A
telescoping stock (alternatively
collapsing stock) is a
stock on a
firearm that telescopes or folds in on itself in order to become more compact. Telescoping stocks are useful for storing a
rifle or weapon in a space that it would not normally fit in. The user can either fold in the stock to make the weapon easier to handle, or extend it for better accuracy. Finally, some telescoping stocks, such as those on the
M4 carbine, have more than one setting, allowing the stock to be adjusted for different users.