Best AR-15 Grips: Pistol and Forward Grips

Embracing the AR 15 means embracing every little part and piece of the rifle. The AR 15 presents shooters and owners with a ton of different options for customization. There is no other weapon out there that offers you this much customization. Today we are talking about an important but often ignored part, the AR 15 grip. 

When I say AR 15 grip, I could mean the rear grip that sits behind the trigger or a forward-type grip that rests on the handguard. I could mean either, but today I’m talking about both. We are going to cover the best AR 15 grips from multiple angles. Now that I mention it, angles play a big part in our grip selection, not just the angle of the grip but the type. 

In fact, we are doing a deep dive into the realm of AR 15 grips, and you might just be surprised by how deep we can go on the subject. The smallest differences can be a big difference in the weapon’s ergonomics and how it handles. Mixing the right grip with the right weapon goes a long way. Heck, there are even legal implications to consider with the AR 15 and what kind of grip you equip. 

Before you leave this article, you’ll not only have a long list of the best grips on the AR 15 market but the ability to choose your own and find the best grip for you.

We have separated our best of lists into;

• Best AR-15 Pistol Grips
• Best AR-15 Forward Grips

The Best AR 15 Pistol Grips

1. Magpul MIAD Gen 1.1		Customizable Storage Compatible Multiple Color Options	Check Price
2. Magpul K2 Grip		Aggressive Grip Texture Storage Options  Multiple Color Options	Check Price
3. BCM Gunfighter Grip Mod 2		Customizable  Perfect for Smaller Rifles Storage Compatible	Check Price
4. Strike Industries AR Multi-Angle Pistol Grip		Shooter Adjustable Grip Angle Storage Compatible  Perfect for Any AR	Check Price
5. Ergo Tactical Deluxe Suregrip		Various Grip Angles Available Rubberized Grip  Multiple Color Options	Check Price
6. B5 Systems P-Grip 23		Affordable Simplistic  Designed For Modern Carbines	Check Price
7. Hogue Extreme Series G10		Aggressive Grip Texture  Extremely Durable  Packs Some Style	Check Price
8. TangoDown Flip Grip		Change Grip Angles Instantly  Aggressive Grip Texture Multiple Color Options	Check Price

The Best AR-15 Pistol Grips

1. Magpul MIAD Gen 1.1
2. Magpul K2 Grip
3. BCM Gunfighter Grip Mod 2
4. Strike Industries AR Multi-Angle Pistol Grip
5. Ergo Tactical Deluxe Suregrip
6. B5 Systems P-Grip 23
7. Hogue Extreme Series G10
8. TangoDown Flip Grip

The Best AR-15 Pistol Grip Reviews

Now we’ve had an overview look at our list, let us take the time to individually review each item. In this section we’ll be speaking into the product and looking at the pros and cons.

Best AR-15 Forward Grips

Now we’ve covered the Bet Pistol Grips, let us take some time to look into the Best AR-15 Forward Grips. See our list below.

Best AR-15 Forward Grips

1. Magpul AFG 2		Angled Grip  Low Profile  Allows For Maximum Rifle Control	Check Price
2. BCM Gunfighter Vertical Grip Mod 3		Vertical Grip  Stubby Can be run in either direction	Check Price
3. Troy Modular Combat Grip		Vertical Grip  Can be Stubby or Full Sizes Made From Metal	Check Price
4. Bravo Company KAG		Angled Grip Handstop Style Grip Allows for Modern Shooting Styles	Check Price

Best AR-15 Forward Grips

1. Magpul AFG 2
2. BCM Gunfighter Vertical Grip Mod 3 
3. Troy Modular Combat Grip
4. Bravo Company KAG 

Best Forward Grip Reviews

Now we’ve had an overview look at our list of the Best Forward Grips, let us take the time to individually review each item. In this section we’ll be speaking into the product and looking at the pros and cons.

Best AR-15 Grips – Buyers Guide

So now that we know what grips work let me help you get a grip on getting a grip. This will be a deep dive into how the function of the grip and how the grip works, and the little differences you might not consider when choosing the best grip for your weapon. Due to the fact we are talking about two different types of AR 15 grips, we’ll break this into two sections. The first section will cover the rear grip you have to have, and the second section will cover forward grips. 

Rear AR-15 Grips 

Believe it or not, the angle of your grip makes a huge difference in how a weapon handles. AR 15 pistol grips come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and the most important is the angle of the grip. 

