The best part about an AR-15 is its customizability. It was designed to be a modular platform that could be adapted to any kind of firearm: compact home defense weapon, shooting range toy, hunting rifle, and more. Whatever you need your AR-15 to be, you can build it.
The stock is one of the most popular AR-15 parts to swap. Generally, the best AR-15 stocks improve accuracy, reduce the recoil you feel, and make your rifle easier to control. Other features, such as sling mounting points, cushioned buttpads, and cheek welds, don’t really impact performance but still affect the usability of your gun.
First, we’ll review the general design and components of an AR stock. Then, we’ll list the most common types of stocks and compare collapsible stocks to fixed stocks. Finally, we’ll examine some common use cases for AR-15 rifles, identify the best stocks for those use cases, and explain why they’re the best.
Basic Design of an AR-15 Stock
The parts of an AR-15 that make up your stock significantly impact your stock's performance and compatibility with other parts. There are two components needed to understand when choosing an AR-15 stock: the buffer tube assembly and the buttstock. Building the best AR-15 stock for you requires careful consideration of both.
Buffer Tube Assembly
The AR-15 buffer tube extends from the rest of the lower receiver and connects to the buttstock. Inside the tube is the buffer and buffer spring. Together, they help reduce the felt recoil, improving your accuracy.
The way they do it is simple. When you fire a round, the buffer spring captures the force from your bolt carrier. That slams into the buffer at the end of the tube, redirecting all that energy back to return the bolt carrier to a forward position. It then loads the next round in the magazine into the chamber, and you’re ready to fire again. The best AR-15 stock buffer tubes have springs that operate quieter, smoother, and more reliably. They may also have added mass for reduced recoil.
Your buffer tube also determines what buttstock (if any) you can use. For example, if you want to build an AR-15 pistol, you will need a pistol buffer tube to earn that legal classification. This tube also allows you to add a pistol brace to your AR, which we’ll get to later.
Buttstock
The part of the stock you actually feel. Buttstocks press against your shoulder, providing support when firing to counter the effects of recoil. Great buttstocks are simply comfortable. The less painful your shooting is, the longer you can keep shooting and the more accurate you’ll be.
Types of Stocks
There are two main types of stocks that you’ll be comparing: collapsible stocks vs fixed stocks. Each has its pros and cons; there’s no universal best AR-15 stock type for everyone.
Collapsible Stocks
The more popular of the two options, AR-15 collapsible stocks allow shooters to adjust their stock length. This means you can make the stock perfectly fit your shoulder regardless of height, weight, body armor, or shooting style. The only minor downside is they trade a little bit of rigidity compared to fixed stocks.
Some collapsible stocks can be folded entirely. These are the best AR-15 stocks for portability and storage, as they take up the smallest footprint. However, due to their buffer tube design, they have to be unfolded before firing.
Fixed Stocks
AR-15 fixed stocks are precisely what they sound like: fixed into one position. When considering collapsible stocks vs fixed stocks, this has some ramifications. With no moving parts, these stocks provide a bit more rigidity than collapsible ones. However, the size it comes in is the size it always will be. If your fixed stock feels uncomfortable, replacing it with another stock is the only solution.
BONUS: Pistol Braces
If you’ve built an AR-15 pistol with a barrel of any size, you’ll know that it can be cumbersome to shoot with one hand. Due to legal restrictions, you can’t mount a stock on them — but sometimes, the best attachment for you isn’t a stock at all.
AR pistol braces attach to the pistol’s buffer tube. On it is a strap, which shooters wrap around their arms. This provides the stability needed to counter the gun’s weight imbalance and improves control of your gun
There are two types of pistol braces. Traditional pistol braces might look similar to a normal stock. “Fin-type” or “blade-style” pistol braces are very minimal, providing nothing more than slots for your arm strap on a thin, stabilizing wing.
Example Use Cases and the Best AR Stock For Them
Collapsible stock vs. fixed—above all other factors, your use case will determine what you need from your stock. We’ve put together some typical example use cases and the stocks that are best for them.
Home Defense
A compact AR with a collapsible stock will be critical for CQC. Large stocks and long barrels make the weapon unwieldy in tight hallways. A small but capable weapon is perfect.
Hunting
The best AR stock for hunters is fixed. Missing (or worse, wounding) game will ruin the hunt. These rigid stocks provide the most stability for hunters, giving them a little more confidence in the accuracy of their weapons.
Recreational Shooting
Are you heading out into the hills, woods, or desert to shoot some targets? A folding stock makes it easier to store and carry your gun there. When you’re shooting with friends, peak accuracy isn’t the goal—getting out into nature and having a good time is.
Find the Best AR Stocks and More at Wing Tactical
Wing Tactical has been helping fellow gun owners find the gun parts they need since 2013. As a veteran-founded business, our priority is providing you parts that we would use in our own weapons — and we use nothing but the best of the best. Whether you’re deciding between collapsible stock vs fixed stocks or just looking for Glock parts, we’ve got what you need.
Need help picking the best AR stock or want to learn more about AR-15s? Check out the rest of our blog, read through our resources, or contact us. We’re always here to help.