I have reached a stock block… I cannot keep track of them all anymore, and worse, I don’t know what makes one better than the other one for what specific purpose…
Magpul’s catapult to the forefront of weapon and accoutrement design is also a factor, as they put out some intense stuff… I can’t keep up…
Back in the days it was plain Carbine, LMT SOPMOD or Magpul 93x… Now there is multi-generational 93’s, the Clubfoot variety, the CTR and UBR, the PRS, and now a new Vltor hybrid between the Modstock and Clubfoot. AArrrggghhhh!
Am I alone in the confusion? Is all this just passing fads, like when STAG lowers were the bargain schnizzel but now they suck?
Can anyone with the been there/done that experience do a butt stock FAQ???
For example, why is the CTR so popular now? What does it do that the once holy-grail 93b does not do? Just lighter weight? Is the exposed lever on the SOPMOD and the standard carbine stock really a liability, or just imagined?
I’m confused and overloaded with information… Danger, danger… failure to compute… bbishjihjshbsjvhfafaaaa;x;klcjikhek;cem
My question to you would be what is the final end use of you weapon? It’s it for work…LEO/Contractor or is it for looks… Mine looks like a SEAL M4 or for range/class work and protection.
I changed out my factory Bushmaster stock (non-mil spec) for a Stag arms with mil spec receiver extention but I only did this for the added strength.
Keep it simple is my plan. Stay away from the fad of the month and spend that cash on ammo and training.
Mine, as far as I know, does not look like a SEAL M4.
The question should have been worded as “would someone change their stock because they want to look like a SEAL or contractors gun?” So that “they” could say “theirs” looks like a SEAL weapon.
Sorry for the confusion.
As with most AR users not mil/leo… general use (classes, range competitions, plinking, defense, etc…) Looks as well, I guess.
I would bet, even within mil/psd circles, confusion abounds as well, as guys talk up their gear…
But end use is not my real question… My confusion comes from what features make “Stock A” better suited for “Situtaion 1” than “Stock B?” And vice-versa…
For example, what SITUATION makes the CTR a better choice than the 93b or SOPMOD? Why “Butterfly levers” over “CAR-type levers?”
I guess there is no ANSWER… which is the point of my frustration. It is all PERSONAL PREFERENCE based on PERSONAL USES. The “For Sale or Trade” areas show how often people try other concepts, leaving others clamoring for what they just discarded, only to find the grass no greener there than where they were, so they buy and sell again… So often is this that LNIB and BARELY USED are almost required ad text…
It just gets crazy… and my brain shortcircuits…
Specifically I focused on butt stocks as that is what I am looking to get to replace an inherited SOPMOD-clone stock (OK stock, but loose and wiggles) on one of my AR’s. I already have a real LMT SOPMOD on my SPR-type rifle, so I was looking at the huge Magpul and Vltor options… thus my overload of features and varieties… Let alone 5 or more COLORS!!! Arrrrgghhhhh!
I’d just like to see a FAQ on butt stocks like we have sticky FAQ’s on other types of equipment. Since I am a Chairborne Ranger with no combat or gunfight experience, I am the wrong person to undertake this task…
It is largely fad-driven. There is generally little, if any, reason to change from one stock to the next (much like rail systems, anf frankly alot of things). If you’ve missed 3 or 4 generations then it might be worthwhile.
What sort of information would you like to see in a FAQ? Something other than pics and dimensions?
Friction locking system that eliminates all stock movement.
Sloping cheek weld for improved user interface
Ambidextrous sling mounts for QD, 1.25" loops, and lanyard hole
Side mounting slots for cheek risers
Weight: .0785 pounds without rubber butt-pad or spacer butt-pad
Collapsed Length: 7.2" without rubber butt-pad or spacer butt-pad
Extended Length: 10.5" without rubber butt-pad or spacer butt-pad
There ya go. You’re looking to short-circuit the process and nobody can tell you what’s best for you. You’re just going to have to research and handle them all like the rest of us.
I think that is why I whined above… as I do not have any “hands on” shop near me and almost all of my buying and research is from the web… and we all know what internet advice at some sites is worth… (which is why I asked this here)
It just gets old reading thread after thread of REVIEWS, with every thread contradicting the other, or saying mine is better than yours, etc…, where no one there has any real tango-trigger time under their cammies…
I think I have finalized on either the CTR or wait till the new Vltor modstock. I too like the simplicity and light weight of the CTR…
I don’t know a lot about buttstocks, but the more I learn about them, the more the choices and selection process seem like pistol holsters. Most of us have a drawer full of holsters we’ve tried for daily carry until we found what we liked the best. The variety of buttstocks available seem to point to a similar process.
My needs are simple and minimal, and my buttstock choices reflect that. That’s lucky for me.
I prefer the Magpul M93R (or the B whatever) for my 14.5-16" guns. Its a nice solid stock.
However I dont like to dick with the tube on my work gun - so I went with the CTR w/ rubber butpad – I had a Crane on it – but I found for me the checkweld and the added length where not what I liked.
I have a few VLTOR’s and ran one on while in Afghan with the Canadian Army - however I dont like add on pads and the bare plastic slips off body armor (I find – and it did not occur to me to use rubber based bedliner like I did with my M93’s prior to the butpad for them)
The PRS I have on longer guns - its more of a prone/sitting stock than a run n’ gun combat carbine stock.
In short its as the other posters point out – what do you want it to do – find what you like best and go with it.
I have a LMT SOPMOD on my patrol rifle and have been very happy with it, which is a good thing considering how much they cost. I chose the LMT SOPMOD because I wanted the extra battery storage. I have extra batteries in the vertical grip, pistol grip, and the butt stock. The batteries in the vertical grip and pistol grip are backups for the Surefire, while the batteries in the butt stock are for the EoTech.
You may not want backups for your backups, but I know me. The first set of replacement batteries will have something wrong, whether they’re just plain gone or don’t work, something will be messed up.
I have the same setup on my shotgun using an Argonaut Armament AR-15/870 stock adapter and Knight’s Armament Rail.
My second patrol rifle is plain Jane and has the original stock on it still. I use that one for training classes mostly. I know, “Train like you’re going to fight,” but I don’t want the extra wear on the equipment I have to replace when it breaks.
Just try them and pic the one you like.
Like a lot of others… I used a VLTOR for awhile and liked it… would probably still have it if it were not for the fact I bought an LMTY lower and it came with a SOPMOD stock…turns out I like that one better then the VLTOR.
Better cheek weld
Same battery storage capacity
Better rubber Buttpad…
Only reason I bought a CTR was I got a good deal on one and needed a second stock for my second Carbine and I thought I would try it as they were and are kinda the rage right now… Turns out I like the design and the butt pad as well.
Never hurts to try stuff, ya never know until your do…
Just remember to like something for YOUR reasons and not somebody else’s.
