Folding Stocks - Worth It?

[jreyna]

I enjoy hunting backcountry. Mostly a lot of elevation climbing and fairly wide open. I usually run a .308 bolt action rifle with a 20" barrel, sporter stock and a Dead Air Nomad suppressor.

When hunting, I have the rifle mounted tightly to my backpack with a rifle carrier. With the suppressor, the setup sticks about 2" above my head, with the occasional snag on a low lying branch where I hunt. Not a big deal. But if I went with a folding stock setup, the rifle overall length would be 6-10" shorter.

All in all, for anyone who had a similar setup, then moved over to a folding stock setup, did you find the compactness worth it? Why or why not?

I'm not expecting anyone's response to be taken as gospel, but I'd like to get some real-world opinions from guys who have gone down a road I may be headed down in the future. Thanks for the time.

 

[Team4LongGun]

absolutely

 

[Alex Genereux]

In an exo podcast a while back I heard the exo guys saying if they didn’t hunt in Alaska they wouldn’t have a need for a folding chassis. In a more recent podcast they talked about considering going back to a standard stock because some of the chassis systems are hard to secure on a pack super well. Maybe @Mark at EXO could have more insight.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Not for me. I carried one around for years and never used it.

 

[SDHNTR]

Tacticool dorkness

 

[Team4LongGun]

Folding stocks are tacticool?? That's a new one.

I hunt thick, jungle like steep terrain and also use suppressors. The ability to fold and reduce overall length while climbing through crap is a huge advantage for me. It's a win when you offset the time it takes to put a can on versus unfolding stock if a shot presented itself.

 

[SDHNTR]

Folding stocks are tacticool?? That's a new one.

I hunt thick, jungle like steep terrain and also use suppressors. The ability to fold and reduce overall length while climbing through crap is a huge advantage for me. It's a win when you offset the time it takes to put a can on versus unfolding stock if a shot presented itself.

IMO, yep. So are suppressors, albeit useful.

 

[Reburn]

I also find them useful maneuvering around in the truck. That way when I get it up on the mirror (Texas bench rest) I can just fold out the stock.

 

[realunlucky]

IMO, yep. So are suppressors, albeit useful.

Don't be mad because you can't have either one

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[SDHNTR]

Don't be mad because you can't have either one

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

1/2 true

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I use a HNT 26 folder here in Alaska now. Even though I had been using a Fieldcraft with an 18" barrel, I would still get it hung up on brush at times. Now that I've gone to 100% suppressed, going to a folder was even more useful. I use a pack that has a stretchy side pocket and the butt end fits easily into it. Its obviously wider than a traditional stock, but atleast its much shorter.

 

[mthayr]

I use a HNT 26 folder here in Alaska now. Even though I had been using a Fieldcraft with an 18" barrel, I would still get it hung up on brush at times. Now that I've gone to 100% suppressed, going to a folder was even more useful. I use a pack that has a stretchy side pocket and the butt end fits easily into it. Its obviously wider than a traditional stock, but atleast its much shorter.

View attachment 706266

Can't wait to see when that "Waterproof SG ULTRA high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric" with those nice "stretchy side pockets", makes its way to the production line of Stone Glacier's bags...

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Can't wait to see when that "Waterproof SG ULTRA high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric" with those nice "stretchy side pockets", makes its way to the production line of Stone Glacier's bags...

Oh that’s just a Terminus lid on a special pack from another company haha

 

[mdtennant]

For me... Nope. After breaking a folding stock in the middle of a hunt this past spring, absolutely not any more. I have two folders and I used to think they were worth it, but I just don't know that I have the same love affair with folders that others do. Let's just say we had a bad breakup.

A folding stock does not increase lethality or survivability and it adds a failure point to your weapon. The benefit of enhanced mobility from a shorter system comes with the price of a viable failure liability. With a broken hinge (which is what I had), you might be able to hit what you shoot at, or you might get a face full of scope. Fortunately, in my case, my wife was also carrying a rifle.

Likewise, I do not strap my gun to my pack in such a way that prevents deployment with my pack on. I have missed opportunities because I had to remove my pack to deploy my gun. So, I make sure I can deploy w/o pack removal. Not sure how well that will work with a folder, but you could likely rig a stretch pocket if you really wanted. I prefer guns extended and accessible, despite the snagging issues. I also have the giant stature of a miniature garden gnome, so if I have to crawl around a bit, I don't have far to go to get down there.

It always comes down to your needs, the logistics associated with your hunt, and the trade-offs you are willing to make. I think folders have a place, but if you carry one on a pack you might want it folded and stowed (like Ben showed above) to lower the inherent failure liability.