Holding a AR-15 Carbine

Drummer101 · June 4, 2018, 09:18 PM

It has been awhile since I have been on here.

But I have a Colt 6920 (stock with a carry handle).

When at the range I have grabbed the gas block a few times (gets a little toasty) and I am wondering, with a short hand guard is there a proper way to go about this? Most of the shooting I do is either at the bench (silly rules at the range), standing, or just plinking.

From what I can read and see, holding the mag well is preferred for high power while standing. Holding the end of the hand guard near the muzzle is the preferred why to hold for move and shoot.

Is there a proper way to hold a rifle with a 7" hand guard? If anything I am thinking about changing out the hand guard with something free floated but I would rather keep the 7" grip and retain the front sight post, but if I am going to change it now would be the time.

Nathan · June 4, 2018, 09:27 PM

Try holding the rifle perpendicular to your chest. Then swing the support hand in from the side....you should be just behind the fsb.

Also, the Magpul SL handguard will protect you on the bottom and sides. A grip stop or angled fore grip also help you place your hand repeatably.

My last and most expensive option is to cut down the fsb with a dremel and file. Then put a longer handguard over it with a folding front and rear sight set!

marine6680 · June 4, 2018, 10:19 PM

The Magpul SL handguards are nice, and may help.

Try those as a quick and cheap solution.

turtlehead · June 4, 2018, 11:14 PM

Yep. They make a big difference.

Drummer101 · June 5, 2018, 08:05 PM

The magpul SL is pretty cheap.

And I will try out holding the rifle that way. For some reason it just feels a little short.

Chainsaw. · June 6, 2018, 10:39 AM

It IS a little short. Even my 5'4" wife benefited from a long rail/handguard. Toss something longer on, youll be much happier.

akguy47 · June 6, 2018, 12:38 PM

I was taught to hold the magwell and keep my arm down. You expose a hole in your body armor with arm extended. Plus it doesn't take long for your arm to get tired holding it out.

raimius · June 6, 2018, 08:38 PM

Farther out makes for better rapid transitions between targets (competition or CQB uses).
Closer holds usually reduce shooter fatigue.

Mobuck · June 11, 2018, 04:15 AM

I usually just try to find something to rest the handguard on--shooting sticks, bipod, sandbag, tree, fence post. Coyotes, groundhogs, and paper targets haven't heard about that exposed niche in body armor YET.

akguy47 · June 11, 2018, 10:30 AM

It opens your armpit. Not a real good place to take a round. Draw a line from armpit to armpit.

marine6680 · June 11, 2018, 02:55 PM

Not like an arm is going to do much to stop the bullet

spacemanspiff · June 11, 2018, 03:37 PM

I'm not following you here....the stock handguards on your 6920 has exposed access to the gasblock and you accidently grab it?

I can't say I've ever done that with mine. For aesthetics I did replace my handguards with a set of Surefire quad rails that I had to search for many months to locate since Surefire quit making them a few years back.

June 4, 2018, 09:18 PM	#1
Drummer101 Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 943	Holding a AR-15 Carbine It has been awhile since I have been on here. But I have a Colt 6920 (stock with a carry handle). When at the range I have grabbed the gas block a few times (gets a little toasty) and I am wondering, with a short hand guard is there a proper way to go about this? Most of the shooting I do is either at the bench (silly rules at the range), standing, or just plinking. From what I can read and see, holding the mag well is preferred for high power while standing. Holding the end of the hand guard near the muzzle is the preferred why to hold for move and shoot. Is there a proper way to hold a rifle with a 7" hand guard? If anything I am thinking about changing out the hand guard with something free floated but I would rather keep the 7" grip and retain the front sight post, but if I am going to change it now would be the time. __________________ "I would say that we have to make up criteria." OK, which is better for 2 Bantu, 5 Hottentots, and 3 pygmies playing a war march on a calliope at 3 a.m. during a monsoon? Show your work and round to the nearest decimal. -Mike Irwin

June 5, 2018, 08:05 PM	#5
Drummer101 Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 943	The magpul SL is pretty cheap. And I will try out holding the rifle that way. For some reason it just feels a little short. __________________ "I would say that we have to make up criteria." OK, which is better for 2 Bantu, 5 Hottentots, and 3 pygmies playing a war march on a calliope at 3 a.m. during a monsoon? Show your work and round to the nearest decimal. -Mike Irwin

June 6, 2018, 10:39 AM	#6
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	It IS a little short. Even my 5'4" wife benefited from a long rail/handguard. Toss something longer on, youll be much happier. __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

June 11, 2018, 03:37 PM	#12
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 3,498	I'm not following you here....the stock handguards on your 6920 has exposed access to the gasblock and you accidently grab it? I can't say I've ever done that with mine. For aesthetics I did replace my handguards with a set of Surefire quad rails that I had to search for many months to locate since Surefire quit making them a few years back. __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

June 4, 2018, 09:27 PM	#2
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	Try holding the rifle perpendicular to your chest. Then swing the support hand in from the side....you should be just behind the fsb. Also, the Magpul SL handguard will protect you on the bottom and sides. A grip stop or angled fore grip also help you place your hand repeatably. My last and most expensive option is to cut down the fsb with a dremel and file. Then put a longer handguard over it with a folding front and rear sight set!

June 4, 2018, 10:19 PM	#3
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	The Magpul SL handguards are nice, and may help. Try those as a quick and cheap solution.

June 4, 2018, 11:14 PM	#4
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,203	Yep. They make a big difference.

June 6, 2018, 12:38 PM	#7
akguy47 Junior Member Join Date: June 2, 2018 Location: Alaska Posts: 9	I was taught to hold the magwell and keep my arm down. You expose a hole in your body armor with arm extended. Plus it doesn't take long for your arm to get tired holding it out.

June 6, 2018, 08:38 PM	#8
raimius Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Posts: 2,199	Farther out makes for better rapid transitions between targets (competition or CQB uses). Closer holds usually reduce shooter fatigue.

June 11, 2018, 04:15 AM	#9
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I usually just try to find something to rest the handguard on--shooting sticks, bipod, sandbag, tree, fence post. Coyotes, groundhogs, and paper targets haven't heard about that exposed niche in body armor YET.

June 11, 2018, 10:30 AM	#10
akguy47 Junior Member Join Date: June 2, 2018 Location: Alaska Posts: 9	It opens your armpit. Not a real good place to take a round. Draw a line from armpit to armpit.

June 11, 2018, 02:55 PM	#11
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	Not like an arm is going to do much to stop the bullet