I am doing my first AR build and was just wondering what the pros and cons are of an angled foregrip vs a vertical grip
The best thing you can do is try each one out to see what fits your shooting style and posture. Angled works best for me because it seems more comfortable and natural, but I have friends who swear by vertical foregrips or no foregrips at all.
To me it’s personal preference of what feels the best. I have both, but I really prefer the angled grip.
So the angled fore grip feels more natural?
The graphic was done by Magpul Dynamics to illustrate their contention that stability and accurate pointability will be better if the wrist isn’t supinated…that is, too much palm-up. They teach that the wrist should be neutral, with the palm more vertical. This leaves the two bones of the forearm oriented in a normal anatomic position parallel to each other. There are a few ways to do this…one is with the Magpul Angled ForeGrip. Another is to use a vertical grip simply as a hand stop, still grasping the rail with the wrist neutral. If you look at the Kyle Lamb video referenced above you can see that that’s what he’s doing, illustrated by his thumb resting on the top of the rail pointing at the target while using the vertical grip simply as a hand stop to give him a quick and repeatable point of reference for placing his hand.
That Magpul Dynamics graphic refers to a broomhandle grip on the vertical foregrip as “full retard”, I guess illustrating what they think of that particular choice of grip method.
Magpul Dynamics has had a 100% personnel and priority changeover since that graphic was likely made, and “full-retard” may not have been the best way to present the argument so I apologize for that unprofessionalism.
The AFG, as noted, works for some people in an efficient manner. The new M-LOK AFG is nearing release, and I predict the AFG concept will appeal to a broader audience when they get their hands on it. The above graphic aside, I have traditionally preferred the handstop or MVG employed as a handstop, but the new M-LOK AFG has me thinking about swapping over.
In the end, I would suggest what works best for the shooter, which may be different for all of us. Body size, grip strength, reach, shooting skill and experience, hand size, and flexibility are but a few of the factors that might make different options optimal for different shooters.
Personally I like the “Angled ForeGrip” Looking to get one soon, as of now though, I have the “Vertical ForeGrip” mostly because I got it for 1/2 price from a buddy and also because it has a BiPod Extention that comes out the bottom of the Grip!
I had the fold away bipod but really couldn’t stand the thing hanging off the front with ZERO use, unless you were laying down or sitting at a table shooting, I hated it.
I have always used the vertical grip. I really like the looks and the idea of the AFG. I will be trying one soon.
I like the added utility one gets from a VFG. The radius of the Gripstop isn’t bad either
ETA: here’s how I usually use one for shooting
Ok I have to ask, but I’m sure I’m not the first.
Since MLok is out now, will you ever offer the AFG or any of your other products to work with Keymod? I personally really prefer the AFG to the other options I have tried and have had the AFG on all my rifles since the it came out. However, I just received 2 of the new BCM KAGs today and I bought them over the AFG just because they mount directly to keymod with no added pieces and I had the keymod rail already.
If you’re not sure, buy the VFG. You can use it as a handstop or you can vary the amount of your hand on the hand guard versus the VFG and vice versa with the VFG’s position to find what works best for you. If you find yourself using the VFG as a handstop, buy a handstop. If you use it in a middle-position, you might try an angled grip. And if you find that you don’t like the VFG at all, you can just remove it.
ETA: I’ve found that which I use depends on what I’m using and what the light/laster configuration on the weapon is. Sometimes I use nothing, sometimes a VFG, sometimes a handstop. Not a huge fan of the AFG, but I’m liking BCM’s new KAG. I usually go with VFGs on shorter hand guards, like standard M4 carbine-length hand guards, SCARs, and the like. On longer hand guards, slick, handstop, or KAG.
So far, the BCM Keymod Short VFG has really won me over. That’s coming from using AFGs and TD VFGs.
After using both VFGs and AFGs, I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer neither.
We have no plans to offer Keymod accessories at this time.
Dave M has a great post about the value of VFG’s somewhere around here.
I prefer VFG’s on rifles where I’ll have a more forward grip. I use a VFG similarly to what is shown in Dave’s pic, though I don’t get quite as much of the grip in my fingers. I do have a few AFG’s for rifles with shorter handguards, though, and interestingly, despite Magpul designing it around a more forward grip, I think it really shines on rifles like AK’s or SCAR’s with shorter handguards. It puts my support hand at a much more comfortable angle than just using the bottom of the handguard or a VFG where there isn’t enough room to grab the way I like.
At the end of the day, it’s all preference, and there’s no way to know without trying both first.
I have tried the VFG. I did not care for it. It was uncomfortable for me. I ended up going with a vertical grip. I use it as “nobody goes full retard” grip 
It comes down you may have to purchase a VFG and trying it out. Make sure you keep the box in case you do not like it, so you can return it.
Same thing here . Well -that is of you meant AFG when you typed VFG in the first sentence .
I prefer a short VFG .
I tried to like the AFG but just liked a short VFG with the previously mentioned grip .
This thread reminded me that I wanted to give the AFG another try
now that I have a longer and slimmer hand guard .
Tried it out today .
Nope -I’m sticking with the Tango Down shorty .
The original without the metal parts .
I’ve been taking the AFGs with me to shoots and several people
that borrowed them to try out bought one later .
I use the same grip method, with thumb over the 12:00, forward of my tape switch.
My thumb position depends entirely on the rifle/forend combination. Thumb forward on the SCAR (on a thumb rest), thumb forward on an AK, over the top on skinnier AR forends.
I think I posted this in some previous discussion here, but for what it’s worth, I tried using an AFG in AFG (i.e. Afghanistan) and found that while it was comfortable to shoot, it did not work well with the day-to-day carry of a carbine that is typical of a deployed environment. Another guy I worked with, who deployed with only a pistol (he was an individual augmentee) borrowed my M4 occasionally and reported the same thing. When I spend a lot of time carrying a weapon at the low ready, pointing it around corners, up stairwells, etc. (although I did that more in Iraq, being a staff guy in AFG), I find that a VFG (I like the TD stubby also), used as a handstop, is much more comfortable and gives me better control over the weapon. The AFG just doesn’t give me a firm place to grip and guide the muzzle when turning, twisting, etc. I think it’s a good design for shooting, but for me, a VFG is more versatile for all the other aspects of handling a weapon that lead up to shooting, so I’m comfortable with the compromise that may come with the VFG handstop / thumb over style.
Dave