One of the most upgraded parts on an AR-15 is the stock. Partly due to the ease of swapping one out, and partly due to being able to change the look and feel of your rifle without spending a ton of money. If you just bought an AR-15 with standard components and are looking to upgrade, or you want to change your setup to fit a specific role, then this AR-15 stock buyer’s guide is for you.

In this article, we will go over the different types of stocks, what they are generally used for, and the different components required for each, so you can make an informed decision on how you want to upgrade or even build your own AR-15 rifle.

A few quick notes before we get into the AR stocks is that carbine adjustable stocks require carbine length buffer tubes while rifle fixed stocks require rifle length buffer tubes. Additionally, carbine buffer tubes come in two different diameters—commercial and Mil-Spec—but most new AR-15s come with Mil-Spec buffer tubes. Continue reading until the end if you want to learn more about the AR stock components themselves.

The first type of AR 15 stock that we will look at is the carbine stock which is by far the most popular style to choose. Let’s take a look at why.

AR STOCK TYPES : AR 15 CARBINE STOCK

Why is the AR-15 carbine stock such a popular choice? Well, it is quite simple really, carbine stocks are generally lighter, shorter, and offer much more adjustment allowing you to use your AR-15 in a variety of different positions whether you are wearing a plate carrier or just plain clothes. For those of us who just like to hit the range every weekend, the adjustability is great for allowing various shooters of different sizes to be able to comfortably handle the firearm. Additionally, most off the shelf AR-15s come with carbine stocks, so you can easily swap it to another without having to change the buffer tube to a fixed rifle length version. Just pop off the old stock and throw on your brand new Magpul stock.