Given the endless selection of parts and accessories for AR-15s, there are a few philosophies you can follow when building your own AR-15. It all depends on your intended purpose. Some of us want a truck gun, a weapon that we don’t mind getting knocked around a bit. Many shooters build their own AR to milk the performance to price ratio as much as they can. Then there are those who are interested in the finer things. You hear the term ‘mil-spec’ thrown around as though it was the highest accolade. The fact is that if you have a bit, or a lot, more money to splash out, you can build an AR-15 that makes any ‘mil-spec’ weapon look like something from Mattel.
Bomb-proof design and construction
If that sounds like you, you’re going to want to take a look at the Mod Grip V2 from Tyrant Designs. We’re talking a God-mode pistol grip here. This isn’t your grandpa’s hollow polymer tube. It’s a top-of-category machined aluminum unit. It is skeletonized, but not in a form-over-function way. This is a pistol grip which gives you head-turning aesthetics because of, not despite functionality. You get five color options too, black, grey, and three bright color schemes that remind me of ‘Kill Bill.’ The skeletonization means that, despite bomb-proof aluminum construction, we’re talking a mere 3.95 ounces.
So the Mod Grip V2 checks the boxes for rock-solid construction and lightweight design. But what really makes or breaks an AR-15 grip is the comfort and ergonomics. Here too, the Mod Grip V2 gives no quarter. It follows the trend in favor of reduced angle grips. That is just a logical evolution. There’s nothing comfortable about cocking your wrist at a downward angle as with older grip designs.
Every other design decision that has gone into the comfort and design of this grip is simply astute. There are a lot of problematic grip features out there. We’re all built a bit differently; finger grooves get in the way as often as they improve the grip, so Tyrant has wisely foregone them here. Likewise, texturing is a matter of personal taste. It’s more of a thing on polymer grips, and contentious even there. Tyrant has skipped texturing on the V2 in favor of soft rubber on the front and back strap. You couldn’t ask for a more positive grip.
Outstanding comfort and ergonomics
The overall geometry of the V2 certainly helps in this. I’d describe the grip as beefy, though the skeletonization precludes any palm swells. In fact, the V2 is a bit recessed on the sides to save weight. Despite that, it has a very well-thought-out profile. On the back, the soft rubber has some very broad, chevron-shaped ribbing to lock into your palm. On the front, there’s a smooth detent just below the trigger guard. From there, you get a perfect angle and heft running down to its handsomely recessed base. The skeletonized V2 may look like latticework, but it feels as solid as an I-beam in your hand. All the edges are beveled and chamfered for perfect comfort.
We’ve all had guns with grips that had their own little quirks and annoyances, those little edges and things you get used to but wish you didn’t have to. The V2 is the antidote to that. It feels like steel and air at the same time. This is what you want, a grip that does its job so smoothly, you’d forget it’s there if the experience wasn’t such a sea change.
Drop-in installation
A lot of the time, getting a top-of-the-line component means installation is going to be involved, to say the least, if not a job for a professional. The considered design of Tyrant’s Mod Grip V2 doesn’t stop short of ease of installation. The unit comes with everything you need, hardware, and an Allen key. This is a drop-in unit for any AR-15, AR-10, or related weapon. It’s deeply ribbed to help the process go smoothly.
When only the best will do
If you haven’t figured it out already, I’m a big fan of the V2 from Tyrant Designs. Fire control groups, pistol grips, and stocks are the key points where the shooter interfaces with his or her weapon. These are the components you should focus on in any AR-15 build or upgrade. Chances are you’ll increase your accuracy as much or more than if you splashed out for a high-end match barrel. Plus, the whole experience of shooting will be elevated.
As with every AR component, there are endless options out there for pistol grips, but you will not do better than the V2. I challenge you to get this grip in your hand and not say to yourself, ‘yeah, this is what the doctor ordered, this is going on my gun.’ Plus, you’ll be supporting a great company. This isn’t just another parts maker. These are the guys who invented the skeletonized pistol grip. Chicago-based Tyrant offers a lifetime warranty on all its products, which are made in the USA.
