Honest Review: Law Tactical AR Folding Stock Adapter

Law Tactical introduced its first Folding Stock Adapter 12 years ago. It wasn’t the first of its kind, but it was the first to be a viable product. Other companies’ products required reworking the gun’s recoil system, which could cause issues with parts compatibility. Not so for the Law Tactical Folding Stock Adapter. From the outset, the device worked with any standard AR15 platform—no reworking any of the components. The adapter was essentially a “bolt-on,” meaning retrofits took minutes to install. In fact, it was so well-designed that many manufacturers started to include it as an OEM parts option.

Designed, built and assembled in the USA, Law Tactical is now on its third generation of folder. It offers subtle improvements like a lower profile hinge and a hinge system that has adjustable tension … all responses to user feedback.

“The Law Tactical Folding Stock Adapter was designed for low profile transport of AR rifles in non-permissive environments. The adapter is ideal for any situation that requires a smaller-profile weapon for transport and storage. Simple one-button release folds the stock. To engage, just unfold and fire. The stock automatically locks into place, requiring no fine motor skills.”

The Law Tactical Folding Stock Adapter is as simple as it gets, with a robust design that is basically bullet proof. Manufactured from 4140 Hardened tool steel, the Folding Stock Adapter is just a few pieces being easily user installable. Its main body consists of two pieces of a hinge assembly—one that faces the receiver, and the other the stock side. Law Tactical includes all of the hardware required for the installation, including a flange tool that installs the proprietary flange (the “bolt” that screws into the lower receiver). The flange tool is a simple piece of flat metal that is used like a large screwdriver to insert the flange screw into the receiver.

Here is the cool part! You tighten the flange enough that you start to bend the tool. When the flange tool starts to deform, you have applied the proper amount of torque to hold the Folding Stock Adapter in place. On the buttstock end, you basically install your buffer tube like you would on any AR. One thing to note: The Folding Stock Adapter adds 1.3 inches to the length of pull (LOP), this would normally throw things out of whack since the buffer no longer reaches the back end of the bolt carrier. To take care of this Law Tactical gives you a bolt carrier extension that takes up the extra length that the adapter added.

Some might worry about potential reliability issues with adding extra stuff in the way of the recoil system. But think of it this way: You are reusing all of your factory parts, since the extension bridges the gap of the folder. Your AR will work exactly like it did before the adapter, no need for gas or spring adjustments.

By far the Law Tactical Folding Stock Adapter is my hands down favorite folder. I really wished they would make the same hinge system for other firearms like the AK platform.

The Law Tactical Folding Stock Adapter uses a push button for easy opening, taking literally no effort to open. Other folders tend to use a big spring that pushes two hooks into each other. To fold the stock, you need two hands: one to hold the back of the receiver, and another the stock. Then you have to push down on the receiver and up on the stock. This does not sound bad until you realize that the two interlocking hooks act as wedges that are forced into each other, making them stuck. With some of them, I have to smack the stock with my palm downwards to shock the hooks loose. So, yes, those “other” folding stocks do work, but nowhere near as easily as Law Tactical’s.

Closing the stock into firing position is even easier than opening, because the Law Tactical folder does not lock in the open position. This means with little to no effort you can flick the stock into the shooting position and it will automatically lock into the firing position. Some other brands of folders force you have to hit a button, or force it closed, costing you precious time.

The third advantage that the Law Tactical folder boasts is the construction. Most of my folding pistol braces are manufactured from plastic, including the folding mechanism. The quality and durability of tool steel vs. plastic is like night and day. Remember that the Law Tactical Folding Stock Adapter works with any AR buffer tube, mil-spec or commercial. So instead of a whole plastic assembly for a folder, I keep everything mil-spec out to the buffer tube, then add my collapsable pistol brace or stock.

As I stated earlier, the Law Tactical Folding Stock Adapter will work with any AR-15 and it does not matter if it is the more traditional direct impingement, or even a piston-driven firearm. Law Tactical also makes a specific version of the folder for HK417 and MR762, because of course the Germans and HK have to be special. As far as calibers, the Law Tactical has no caliber restrictions. If it works in an AR platform, then you are go0d to go.

About the only restriction Law Tactical has with the folder is that you do not want to shoot your AR platform with the stock in the open folded position. Well the reason is that that’s not how the AR15 platform works, you need the stock closed for the gun to cycle. That said, the Law Tactical folder will work for one shot in the open folded position. In an emergency one shot may be the difference between life and death.

After the one shot, close the stock and rack a fresh round into the chamber taking care of business. You don’t want to do that too many times, since you can bend or break the button finger that holds the bolt in the receiver. Law Tactical also recommends that if you have to fire in the open position, you should replace the bolt carrier extension o-rings afterwards, since they may be damaged.

The MSRP runs $269.99 – $279.99 direct from the manufacturer, but Brownells regularly runs sales for around $219. That’s not cheap, but remember that these are not toys … they’re serious pieces of kit. I love the fact that I can fold my SBR AR15 and hide it in a backpack making it inconspicuous. Skip the Starbucks for a couple of months, use the $ to get your hands on one of these, and thank me later.

—James the “XDMAN” Nicholas Mr. UnPewFessional Himself!