Thread: Definition of "free standing" pistol grip - mssa vs a-cat ..new deign ideas.

@Gloves

I have mused over this in the past.

Free standing, let us see. Two words...

"Free" - that is, thumb hole stocks handles are not free. A screw-on piece of steel at the bottom of a grip going back to be screwed on to the stock is pushing your luck, it has to be integral to the design, not just a cosmetic bolt-on feature.

"Standing" - an oblong box is standing on its short end, but is lying on its long side. | standing __ lying.

With the current AR focus, how could you create a grip?

1. must not protrude further down than the trigger guard, or at least must maximally "bulge" down (see note above on "standing" vs "lying"). Basic English.
2. this leaves very little grip and so requires a rethink.

Just go to GC and ask them to give you an AR15 with paddle stock and mini-magazine, request they remove the pistol grip to render it non-MSSA before you receive it from them.

You can make a grip which protrudes further BACKWARDS, with the aim of aligning your MIDDLE finger to work the trigger, and the main grip provided by the thumb/index fingers.

Ridges can be made, to ensure the thumb and index finger have good purchase on the firearm, to prevent it from slipping upwards relative to the hand, or hand sliding downwards, whatever way you see it. A guy somewhere in the USA sells small L-section pieces of aluminium to rest index finger on for the purpose of "Point Shooting" pistols, to give you the idea. Also has additional benefit of index finger not sliding down into its old role as trigger finger, instead of being usefully employed as a pointer & gripper finger.

The middle finger has more straight tendons and can work well / better for the trigger.

Having the short grip thickened/lengthened backwards will also ensure your now straightened index finger tip is not resting on the magazine release!!!! Tadaah!

The centre of the concavity for your thumb/index finger web space must be somewhat higher, towards the barrel centre line, so as to assure the thumb/index fingers naturally come to rest higher up on the receiver, not down on the trigger. (Diagram below does not show this well).

As for non-free standing, have a forward extension below the trigger, replacing the screw-fastened lower trigger guard thus providing a lengthwise shallow groove for your ring finger to rest in (left and right sides to make grip ambidextrous). This must be of continuous construction with the rest, so even the grip you have made cannot be said to be free standing. AR15 receivers without a screw-in lower trigger guard would thus not be quite as suitable for this conversion as the forward anchoring has to be integral to the handle, not a cosmetic bolt on.

Little finger, let it curl round below the "grip" to provide some stability. You may insert a sling loop on the underside of the grip for a short hand sling to prevent loss of the gun, this can conveniently be placed just behind where the little finger is located.

Here is a quick sketch. You get the idea. It seems a bit naff but may well provide advantages over a free standing pistol grip, cf the point shooting advantage, the ideal thumb/index pincer grip, and the better trigger middle finger. Should be as allowable at service rifle shoots as those equally naff thumb hole stocks and you might even come to prefer this grip over factory stock.



Look forward to see what you come up with. You certainly have the right tools for the job.