AR-15: Fixed or Collapsible Stock?

Fixed or Collapsible Stock?

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Me, and me alone, I would build with a fixed stock. Especially the new MagPul MOE fixed stock that looks interesting.

However, everyone in my family can shoot my AR if they want to and adjust the stock to better fit them. That is why my AR's are adjustable and I don't mind the little play.
 
I prefer the fixed stock, but with the caveat that it's the A1 type rather than the longer A2 type. The A1 type is better for short-statured people and/or if you're wearing heavy clothing. The only problem is that A1 stocks are getting hard to find in good condition these days.
 
My M4 is a SOPMOD build, 14.5" bbl and the collapsible stock go together. My 20" Grendel SDM rifle, that has an A2 stock. The BLK will be a carbine and get the collapsible, but the NM build, it'll get the A2 stock. The Beowulf, it NEEDS a full stock, but I'll get around to putting one of those half stocks on it one day to keep it shorter. So it depends on the use. For me, shorter range carbines tend to get collapsible stocks, and longer range rifles tend to get longer ones.

There is that Magpul UBR, but it is too expensive for me to bother with considering the weight and what it does.
 
I had the collapsible stock on my mid-length and changed it out for the fixed stock. I didn't like the distraction of adjustments for me and it wobbled. The fixed stock fits me well regardless.
 
It completely depends. For a precision rifle I prefer fixed. For carbines, collapsible. And not all collapsible stocks are created equal. My favorite is the LMT SOPMOD, it has zero wobble, and excellent cheek weld, and more storage than a standard A2 stock.
 
I have fixed on 2. <nm DMR style gun and 3 gun rifle> and collapseable UBR on one <short HD carbine>
 
I like collapsible stocks on all AR's for all roles (except for events whose rules require fixed, like NRA High Power). With positive locking collapsible stocks like the CTR, there really isn't any disadvantage to collapsible stocks anymore. And there are plenty advantages... the fact that they can be adjusted for different clothes/gear, different shooters, and different techniques is a big plus (I use a longer stock setting when I'm shooting more precision/high power style and shorter when I'm doing CQB/dynamic techniques).
 
Fixed, to the point where I don't shoot collapsibles very well.

I also like my ARs with iron sights, so I think that has a lot to do with it -- the cheek weld on a fixed stock is better.
 
Collapsible is the current fad, primarily because of vests and SWAsia. In reality, fire from the prone, with the average winter wear, or on a range bench, a fixed will do.

Most combat is not standing up squared in the street at high noon. We've lost sight of the fact that up until the last twenty years, our army used a 20" rifle with fixed stock. Not a modified submachine gun. And, because we didn't have range when we needed it, we had to issue guns to do it.

It's not all about a 14.5" carbine or urban patrols, the pendulum will swing back. The Marines haven't given it up, fixed is the way to go.
 
Actually the Marines are considering switching to the M-16A5, which will be a 20" barreled rifle with a 5 position collapsible stock.

All you guys who are dogging on the collapsible stocks for being wobbly and giving bad cheek weld need to try out one of the newer ones like the CTR. Things have come a long way since the original CAR stock that you are probably thinking of. A CTR is as solid as a fixed stock and has just as good of a cheek weld (I'm not sure where that idea came from... even the CAR stocks have the same cheek height and the same contour as the top of a fixed stock), and plus you can set the length for what best fits you and they add less weight to the rifle.

If there is a downside, I haven't found it yet. And I do a lot more long range positional shooting than I do close quarters stuff.
 
I vote fixed, though not always A2 length. I don't really care much for 6 position stocks. I find I set them either all the way out or all the way in and then never touch them after that. For me, a fixed stock works better for a rifle with a given use. If it needs to be short, I'll toss something like a battle ax on it. If it needs to be long, an A2 or a little shorter with an A1. The idea of a 6 position stock sounds great but I simply never adjust them to make them a benefit over a fixed stock. There's also something about slinging up using an A2 that feels right.
 
There are really good collapsibles out there, but honestly, all they do is shorten down a bit. They don't fold, and won't ever. Plus, many just use the buffer tube as the cheek weld. Considering many are double the cost of the A1, it can be boiled down to $1 per .1MOA or effective reliability factor, which is a big fat ZERO. Especially when you don't shoot with a vest or stand squared up to the target doing it. Moot point then, paper, deer and hogs don't shoot back.

