Buying an AR 15 Pistol Grip

The right AR15 grip gives you maximum control of your weapon, and the comfort of your grip is key to staying in peak performance in a firefight.

But keep in mind that grips available in the market are not built the same and built for the same purpose. Depending on the configuration of your AR15, or its intended purpose, these grips can be very specific to the needs of the user.

Here are some things one should consider before buying AR 15 pistol grip.

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5 Considerations for AR15 Pistol Grips

These considerations are not in any particular order and one is not more important than the other and we hope you can choose a grip that works best for you with these ideas in mind.

Ergo 2 AR15/AR10 Ambidextrous Pistol Grip

1. Orientation

Many grips come in left-handed or right-handed options – these grips will fit your hand precisely, but they are specific to the orientation you choose. You can also go with an ambidextrous grip – these will work with either orientation, but again, a left-handed or right-handed grip will fit your hand more closely. An example of an ambidextrous grip is the Ergo 2 AR15/AR10 Ambidextrous Pistol Grip. Lefty or righty – it’s all good.

Troy Battle Ax CQB Pistol Grip for AR-15

2. Material

An AR15 grip can be made of various materials or a combination of materials. Considerations of weight, durability, and comfort are just some of things that come to mind and with these materials everyone will have a different feel and comfort level. The “standard” A2 AR grip is a polymer grip – many people prefer a rubber-coated grip for a little more substance. A polymer example is the Troy Enhanced Battle Ax CQB Pistol Grip for AR-15. It is strong and built for CQB action.

Hogue AR-15 Overmolded Pistol Grip with Finger Grooves

3. Finger grooves/contours

For a superior grip, a pistol grip with finger grooves and contours is more comfortable and gets in contact with more of your hand to ensure a firmer hold. For the most part, these grips are one-size-fits-all and will work with any hand. The Hogue AR-15 Overmolded Pistol Grip with Finger Grooves in mind when picking the one for you.

Magpul MIAD 1.1 Grip Kit with Lubrication Bottle Core

4. Storage – for batteries, tools, parts, etc

If you wan to maximize the usefulness of your grip – consider using it for extra storage space. In the field, you might need tools, batteries for your optics, or any other item that might be squeezed in. The Magpul MIAD 1.1 Grip Kit is a great grip with customizable fit, and opens you up for a variety of storage options.

Ergo Deluxe Tactical Pistol Grip w/ Palm Shelf

5. Palm shelf

For long range shooters, working with a weapon equipped with a bipod and a palm shelf assists in keeping steady trigger control and relaxes the grip for better shots that land on target. The added weight serves as a damper for recoil and resetting for another shot is easier. The Ergo Deluxe Tactical Pistol Grip w/ Palm Shelf is made for the AR-15 or AR-10/.308 and it might work for your sniper setup.

You want a purpose-specific setup with added comfort and above all, a solid grip. There are many of them out there to choose from but do your homework and get the right one and best fit AR15 grip for you.

One Last Tip

If there’s anyone that knows the AR-15 platform, it’s the US military. As a special offer for our readers, you can get the Official US Army Manual for AR-15/M4/M16 right now – for free. Click here to snag a copy.

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10 thoughts on “5 Considerations In Choosing an AR 15 Pistol Grip

  1. Of the offered pistol grips you reviewd, which would fit the AR10/308 LR? I like the finger contoured model and the palm rest. Thanks for your time
    Doug

  2. For a dpms ar15, can I add a handle under the barrel to steady my grip?

  3. […] might be wondering how to tackle the important decision of deciding on a grip for your AR-15. AT3 Tactical offers some help with this decision by listing the 5 most important considerations when it’s […]

  4. I use skateboard grip take to cut out shapes and apply them for better traction/grip to clutch areas on my firearms. Works VERY GOOD.

