We tested dozens of AR-15 grips and found the Magpul K2+ and the BCM Mod 2 to be the Best AR-15 Grips.
From a distance, all AR-15 grips seem to be very similar. However, there are big differences in them depending on how you plan to use your rifle. They can really make a difference in accuracy and being consistent every shot.
The grip is one of the three touch points of the AR-15 rifle and is a critical part of manipulating the trigger and the other controls.
We have built dozens of AR-15s and used them both in the military and at competitions. We know that the standard Mil-spec A2 grip, which is commonly included in an AR-15 lower parts kit, is not our favorite. The grip angle, texture, and that finger groove/bump on the front just don’t do much for us.
Keep reading to find our favorite AR-15 grips and take better control of your rifle.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary of Our Favorites
Die Free Company Kung Fu AR-15 Grip
12 Degrees
Finger Groove
1.9 Ounces
MSRP: $20.00
Save 10% at DFCO with code “Survivalstoic”
Others we like:
Best AR-15 Grips
Magpul K2+ – Best Overall
- Angle: 17 degrees
- Material: Reinforced Polymer with Rubber Overmold
- Texture: All sides
- Front Tab: No
- Weight: 3.1 oz
- MSRP: $24.95
The Magpul K2+ is one of my favorite AR-15 grips.
The grip angle is vertical enough to keep my arm in line behind my rifle but not so vertical that it feels awkward.
I like the rubber over molded texture. It feels smooth but keeps my hand from moving around when I put pressure on it. It is also comfortable since the rubber is a thin layer of padding.
The polymer core gives it a nice firm feeling at the same time.
The backstrap has an aggressive undercut that allows me to index the grip in my hand consistently. It essentially locks my hand in position and keeps it from sliding up and down. This helps me stay consistent with my grip position, which helps trigger control.
My hands are average size, so if you have big hands, the backstrap may be an issue.
The width of the grip is consistent as I move my hand down the grip. I typically like a little bit of a taper, but the backstrap design makes up for this for me. Again, I know where my hand should be on the grip every time I pick it up.
Included with this grip is a cap on the bottom for storage inside the grip, like spare batteries or cleaning supplies.
The price is decent as well. It is about the same as other AR-15 grips of similar quality.
BCM Mod 2 – Best Ergonomics
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- Angle: 17 degrees
- Material: Reinforced Polymer
- Texture: Front and Sides
- Front Tab: Both (Exchangeable)
- Weight: 3.6 oz
- MSRP: $29.95
The BCM Mod 2 AR-15 Grip is unique in that it has exchangeable sections in the front and rear of the grip. These allow me to customize the grip to my hand instead of settling on a particular grip.
This is a good “middle of the road” grip with a 17-degree grip angle. It is a compromise between the traditional 25-degree Mil-spec angle and the more vertical grips.
It is tapered and gets larger towards the bottom. I found this helps keep my hand in position.
The front section can be changed between a trigger guard tab or no tab. This is helpful when I want to use this grip with a mil-spec lower and then change it later to a lower with a built-in trigger guard.
The rear of the grip has a section that can be exchanged to three different shaped backstraps. Each one has a different amount of undercut to fit different size hands.
I find this is one of the most critical areas for getting a grip that feels good and allows me to be consistent with my shooting.
I like the texture on this grip. It is not too aggressive, and it is only on the sides and front, while the back of the grip is smooth.
There is a storage cap on the bottom of the grip with a rubber seal. It is somewhat water resistant but not waterproof. I did have a hard time getting it open. It is possible to do it without a tool, but I found it easier to use a small screwdriver.
While it doesn’t necessarily affect the performance of the grip, I don’t like the slotted screw that comes with it. It makes attaching it to a lower just a pain. Hex or Torx screws are much better.
Overall, the flexibility of this grip makes it one to consider, especially if you are not sure which one is best for you.
DFCO Kung Fu Grip – Best Tactical
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- Angle: 12 degrees
- Material: Nylon Polymer
- Texture: Front and Sides
- Front Tab: No
- Weight: 1.9 oz
- MSRP: $20
The Die Free Co Kung Fu AR-15 Grip certainly has a unique name; it is a unique AR-15 grip as well.
The biggest difference is the undercut finger groove at the trigger guard. This undercut gives me a clear index point on the grip. When I grab this one, I know exactly where my hand should be.
This translates into consistency every time I pick up my rifle, which is important in stressful situations.
The backstrap has a decent undercut to it, so holding it is comfortable. I can reach the controls on my rifle easily.
There is a taper to this grip, and I feel like the bottom part of the grip is a little too large for me. If you have smaller hands, this could be an issue.
