Do you, like many gun owners, suffer from recoil fatigue? If so, you’re (obviously) not alone. But that doesn’t mean you necessarily need to upgrade your handgun to a sporting rifle or some other shoulder-mounted arm.
There are shooting accessories out there that are designed to make it easier to shoot a handgun platform with one hand, without the need to drastically alter the gun.
Take, for example, pistol braces – here’s what you need to know about them.
What Is a Pistol Brace?
A pistol brace is an attachment that secures at the rear of the gun (in the case of AR pistols, to the buffer tube), typically a handgun or an AR pistol, that allows it to be fired one-handed without the need for extra added support. Evidently, pistol braces were originally designed for shooters with disabilities, but shooters across the industry have responded favorably to the improved ergonomics, stability, and of course, the diminished recoil.
This has made pistol braces impressively popular. Depending on the estimates you trust, there are between 3 million and 40 million pistol braces in the United States – although there could be more.
They are typically made of either plastic or metal such as aluminum. Oftentimes, they are skeletonized, which helps keep them lightweight. Many pistol braces are also made with M-LOK slots to which attachments, accessories, and adapters can be mounted. In that manner, they can serve as an expansion point for the platform.
For others, braces are a way to personalize the firearm, as many of them are brightly colored. However, the chief benefits of braces are functional.
Why Do People Use Pistol Braces?
Pistol braces offer much more than a simple expansion of an AR pistol platform or another handgun. They deliver a number of marked benefits for shooters, including the following.
● More confident handling, greater accuracy:
AR pistols and other handguns can be heavy and unwieldy, especially for lighter and smaller framed shooters. In lieu of a proper stock, a pistol stabilizing brace can offer a sort of stabilizer to the platform, making it easier to keep the sights trained on the target and prevent them from wandering.
● Diminished recoil:
Another very large advantage of pistol braces is that they help control recoil. For some shooters, recoil fatigue is a genuine concern and it not only diminishes enjoyment at the range but also causes fatigue which can cripple accuracy after a short period of time. Braces help shooters absorb recoil more efficiently, staving off fatigue.
● Less muzzle jump:
Even for shooters that are not subject to the ravages of recoil and recoil-induced fatigue, muzzle jump is a big concern. The more powerful the cartridge, the more the muzzle will flip with each shot. A brace can help keep muzzle flip under control, especially in the absence of a compensator or muzzle brake (depending on what you’re shooting).
● Better balance:
Finally, AR-15 pistols and other handguns can be a little bit front-loaded, meaning that the point of balance is farther forward on these platforms than on larger, shoulder-mounted arms.
Admittedly, pistol braces are typically very light, but they do still shift the center of gravity of the affected platform slightly to the rear, which can improve balance.
Do Any Sellers Still Provide Pistol Braces?
Braces have made headlines recently as the ATF has reorganized its definition of short-barreled rifles and is using a “points” system to determine whether or not a weapon can be considered an NFA weapon.
Nonetheless, some suppliers still sell pistol braces for a wide variety of platforms. Consider MCS Gearup online at MCSGearup.com. Check out their collection and get in touch with them at [email protected] if you have any questions.