    1. I have been skateboarding since iwas 13 , I got myself sponsored by a local mall shop with a couple friends. But we started skating competitions in the KC Am and we would all end up switching between 1st,2nd and 3rd and got that lil shop big business witch made them end up selling to a shop that was owned for complete business and didn’t do the homework on how a tiny shop in a mall was the talk of the skateboarding work with 1 other who sponsored saun Malo who was pro. So he sold it to this guy who dropped all the people that skated for them witch was a horrible look in the kc mo skateboarding world then also instead of using the name of the shop that was growing naturally through the guys skateboarding in competitions and just being in good with all the other best skateboarders in Kansas city mo , he decided to use his shops name that had no part in the world of skateboarding, it was just a lil shop in the basement of a hardware store lol ,only reason is was even know of is cause it was in this perfect location close to downtown kc by the plaza and bar /stoner scene meets . Dude had allot of money cause I guess part of this deal was that the owner of the original shop who sponsored us would be the manager of this new shop in the worst location ever . It was in a shopping area where like a bunch of stores were like price chopper ,pizza street etc. Price chopper was hella big but surprisingly dude had the 2nd biggest place there . It’s was the dumbest idea ever! He should have kept the guys sponsored cause that’s how the whole thing got all this attention (was literally a kiosk in a mall) it made dude so much more money that he would give a few guys a board whenever we broke one ,and when your at the stage of throwing down with the best in the city then your gonna need allot of decks . 2nd he should of kept our name , that defeats the purpose ( unless u use the theory that he took out the competition ,witch Is stupid. 3rd he shouldn’t have moved the location further away from the main skateboarding scene, he did have that spot underneath that hardware store lol. They wanted me to work there , witch was 45 min drive from my house and had the stupidity to actually interview me when to be honest I had been buying my boards from that original kiosk for over a year and half begging him to sponsor me or to watch this VHS tape I made of me and my friend, finally one day this skatepark had a grand opening and the owner was there and actually got to see me skateboarding this lil skatepark that was that blue metal kind of park , I came up to him to say what’s up and he said If I go beat this random kid he may have been watching also . So I go and win with no letters to S.K.A.T.E.. but I’m sure he was seeing how I was an influence to people and kids without noticing it.and it went from there to getting my best friend on and another good friend and a few people that he met that was good . So interviewing for the guy who made a humongous business deal on something that I was the main part of getting the original owner to sponsor the 5 guys we had that was really good and was diverse in the styles of skateboarding was hilarious and this guy was so serious and I was 16 at the time like I created something that you wanted to buy and change everything to your way is insane, like dude just cause you buy out a shop and make it your name also kept that kiosk in the mall . So the only thing he kept out of the deal was a small kiosk in the mall witch only made so much money cause of the skate team and we all had so many friends that only bought from there, and the 3 of us that skated in the biggest competitions in Kansas city, l like the red bull sponsored King of the city , and the indoor park that was a big ass wood park would hold the Kansas city AM a few times ,each one lasted about two or three days . And on weekends they would have lock ins and have a best trick competition and big game of skate. But dude didn’t last more than a year and a half with his was of running a shop that was very obviously climbing, also original owner would get asked to have the guys on the skate team to make a skate appearance for grand openings of skateparks .I know we did that at least 3 times . That’s how you get business. Other dude thought that people would just go to his store, he had no clue about the skateboarding world and loyalty to your customers witch he seemed to completely look down on just had this disrespectful way about him when dealing with actually skateboarders. He thought it was just moms and dads buying it as a toy for their kids. Dropping all the guys that made that shop what it was , the guys that were sponsored that actually made it something worth selling was something that garenteed a drop In sales , there were so many people that shopped at that shop cause of all the guys who had so many people who skated that were our friends who completely stopped buying from that shop and buying a company’s name but not using it was the second dent cause to the people that lived in the area where he put the biggest shop had no idea what it was from the name. So it went from a good lil shop in the mall that was climbing in value and popularity within a year of getting the guys on the team representing this shop at competitions out of the blue who were so young and good , at least 2 of the 3 of us would place in the competitions or win the best trick comps . I had no idea of why the owner of the shop decided to do this very foolish business deal that made no sense to anyone unless he got a humongous garenteed amount of money all at once ,and im.not sure who’s idea it was to make it a.part of the deal for the original owner stay as a manager for the new bigger shop cause maybe he wanted to try and see that what he had didn’t just bomb or the other new owner wanted him to run that new shop cause he knew everything about the business and who to go through for product and was a great salesman, but when he knew he didn’t have say over anything and dude wouldn’t listen to anything about getting into the city parks and events which is how you do something that helps skateboarding and community/ commercial = more important business. But after that stupid shit me.and the 2 of my homies that was on the 1st team ended up getting noticed by switch skateboarding witch was a newer shop that wanted not to have Escapist skate shop who had saun malto on the team since he was 10 or something so helped him into professional skateboarding and they have are shows ,showings for skate videos. But we got sponsored by switch skateboarding and the owner was good to his guys but had to drop everyone at one point cause they were taking advantage of him like they were bigger than they were, so after 6 months he came and picked up a couple of us ,I was 1st and he explained everything that he felt was going on and had to look at the reasons he wanted to sponsor people, it was that he wanted to get the guys or kids that grew up rough and was really good at skateboarding and were real to their people that who were there for them. So he started again with me and the 2 friends that he started with and wouldn’t just take anyone out there. It was like we would see someone who was growing and had the talent to get out and throw down with us, we found a young kid who skated everyday like I did and got good watching us an just skateboarding with the big dogs so he got on , I was like 23 and he was maybe 16 with no kids ,no girl and no responsibility, I had a 3 year old son and was.still with his mother, we had an apartment and I worked. So I had to skate just that much harder. The kid we got onto switch skateboards was zach doelling, he ended up with a big part in a Kansas city video filmed by now professional skateboarding filmer/ editor the part ended him a mention in thrasher magazine as that years video part come up skateboader of the year! He was on flow over the years for element , blind , ambiguous clothing , now he is on Peralta skateboards and on fallen shoes has a shoe with his name on it that’s royal blue that represents hometown kc royals and has been in magazines and done shows that have the upcoming skateboarders and pros on. Before all that before he went to LA I was flow for DGK SKATEBOARDS and he was on element skateboarding I think and red bull and more I’m sure. I could have left to LA with him and a few other guys that are doing there own things out there. But I had a son and woman and I couldn’t leave my family so I stayed and the owner of switch skateboards was getting sick and didn’t tell anyone till he felt like it ,cause of how rapid the disease was its was like 2 to 3 months from the time he knew until he passed.. R.I.P. Rob Williams owner of Switch skateboards and an amazing father and husband and was an amazing friend that did things for me that most family would never do, drive 3 hrs on my birthday just to surprise me with a Kc Chiefs jersey and kc chiefs snap back and brought me my skateboards! But I just wanted to say all that to say that it’s legit to use grip tape made for skateboarding! #SKATELIFE

      1. Fantastic story. Can always count on the youth to be introspective and relate to others where there is no apparent connection. This person needs to write more and develop into a screen writer or a journalist. One of the best comment section I ever read in an otherwise mundane gunners comments.

    2. You should stop using drugs.

  5. I do have a G30 sf. I want the laser grip. So your saying that there is no way it will work with the sf, or you pelosnalry modified the ones you have to work with the sf??Cell number is 267 265 0743 if thats easier for you. text or call whichever.Thanks, Derrick.

  6. Very interesting… a lot of nuggets of information that I had not considered before. The HOGUE Samson Field Survival Kit grip really has my attention.
    vfw

    1. I just stuff a boresnake in the bottom of mine.

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