Unlike handguns, a shoulder weapon has much higher accuracy potential due to the rifle's three-point lockup. That means the rifle is held at three points: by the forend, by the grip, and at the cheek.
By using proper grips that allow you to hold the rifle in a pistol fashion, youโll effectively control the weapon.
It gives you a maximum of comfort and keeps you in control in any situation.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for AR-15 Grips
- BEST AR-15 PISTOL GRIP: Magpul AR-15 MOE Grip
- BEST AR-15 FOREGRIP: Magpul AFG1
- BEST AR-15 MAGWELL GRIP: Fab Defense Mojo Grip
Comparison of the Best AR-15 Grips
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How to Choose an AR-15 Grip
Finding an AR-15 grip will take some time. Youโll need to know exactly which characteristics and features stand out in making sure itโs better than any other grip on the market. Youโll also need to know how to distinguish a great AR-15 grip from one that is considered not great in quality and performance. Here are some things to look for:
Price
If youโre on a budget and need an AR-15 grip that will last you a long time, look for one with the best performance and quality. More importantly, youโll need to find one that fits your budget perfectly. Find the best quality you can afford and youโll have one that will stick with you for a long time.
Installation
A great AR-15 grip is something that can be installed in a matter of minutes using the right kind of tools. Nine times out of ten, you wonโt need a gunsmith to get the job done for you. Thatโs because these grips will be mostly drop-in designs.
Materials
If you want a grip that will last you a long time, find one that is made from the best materials. For example, polymer is one of the most popular materials on the market because of its durability and likelihood to survive any impact or abuse. Furthermore, polymer is also great if you want to have a better overall hold on your rifle for additional stability.
Review of the Best AR-15 Grips
The following is a list of the three best AR-15 grips currently on the market. As you go through each one, itโs important to note all the features and characteristics so youโll be able to find one that will match your ideal AR-15 grip. If you find one thatโs close enough, youโll know it's a winner in your eyes. Now, letโs begin by taking a look at the first grip on our list:
Best AR-15 Pistol Grip:
Magpul AR-15 MOE Grip
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New users were quite satisfied with this grip. They were able to add this onto their AR-15 rifle or pistols for the best stability possible. One user said he was able to get a nice vice-like hold on it to shoot accurate, precise shots because the rifle was as stable as possible.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This pistol grip is made from high-quality polymer that not only allows you to get a good hold on your AR-15 rifle or pistol, but will give you a firm grip even when your hands are wet from perspiration or precipitation. Itโs not so much the recoil and muzzle jump you need to worry about getting rid of. Itโs the elements that may cause you to lose your grip in even the most adverse of weather conditions.
Who Will Use This Most
This will likely be used by those who are target shooters. But donโt count this as useless for hunting by any stretch of the imagination. Your goal here is to make your rifle or pistol as stable as possible while using it for your desired application.
Bottom Line
If you want a grip that will give you the best possible stability for your AR-15 style pistol or rifle, then a great pistol grip will work in your favor. Itโs durable, reliable, and gives you the best gripping ability possible. This accessory is a must if youโre having trouble keeping control over your rifle due to recoil and muzzle jump.
Best AR-15 Foregrip:
Magpul AFG1
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This foregrip was a huge plus for many new buyers. They were able to install this in a few minutes before taking it out for some good old-fashioned target shooting. One new user said it gave him a lot of stability and resulted in accurate shooting.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This foregrip allows for a better grip on the front of the AR-15 rifle. It will allow for better holding and will stay cool even if youโre shooting for longer periods. It is a high-quality grip that will be easy to install without any alterations needed on the rifle itself.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be used by those who want a replacement for their factory default. Most factory defaults are disappointing and will even get a little hot to the touch after a shooting session. If you want something tough, durable, and which provides the best possible stability, this might be the foregrip youโll want on-hand.
Bottom Line
The Magpul Picatinny AFG1 Angled Foregrip will be a great addition to your rifle if you want something for the front half of your rifle. This will give you better handling and stability so you can shoot accurately and consistently.
