When I was testing out these M-LOK angled foregrips I coined some new terminology that you may not be familiar with. Important Terms Used in this Buyer’s Guide However, you should still check for this issue when installing the handstop. The issue of M-LOK screws contacting the gas block is not as prevalent on rifles with longer rails. 16″ is really just an arbitrary number chosen by the ATF & Congress but nevertheless it is the length chosen for a “rifle”. As long as you meet the minimum length of 16″ with your you can use vertical foregrips or handstops.
You can install any style of handstop or vertical grip on your AR rifle. Installing M-LOK Handstops on AR RiflesĬompared to the last section this will be short. There are not many ways to address this issue as you either have to file the hardware to fit, move the accessory in front or behind the gas block, or just deal with it.įortunately, some of the handstops listed below address this issue by including spacers to create clearance or including shorter screws for slim rails. The trend towards rails with slimmer diameters leaves less clearance between the hardware and the gas block.The shorter rails on AR pistols means that you have limited space to install the accessory without contacting the gas block.One other bit of advice before you start installing M-LOK accessories on AR pistols is to be aware of potential contact between the mounting hardware and the gas block. But again, the laws can change and it is your responsibility to keep track. Using a dedicated M-Lok handstop on your AR pistol should help you avoid any legal trouble. The onus of installing accessories on an AR pistol falls on you as the owner so do your research before installing anything. I am purposely leaving that length out of this article because that ruling has changed as of 2019 and I do not want to unintentionally mislead anyone. From my understanding of ATF guidelines, it is illegal to mount a vertical foregrip on an AR pistol unless the firearm reaches a certain overall length. Installing M-LOK Handstops on AR Pistolsįirst of all, let me state that I am not a lawyer and by no means should you take this article as solid legal advice.
I cannot tell you what handstop will work best for your body & shooting style but I can give you some objective data to help you make an informed decision. The M-LOK accessories are not in a “best to worst” format and are simply listed in the order that I tested them. I will provide information on their installation, their pros & cons, as well as how they work for me and my shooting style. What you will find below is a list of M-LOK handstops that I have actually tested and would trust on my AR’s. Handstops are an excellent way to increase the shootability of an AR-15 by aiding in recoil control and by allowing you to use them as barrier stops. Either way, you cannot go wrong by purchasing an AR-15. AR-15 rifles allow you to avoid any NFA paperwork or a no-knock raid that ends with a dead dog and a felony charge.
Plus they are fun to shoot and accessorize…just like all AR’s. And with the right ammo selection, they are great for self-defense. Their compact size makes them desirable for shooting in confined spaces, they can be discreetly stored in backpacks and bags, and they are fun to shoot.