Accuracy with the AR-15 relies heavily on stability at the two grip points. The rear pistol grip gives shooters a natural approach to pull back the firearm and seat the rifle into their shoulder. Add a foregrip to the platform, and the shooter has a much improved forward point of contact. No firearm in the world affords more personalization than the AR-15
. The ever-expanding accessories market makes identifying the ideal component skillfully difficult though.

Foregrip configurations:

  • Angled Foregrips allow for a natural and intuitive grasp on the forend of a rifle. They also add less of a staunch, upright profile.

Many shooters believe the angled foregrip gives the wrist a natural feel, while the hand is in a less supinated position. The palm is not facing up or out, so recoil is dealt with better.

  • Vertical foregrips offer better command over recoil and the rifle, which is why competitive and rapid-fire shooters prefer this type of grip for their AR-15. Along with recoil control, shooters can exert extensive forward and backward pressure to the firearm, including accurate side-to-side motion.
  • AR-15 bipods combine a stable platform for precise targeting. Bipod legs can fold inward or drop quickly at the touch of a button, giving the shooter a quick aiming mechanism from an offhand position. Shooters consider the prone position with a bipod, the most optimal for an AR-15.



UTG Ergonomic Ambidextrous Vertical Foregrip

Optimizing Your AR-15
Setup

The fundamentals of good marksmanship need to be followed at all times. Add only the gear to your AR-15 that achieves this fundamental objective. Too much gear, especially at the handguard, and weight becomes an issue. Ergonomically designed and well-placed foregrips serve multiple purposes. 1) Technique is improved, providing a stable anchor point for the support hand. 2) Foregrips relieve wrist strain for shooters who grip high on the forend of the rifle. A foregrip should not alter or take the place of proper shooting form. Shifting your support hand to a foregrip, away from the barrel and handguard, gives up a considerable amount of muzzle control. Choose a foregrip that gives you more command over the barrel without undermining your shooting technique. Make certain your hand, arm, shoulder, and torso remains in a natural firing position.

Vertical or Angled?

Now that you have read everything the written word has to offer, what are the best foregrips for your AR-15 and style of shooting? Foregrips change fundamental positioning of a shooter's support arm and hand. Too far forward on the handguard and the arm flattens out, too far back, and the shooting position feels unnatural. Comfort and ergonomics play powerful roles in your decision. Every shooter has specific demands for adding gear. Depending on your style of shooting, and other gear attached to the handguard, try both styles to see what feels natural. If your AR-15 is for short distance targeting or hunting, angled foregrips allow for substantial control and a natural feel. Aiming is precise, with less forearm and hand tension. Because of enhanced control, rapid-fire situations are improved. Target to target transition is more precise and contributes to a consistent shooting form. Angled foregrips help to combat muzzle climb, which is prevalent in firearms that provide for rapid-fire shooting. Angled foregrips allow the shooter to apply a thumb over style for greater control. The vertical foregrip gives the shooter maximum vertical control over the barrel and weapon. The AR-15 is outstanding at firing large volumes of ammunition in a short period and the barrel heats up quickly. Vertical foregrips combat this significant discomfort by keeping the support hand farther away from the barrel.

Fab Defense T-POD G2 Rotating Tactical Foregrip And Bipod

Is A Bipod Right for Your AR-15?

Stereotypical bipods have been large, cumbersome military beasts. Next-generation products are now substantially smaller, lighter, and more sophisticated. Refinements have combined vertical foregrips with fold-away bipods, storage compartments, and other improvements. Bipod and AR-15? Between 400 and 600 yards is the effective range of an AR-15, making it great for short distance hunting, target shooting, and home defense. Modifications can be made to chamber a larger cartridge, increasing that distance to about 1000 yards. Inspired by the military, the civilian platform of the AR-15 is not a long-range targeting weapon.

AR-15 Foregrip With Quick Release Deployable Bipod

However, there is nothing more gratifying than being in the prone position at a target range. Your favorite AR-15 resting on a state of the art bipod, while you fire off a few thousand rounds. Tips to help choose the right bipod for your AR-15 platform:

  • Critical elements include the caliber/recoil and weight of the weapon. Remember, light rifles shooting heavy cartridges recoil more than heavy rifles firing light ammo. As a rule of thumb, consider the following; 1) calibers smaller than the .308 can use the lightest bipods available 2) AR-15 chambered in calibers larger than 30-06, 300 Win Mag, or 338 Lapua should upgrade to heavier bipods 3) firing any cartridge larger than a .50 BMG needs the heaviest bipod you can locate.
  • If you have several rifles that can mount a bipod, and you need to move the component from one to the other, quick detach bipods can be an outstanding choice. Another advantage; if you need to reduce weight quickly by shooting offhand, opt for a QD bipod.
  • The bipod that performs best for your platform is heavily influenced by firing position. Taller and adjustable bipods are recommended if you regularly shoot off a bench or in a prone position with a large box magazine. Higher bipods are required to clear the magazine, if your body size is not a determining factor.

The addition of a foregrip to your AR-15
is an excellent decision, primarily because of the stability factor when shooting high powered rifles. Handguards on the AR-15 have come a long way since the meteoric rise in popularity of the platform and its ecosystem. Adding different materials and configurations have increased the firearm's appeal. However, the handguard does not offer a robust way to clench and, at the same time, dominate the barrel. Adding a foregrip, explicitly chosen for your AR-15
and style of shooting, goes a long way to better marksmanship.   Shop All Forends And Handguards
Shop All Gun Rests Bipods And Tripods