mk18 without a can with the SOPMOD, and I specifically remember how I could flick the thing around on the range like it was a toy.
Like GotM4, I believe that it depends on what the rest of the rifle is.
I put a Vltor Emod on my Noveske 12.5" SBR, and it balances well, and it REALLY balances a Saiga .308 16" with a Vltor AK extension tube.
I have a Colt M4gery 16" with Daniel Defense 7" rail. I have a Magpul CTR on that. as a BUIS-only, KISS rifle, it’s VERY handy and light.
I have a SOPMOD and like it but they’re twice the price of an Emod
If I had to have one stock? Vltor Emod. It’s indestructible, and the cheek weld is perfect.
Well before I had my little accident, I was firing my co-workers carbine which has a CTR. I’ll tell you, I was impressed. I think I like it better for CQB type stuff better than my SOPMOD. I also think I am going to dump my TA33-8. Although I love that scope and it work GREAT for 25 meters plus, the magnification really amplifies the recoil.
Sit tight for the ACS.
M4 hit the nail on the head with the CTR: Awesome, AWESOME piece of kit. As I’ve continued to mount more and more goodies on my blaster, the balance was beginning to get shifted pretty badly. The CTR, dare I say, is almost too light in this situation. I’m awaiting the ACS, so I can fill the compartment with batteries, and hopefully put some heft on the ass end of it.
I’ve since moved the CTR over to my newest acquisition, and I’m trying to keep the new gun as lightweight as possible.
I’m praying to Odin that the ACS has some sort of customisation options for the storage compartment: sort of like a MIAD on steroids. THAT would be, shall we say, the fuckin’ shit; and would subsequently blow all competition out of the water.
I want MagPul to put out a storage compartment for the ACS that will accomodate a Walther P22, and keep it nice and snug.
Despite being completely asinine and absurd, it would definitely be cooler’n shit to sneak a little mini-pistol into the ass of your M4.
Back to reality…
If MagPul puts out some sort of drop-in, pre-configured storage setups for this thing I’ll praise them as the High Gods of design they are.
This is like choosing which child you love more…
They both are great and have their place.
but one is twice as much as the other.
I don’t see how the ACS is really THAT much different than the SOPMOD. Plus, if the production model is anything like the prototype it is going to be heavy, and weight savings are a big point for me.
If weight is the primary concern, the CTR is the pick of the litter.
I went with CTR based on how my 14.5 is set-up.
I want my 14.5 to handle fast, and therefore kept light. If my blaster was any heavier in the front-end I would go back to the SOPMOD.
There is just something about the SOPMOD when wearing armor and plates that makes it either a touch too long or too short for me, where the CTR is just right.
I’ve had both stocks on my 10.5" LMT, and found I prefer the CTR. The SOPMOD is built like a tank, rock solid and has a fantastic cheek weld. However, it is heavy. I was running my SBR in a Mk18 configuration - SOPMOD stock, LMT fixed rear BUIS, and Aimpoint CompM3 sight in a LaRue mount. There’s a reason the Navy uses this configuration - it works great.
However, I recently picked up an Aimpoint T-1 and went on a weight savings kick. Switching to a T-1, Troy rear folding BUIS and MagPul CTR dropped a pound from my rifle. It became much less rear heavy and easier to drive, particularly in CQB drills. I found I could complete more drills before becoming fatigued with this set up. Weight matters.
I’d recommend either stock to anyone. The CTR is a fantastic, lightweight stock, and is probably best on 10-14.5" rifles. However, on longer rifles, the SOPMOD provides a nice balance, and particularly if you are running a magnified optic, a great cheek weld.
Being a big fan of MagPul, I’m really curious about the ACS, which might replace the SOPMOD on my future recce build.
Repost of info I had written on another thread:
It really comes down to personal preference and that is not something that can be explained or decided over the internet. You really can’t go wrong with either stock.
Something I have learned about AR’s over the years is, it’s a game of matching the right part with the right gun. You may try a stock on a 10.5" SBR and hate it, and then try the same stock on a 16" mid-length carbine and fall in love with it.
Here is something I wrote in another thread in reference to my personal preferences on different stocks:
There are some accessories that I like across the board on all AR’s, there are other accessories that I may like on a 11.5" SBR but not like on a 16" Mid-Length or a 20" rifle.
Stocks can
help balance out a rifle
or if the stock too big or heavy can dominate the gun
and if it’s too small or too light can make the gun feel muzzle heavy
After trying several different configurations over the year, at the current time I have found that I like Magpul CTR’s on SBR’s and some 14.5" M4’s but I don’t like Mapgul CTR’s on 16" barreled mid-lengths or 14.5" guns with longer rail systems (9.0 - 13.2). The Magpul CTR is a light weight stock and doesn’t balance out a front heavy carbine well.
SOPMODs (for me) fit perfectly on a 14.5" M4, but can also balance most SBR’s and mid-lengths out fairly well.
Vltor EMods and Magpul UBRs balance out 16" Mid-Lenghts and most 18" gun with rifle length gas tubes quite well.
As a general rule I run:
-Magpul CTR’s on SBR’s (short barreled rifle) and some 14.5" M4’s (with carbine length rail system)
-SOPMODs only on 14.5" M4’s
-Vltor EMods and Magpul UBR’s only on 16" mid-lengths
-Magpul UBR’s on 14.5" - 16" barrels with longer rail systems (10.0 - 13.2) (example show above of a UBR on a Noveske with a 14.5" barrel and a 10.0 rail system)
I also recently had the chance to try a Magpul UBR on a 20" rifle and the UBR balanced out the rifle extreemly well.
CTR on a 14.5" M4
SOPMOD on a 14.5" M4
S/F,
Jeff
Actually Jeff, your post was the post which called for me to do this poll. You mentioned personal preference, so that’s what I was trying to quantify. I would be running this stock on my LMT 14.5 M4 with a 7" LaRue rail, so by every one’s account it could go either way. I think I might pick one up…
gotm4,
Would you happen to know the length of pull on a closed SOPMOD and CTR?
Also, have you ever used a CTR on a 6920 w/ rail, light, and vertical foregrip? I’m thinking this might make it feel nose heavy. Opinions appreciated.
Thanks!
I ran a CTR on a SR-16 16" Middy
Made it a little nose heavy especially with can and PEQ added, not too too bad w/o - but the UBR or EMOD are much better pics for a gun like that IMHO
Thanks Kevin!
I ended up going with a CTR as part of the Magpul/LaRue UDE kit. I think the CTR balanced out the 14.5" M4 (with M600C and T1) much better…
ETA: I also found a FDE UBR for an upcoming 16" middy build (hopefully LMT Piston). That UBR is simply amazing!
I prefer the CTR. The SOPMOD is an awesome stock but there are a few things that I just prefer about the CTR. I could take or leave the friction lock, that is a non-issue for me. I like how the CTR (and MOE) shield the adjustment lever so that the stock can not be accidentally shortened. I also like the long foot print of the CTR. It lets me shoulder the rifle higher.