Collapsibles are all about looking cool on a lot of guns, what's interesting is how defensive some get trying to justify them for everyone when it's really a specialty stock for CQB or urban use.

Let's not forget the original intended use of the M4 was a PDW for support troops and a few HSLD applications. Once that silly SOPMOD poster got out, tho, everyone in the Army wanted it, regardless that the overall gun has a more limited application and isn't for everyone. And, it's also obvious anyone with a specific task to shoot beyond 200m is given a rifle with a fixed stock.

Let's not rewrite how battles are fought just because something that looks cool comes along - oh, oops, that's exactly what we did do, hmmm, that sniper's potting us from 600m, hunker down and call up the countersniper team.

We need to get the games out of our heads and get our head in the game. Adjustable stocks are not the best answer for every gun.
 
I prefer an adjustable stock, because I like a different length of pull depending on whether I am shooting from a bench or shooting a USPSA stage.

BTW, pet peeve---IMO, the term "collapsible" is really a misnomer when applied to the adjustable M4 style stock, since it only adjusts between short and long shootable positions. A true collapsible stock can be collapsed to the receiver to reduce OAL, but the AR's buffer and recoil spring design prevent true collapsibles from being to fitted to AR-type rifles.
 
Collapsibles are all about looking cool on a lot of guns, what's interesting is how defensive some get trying to justify them for everyone when it's really a specialty stock for CQB or urban use.
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I strongly disagree with this statement. I run carbine buffer tubes with CTRs on all of my AR's regardless of the intended use of the AR, and I do so for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with fashion. Simply stated, the combination of CTR and carbine buffer give me exactly the performance that I want in an AR-15 stock with the ability to adjust that rifle to the shooter. I fail to see why that is not a rational choice.

In general, a collapsible stock allows me to adjust the rifle to the shooter, and since my rifles are likely to be shared among my family that is important to me. Standardizing on a collapsible stock approach as opposed to a mixture of fixed and collapsible across my AR's provides consistent handling and feel. The CTR stock, in particular, gives me better butt plate geometry than an A1/A2 butt plate, provides more sling options, and is lighter than the A2 stock setup with absolutely no loss of stability or consistency of feel.

I have noted no issues using my CTR-equipped rifles from field expedient positions, benched positions, or prone positions. I fail to understand the assertion that the collapsible stock approach is only valid for a subset of the potential mission needs for a civilian AR-15, and my experiences do not support that assertion.
 
Collapsibles are all about looking cool on a lot of guns, what's interesting is how defensive some get trying to justify them for everyone when it's really a specialty stock for CQB or urban use.
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Tirod, how tall are you, and about how long would you say your arms are?

It's very easy to say full size stocks are better when you've got the body and arm length to make it comfortable. If you're a smaller guy, like I am, collapsible stocks are pretty much the only option to shoot comfortably.
 
Only option? How about the stock listed one post before you? Or how about a battle ax? Have you tried an A1? There are options for shorter stocks than A2 length while still being fixed. If you want the adjustments that's fine, but to state there are no other options is misleading.
 
A fixed stock that is a very short length, like that Entry Stock... now THAT is a specialty piece of equipment for a specific role. A collapsible stock like a CTR, on the other hand, works great for just about everything. It can do everything a stubby fixed stock can do, and it can do everything a long fixed stock can do, and everything in between. The only type of setup I wouldn't use it on is a dedicated long range precision rifle, in which case I'd go with something like a PRS.

If you like fixed stocks on your rifles then knock yourself out... but don't pretend like it's the only right way of doing things, or that there are no good reasons to do it a different way.
 
I think the real question here is whether there's any disadvantage to a collapsible stock besides aesthetics, which is a personal opinion. I had never given it much thought but I suppose if I really wanted to (and I don't yet,) I could let the kids shoot the Armalite, and in that case the collapsible stock would be an advantage. In a PSHTF scenario it would make more sense tactically if you had to put it in the hands of someone who wasn't as comfortable with it for whatever reason.
 
I have a collapsible on my 16" carbine. It works but but If I was the only one to use that gun it would have a A1 stock on it
 
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