Best AR-15 Magwell Grip:
Fab Defense Mojo Grip
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New buyers were quite satisfied with this grip. They were able to add this onto their AR-15 rifles in a matter of a few minutes. Once they did, they not only experienced better stability but also were able to change out their magazines faster than with factory default grips. One user said he uses this for competition shooting and it saved him all kinds of time.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This Magwell grip is small, sturdy, and can take on a lot of scuffing and abuse. Youโll want it to be tough so it wonโt get easily damaged by the constant changing of magazines. A not-so-great Magwell grip will usually scratch and scuff up badly after several mag changes. So if you want something that will be difficult to damage, this Magwell grip will be your best option, especially when you want something to hold the magazine securely in place.
Who Will Use This Most
This will work to your advantage if youโre a competition shooter. This may also come in handy in any other shooting application when time is not on your side. For example, you could have your sights set on a target while hunting, only for your magazine to jam on you. If you need something that will help you change out mags in a matter of seconds, this grip will help you remove one and add another without missing a beat.
Bottom Line
The FAB Defense Improved AR-15 Magazine Well Grip will likely be your best option if you want something that will not only keep a magazine in place through most applications, but will also ensure you can switch out an old magazine with another in a matter of seconds. This is a must-have for your rifle if youโre using it for competitions and hunting applications.
Types of AR-15 Grips
When we talk about grip, itโs usually going to refer to where your trigger hand is. Itโs the main point of contact with your rifle and is going to provide you with the control you need and the ability to aim the gun. For your Black Rifle, these are usually pistol-style grips, although new laws in several states force the use of โfeaturelessโ grips.
On an AR-15 there are also two other points that are types of grips. The most common is the foregrip (forward grip). Here, you can provide extra support to your rifle and help hold it steady while firing.
Thereโs also a less-commonly used type of grip - the Magwell grip. Its value is dubious, honestly. But it provides a grip for holding your gun by the magazine well instead of by a foregrip.
Pistol Grips
One of the essential features in marksmanship skill is the distance from the back of the handgrip to the trigger. A poor grip can mean poor accuracy, which will make shooting a lot more difficult than it has to be.
Unlike straight or upland-style stocks found on classic rifles and shotguns, the pistol grip is not part of the stock. Itโs usually found just behind the trigger. Itโs held by the hand and keeps it in a forward, vertical orientation. This useful attachment gets the name a "pistol grip" since it resembles the grip angle of pistols as opposed to traditional rifle grips.
The very first weapon utilizing the pistol grip was a Belgian percussion carbine-pistol of Delvigne type by Lesoinne Et Pirlot Fils, Liege, dating to the mid-19th Century. After almost half a century, the idea for the pistol grip was renewed during the World War I in some designs of machine guns.
As lighter automatic fire weapons, such as the Thompson submachine gun (yes, thatโs the โTommy gunโ!), developed, arms makers recognized that the pistol grip gives the shooter better control over the firearm during rapid and burst firing. It merges into one essential point which provides improved hold, control, and reloading of the firearm.
Today itโs unimaginable to find modern assault rifles without a pistol grip. The AR-15 is no exception. All standard-built AR-15s have the A2-style pistol grip, which is made of durable polymers or reinforced fiberglass. Theyโre one-size-fits-most and will work well for lefties or right-handed shooters.
Still, some people find that aftermarket modifications are necessary. Considering frequent complaints that stock pistol grips are a little too skinny and cheap-feeling, numerous manufacturers have offered other models of pistol grips. These can serve different purposes, enabling a far more comfortable shooting experience and better purchase on the grip.
Improvement and perfecting of the AR-15 platform seems like a never-ending story. The most recent trend in pistol grip design leans toward grips with a reduced grip angle. In this case, it may not so much be a case of market demand as anti-market demand. Laws in a number of states prohibit pistol grips or classify rifles with them as โassault weaponsโ - which brings with it all kinds of hoops to jump through. Weโll talk more about the laws in our article on featureless grips.
A vertical angle facilitates a more square stance. This is a bladed stance that has become less and less popular over time. The newly-designed reduced grip angle is excellent for putting your hand and wrist in a more neutral and comfortable position when shouldering an AR-15 pistol. Itโs also good for a rifle with the butt stock collapsed all the way.
Foregrips
In the early stages of automatic firearms development, a problem was quickly noticed: muzzle climb. It was happening even with a full-length barrel and flash suppressor.
