Years ago I had the opportunity to use one of Adaptive Tactical’s shotgun stocks. I was impressed with the recoil pad it had. So when they offered to send their new M4 stock and pistol grip, I was all for it. This EX Performance stock has received some upgrades recently over their previous version. Coupled with the Lightweight Tactical grip, you have a nice combination for just about anything needing a new stock and grip.

The EX M4 style stock still has a bunch of the normal stock stuff. It fits on your standard mil-spec extension tube. It is adjustable with controls similar to an M4 stock. The cheek piece gives a better feel than a lot of adjustable stocks. There is also a bunch more.

Adaptive Tactical gave the new EX stock a few upgrades. Some of these might be noticeable, others, not so much. It has a larger stock adjusting lever for easier adjustments. They put in an oversized lock pin to hold the placement of the stock better. This pin also adds strength when using the stock on a shotgun or AR10 style rifle. The pins holding the adjustment lever are also covered. Adaptive Tactical says it’s for easier stock removal and installation, I think it just makes it look more refined. Also included is a reversible QD mounting socket. Lastly, it uses their fantastic recoil pad.

As far as specs on the EX stock, here they are. It weighs in at 12 ounces. But lose the recoil pad, and it drops to 8 ounces. It’s 7 ¼ inches long with the recoil pad. You’ll lose a little over an inch if you remove the pad. The extra pad length also can make the stock work better for tall people, or those with long arms.

Newly added to the Adaptive Tactical lineup is their Lightweight Tactical Grip (LTG). The grip pairs nicely with the EX stock. As one can guess, the LTG is highly skeletonized to reduce weight. It is made from reinforced polymer and includes mounting hardware. The LTG also has a 25 degree grip angle with a medium beavertail. Lastly, it weighs in at a tiny 2.6 ounces.

I’ve had the pleasure of using both the EX stock and LTG grip on different shooting outings. One of those was a shooting match that consisted of mainly rifle and pistol drills. This meant there were quite a few transitions from pistol to rifle, etc. I was worried that the super soft recoil pad would get caught on my gear. I was pleasantly surprised when it didn’t. An added bonus was that there is little to no recoil with that pad on there, yes it was only a 5.56 AR, so not much anyhow. Making adjustments with the oversize adjustment lever was super easy too. The EX stock has a little more play, on the buffer tube, than I would have liked. It didn’t seem to bother any, but I’d like it a little tighter as it rattled a bit. During the match, I also had a sling attached in the QD socket. It did what it was supposed to do, hold the sling. It is not a non swivel QD, so the sling could possibly twist on you. I didn’t have this happen, but it is possible. Overall, I liked how the stock worked for me.

The Lightweight Tactical Grip wasn’t used during the match, but has been used a bit. It is light, but gives me a pretty good grip on the rifle. The way the LTG is shaped, works well for both small and large handed shooters. It is shaped so that the grip is smaller toward the top, and larger toward the bottom. I found that it felt like my hand was getting forced up toward the top. This gave me a really good grip and made it easy to use the controls. The grip may not be for everyone, as my son said it felt weird to him, but he didn’t have any problems using it. The grip angle seemed to work well for me too.

The EX stock and Lightweight Pistol Grip are good performers. They work as intended and have some really nice features. If you're building a rifle, or have something with some major recoil, the stock could be perfect for you. The LTG really is personal, you may like it, you may not. It’s very light, so when weight is a concern, Adaptive Tactical has you covered. You can check the stock/grip combo out and more at Adaptive Tactical.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Adjustable stock with super soft pad and lightweight pistol grip

Target Market:

AR builders and users or anyone wanting a M4 style stock with a recoil pad

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Stock:

Compatible with Mil-Spec sized extension tubes
Reversible QD socket
Oversized adjustment handle
Weight: 12 oz
Length: 7.25"
Made in the U.S.A.

Grip:

One-piece polymer construction
Ergonomic shape; comfortable with aggressive design
Beavertail
Includes mounting hardware
Weight: 2.6 oz.
Grip Angle: 25 degrees
Dimensions: 4.75” L x 2.25” W x 1.125” H
Made in the U.S.A.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

FDE

What others are saying?:

Stock:

Jim S - 5/5 stars @adaptive tactical

Adaptive Tactical Stock is a superior product, strong design, fit and function is excellent, felt recoil is reduced to a minimum, adds value to any rifle. Thicker recoil pad is a plus, adds that extra length needed for better fit and comfort, especially for shooters with longer arms.

Grip:

Country Girl - 5/5 stars @adaptive tactical

Awesome grips, lightweight yet seem heavy duty, feel good in hand, perfect angle, and great customer service.