The AR platform is becoming a very commonly used platform in the precision shooting community, including long-range competition. Gas guns are very capable of hitting steel out to 1,000 yards. However, updated parts geared towards your shooting discipline can always help put better shots down range. One of these parts is the pistol grip.
A straight-to-the-rear press on the trigger is part of placing an accurate shot and angled pistol grips can add stress to this process. AR companies are starting to catch onto this issue and have pushed out options for straighter pistol grips that allow your hand and trigger finger to be straight up and down, thus pressing the trigger straight to the rear. Below are the reasons why this is important, straight pistol grip options, and matches that are geared towards the precision AR platform.
Why a Straight Pistol Grip?
The precision shooting world is heavy with bolt guns. Due to this, firearm companies have come out with many chassis/stocks that have straight pistol grips or even the ability to change out the pistol grip to your preference. The reason for the bolt guns to have a straight pistol grip is that the straighter the grip is, the more parallel to the ground your trigger finger will be. A parallel to the ground/90° trigger finger means a straight-to-the-rear trigger press.
Andy Slade, sponsored by MDT and a very talented competitive precision rifle shooter has a great way of explaining trigger control and why presses straight to the rear are important. He states that, “if your palm is sitting too high on the grip your finger will be pulling too low on the trigger, if the palm is seated too low, your trigger will be pulling too high on the trigger. However if the palm is sitting straight up and down, your finger will be 90 degrees and pulling straight to the rear. Thus, the straight pistol grip.“
See below for a quick video from Andy and Oryx Chassis on this methodology.
On the AR platform, or in other words — gas guns, this method of thinking is the same. However, the AR platform is built a little differently than the bolt gun platform. Gas gun shooters are not buying chassis but rather building their guns with an upper and lower receiver with various parts. Thus, the AR10/15 firearm companies needed to do some catching up, especially since the gas gun precision competition world was heating up.
A long way from the A2…
As many know the first AR platform grip to hit our shelves was the A2 grip seen on the M4/M16 platform, given to us by Eugene Stoner and later by Colt. For decades this was all we saw, a very angled grip with those annoying finger grooves. For precision shooting, this does nothing to help the shooter. The A2 grip doesn’t allow the shooter to place his hand higher on the grip, the grips get in the way of the fingers, and the angle makes for a very low press on the trigger. Basically, it doesn’t allow the shooter to comfortably focus on one thing, and that’s a smooth trigger press straight to the rear.
AR companies first started to catch onto the need to phase out the A2 grip by removing the finger grooves. Then they started to play with textures and stippling on the grip. Now, more companies are giving us vertical pistol grips for our AR-15s and AR-10s. Both precision shooters and even 2- and 3-gunners are rejoicing. Shots are getting further away in all disciplines and our gear needs to be an added benefit, not a hindrance.
Straight Grip Options
B5 Systems has been one of the go-to companies for AR-15 platform items. They have entered the long-range gas gun game with not only straight pistol grips as noted below, but adjustable cheek stocks as well.
Note: A grip with a backstrap will allow your hand to be pushed further down the grip, thus allowing more of a straight pull of the trigger to the rear. Many pistol grips prior to companies such as B5 created grips with backstraps, however, they were thicker and fatter at the top. B5 cracked the code and kept the backstrap with the Type 23 but still kept the grip slim.
B5 Systems offers a couple of straight grips for the AR platform: the Type 22 P-Grip and the Type 23 P-Grip.
Magpul has also been a heavy hitter in the precision game with their Remington 700 magazines and chassis for the bolt guns. For precision gas guns, Magpul offers adjustable stocks and straight grips such as the K2 grips.
MK Machining has offered many precision accessories such as scope levels and reloading tools. They now offer the Adaptive Precision Grip which allows the user to change out texturing panels and thumb rests. It is a very straight and vertical grip option for the AR platform.
Precision AR Shooting Matches
So, where can you shoot long distance with your gas gun? There are a ton of matches around the country that give competitors the ability to shoot past 1,000 yards. Which yes, .223 AR-15 gas guns are capable of doing.
Quantified Performance Gas Gun Matches
Quantified Performance (QP) holds gas gun matches around the country with both one and two-day matches. These matches are time plus penalty based which means that you have unlimited rounds to hit every target in the stage as fast as you can. The targets that were not impacted count as a penalty. Targets range from 200-1000+yds and any gas guns are welcome. Different AR platform guns will fall into different divisions based on barrel length and scope magnification.
IWI Gas Gun Challenge
The IWI Gas Gun Challenge sponsored by Israel Weapon Systems is held in Gap, PA at New Holland Rifle and Pistol Club. These one-day matches allow shooters to engage targets with their Precision AR platform with more Precision Rifle Series style rules. This means that you have 12 rounds to get 12 hits with a 90 or 120-second par time. Each match counts toward overall placement until a final championship. Divisions are based on caliber.
Precision Rifle Series Tactical Division
The Precision Rifle Series (PRS) is mostly known for long bolt guns however there is a division within the series called the Tactical Division. This division only allows .223 or .308 caliber with bullet weight and speed restrictions. Due to these calibers, many use this division as an opportunity to run their gas gun out to distance.
Sniper Challenges
If you want a physical challenge and are used to running your precision gas gun in the Military, Sniper Challenges are the option for you. These challenges are often open to the public and are held around the country under different names and sponsors. They often involve precision shooting, ruck marching, and land navigation.