To fight this, frontline combatants started fitting homemade hand grips to the forearm in an effort to control the climb and stabilize the weapon. Of course the market caught on and began offering a number of the vertical foregrips that can be grasped in a pistol-like fashion. This allowed shooters the potential for increased weapon handling and control.
There are now other foregrips besides the traditional vertical forward pistol grip (VFG). These also aid in control but are not exactly vertical grips. They are grouped as Angled Fore-Grips (AFG) and Hand Stop attachments.
These grips feature simple installation under the AR-15 rifle barrel on a standard Picatinny rail platform or via KeyMod-Compatible Handguards. These newly-designed forearm grips take into account natural body mechanics and provide a comfortable and stable user interface. It reduces fatigue and provides for more precise weapon control.
If you really want to maximize the usefulness of your grip, then the 2-in-1 concept of a vertical foregrip is unsurpassed. Some front vertical grips can be converted to a bipod. But grips also serve multiple functions, such as extra storage space for batteries or any other item.
When it comes to choosing between an angled foregrip or a more traditional vertical foregrip, most gun enthusiasts agree that it is a matter of personal preference and recommend trying both models. But angled foregrips do have a more ergonomic design, offering inherently more stability and control. On the other hand, the vertical foregrip is more versatile and gives a more natural feel to shooters.
Some states (looking at you, California, Connecticut, and New York) also place restrictions on foregrips similar to those mentioned above. So be sure to stay abreast of your local laws to keep away from problems with the government.
Magazine Grips
Apart from the already mentioned well-known rifle supports, we should also mention magazine well grips. The manufacturers claim in their ads that a magazine well grip transforms the magazine well into a comfortable, close, ergonomic foregrip which allows for easy release and insertion of the magazine.
However, many gun experts consider grabbing the mag well as one of the least desirable options for the ergonomics and mechanics of how the body and rifle work together while shooting.
Regardless of how often it is seen in movies, it is not a good idea to grip the magazine when firing. Actually, during rapid fire, the gun is subject to much more muzzle rise and the magazines are highly susceptible to damage to their feed lips. The jolt of the recoil could easily cause it to bend or get jammed by foreign matter.
Recent Laws and Changes
Almost every day, we are all witnessing some inexplicable bloody events across the country as well as government pressure on law-abiding citizens by imposing new restrictions on guns. The "Black Rifle" and other similar auto-loaders are classified as assault weapons in California, New York, and few other states if they exhibit certain features. Since the details vary by state, we wonโt go into a high-level of detail here. But grips are one factor you need to take into account to stay on the right side of the law.
The AR-15โs pistol grip may be its second most-recognizable feature, only behind the carrying handle on top of the receiver. However, this is the most significant aesthetic and functional change owners will have to make for compliance with these laws. Youโll have to replace the pistol grip - and sometimes even a pistol foregrip - and replace it with another type of grip to qualify as a featureless rifle.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality AR-15 Grip
You have no idea what youโll be missing out on if you decide on not getting a grip for your AR-15 rifle. If you do decide to take the leap and get one, youโll be quite happy with the benefits that come with a great AR-15 grip. They are as follows:
Better Stability
If youโre struggling to keep hold on your AR-15 rifle due to a huge amount of recoil, thereโs a good chance youโll need to find an AR-15 grip that will work to your advantage. These grips allow for excellent hold and make your rifle more stable. Better stability also yields another benefit (which will talk about right now).
Better Accuracy
Is it possible to attain better accuracy with the use of an AR-15 grip? The answer is, yes. A stable rifle will allow you to fire off shots and consistently hit them exactly where you want them to go. Plus, youโll even eliminate a good deal of muzzle jump and felt recoil in the process.
Can Be Used in Most Environmental Conditions
These grips are so tough, they can withstand a good deal of abuse. Not to mention, they will still give you some pretty good gripping ability in bad weather, as well. So if your hands are soggy from the rain or are sweating profusely, these grips will prevent the rifle from slipping right out of your hands.
Conclusion
Choosing a pistol grip is not rocket science, but as with everything else AR, the choices are vast, starting with left-handed, right-handed, or ambidextrous grip options.
Furthermore, when we throw in rubberized finishes, aggressive texturing, palm swell, and finger grooves, making the right decision becomes a bit more complicated. The most important thing is to pick a grip that feels comfortable and sturdy in your hand. Thatโs what going to lead to the most accurate shooting for your activities.
