Buy one: https://www.muletac.com/

“Glock, Glock, Glock, In your Stock, Stock, Stock.” — Sheik Yerbouti

We first caught wind of the MULE Tactical at SHOT Show this year.  They were kind enough to send us one for review.  I am a little tardy with this–I’ve had the stock for a bit over a month. There are a couple of reasons for my slowness but the primary one was figuring out if I liked the MULE or not. This isn’t your average AR stock, and once you get past the novelty of having a GLOCK in you stock, there is still a lot to consider. My opinion is below but lets get to the facts first.

Ready to be mounted.

MULE Tac

Here are a few specs on the MULE:

• Fits 1 and 3/16th threaded buffer tube attachments
• Weight of 27.5 ounces empty
• 10.75″ long
• 6.5″ tall
• 3″ wide
• Made in the USA

So what the hell is this thing?  Simply put it is an AR stock that has a storage area inside. That’s not a new concept. The unique thing about the storage area in this stock is the holster that attaches inside to hold a pistol. Yep, you can put a GLOCK, Springfield, or other 4″ barreled pistol in the stock.  The MULE does not come with the holsters so you can purchase the correct one for your pistol.  It does come with a storage module that fits inside that can hold a small first aid kit, tools or whatever you want that will fit. But the real story is putting a gun in your gun.

All mounted up on the lower.

Installing the MULE

I used what I refer to as my “review” AR.  This is the one that gets review products installed on it. This is a Frankenstein rifle, part this and part that.  The lower (well most of it) is from Palmetto State, the MULE mounted to it with ease. If you can change out a stock on an AR you can install a MULE, which is exactly what you are doing. The directions are straight forward.  The MULE also comes with a spacer for inside the buffer tube if you have a carbine length spring.  I had to use the spacer and it worked correctly.  There was one star bit in the MULE box that fit the screws that hold the butt pad on.  There is one other star head bit needed that was not supplied for the bolt that holds the stock to the supplied buffer tube.  Those two bits and an armorer’s wrench were all the tools required to mount the MULE. All told, at the range, it took about four minutes.

Setting the MULE up

The MULE comes with the storage box installed.  When you open the MULE the box pulls out with a small tug.  It is held in place by friction and seems to be reasonably well secured.  This is the box you can use to hold a small first aid kit, little tools, emergency prophylactics… what ever will fit, really.  That is all fine and dandy but you can put a gun in a gun, too!  With the storage box removed you can mount up one of the holsters. The review sample was shipped with a holster for a GLOCK 19 sized pistol.  The holster is held in place with dovetails.  It is a little tricky to get it lined up just right so it will slide onto the dovetails, but once it is installed it feels very secure.  The pistol is held in the holster by friction.  It is relatively tightly held–think of a quality Kydex holster and how it holds a pistol.

You can see how big the MULE is.

Using the MULE

So once everything was mounted up to the AR and the holster installed it was time to take the MULE for a ride.  As most of you will know, ARs tend to be delicately balanced (or a bit front heavy when you load up the quad rail).  With the 27 ounce MULE mounted up my carbine length AR, it remained balanced.  But that 27 ounces is with an empty MULE. Add another 30 ounces of loaded GLOCK 19 and you quickly have a butt heavy rifle. Heavy is a key word here. This set up adds right at 3.5 pounds to the rifle. The older Magpul stock I had on the AR comes in at just under .5 pounds.  The AR I used for this review tips the scales at just under 8 lbs. Adding the MULE took it to 11.  That is a heavy carbine.  I only have an Aim Point point mounted at this time.  Think of how much it would weight if I went to a more traditional optic and a foregrip and all the other AR gizmos. You could get to 12 or 13 pounds quickly.

The heaviness aside, the MULE functioned flawlessly. I was able to go from shooting the AR, drawing the Glock, and shooting it relatively fast. As fast as I could from a holster on my hip? No, not remotely that fast. But there’s a time and a place for this set up.

Going for the Glock in the stock.

Opinion Time

I’ll just throw this in here, as it needs to be said. I was a bit nervous when I pulled the trigger the first time. While there’s no real way to pull the trigger on the GLOCK inside the stock, you still have to get cozy, right on top of a loaded GLOCK. That can be a bit unnerving. As I’m here to tell the tale, you can assume everything went as planned.

So what do I think of the MULE?  Well, as I said above it is heavy and rather bulky.  It has to be to do what it does. The MULE is well made, there is no question about that. Mounted to a tactical rifle set up it adds a lot of weight and changes the balance of a typical AR.  Also, having a pistol on your hip makes a lot more sense. Although, the MULE gives your backup piece a backup.

That being said, I’m a review writer. I can’t remember the last time I went prone. Even though I have law enforcement experience, I’ve never emptied my primary weapon and been pinned in a position that prevented me from getting to my sidearm. The MULE may appeal to those who want to prepare for every situation. If you are standing at the range, shooting at a static target that isn’t shooting back, the sidearm is much easier to access on your belt. But if you are crouched behind cover, and have just run until you are exhausted, and you rifle craps out…then what? Having a GLOCK in your stock might save your ass.

For the rest of us? The MULE could still be very useful.  Consider the cliche Shit-Hits-The-Fan-Bug-Out scenario. I would have a belt and holster for the pistol, and keep the storage box that comes with the MULE. In that storage box there would be a small first aid kit.  Once I got to where I am going to hole up, the GLOCK would not be in the stock but I would utilize the storage of the MULE. Unless I had two GLOCKs.

In the end, it comes down to this. The idea is so compelling. The practical additions of weight and size, though, will be a turn-off for some. Still–if you need a GLOCK in your stock, this is how to do it.

[one_half]

The MULE shoulders well but feels bulky and heavy.

[/one_half][one_half_last]

Check weld is good.

[/one_half_last][one_half]

Drawing the GLOCK is actually easy.

[/one_half][one_half_last]

Drawn.

[/one_half_last][one_half]

There is a GLOCK inside. I know because it is heavy.

[/one_half][one_half_last]

The MULE is made in the USA.

[/one_half_last][one_half]

The joint at the upper, and a QD mount.

[/one_half][one_half_last]

The butt. The round tubes on the side can store extra batteries.

[/one_half_last][one_half]

GLOCK out and ready to fire.

[/one_half][one_half_last]

Empty MULE.

[/one_half_last][one_half]

The GLOCK is pointed right at your shooting hand, but the recoil from the .223 isn’t enough to cause a major GLOCK malfunction. So don’t be afraid to pull the trigger.

[/one_half][one_half_last]

You’ll want to GLOCK in the stock to be ready to go if you need it.

[/one_half_last]