The old-school M16 grip and original AR 15 grip is swept rearward quite a bit. These grips are a product of their time and the rifles of the time. These guns had long lengths of pull and fairly long stocks, and the swept rearward pistol grip is a bit of a requirement. If you shoot an M16A2 length weapon, the swept-back pistol grips are a bit more comfortable. 

As rifles and AR pistols have gotten smaller and shooting styles have evolved, AR grips have become more vertical. This leads to more control over the weapon and better ergonomics all around. These more vertical AR 15 grips allow for a more squared-up stance, a more modern shooting style. 

The general rule of thumb is that shorter PDW-style guns work better with nearly vertical grips, grips as vertical as 17 to 10 degrees are common on these guns. Standard carbine length rifles will M4 collapsible style stocks work well with 20 to 25-degree grips. For full-length rifles, grips out to 30 to 35 degrees work well. 

Grip Material 

What’s your grip made out of? That makes a big difference in how the grip feels in your hand and can affect both function and price as well. I won’t say one is the best option, but in general, polymer seems to be the standard. Let’s dive into the three materials most common in AR 15 grip design. 

Polymer 

Polymer, injection-molded AR 15 grips are the most common type of grip. Polymer has been the mainstay of the AR world since its origins. Don’t let the idea of plastic fool you, they are very well made and plenty tough. Polymer offers a good balance of great texture, an affordable price point, and often unbeatable modularity. 

Aluminum 

Aluminum grips are somewhat new and have grown in popularity. These metal grips are a bit more stylish than effective. They tend to be expensive and somewhat heavy. While there is nothing explicitly terrible about these grips, they don’t offer many advantages over polymer other than style. 

G10 

G10 comes from stacking layers of epoxy-soaked glass cloth and adding heat and pressure to the mix to create a high-pressure fiberglass laminate. G10 has become quite popular for gun and knife grips, and G10 made its way to the AR 15 world. G10 is a lightweight but very durable and strong material. It’s also heavily textured and provides a great no-slip grip. G10 tends to be quite stylish with a number of color options available, but also a little expensive. 

Hand Size 

How big is your hand? AR 15 rifles and pistols are the most popular weapons in the United States and are used by people of all sizes and shapes. While the military can mass issue M4s to everyone with the same grip, we in the civilian market don’t have to deal with that. 

I have hands that wear 2XL-sized gloves. How does anyone expect me to use the same grip as a 5-foot-tall petite woman? It’s a silly idea, so it’s smart to pay attention to the size of your grip. Most grips fall into one size fits all, moderate-sized platform that fits the widest variety of shooters.

Grip size ensures you can control the weapon, manipulate the controls without issue, and generally provide you with the most comfort possible. 

For those of us on the far sides of the bell curve, we need to pay special attention to grip size. The good news is that the market provides for us. Multiple furniture manufacturers produce XL-sized and small-sized grips, and if you feel a little left out by the one-sized fit all approach. 

Storage 

A huge modern feature of most polymer AR 15 grips is the option to store goodies in them. Let’s face it; there is a lot of dead space inside the grip as they tend to be hollow. This opens up a small slot for storage. Magpul famously capitalized on this with various kits that allow you to store extra rounds, spare parts, and even a little canister of gun oil. 

Most modern grips these days offer a hinged cover, and Ergo even produces plugs to adapt various grips like the classic A2 grip to embrace the storage design. These small compartments are neat, and you can stash small tools, snacks, cleaning gear, or whatever. It’s neat, but personally, it’s one of the smallest considerations I have when choosing a AR 15 grip. 

If storage was a primary concern, then Magpul certainly does it best. Although I wouldn’t get wrapped around the hinges when considering a AR 15 grip. 

General Ergonomics Features 

There are a few small ergonomic features you should consider. These don’t fit into other categories but can be easily grouped into general ergonomics. 

External Texture

When you grab the grip, what does it feel like? Is it aggressive? Or is it slick? The difference in texturing can be considered when it comes time to start shooting. The less aggressive the external texture, the more likely your hand can slip when wet, sweaty, or under pressure. 

The more aggressive textures can be a little too aggressive and create hot spots and even a little pain in the hand. They can be awfully rough, but your hand certainly won’t slick off the grip. 

A slick or moderately textured grip tends to work okay with barehanded shooters. Skin kind of sticks to things naturally, and a moderate texture on bare hands won’t make you feel like your hands are ice skating. If you wear gloves when you shoot, then the more aggressive texturing might be better suited for you. 

