Gear Review: Trinity Force Alpha Stock Kit

Trinity Force has brought to market a number of firearms accessories and optics, mostly at highly competitive prices. They’ve introduced a number of new products lately including their Alpha Stock Kit for AR pattern rifles.

The stock kit includes:

• Alpha Stock (7.2 oz.)
• Mil-spec Anodized Aluminum Buffer Tube (3.975 oz.)
• Buffer (2.975 oz.)
• Buffer Spring (2.155 oz.)
• End Plate, Steel (0.525 oz.)
• Castle Nut (0.535 oz.)

At first look, the stock feels light, sturdy, and well-made. It’s slim and rugged with angular profiles broken up by curved weight reduction areas. Everything in the kit is black, no shiny silver springs or pins.

Overall length of the skeletonized stock is 7.5 inches, creating a near gap-less transition between the stock and castle nut when the stock is fully collapsed while simultaneously providing a long surface for a good cheek weld.

The Alpha Stock is 5 inches tall at the rear, features six ambidextrous sling attachments of different types (QD, clip, feed-through), and allows for 3.3 inches of length of pull adjustment using the flush, textured adjustment latch.

Where most lightweight MSR stocks feature only smooth plastic, the Alpha Stock comes equipped with a double-injected rubber cheek riser. While they may call it a “riser,”  it doesn’t add any substantial height.

The rubber Trinity Force uses in their stocks, grip, and rail covers appears to be of high quality and is quite comfortable. It’s important to note that the long rubber strip is built around the venting hole on the top of the stock and doesn’t impede its functionality.

The stock’s dense rubber recoil pad is textured and easily removable by way of two Allen key screws. It varies in thickness from 5/8″ in the center to 3/4″ on the ends.

The pad performs well, noticeably mitigating felt recoil and assisting in retention of the firearm against the shoulder by way of its horizontally-banded tire tread-like texture. The profile of the pad was also designed to play well with plate carriers.

After plenty of experience with stressfully stiff adjustment latch springs in other stocks, the Alpha Stock latch allows easy movement between the standard six positions. Almost too easy. It’s very easy to manipulate either bare-handed or with gloves.

The mechanism is designed so that the operator need only apply about six pounds of pressure to the inside of the “elbow” of the stock to fully engage the latch.

Mechanically speaking, adjustment is smooth and consistent, producing an audible confirmation click as you step into any one of the positions. The profile of the latch is in-line with the stock, blending the two together under the cheek riser and buffer tube.

So far the polymer latch has held up to normal shooting, however, given its relatively thin walls, it will be one of the few areas I keep an eye on as I continue to use the stock.

The “kit” part of the Alpha Stock Kit consists of mostly standard mil-spec components. They are of standard weight and construction. Like just about all AR components, you can upgrade any one of them without a problem. The buffer tube also sports a nice set of ears that help index the tube, abate carrier tilt, and further prevent rotation of the tube in the receiver.

The stock alone is priced at $24.99 MSRP – less than half the price of most comparable models. For example, the MFT Minimalist is 1.4 ounces lighter but costs $35.00 more (MSRP). The complete stock kit has a very affordable MSRP of $36.00.

Over the course of three months of putting hundreds of rounds of CapArms 55gr. FMJ down range, the Alpha Stock Kit has held up exceptionally well. It’s performed flawlessly, never failing once throughout the testing period. However, the buffer did begin to show wear more rapidly than I’d prefer.

Overall the Trinity Force Alpha Stock is an excellent well-finished stock at a price point that’s difficult to ignore. It looks good, feels great, and most importantly, performs very well. When I installed it on my go-to rifle, I wasn’t sure about it given the bargain price. But the stock will remain my go-to for that particular build.

Specifications: Trinity Force Alpha Stock Kit

Price as reviewed: $36.00 MSRP
Price of stock only: $24.99 MSRP

Ratings (out of five stars):

Design: * * * * *
A light weight stock providing consistent performance with a good look. The mechanics are simple and smooth, requiring minimal effort to manipulate. The ability to attach a variety of sling systems is a plus. The rubberized areas raise this stock a notch above many others.

Weight: * * * * 1/2
The Alpha stock isn’t the lightest minimalist stock on the market. However, the difference in weight when compared to similar options is minimal, especially when you factor in the additional features of the Alpha stock. I do believe there is some opportunity to bring the weight down by removing an attachment option or two.

Durability: * * * * *
Under normal shooting conditions the stock has continued to hold up as good as any stock out there. I have yet to observe anything of concern. The rubberized cheek riser remains steadily attached to the stock with no signs of peeling off.

Comfort: * * * * *
This stock provides a level of comfort that is clearly above most other stocks. The butt plate has a nice balance of padding and texture. The elongated, rubberized cheek weld area is one of the best features of this piece of equipment.

Functionality: * * * * *
The Alpha stock performs as well as could be expected. I have yet to experience a malfunction of the adjustment mechanism or have a QD sling attachment pull out. The stock also does a great job of staying out of the way when running in conjunction with a chest rig or plate carrier kit.

Overall: * * * * *
The Alpha Stock is a superior lightweight, skeletonized, and slick-sided stock that comes in at a very competitive price. With no sacrifice of standard features and only slight addition of weight to accompany the extras housed within its low profile, this stock should be a strong consideration for any upcoming MSR build.