Buying Guide: Rail Covers, Grips and Hand Stops
Buying Guide: Rail Covers, Grips and Hand Stops
The vertical foregrip was amongst the earliest designs for RIS attachments, providing the operator with a vertical index point to replace the horizontal handguard. Primarily used for CQB, the VFG allows faster transition from target to target and the ability to more effectively control recoil when firing in full auto. Vertical foregrips are available in different lengths and thicknesses, allowing you to select which grip best fits your hands and setup. The vertical foregrip is popular not only due to its advantage in close-range engagements, but its professional, tactical look; with VFGs finding their way onto most modern issue Military rifles.
A more recent innovation, the angled foregrip provides a mid-way point between a vertical foregrip and a standard, horizontally oriented handguard. Use of an AFG allows improved weapon control at close range, and a more natural grip angle which some operators find more ergonomic. The AFG also more readily allows for a C-clamp grip, one of the more modern shooting holds practiced. The AFG gained popularity with Airsofters partially due to its take-off in the world of civilian tactical shooting, and also because of the relative comfort the AFG offers. The disadvantage is that they usually have a larger form than a VFG or Hand Stop, meaning they take up more room on your rail system and may not fit shorter rails.
The Hand stop is designed to provide an additional index point for a more traditional grip, allowing those who prefer to use a horizontally oriented grip to control recoil more easily and have a constant position at which they hold the rifle, encouraging consistency in doctrine. A Hand Stop can also be used on shorter rifles to prevent the shooter's hand from slipping off the handguard and in front of the muzzle. For this reason, PDWs with shorter barrels such as the MP7 and P90 have Hand stops built-in to the design. Many Airsofters opt for the hand stop as they prefer a traditional rifle hold but wish to speed up their target to target transitions, helping when engaging multiple targets quickly. Hand stops have also been seen used on pump-action shotguns, where they allow the pump to be safely operated more quickly by keeping the shooter's hand firmly on the pump. Hand stops are also useful for rifles that already have accessories such as Bipods on their 6 o'clock rail, as they take up very little space.
The Rail cover is almost self-explanatory. These function primarily to cover unused rail surfaces, protecting the hands from the precisely machined, sharp edges of a Picatinny rail, and protecting the rail itself from bumps and scrapes. Rail covers are available in various lengths, grip patterns, and profiles. These range from wide standard rail covers to narrow and compact "ladder" rail covers. Whilst an essential for Picatinny rail users, rail covers are also popular for users of negative space attachment systems, such as M-LOK and Keymod as they provide much greater grip and allow more control than the smooth handguard itself. If you prefer a sleek and no-snag look, Rail covers can also be used in lieu of a grip on the 6 o'clock rail, with many designs providing ample grip with aggressive texturing and in-built ribs.
The folding VFG serves the same role as the VFG, though with the added folding function. This makes folding VFG's ideal for weapons that need to have an overall compact form factor, either for transportation, concealment or deployment from a vehicle. Similarly to a folding stock, they are not really designed to be used in the folded position but can be used in this way when needed, saving every spare inch from the bulk of the weapon. This type of foregrip is found on several real-world PDW and pistol caliber carbines, due to its compact nature. This allows these weapons to be carried discretely, in smaller bags, or stowed in a more compact form for fast roping and parachute insertion.
The Grip-pod was developed with the increase in the popularity of Bipods to provide a more stable shooting platform for the rifle user. A combination of a vertical foregrip and bipod, the Grip-pod is extremely useful for more compact weapons with less rail space which need to be used in a support role, or at a longer range. The SA80 is currently issued with a Grip-pod, allowing the rifle to be used out to greater ranges with improved accuracy. Whilst Grip-pods are usually fairly large when compared with standard VFGs, they offer unique functionality when used on a more compact DMR or Support gun, saving weight over a standard Bipod and easily fitting to even the more compact rail systems out there.