A Revelation

Gear Sector Handstops at 90 and 180 degrees

Every now and then you try something out on your rifle and as soon as you put the gun on your shoulder and feel it, you get this giddy feeling inside and inside your head you hear "Now THAT is what I was looking for". I had that feeling the other night when I took a chance and swapped out my Magpul AFG for a Gear Sector Handstop. I had been tossing the idea of a handstop around for about 6 months ever since I have started trying to shed weight on my AR.



Handstops are the bomb.

 That's not to say I havent thoroughly enjoyed my Magpul AFG. Magpul really makes exceptional quality and cutting edge products. The AFG was one of those as it allows shooters who don't necessarily want a vertical grip (ME) but want more stability than just wrapping your hand around the rails. I was curious to see if I could get the same comfortable grip I wanted from my forward hand from a lighter piece such as a handstop. Magpul actually is about to release an awesome looking XTM handstop, but no word really as to when it will hit distributors. So I gave the Gear Sector a try and WOW....I love it. I use an aggressive left hand grip with my thumb all the way over the barrel against my Front Sight Post, and the handstop allows me to get backward pressure with the palm of my hand and pull the rifle into the pocket of my shoulder to control recoil. This piece is also very useful if shooting behind cover, as you can use it to brace against wooden barriers or doors for more stability. Short Barrel Rifle owners will also benefit from using handstops, as the name really implies. Having your hand accidentally fly out in front of a short, hot barrel is not exactly my idea of a good time.

I still like the Magpul AFG alot.....

I'm still going to be picking up a Magpul XTM Handstop when they are finally released to compare and contrast against the Gear Sector. I'll also have an in-depth episode about handgrips and vertical grips coming up in the Essential Carbine Series on YouTube. Hopefully then you can decide which forward grip option is the best for you to get the best control of your rifle. I think I may have stumbled onto something here. Get out there and try a few different options to see what's best for you.

Be safe and see you next time..
~Mac