The texture is aggressive on the sides and the front of the grip. I like how the back of the grip is smooth, so my hand can ride up and index properly when I am picking it up.
The grip angle is aggressive at 12 degrees. It feels great in the shooting position but is a little awkward at a low ready.
Overall, I like this grip since it gives me a positive indexing feature for my hand. It is also one of the lightest grips I have found.
B5 Systems Type 23 – Best for Smaller Hands
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- Angle: 13 degrees
- Material: Reinforced Polymer
- Texture: Front and Sides
- Front Tab: No
- Weight: 2.2 oz
- MSRP: $20
The B5 Systems type 23 AR-15 Grip is a great grip for anyone with smaller hands.
It has an undercut backstrap that has more relief than the BCM Mod 3 grip but less than the Magpul K2. This allows me to use it as an index point for establishing my grip.
The grip has a slight taper; it is narrower at the top and wider towards the bottom. Overall, it is slightly smaller than most other grips.
It has an aggressive texture on the sides and the front. It really provides a good bite when I grip down on it, especially with gloves on.
I like the steep grip angle on this one. I can keep my arm directly behind my rifle with it.
There is no lower lip, but I don’t think that is a negative since it has a good taper to it and the texture. In fact, I found it to snag less when I used it in transitions with a sling.
This grip doesn’t have a storage cap. The inside of it is just open, making it considerably lighter than most other grips.
Overall, the size, taper, and texture make it great for anyone with smaller than average hands.
MFT Engage V2 – Best for Larger Hands
- Angle: 15 degrees
- Material: Reinforced Polymer
- Texture: Full
- Front Tab: Yes
- Weight: 2.2 oz
- MSRP: $19.99
The MFT Engage V2 is a good AR-15 grip for anyone with larger hands.
Overall, the shape of this grip is more rounded and not as squared off as the others.
It has a shallow undercut on the backstrap. I found it hard to get a good index position on this one, but my hand is average size.
This grip has a subtle texture all the way around it. The texture is just OK. I prefer it more aggressive on the front and sides, but I didn’t really notice my hand slipping around on it much.
I noticed that the grip sits a little farther back from the trigger, even though it has a steep angle. Again, this makes it better for those with bigger hands.
The front of the grip has a tab to take up the gap on mil spec lowers. Since I put this one on a non-mil-spec lower, I simply cut the tab off.
There is no storage cap on this grip, but that makes it one of the lightest grips we have found.
BCM Mod 3 AR-15 Grip
- Angle: 17 degrees
- Material: Reinforced Polymer
- Texture: Front and Sides
- Front Tab: Yes
- Weight: 3.6 oz
- MSRP: $19.95
The BCM Mod 3 AR-15 Grip is essentially the same as the Mod 2 grip without the exchangeable sections. Instead, the front section has the trigger guard tab, and the backstrap section is the thinnest of the three that are included with the Mod 2.
Like the Mod 2, the grip is tapered and gets larger towards the bottom.
The top of the grip is thinner than other grips, and the backstrap has a decent relief. I liked how it felt, and it made it easy to reach the controls on my rifle.
Even with the moderate grip angle, I found my hand sits closer to the trigger. This is good for someone with average to smaller size hands.
This grip also has the same storage cap as the Mod 2, and the slotted screw (which I don’t like).
Overall, this grip is OK but is more for someone with average size hands.
Magpul MOE+ AR-15 Grip
- Angle: 25 degrees
- Material: Reinforced Polymer with Rubber Overmold
- Texture: Front and Back
- Front Tab: No
- Weight: 3.4 oz
- MSRP: $24.95
The Magpul MOE+ AR-15 Grip has arguably been the standard for many years.
Just like the K2+ above, it has the overmolded rubber grip, which I love.
It is very close in shape to the K2 except it has a shallower grip angle of 25 degrees, and the backstrap is shallower.
Personally, I like the angle of the K2 better. But if you are looking for the same grip angle as the traditional mil-spec grip, this is the one to go with.
The backstrap is not as undercut as the K2, but it still works well. I find that I can still index my hand on the grip consistently.
This grip has a slight taper from top to bottom, which helps with maintaining my grip in the same place.
This grip also has the standard Magpul Storage Cap on the bottom.
How We Tested the Best AR-15 Grips
Over the past 10 years, we have built various AR-15s and tested them at the range and in competitions. We looked at the grip’s overall finish quality, ergonomics, durability, availability, price/value, and overall ease of using them in my build.
We then tried them with various lowers, both Mil-spec and higher end Mil-spec + lowers. We have fired at least 250 rounds with each, with our top picks seeing well over 1,500 rounds over the years.
