All About AR-15 Stocks

You can’t talk about the AR-15 without talking about stocks. They’re an essential part of every build, whether it’s a rifle, carbine, or pistol. Like everything else in the AR world, options are plentiful, so let’s take a look at a few of the myriad options available.

Precision Options

Perhaps the biggest name in the industry for AR stocks, Magpul has no shortage of options from which you can choose. Many people think of the AR-15 as a fighting firearm, but there are a bunch of people out there who use these guns in long-range shooting competitions, known as Precision Rifle Series, or PRS for short. This competition series, which can feature targets out to 1,200 yards, is successfully shot by competitors using ARs. This is proof positive that when outfitted correctly, the AR-15 is capable of being an incredibly accurate gun at long distances.

Part of being able to accurately shoot an AR that far comes from having a solid foundation to your rifle build, and one area that cannot be ignored is with the stock. That’s why Magpul offers precision stocks geared toward competitive shooters. For example, the  Magpul PRS Gen3 is a precision stock with an adjustable length of pull and cheek piece height for excellent fit to each shooter. Perhaps best of all, the adjustments can be made without any tools, so you don’t have to worry about misplacing a crucial piece of equipment.

The adjustments are made with aluminum detent knobs to provide a rock solid interface between the gun and the shooter. The PRS Gen3 stock also comes with a cant/height-adjustable rubber butt pad for extra fine adjustments to the shooter’s shoulder, as well as rotation-limiting QD sling swivel cups and M-LOK slots on the bottom of the stock for rear monopod mounting.

If you’re looking to get into the world of PRS shooting, you might want to check out the Magpul PRS Gen3 for the gun you’ll be using. You’d be hard-pressed to go wrong.

Pistol Braces

There’s been a lot of buzz around pistol braces over the past few years, but the 2A community just came out on top. A Federal judge has vacated the ATF’s pistol brace rule, so freedom-loving, law-abiding citizens can once again equip their AR pistols with braces and not fear retribution from one of Big Brother’s alphabet agencies.

The concept for pistol braces goes back to  SB Tactical, which is the company that invented the original stabilizing brace in 2013. Since then, the market has expanded exponentially with lots of different makes and models, but it’s hard to beat a design from the OG, SB Tactical.

Not one to rest on their laurels, SB Tactical has a wide range of pistol braces. One of the most popular options is the  SBA3. This particular brace can be fitted onto any AR platform that can take a mil-spec carbine receiver extension. You don’t have to worry about the length of pull being too short, as the SBA3 has an adjustable setup that allows for rapid changes in length, ensuring you can adapt to any situation or shooter, no matter their size.

With its streamlined, minimalist design, the SBA3 doesn't just add functionality—it does so without unnecessary bulk. Plus, the built-in ambidextrous QD sling socket means you can quickly switch shoulders and maintain a tactical advantage, regardless of your shooting stance.

The SBA3 has an adjustable nylon strap so that you can safely and easily attach the brace to your arm for one-handed shooting. Or, if you prefer, you can shoulder the brace on your pistol and fire it like a carbine or rifle because a brace is not a stock, so your pistol is a pistol, and not a short barrel rifle, or SBR.

Close-Quarters Battle

More commonly known as CQB, close-quarters battle is a type of combat that takes place in confined spaces, such as buildings or urban environments. For the military, this can be summed up by much of the fighting that has been done in the Middle East in the 21st century. On the civilian side of things, this would equate to home defense scenarios.

With fighting taking place in small rooms and around tight corners, the last thing anyone needs is a gun that’s too big to be useful or too complicated to manipulate into different configurations in a high-stress situation. Sometimes smaller is better, and that’s exactly what you get with the  Maxim Defense CQB Gen 6 stock.

With no buttons to fumble around with, deploying the CQB Gen 6 stock is as simple as pulling it. In its most compact form, this stock adds just 5.35 inches to your AR-15. When fully extended, it matches the length of a traditional carbine stock.

Offering four adjustable positions for comfort and adaptability, the stock’s extended cheek weld provides enhanced stability. Best of all, it installs effortlessly on mil-spec  AR-15 lowers and the interchangeable buttstock assemblies allow further customization to specific shooters’ needs.

How to Remove and Install AR-15 Stock

If your AR-15 is equipped with a stock and buffer that has an adjustable length of pull, removal is super simple. Instead of pushing up on the lever that you use to change the length of pull, you pull down on the same lever and slide the entire stock off of the  buffer tube. To install a new stock, simply pull down on the lever and slide it onto the buffer tube.

If your AR-15 has a fixed  A2 stock and you want to replace it with an adjustable one, then you’ll also have to replace the buffer tube. Unscrew the stock from the butt plate end, which will give access to the buffer tube. Unscrew it and install the new adjustable buffer tube. Slide your new adjustable stock as mentioned above.

If you want to go from an adjustable stock to a fixed stock, just do the opposite of what’s mentioned above. Simple!

The Choice is Yours

Picking a stock or brace for your AR-15 is an entirely personal choice. There’s no right or wrong way to go, so try a few different options out and pick the one you like best. Or, better yet, get a few and swap them around depending on what you’re doing with the gun.