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So I tried a forward grip on my AR and found it to be a bit awkward. I was reading an article last night in a magazine and they author said they were trained in how to use a forward grip. I must be missing something because it seems to put my non-firing hand in a weird position. Is it a training issue and I will get used to it? Why are you using one? Why don't you use one?
I may date myself here, but think of yourself as Fonzie. Remember him. Always with the thumb up in the air?
Grab the VFG and stick your thumb up in the air so it rests on the side of the handguards or rails. You may or may not like it. If you do, then try letting your index finger point forward and lay it along the handguards. This is the position that a lot of well known trainers will teach.
You are probably just not used to it. And you may not want to use one and that's fine. But over long shooting sessions you will find that they reduce hand and wrist fatigue. Tacticool isn't cool if it doesn't work for you.
Assume a boxing stance, like you're going to fight someone. You'll find that your fists end up in a natural and comfortable position. That position is usually with the thumbs up. That is the way you grip your AR. One hand on the pistol grip, and one hand on the VFG. Your wrist is straight and your hand is not bent down and forward.
You can also try moving your VFG forward or back until you get it where you want it. That can also make it more or less comfortable, and in the right position will reduce fatigue.
I run my light on the nine-o-clock rail. With my thumb up in the fonzie position, my thumb will end up on the tailcap of the light where the switch is.
Try some different grip styles, and different grip positions before you give up. If you don't like it then just slap a rail cover on the rail and move on.
For guns that are used in dynamic situations I like a VFG. It helps me manage the gun better and helps position my hand so I can reach my light. Getting your hand off the rails and off the magwell will keep you away from the heat, and in the even of a "kaboom" your hand will survive better if off the gun.
For guns that have magnified glass on them, or are more recreational in nature I'll ditch the VFG. A lot of guys I know have adopted a similar line of thinking.
Roger on Roger-good info Another thought is a gripod style VFG this is a VFG with 2 legs stored inside that pop out with a touch of a button so you have a bipod of sorts.This cuts down on the added weight of a bipod if your thinking of adding one. I just received a Sportsmans Guide flyer and there are some clones available now as the Gripod was going for about a $150 and these are more affordable.Depends on what you intend your rifle to be used for as to what you add.Good Luck it just gets worse.BRD [Beer]
I agree with Roger.
Have you ever fired a shotgun? The way I shoot with a shotgun ,is to point your index finger foward and the thumb up on the side of the forend.If you shoot a shot gun like this,well can shoot with the AR the same way.PLUSSSS your eyes tend to follow your finger natural when you point. This is natural and mama nature made us this way.
I find it unnatural with the forward grip I have a Surefire 900 on my Robinson XCR and, I use the Mag well. Simply wrap your hand around the front. This way your musles will not give out as fast.
If the grip feel uncomfy, don't use it.
In a hot situation you body will do what mother nature wants you to do.
This is the way I teach in my Carbine Classes PDSS
I honestly find it more comfortable and ergonomic to handle with a VFG as opposed to just holding the handguards...
I will give it another try and play with it. It is a nice flashlight holder, so it accomplishes 2 things.
It is more natural for your hand to be in the vertical position versus having it bent for the forward grip. Having said that, I will use the old fashioned way on the forearm if I am shooting longer distances. I use the magwell hold for closer targets. The magwell hold also allows you to be a little quicker up close and like waht was stated earlier, your muscles won't get fatigued as quickly because your arms are held closer into your body. So, to answer your question, yes a VFG or the magwell hold is in my opinion a better way to go. Especially if you are going to be shooting for extended periods of time. Good luck.
My .04 worth...
If you are kicking in doors for a living and may need to retain your weapon or you have a bunch of crap bolted on the handguards, then VFGs are good.
For close up shooting or even longer distance (<150 yards) shooting standing, no VFG is the best/fastest to use.
Two reasons why.
Skeet and Sporting Clays Shooters. Lots of gun movement and not a lot of recoil. They dont use them.
3-Gun shooters. Lots and lots of QCB type shooting and a little bit of longer range stuff from 200-400 yards. Almost nobody uses them.
And perhaps the main reason why I dont use or own them, they scream Mall Ninja.
Between my bipod and VFG, its sure as hell alot more heavy up front than in the rear...but I still find a vertical hold more comfortable then a horizontal...before I had the VFG on mine, I used to hold it by the magwell when shooting from a bench...
Well from someone that has used a weapon in real Close quarter Combat. I can tell you it has its pros and cons. One nice thing about having a "gangster grip" is that if your shooting target under 50 meters, you can move the butt stock off & over your shoulder, and you can absorb the recoil with a strong grip on the vertical grip. This allows the user to bring in the rifle closer to their body, allowing for greater mobility in maneuvering hallways and rooms. Also, with lots of practice I find it easier to get my sight picture faster on my target as now you have a better control of the front barrels pitch during rapid sight engagement. also in a pinch a Vertical grip can be used as a quick monopod if you need to shoot over a hood of a Truck or a small wall.
Cons, I see to many people pay $50 and up for these things. When my GI issue $12 one did the same thing. (with a little duct tape engineering of course) I can actually see using the Surefire one as its a grip and a high power light all in one. But when I was in Iraq alot of Privates bought the Gripods as they were the "big thing" at the time. None of them had ever engage the legs during actual combat. There also alot heavier, which might not seem like a big deal, but when your already wearing 80lbs of Gear and ammo alone, you start feeling every half pound there after. So the only time you ever saw anyone actually using their gripods is when they placed their weapons on the ground. lol hardly worth the cost.
Vertical handgrip offers no real advantage in precision target shooting either.
Just my .-2 cents
I went to a range last week and gave it another try and found by moving it to the rear most position, it became very comfortable to use. I shot from a seated postion and was hitting a gong at 207M. I had a little trouble at 310M, but supression is almost as good at that distance. (if I keep their heads down, they can't shoot back) At 25M multiple targets, I can't really say which is better, but since my VFG doubles as a flashlight holder, I will keep it for now. 1 screw and it somes off...