Our top picks included input not only from our team but also from many others in our community, both in person and online. We considered everyone’s experiences and opinions over the past 10 years to achieve what we think is the most balanced and comprehensive review available.
Tips for Choosing the Best AR-15 Grip
There are a few critical aspects we have found to be critical to selecting the best grip for our AR-15s.
While it may seem that all AR-15 grips look similar from a distance, there are quite a few differences in the designs. The main differences are the grip angle, texturing, and shape. Some have storage options inside the grip as well for things like spare batteries or cleaning supplies.
Some will have finger grooves, trigger undercuts, and different backstrap panels, and some are even adjustable.
Here are our tips on what to look for based on our experience.
Grip Angle
The most critical detail to pay attention to is the grip angle. The grip angle is the angle that the grip makes with the vertical axis of the rifle.
AR-15 Grips have different angles that are designed for different purposes. Determining which angle is the best for you is one of the hardest aspects to understand.
Vertical Grip
A grip with a 0-degree angle is an absolute vertical grip and is perpendicular to the barrel of the rifle. Vertical grips are best for precision long range shooting.
In this case, I am not really supporting any of the weight of the rifle by the grip since it is sitting on a bipod or rest of some sort. It is simply an index point.
Steep Angle Grip
A steep angle grip has a slight angle to it, typically between 10 and 17 degrees. I find steep angle grips are the best for controlling the recoil and movement of an AR-15.
They allow me to keep my arm tucked in behind the rifle instead of out to the side. They also result in a shorter distance for my hand to reach the controls on my rifle. Overall, it is a more ergonomic position for my wrist.
Shallow Angle Grip
A shallow angle has more of an angle to it, typically between 17 and 25 degrees. These grips can be more ergonomic for some shooters, depending on their shooting style.
The mil-spec A2 grip is 25 degrees, and the military selected this angle long ago for the M-16.
This angle can feel better in a more traditional stance when the elbow is raised out to the side of the body instead of tucked underneath – like with a hunting rifle or shotgun.
I find that this angle doesn’t allow me to control my rifle as well (it doesn’t feel as tight) and also puts the controls a little farther away from my hand. It can also cause some strain in my wrist after a long day at the range.
Grip Shape
Everyone’s hands are different, so it is important to consider the shape of the grip.
If you have bigger hands, a more rounded and non-tapered grip with a generous backstrap Like the BCM Mod 2 is better.
If you have smaller hands, a more square or tapered grip with a smaller backstrap relief, like the Magpul K2, is better.
A Note About the Front Tab on AR-15 Grips
We have indicated above which grips have a front tab and which do not. While purely aesthetic, some trigger guard/lower combinations have a gap between the trigger guard and the grip. A front tab on the grip will take up this space. It makes no difference, though, in how the grip functions or feels, and it is a personal preference.
I think it gives the rifle more of a finished look, though. When in doubt, get one with he tab, and you can always cut it off.
Material/Texture
Nearly all AR-15 grips are made out of a Mil-spec polymer of some sort. Polymers are durable, affordable, and easy to modify if needed.
Polymers can also be textured to give the shooter more control in adverse conditions. If my hands are wet or sweaty, the extra texture on my grip is noticeable in helping me control my rifle.
Look for grips that are textured, at least on the sides. I prefer no texture on the back of the grip. This is because when I pick up my rifle, I want to be able to quickly slide my hand up the back of the grip until the web between my thumb and forefinger comes into contact with the backstrap.
This becomes my “index” point so that I can grip my rifle the same every time. Any texture on the back of the grip slows me down and can be irritating after a long practice session.
Some grips, like the Magpul + grips, are made from a polymer with a rubber coating that is over-molded on top of it. These give the durability of Mil-spec grips with the texture of rubber. They also do not need to have a heavy texture on them since the rubber is non-slip.
Stay Updated and Learn More
After you choose the best AR15 grip for you, be sure to stay up to date on all of our content by joining our Newsletter. Each week, we include tips on how to stay mentally prepared with actionable ideas and strategies. We also include any good deals we have found, plus updates to our content.
We would like to thank AmmunitionToGo.com for providing the ammo that we used to test these AR-15 grips at the range. We used Fiocchi M193 5.56 ammo for most of our testing since it is a standard NATO round.
Now, check out our other Self-Defense guides for more, from AR-15 Basics to our favorite parts and upgrades. Also, be sure to check out our favorite AR-15 stripped lowers, the Best AR-15 Stocks, the Best AR-15 Triggers, and the Best AR-15 Charging Handles for your next build!
Also check out our review of TacPack, a cool tactical gear subscription box that includes a lot of different AR-15 parts each month!
