There are too many outstanding AR-15 rifle stock options to stick to a classic M4 rifle stock design. And with so many out there, it can be tough to pick one. I shoot ARs a good bit, and I have plenty of experience behind different rifle stocks. I have my favorites, and that’s what I want to share today: my five favorite AR-15 rifle stocks.
A rifle stock is more than just the ass end of your rifle. It’s one of the few parts of the rifle that interacts with your body. It needs to be a piece of high-quality gear. Different guns have different solutions, but you typically want something supportive of a good cheek weld, comfortable in the shoulder, and something with plenty of sling options. With that in mind, here are my five favorite AR-15 stocks.
My Favorite All Around: BCM Gunfighter MOD 0
I have a theory on owning multiple firearms. Your first priority should be establishing a good defensive handgun and rifle. After I put together a quality handgun and rifle, I could get whatever I wanted. When I built my defensive, end-of-the-world, high-quality 5.56 rifle, I went with the BCM Gunfighter MOD 0. I needed a rifle stock that could work within a variety of scenarios.
The stock is ambidextrous and plenty comfortable against the cheek. It’s beard-friendly as well. A slick and smooth design keeps it from being snag-proof, and that includes when you work with slings. It doesn’t snatch on anything and doesn’t get in the way. Speaking of, it really works with slings and allows them to lay nice and flat, keeping them well out of the way.
The Gunfighter MOD 0 stock adjusts easily and also locks into place nicely. It’s a solid lock and makes it easy to get that nice solid sight picture. Also, less wiggle is quite nice when shooting rapidly. It secures your sight picture and keeps it from moving more than usual.
Favorite for Competition: Magpul MOE SL-K
When I say competition, I am admittedly talking about PCC comps in USPSA, Action Steel, and Steel Challenge. There are plenty of precision competitions that might benefit from better stocks. For PCC, the super lightweight nature of the MOE SL-K works very well. PCCs often have heavier buffers in AR formats, so trimmer weight at the rear end. This creates a more balanced PCC.
On top of being lightweight and minimalist, the MOE SL-K still provides a solid cheek weld and lockup. It’s supportive and allows me to fly behind my rifle and get right on target. I can throw round after round in total comfort. It doesn’t pull on my beard, either, which is a major benefit. Additionally, the toe design makes it easy to roll the stock from one shoulder to the other, which is nice when your stage master loves off-hand courses of fire.
The MOS SL-K features an M-LOK slot that allows you to attach a rail-mounted QD slot if you so choose. This makes it ambidextrous and easy to use. Additionally, the lever is placed ambidextrously, and it locks the stock on nice and tight.
Favorite Fixed Stock: Magpul MOE Rifle Stock
The M16A2 stock and its giant length of pull is a horrendous addition to the A2, A3, and A4 rifles. Why they decided to make that thing so damn long is way beyond me. Luckily, for those of us who like a nice fixed stock, Mapgul has us covered. A fixed stock is often lightweight, simple, affordable, and, best of all they are very, very stable. The Magpul MOE Rifle Stock takes the length back to A1, which is perfect.
Carbine stocks are excellent, adjustable, and downright fantastic, but a fixed stock still rules. The MOE design incorporates a slightly higher comb and is a wider stock that provides a nicer cheek weld for use with modern optics. It’s an excellent replacement for any rifle rocking an A2 stock. Like the original A2, it does have a compartment, but it’s bigger and can fit way more Skittles.
The stock is adorned with a ton of sling points. This includes a 1.25-inch loop as well as four slots for a QD port. With all these options, you can customize it to your heart’s desire. Toss a sling anywhere you want one, and you’ll be ready to rock and roll. Sure, it won’t collapse, but it’s the right size for the majority of shooters.
The Stock I Need to Buy: Reptillia RECC-E
I shot with this thing a little bit at a match a few weeks back, and color me impressed. I don’t have much experience with the Reptilia brand, but I know they have an amazing reputation. The RECC-E looks something like the UBR from Magpul, but it is ultra-light at 12 ounces. What the Reptilia RECC-E does is combine some of the best features of a fixed stock with the features of an adjustable stock.
The system comes with a buffer tube and is compatible with an A5 tube. The stock length of pull adjustment is rock solid and does wiggle or waggle. You can lock into the stock, the nice high comb makes it easy to use with modern optics, and it’s plenty comfy. A little press button allows you to adjust the stock for length of pull, but the majority of the stock is fixed. The RECC-E design is fairly clever, and it’s a good bit cheaper than the UBR.
The RECC-E comes with ambidextrous sling points, which amount to QD ports. It adds up to a very nice stock. It sinks nicely into the shoulder and shrugs off recoil with ease. That rubber padlocks in nicely, and it works well in a multitude of positions, especially with optics like LPVOs.
Favorite PDW Type: Armaspec XPDW Stock
The Armaspec XPDW stock isn’t the same as every other PDW stock. Most require a very expensive and proprietary buffer tube, buffer, and buffer spring. The XPDW can use a stock standard MIL-SPEC buffer tube. It slaps on and attaches with ease. This gives you that PDW-style stock without being overly expensive or reliant on picky buffers and gas systems.
The Armaspec XPDW stock admittedly doesn’t give you the shortest PDW-style stock. There are some that are much, much shorter. However, it’s a fair bit shorter than most. It gives that super slick collapsing action that PDW stocks are known for. With the XPDW stock, you still get a very nice cheek weld that’s built into the stock. You aren’t left hanging with a chin weld.
It’s easily adjustable and goes from approximately 6.8 inches to 10 inches fully extended. The butt plate is small but is very aggressive in its texture and the stock sits tight into the shoulder without flinching or jumping from your shoulder. The sling point sits inside the stock and is also ambidextrous. It’s a single sling point, so it’s not the best option, but it’s workable.
Stocked Up
I’ve said stocks enough to land me in Wall Street Bets territory. However, the kind of stock we are talking about always pays in dividends. Your rifle stock can be an important piece of gear in your whole rifle setup. Don’t settle, be picky, and find what works well for you!
