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I'm curious how people hold their AR-15s for offhand shooting.

I've always used the Canadian military approach:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1425/1430 ... z.jpg?zz=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Although, they may be moving to a handguard pistol grip:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... _Rifle.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But the new (old?) trend seems to be using the handguard itself with or without one of those angled attachments:
http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/259033/35613719.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content ... 883184.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am sure no expert, but I have used all of the above.

I have found I shoot best using the Angled Forend Grip.

I've tried several different positions, but I feel the most comfortable in the offhand using the angled foregrip, support hand palm on the side of the gun, thumb nearly over the top of the handguards:



Feels much more stable to me this way.

The above works good but you will need a glove to prevent your hand from burning.

I hold mine just like any other rifle. All the cool "operator" types are using the Chris Costa extended over hand reach. Apparently it helps you to "drive" the rifle.

My relatively new to rifle shooting opinions are as follows.

Holding the fore end at the magwell is something I've seen many people do that were not in the Canadian military. It does look like something learned from off hand rifle matches to stabilize the rifle for precision shooting at long distance. I tried that yesterday in my first Garand match and a service rifle match with my M4 without much success. I did better than I thought I'd do, but wasn't even close to winning or placing. However, it was still fun. Anyway, I digress.

The vertical fore grip/post, if what I've read and been told is correct, was developed for full auto rifles to be able to hold the thing down and prevent muzzle rise, while not burning your hand.

Holding the fore end or rails up close to the end is a tactic I've seen used to maneuver/transition quickly between multiple targets like in a 3-gun or NSSF .22lr steel challenge type event. That's what the guy in the picture williamkevin put up looks like he's doing. A 3-gun type event. I shoot like this more often than other ways and also like it. I do not wear a glove and my hand does not get hot. I'm also very careful not to touch the barrel.

The slanted fore grip, IMO, is a way of having a set place to put your hand, while still keeping the profile low by staying away from the vertical fore grip/post. I haven't tried one yet and have been resisting the urge to do so.

I have a feeling most of these methods are personal preference with some being purpose/function driven.

Before recently swapping out my 16" barrel for an 18" DMR barrel with a longer and narrower handguard, I used an AFG, mounted out at the forward edge of the 12.5" rail, but I ALSO wrapped my thumb over the top of the rail while doing it. On the range on a bench, I tend to "get all Canadian and stuff" and hold my hand against the front of the magwell.

But the new handguard only has a rail along the top. You can mount short sections where you need them, at 16 angles around the circumference of the tube, but for now I have left the thing smooth, and it is very comfortable to hold that way (and easier to bench). I will eventually remount my tactical light out front on a short section of rail, but I kind of like the clean look and feel of it. I do find that with the narrower diameter of the handguard, I tend to automatically hook my thumb over the top of it.

i need to be an angle foregrip, i have the hand grips on the rail and it just never feels comfortable to me. I always find myself going to the holding the magwell style shown above or trying to wrap by hand around the handguard without burning it

I have found the "extended overhand grip" like the "operator" types are using allows for the most speed and accuracy, for me. I have better recoil and muzzle control, as well as smoother offside transitions. I am RH, but to shoot left, I pull the rifle with my forward hand (left) and push with my pistol grip hand (right) forward and around my vest and plant it into my left shoulder.

It isn't unique to tactical applications, I think 3 gun guys have been running that way for years and years.

I highly recommend the Larue Handstop as an excellent addition to a rail to facilitate this grip - I find it helps me with muscle memory as well as preventing NDs of light via my pressure switch. It is also rather inexpensive.

carlson1 wrote:I am sure no expert, but I have used all of the above.

I have found I shoot best using the Angled Forend Grip.

I've been using an adjustable angle foregrip which is bulkier than the angled one in the photos here. I've never used the more compact angled foregrip, but after reading the comments here it sounds like a pretty good idea that I'm going to have to try.