Favorite AR pistol braces and why

KAK Shockwave brace. It's light and simple.

I really like the SBA4. It's just a tad longer than most.

I put an SBA3 on a 8 position extended buffer tube and I have a full LOP. It is a very usable and comfortable pistol brace.

SBa3. Hands down, my favorite. Shockwaves are not a problem on a .223, wouldn't want to put one on a .308 or 12 gauge.

American_Fusilier said:

Nice looking gat! Is that a 300 blackout? That can is huge, looks like a 308 can.

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Yes 300 BO, 9-inch barrel with a AAC SDN-6 Suppressor (308 Win rated).

American_Fusilier said:

I've heard the Shockwave brace can get uncomfortable, have you found this to be the case?

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Yep. There's a plug for it now that helps. It's hardcore poking the bear, but so far so good.

mcb said:

I put an SBA3 on a 8 position extended buffer tube and I have a full LOP. It is a very usable and comfortable pistol brace.

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Who makes the extended buffer tube?

I started getting the parts in for my build yesterday. I have the lower together and went with a first generation Shockwave. I haven't shot it yet, but initial impressions are that I won't be using it for anything more than 5.56. Not to be a baby, but just pulling it tight into my shoulder, for lack of a better word, hurts. Well, not exactly my shoulder, but on my chest right near my shoulder. I'll see how it works out in use.

I went with the shockwave for a few reasons. It's light. It's about as light as you can get. When used with the proprietary buffer tube, it locks down tight. There is NO play. In my experience, just about anything that is readily adjustable is going to have some play in it and that drives me crazy. The only thing I've seen so far that is adjustable and has absolutely no play in it is the MagPul UBR. You can get them pretty cheap too. I paid $50 for the brace and tube. I didn't need the other stuff, I already had it.

I wanted to go light because that is my goal with this build. 10.5" Ballistic Advantage, MagPul MOE SL handguards and a carbon fiber lower. I want to be able to forget that I'm carrying this thing. My goal is to get it about the weight of my Rossi 92, which is what I hike around with now because my present ARs are just too uncomfortable to carry for long periods of time.

Tree Rat said:

Who makes the extended buffer tube?

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Unfortunately the maker is no longer making them. You can use a Magpul 10 position receiver extension for the M110/SR25 and put a .75 inch spacer in the bottom so the internal depth is correct for the M4.

I'm good with a padded buffer tube...no brace. Try it.

berettaprofessor said:

I'm good with a padded buffer tube...no brace. Try it.

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Forgive the stupid question, but does that pad cover the end of the tube or just the circumference?

I like mine okay...I wish it wouldn't rotate on the buffer tube..... but it's not a huge problem. It's still my favorite AR, hands down!

Armored farmer said:

I like mine okay...I wish it wouldn't rotate on the buffer tube..... but it's not a huge problem. It's still my favorite AR, hands down!
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Have you tried hair spay on the buffer tube? I've had good luck using extra hold hair spray on rubber motorcycle grips and with my SB braces.

American_Fusilier said:

So which brace is your favorite?

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The one, the only: used KAK Shockwaves from AR15.com. The shoe-of-the-month-club over at Barbie for Boyz is perpetually re-accessorizing their ARs, and you (could) pick up complete near-new Shockwave kits for $45 shipped.

You dont want to use a standard buffer tube with a brace. That will put you over the 13.5" LOP and it no longer classifies as a pistol

I’m sticking with the minimalist approach on my latest build but didn’t like the blade. I mean, I like it, but it’ll bite you.

I just ordered a phase 5 buffer tube that’s made for the sb mini. The tube has an anti rotation cut in it. We’ll see how it works out.

once0217 said:

You dont want to use a standard buffer tube with a brace. That will put you over the 13.5" LOP and it no longer classifies as a pistol

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That 13.5 LOP restriction is currently not enforceable since it has never been a publicly released ruling. The one case where the ATF tried to use it against a defendant the judge in the case threw it out of court.

SBA3 for me. Great quality, easy to use, plenty of LOP for me along with a good cheek weld. You get what you pay for.


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mcb said:

That 13.5 LOP restriction is currently not enforceable since it has never been a publicly released ruling. The one case where the ATF tried to use it against a defendant the judge in the case threw it out of court.

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Good to know. I was unaware of this.

once0217 said:

Good to know. I was unaware of this.

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Yeah its one of those gray areas because there is a letter where the ATF has mentioned the 13.5-inch LOP in reference to pistol braces but it was a private letter the recipient choose to share publicly. Many took this as an official ruling, but it was not a properly vetted and released public ruling and thus when an ATF case against someone in Ohio attempted to reference this as part of the charges against him the judge look at it and threw it out as unenforceable as released.

That is not to say another agent wont try that again. Or at some point in the future the ATF will make it official by jumping through the required hoops to do so.

To those of you that like the SBA3; Have you tried the SBA4 and if so why do you prefer the SBA3?

Gearhead Works Tailhook. Not even a contest IMO.