Tacky Rubber

Have you ever grabbed a AR 15 grip and felt like it was grabbing you back? That sticky-style rubber design can either be a big turn-off or a major ergonomic advantage to you. Those sticky or tacky, rubberized grips do prevent your hand from sliding on the grip without the aggressive texture that can become uncomfortable after long periods of use. 

Finger Grooves 

Finger grooves can be quite divisive among shooters. Some hate them, some love them, and rarely does anyone have anything but a strong opinion of finger grooves. 

The downside to finger grooves is that they rarely fit everyone perfectly. They force your hand into a certain position that might not be comfortable. This mostly affects shooters with larger or smaller than average hands. 

The upside is increased retention. The finger grooves form speed-like humps that keep your hands from sliding. Additionally, some people love the finger grooves and find them incredibly comfortable. 

Palm Swell 

Let’s jump to the back of your AR grip. A palm swell is a slightly raised, rounded portion of the grip that is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a portion of the grip that is swollen and fills your hand. This more pronounced rounded section encourages a higher grip which can often aid in precision shooting, especially in supported positions. 

AR-15 Forward Grips 

We’ve covered the standard AR 15 grip now, and we’ll talk about forward grips. Forward grips come and go in popularity and are certainly an optional accessory. Forward grips on guns have been around forever, with guns like the Thompson submachine gun rocking them decades ago. 

Forward grips have a few benefits and a few downsides, but to really discuss forward grips, we have to break them down into two categories. We have vertical forward grips and angled forward grips. The difference is important and even has legal implications. Let’s dive into the differences before we go any further. 

Vertical Grips 

Vertical grips hang down directly from the weapon’s handguard. These grips were quite valuable in the early days of rail systems and M4-style platforms. Accessories like lights and lasers were massive, and they often left little room for the user to grip the gun by the handguard. Thus a verticle grip extending from below the gun offered operators a way to grab the weapon. 

Heck, I used a Knight Armament Grip on my M16A4 for years in the Marine Corps and found it super handy and comfortable. 

Vertical grips also protect your hand from heat. Some handguards get hot quite quickly. In fact, most get hot fairly quickly, and when shooting high round counts, a vertical grip puts some space between you and the heat. These grips can also be used to be braced against barriers to provide a stable shooting platform. A vertical foregrip allows you to pull the weapon tight into your shoulder without your hand slipping rearward. 

Vertical grips do add another device that’s sticking off the gun and can easily catch on things in the environment and snag and generally just get in the way. According to the ATF, vertical grips cannot be used on AR 15 pistols as this redesigns the gun to be fired with two hands. According to the ATF, handguns should be designed to be fired with a single hand. 

Angled Grips

This brings us to the world of angled foregrips. Angled foregrips, for some reason, can be used on AR pistols, according to the ATF. Why? Well, I don’t rightly know. There also seems to be some misunderstanding of what makes an angled grip. Is an 89-degree grip angled and legal on a AR 15 pistol? I can’t tell you. 

Angled foregrips came to life when gear shrunk and handguards expanded. There was plenty of handguard leftover to grab, so a vertical grip wasn’t necessary. An angled grip allowed the shooter to have a constant index point and an area you can pull rearward on to lock the gun in your shoulder. 

Angled grips are lower profile than vertical grips, but some can be used to brace against barriers for stability. Angled foregrips have gotten smaller and smaller, and now many have become nothing more than hand stops which allow a point of index and a means to pull the weapon tight to the shoulder with your thumb and hand, exercising more control over the weapon’s muzzle rise.

Angled grips don’t allow protection from heat and often make gloves a good choice during high round count sessions. 

Enter the Stubby Grip 

Sitting between vertical and angled foregrip sits the stubby grip. It’s essentially a vertical grip cut in half. It lowers the profile and uses the same angled shooting style. It offers a little protection from the barrel’s heat and offers great recoil and muzzle rise control. 

Stubby grips are a bit of compromise between angled and vertical grips with advantages of both. I tend to prefer the stubby grip personally, but like most things with the AR, it’s all personal preference. 

A Good Grip 

Woo boy, I told you this would be a lot about grips. Grips, grips, grips, holy crap, isn’t there a lot to know? Did you ever think the thing you hold on a rifle could be so complicated? Well, here we are after a few thousand words on grips. 

Do you have any further questions? Any suggestions for good grips? Let us know below!