Title Image: A Grey Magpul CTR stock with a green anodized Kratos Design Group 8-Position Receiver Extension
In the beginning, AR-15s relied on the CAR-15 stock. And the CAR-15 designed morphed into the standard M4 Carbine stock. Both of these were a simple stock-shaped facsimile that draped over the AR’s receiver extension and angled 90 degrees down to provide a small butt-pad. The neatest thing about them is that they telescoped over the extension to adjust the length of pull, but that was about it.
When sitting over the receiver extension (buffer tube), they can be wobbly. Attaching a two-point sling involves either settling for a sub-par configuration or calling for some creativity and “redneck engineering.”
Sure, at least the M4 Carbine stock specifically has a metal sling swivel for the basic carry-strap sling, but how long has it been since those mattered?
Magpul Stock Genesis
The Magpul CTR stock wasn’t actually Magpul’s first stock (that would be the 2002 Magpul M93 stock). In fact, the CTR hit the scene a few years later, circa 2006, along with the standard Magpul MOE stock. The MOE looks identical to the CTR, save for the lack of the locking mechanism and built-in QD socket. Its goal is largely the same, just with a slightly simpler execution and a less expensive price tag.
The Magpul M93, the CTR, and the MOE all set out to offer the end-user a better option than the basic M4 Carbine stock. Again, the M4 Carbine’s lackluster sling mounting options and its sloppy play over the AR’s receiver extension aren’t ideal.
In fairness to the original Magpul M93, this product branched out in a different direction of the Magpul rifle stock family tree than the CTR. (Magpul UBR, anyone?) But the CTR’s straightforward design, lightweight, and practicality made it the definitive Magpul stock. It became an overnight sensation, becoming as iconic as the AR-15’s A2-pattern front sight base itself.
There is also the “being too vanilla” aspect. Remember that old joke about AR-15s being like Barbie dolls for men?
Magpul’s Prominence
Magpul’s rise to prominence converged during two important periods: the sunset of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban under the Clinton administration and the heyday of the GWOT (Global War On Terror). This is arguably the time when the AR-15 truly became America’s Rifle, and interest in these weapons was at an all-time high in both the military and civilian sector.
As with almost any other activity, people love accessorizing their gear and making it stand out from the norm. The Magpul M93 still needed improvements, and it gave way to the CTR. This stock not only added practical improvements to someone’s carbine, but it also looked different from the “boring” plain-jane A2 pattern accessories that were standardized with M4 carbines.
Talk about having one’s cake and eating too—cooler carbines with more practical features.
Compact/Type Restricted
The Magpul MOE and CTR take a KISS (keep it simple, stupid) approach to stock design with a straightforward triangular shape that keeps a low profile and works well in almost any carbine-related role. This is one of the reasons why the CTR has enjoyed such longevity as a product, not unlike other products that customers still flock to after decades. Think Glock 19. The Glock 19 is a thing, just like the Magpul CTR is a thing.
The upper comb area isn’t any thicker than it needs to be and it’s similar to the upper portion of an M4 carbine stock in this regard. Likewise, the CTR’s top surface isn’t as wide and comfortable as, say, the Magpul STR, with its wide sloping comb, or the SOPMOD stock, which also has a similar layout.
The CTR’s trade-off is less bulk and weight. With that said, the CTR still has slots to install cheek risers, its signature QD sling mount socket, and this stock even has a thin rubber buttpad. While the rubber buttpad isn’t in place to reduce recoil, Magpul does offer thicker rubber butt-pads for that purpose. The original intention of the CTR’s thin rubber butt-pad is to provide extra traction against the user’s clothes when a weapon is shouldered.
In addition to its smart layout and design, the Magpul CTR’s pièce de résistance is its friction locking system, which eliminates the wobble that’s part and parcel between M4 carbine stocks and the actual carbines—one of the biggest nuisances of AR-15 carbines. This system also marries the CTR stock to the receiver extension, allowing end-users to adjust the length of pull without accidentally removing the stock itself.
The Takeaway
A large portion of the American firearms industry revolves around AR-15s and their accessories. Naturally, from the different types of AR-15-specific accessories available, furniture sets are amongst the most popular categorical items as shooters quite literally dress up their AR-pattern firearms with different combinations of stocks, pistol grips, and handguards to suit their needs.
Companies spend time and resources designing furniture that caters to every type of shooter and their chosen disciplines, be it precision, tactical, competitive, or even general-purpose use. Magpul has been busy in 2024, releasing all kinds of new AR-15 stocks, so I couldn’t help but notice and reflect on how popular the Magpul CTR stock still is—even with 2006 being close to two decades ago.
In spite of all of the great stocks that Magpul and its competitors sell, the CTR’s combination of simplicity and features keeps it relevant today.
For more information, please visit Magpul.com.
