Stock (firearms)

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The anatomy of a gunstock. 1) butt, 2) forend, 3) comb, 4) heel, 5) toe, 6) grip, 7) thumbhole

A stock, also known as a shoulder stock, a buttstock, or simply a butt is a part of a rifle or other firearm, to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached, that is held against one's shoulder when firing the gun. Stocks are also found on crossbows though a crossbow stock is more properly referred to as a tiller.[1] The stock provides a means for the shooter to firmly support the device and easily aim it. The stock also transmits recoil into the shooter's body.[2]

History and etymology[edit]

An early hand cannon, or gonne, supported by a simple stock



Ironically, the stocks of muskets introduced during the European colonization of the Americas were repurposed as hand-to-hand war clubs[6][7] by Native Americans and First Nations when fragile accessories were damaged or scarce ammunition exhausted. Techniques for gunstock hand weapons are being revived by martial arts such as Okichitaw.

Anatomy of a gunstock[edit]


Styles and features of stocks[edit]


Different styles of gunstock grips
Variations in gunstock combs

The grip area is one that varies widely. A straight grip stock (A) proceeds smoothly from toe to the trigger, giving a nearly horizontal angle for the trigger hand, while a full grip stock (E) contains a separate piece for the grip, providing a near vertical angle for the trigger hand, and is commonly found on modern military rifles, such as the ubiquitous AK-47 and M16 rifle families of assault rifles. The semi-grip (B) stock is perhaps the most common sporting stock, with a steeper angle cut into the stock to provide a more diagonal angle for the trigger hand. Modern target style stocks have moved towards a fuller, more vertical grip, though built into the stock rather than made as a separate piece, and may be considered grip stocks. Anschütz stocks (C), for example, use a nearly vertical grip, and many thumbhole style stocks (D) are similar to full grips in shape.

Butt hook on SPAS-12

Sliding or folding stocks are often seen on military-grade weapons and their civilian-derived arms. A collapsible stock makes the weapon more compact for storage or transport, but is usually deployed before shooting for better control. A butt hook, which is an attachment to the butt of the gun that is put under the shooter's arm to prevent the rifle from pivoting forward from the weight of the barrel is sometimes used in competitive rifle shooting.[9] These stocks are also used on combat shotguns like the Franchi SPAS-12 to allow the stock to collapse when not in use.[10]



Stock measurements[edit]



Accuracy considerations[edit]

Main article: Accurizing





Traditionally, stocks are made from wood, generally a durable hardwood such as walnut. A growing option is the laminated wood stock, consisting of many thin layers of wood bonded together at high pressures with epoxy, resulting in a dense, stable composite.[16][15]


Wood stocks[edit]

While walnut is the favored gunstock wood, many other woods are used, including maple, myrtle, birch, and mesquite. In making stocks from solid wood, one must take into account the natural properties and variability of woods. The grain of the wood determines the strength, and the grain should flow through the wrist of the stock and out the toe; having the grain perpendicular to these areas weakens the stock considerably.[15]


Injection molded synthetic[edit]


Hand-laid composite stocks[edit]

A hand-laid composite stock is composed out of materials such as fiberglass, kevlar, graphite cloth, or some combination, saturated in an appropriate binder, placed into a mold to set, or solidify. The resulting stock is stronger and more stable than an injection-molded stock. It can also be as little as half the weight of an injection-molded stock. Inletting and bedding can be accomplished by molding in as part of the manufacturing proceess, machining in the inletting after the stock is finished, molding directly to the action as a separate process, or molding a machined metal component in place during manufacture. Finish is provided by a layer of gel coat applied to the mold before the cloth is laid up.[16]

Laminated wood[edit]




Some high production firearms (such as the PPS-43, MP-40, and the Zastava M70B) make use of metal stocks in order to have a strong, thin stock that can be folded away in order to make the weapon more compact. It should be noted that even a skeletal steel stock is often heavier than the equivalent wooden fixed stock. Consequentially, less cost-sensitive designs like the FN Minimi make use of aluminium or lighter-than-steel alloys. A few designs, like the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare, use a metal chassis which securely beds the components of the firearm, with non-structural synthetic panels attached for ergonomics.

Legal issues[edit]

In some jurisdictions, the nature of the stock may change the legal status of the firearm. Examples of this are:

  • Adding a shoulder stock on a firearm with a barrel shorter than 16 inches (40.6 cm) changes it into a short-barreled rifle (SBR) under the United States National Firearms Act.
  • Folding stocks or stocks with separate grips are banned features in some U.S. states and municipalities.



  1. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary, tiller". 
  2. ^ Chuck Hawks. "Rifle Recoil". 
  3. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary, stock". 
  4. ^ "Handgonne". 
  5. ^ Krenn, Peter (1991). "Test-Firing Selected 16th to 18th C. Weapons". Military Illustrated 33. 
  6. ^ "Pitt Rivers Museum". 
  7. ^ "British Museum". 
  8. ^ a b c d e "SAAMI Glossary, S". 
  9. ^
  10. ^ Modern Weapons—SPAS-12
  11. ^ "Rifle Stock Terms". 
  12. ^ "SAAMI Glossary, C". 
  13. ^ "SAAMI Glossary, F". 
  14. ^ "The Magic of Cast-off". 
  15. ^ a b c Larry Lyons. "The Semi-Synthetic Solution" (– Scholar search). Guns & Ammo. [dead link]
  16. ^ a b c d e f Jon R. Sundra (November 1999). "The Stock Market". Guns Magazine. 
  17. ^ Ron Swartley (October 1990). "Gunstock blanks: how to buy the best - gunsmithing tips". Shooting Industry.