Hi all, I am trying to select a stock for my first AR and I am finding myself a bit overwhelmed by all the various terminology. It seems that just as soon as I think I understand something, something turns up and confuses the heck out of me.

At the moment, my furstration is in selecting a stock. I really like the look and versatility of a collapsable stock and have one in mind, the Magpul CTR at Brownells. I just don't understand why it is referred to as a "carbine" stock. I am thinking I will be doing a 18" mid-length barrel (but not 100% yet). Would this not be compatible? What in the name of freedom would the barrel length have to do with the stock? Is this just because a collapsable is typically used on carbines?

Appreciate any advice!

The CTR would be fine for your purposes. Good stock.
The barrel length has nothing to do with the stock. Zero.
You can put a collapsible stock on anything from a 10.5" barreled SBR to a 20" rifle...and you'll see them used on all of the above. Typically though, the rifle length guns use a fixed stock.....since compactness isn't a desired characteristic.
Shorter guns will often opt for a collapsible stock due to the opposite. Plus a collapsible stock allows for length adjustments for optic eye relief, thickness of clothing worn and so on.
The only variable you need to pay attention to is what buffer tube your gun has, commercial or mil spec. That will determine which CTR you'll buy. The slanted end of a commercial tube is the main give away as to what you are or not working with. If you have a choice of which buffer tube to put on a gun, go with Mil Spec. I find more stock choices are available for mil spec tubes and you may want to swap out the CTR at some point for a different type. The CTR is a very good stock....for your stated purposes, you'd do fine with that choice....I have them on 2 of my AR's and they've been great.

 

THANK YOU! Now I can get my next wish list finalized!

The reason they refer to it as a carbine stock is because it uses a carbine stock setup (carbine tube, carbine buffer, carbine spring, castle nut, and end plate):



as opposed to a rifle stock setup (rifle tube, rifle buffer, rifle spring, a2 spacer, screw):