Stock ( firearms ) 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 crossbow s though a crossbow stock is more properly referred to as a " tiller " . 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 . History and etymology . The term stock in reference to firearms dates to 1571 is derived from the Germanic word " stoc " , meaning tree trunk , referring to the wooden nature of the gunstock . Early hand cannon s used a simple stick fitted into a socket in the breech end to provide a handle . The modern gunstock shape began to evolve with the introduction of the arquebus , a matchlock with a longer barrel and an actual lock mechanism , unlike the hand - applied match of the hand cannon . Firing a hand cannon requires careful application of the match while simultaneously aiming ; the use of a matchlock handles the application of the slow match , freeing up a hand for support . With both hands available to aim , the arquebus could be braced with the shoulder , giving rise to the basic gunstock shape that has survived for over 500 years . This greatly improved the accuracy of the arquebus , to a level that would not be surpassed until the advent of rifled barrels . Ironically , the stocks of muskets introduced during the European colonization of the Americas were repurposed as hand - to - hand war clubs 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 . A gunstock is broadly divided into two parts ( see above ) . The rear portion is the butt ( 1 ) and front portion is the fore - end ( 2 ) . The butt is further divided into the comb ( 3 ) , heel ( 4 ) , toe ( 5 ) , and grip ( 6 ) . The stock pictured is a thumbhole ( 7 ) style . Styles and features of stocks . The most basic breakdown of stock types is into one - piece and two piece stocks . A one piece stock is a single unit from butt to fore - end , such as that commonly found on bolt action rifles . Two piece stocks use a separate piece for the butt and fore - end , such as that commonly found on break open shotguns , and lever - action rifles and shotguns . Traditionally , two piece stocks were easier to make , since finding a wood blank suitable for a long one piece stock is harder than finding short blanks for a two piece stock . 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 rifle s . 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 . 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 . These stocks are also used on combat shotgun s like the Franchi SPAS - 12 to allow the stock to collapse when not in use . The comb is another area of wide variation . Since the comb must support the shooter ' s cheek at a height suitable for use with the sights , high sights such as telescopic sight s require higher combs . The " Monte Carlo " comb ( B ) is commonly found on stocks designed for use with scopes , and features an elevated comb to lift the cheek higher , while keeping the heel of the stock low . A " cheekpiece " ( C ) is a raised section on the " side " of the stock , which provides support for the shooter ' s cheek . There is some confusion between these terms , as the features are often combined , with the raised " rollover " cheekpiece ( D ) extending to the top of the stock to form a high Monte Carlo comb . Fore - ends tend to vary both in thickness , from the " splinter " fore - ends common on British side - by - side shotguns to the wide , flat bottomed " beavertail " fore - ends found on benchrest shooting guns , and in length , from the short AK - 47 style to the long Mannlicher stock that runs all the way to the muzzle . Most common on sporting firearms is the " half - stock " , which extends roughly half the length of the barrel . Stock measurements . Stock measurement is especially important with shotgun s , where the typical front - bead - only sight requires a consistent positioning of the shooter ' s eye over the center of the barrel for good accuracy . When having a stock custom built or bent to fit , there are a number of measurements that are important . Accuracy considerations . In addition to ergonomic issues , the stock can also have a significant impact on the accuracy of the rifle . The key factors are : A well designed and well built wooden stock can provide the secure , stable base needed for an accurate rifle , but the properties of wood make it more difficult than more stable synthetic materials . Wood is still a top choice for aesthetic reasons , however , and solutions such as bedding provide the stability of a synthetic with the aesthetics of wood . Construction . 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 . Folding , collapsible , or removable stocks tend to be made from a mix of steel or alloy for strength and locking mechanisms , and wood or plastics for shape . Stocks for bullpup rifles must take into account the dimensions of the rifle ' s action , as well as ergonomic issues such as ejection . Wood stocks . 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 . In addition to the type of wood , how it is treated can have a significant impact on its properties . Wood for gunstocks should be slowly dried , to prevent grain collapse and splitting , and also to preserve the natural color of the wood ; custom stockmakers will buy blanks that have been dried two to three years and then dry it for several additional years before working it into a stock . Careful selection can yield distinctive and attractive features , such as crotch figure , feathering , fiddleback , and burl , which can significantly add to the desirability of a stock . While a basic , straight grained blank suitable for a utilitarian stock might sell for US $ 20 , an exhibition grade blank with superb figure could price in the range of US $ 2000 . Blanks for one piece stocks are more expensive than blanks for two piece stocks , due to the greater difficulty in finding the longer blanks with desirable figure . Two piece stocks are ideally made from a single blank , so that the wood in both parts shows similar color and figure . Injection molded synthetic . While setup costs are high , once ready to produce , injection molding produces stocks for less than the cost of the cheapest wood stocks . Every stock is virtually identical in dimension , and requires no bedding , inletting , or finishing . The downsides are a lack of rigidity and thermal stability , which are side effects of the thermoplastic materials used for injection molding . Hand - laid composite stocks . 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 . Laminated wood . Laminated wood consists of two or more layers of wood , impregnated with glue and attached permanently to each other . The combination of the two pieces of wood , if laid out correctly , results in the separate pieces moderating the effects of changes in temperature and humidity . Modern laminates consist of 1 / 16 inch ( 1 . 6 mm ) thick sheets of wood , usually birch , which are impregnated with epoxy , laid with alternating grain directions , and cured at high temperatures and pressures . The resulting composite material is far stronger than the original wood , free from internal defects , and nearly immune to warping from heat or moisture . Typically , each layer of the laminate is dyed before laminating , often with alternating colors , which provides a pattern similar to wood grain when cut into shape , and with bright , contrasting colors , the results can be very striking . The disadvantage of laminate stocks is density , with laminates weighing about 4 to 5 ounces ( 110 to 140 g ) more than walnut for a typical stock . While wood laminates have been available for many years on the custom market ( and , in subdued form , in some military rifles ) , in 1987 Rutland Plywood , a maker of wood laminates , convinced Sturm , Ruger , Savage Arms , and U . S . Repeating Arms Company ( Winchester ) to display some laminate stocks on their rifles in a green , brown and black pattern ( often called " camo " ) . The response was overwhelming , and that marked the beginning of laminated stocks on production rifles . Metal . 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 . In some jurisdictions , the nature of the stock may impact the legal status of the firearm . Examples of this are :