Stock (firearm)
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A stock or buttstock is present in many firearms and some crossbows to transfer the recoil from firing the weapon into the shooter's shoulder. It, along with a sling and occasionally a bipod, can also serve to steady the weapon prior to firing.
The term stock is derived from the word stick, and butt comes from the shape of the stock which resembles a hind quarter. Early weapons used sticks only to support the barrel and later the butt was added to balance the weapon when hand held aiming was required. Horsemen would thump the butt on the ground to assist in the loading of early muskets.
If a weapon is not fired from the shoulder (either because it is mounted on a tripod or military vehicle, or held in the hands like a pistol), a stock is not appropriate. When a weapon is designed to switch between the role of portable and vehicle-mounted weapon, a removable stock is often provided. Similarly, in the case of many submachine guns and some assault rifles, a collapsable stock is provided so that the weapon can be conveniently fired from the shoulder, the hands, or the hip, as appropriate. When mechanical components are housed in the stock, as for any bullpup design this is the back portion of the weapon.
When disassembled, the MA-1 Survival Rifle's metal components and ammunition fit into its stock for watertight storage.
Traditionally, gunstocks were made from wood, generally a durable hardwood. Collapsible stocks tend to be made from steel tubing, while modern composite stocks are generally fibre-reinforced plastic with a core of syntactic foam.
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