Drill and tap magwell ar15

[hnusz]

Will it affect the structural integrity of the magwell on an ar15 if I drill and tap it for a rail? The reason is I have not found a forward grip that I like and the magwell is to close to be comfortable. So I thought if I can get a rail on the magwell I can make my own grip that works for me. Thanks

 

[lysanderxiii]

The walls are less than 0.10" thick, that's not a lot of material to thread into.

 

[Charlie98]

I've seen skeletonized magwells, so I don't think it's a structural issue... but I agree with xiii... there's not much there to start with.

Also... I'm having a hard time envisioning what you want to do... and why. Can you not just mount a rail at the rear of the forearm, close to the magwell?

 

[Varminterror]

Yes, removing material will reduce the strength of the magwell.

No, the magwell is not designed with a minimum safe design factor for its structural or dynamic load. Folks have been “skeletonizing” AR mag wells with no ill consequence for as long as there have been civilian AR’s. Throwing a few screw holes into the magwell won’t cause failure of your lower.

That said, threading into the thin wall of the magwell isn’t the best opportunity.

AND… magwell grip really isn’t the best technique. To each their own, but I would advise against modifying the firearm in an unfavorable means to enable an unfavorable technique.

 

[hnusz]

Wanting a vertical grip for a more secure hold on rifle. The ones that stick straight down don't work they are not comfortable. The angled ones have to much angle. So I figured I would just make one and attach it to the magwell. Probably just as easy or easier to attach to the hand guard.

 

[12Bravo20]

Normally you want twice the thread length versus thread diameter for proper hold. If the thread length is equal to or less than thread diameter then there is a greater chance of stripping the threads out. I would not want 0.100" threads to hold a handle that will see sideways torque.

 

[Varminterror]

The ones that stick straight down don't work they are not comfortable. The angled ones have to much angle.

What, in particular, are you doing with the rifle for which vertical grips and angled grips - which work for tens or hundreds of thousands of other shooters, maybe millions - won’t work?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I attached a pic rail on my fore guard with JB weld and set screws. I did put mine forward for a bi-pod though. Not the JB quick. It's not as strong.

 

[citizenconn]

Have you considered one of these grips that attaches to the magwell instead? They are a lot of them so these are just an example of the variety available and they are pretty easy to install.

 

[bearcreek]

Probably just as easy or easier to attach to the hand guard.

Yes, quite a lot easier, since it was designed for it. I'm not really following where you'd attach a rail to a mag well that would then allow you to attach a vertical grip.

 

[lysanderxiii]

. . . . magwell grip really isn’t the best technique. To each their own, but I would advise against modifying the firearm in an unfavorable means to enable an unfavorable technique.

Sez, you! I may have a different opinion!

And, neither of us are "right". To quote the conclusions of Quantifying Soldier Shooting Performance of the M4 Carbine with and without a Vertical Grip: . . . "there were no significant differences in any of the weapon configurations M4 with and without a vertical grip in either the reflexive or aimed firing postures, suggesting that perhaps the use of a vertical grip should be left to the discretion of each user."

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

Sez, you! I may have a different opinion!

And, neither of us are "right". To quote the conclusions of Quantifying Soldier Shooting Performance of the M4 Carbine with and without a Vertical Grip: . . . "there were no significant differences in any of the weapon configurations M4 with and without a vertical grip in either the reflexive or aimed firing postures, suggesting that perhaps the use of a vertical grip should be left to the discretion of each user."

The vertical grip, on the M4 in the quoted study, isn't attached to nor near the magwell.

 

[bearcreek]

Sez, you! I may have a different opinion!

And, neither of us are "right". To quote the conclusions of Quantifying Soldier Shooting Performance of the M4 Carbine with and without a Vertical Grip: . . . "there were no significant differences in any of the weapon configurations M4 with and without a vertical grip in either the reflexive or aimed firing postures, suggesting that perhaps the use of a vertical grip should be left to the discretion of each user."

There's no mention of a magwell grip in that document.

 

[Charlie98]

The ones that stick straight down don't work they are not comfortable. The angled ones have to much angle.

I actually kind of understand what you are wanting, now... and I had very much the same interest when I built my first carbine. I put a mini vertical grip on mine, but I wound up just jamming my hand into it, rather than using it as a grip, per se. Friend of mine had a Magpul angled grip, and while it was OK, aesthetics aside, I liked my setup better. In your case, if I'm understanding you right... you could mount it back on the forearm and shoot it that way, it would also keep your hand away from the magwell... I'm not a big fan gripping the magwell.

 

[hnusz]

Its uncomfortable to grip the forearm age is catching up with me. The straight up and down grip is uncomfortable also. Was looking for something with a slight angle but have not found one yet so I figured I'd just make one myself.

 

[Varminterror]

There's no mention of a magwell grip in that document.

There are photos of 1) a soldier shooting with their hand on the magwell, 2) the VFG mounted very near the magwell.

 

[kwb377]

Also... I'm having a hard time envisioning what you want to do... and why.

Same here. OP says neither a vertical nor angled grip will work...that leaves horizontal. Most horizontal grips are just called "handguards".

 

[lysanderxiii]

The vertical grip, on the M4 in the quoted study, isn't attached to nor near the magwell. View attachment 1133660

Who said the vertical grip had to be near the magazine well?

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

Who said the vertical grip had to be near the magazine well?

The comment you replied to was referring to using the magwell as the grip.

 

[lysanderxiii]

There's no mention of a magwell grip in that document.

Quote:

" . . . This may be due in part to the stable position assumed by most subjects with respect to the supporting hand, where they would often brace it against the magazine well (as shown clearly in Fig. 5) . . .

 

[gotboostvr]

Can the OP mock up what his end goal is in either MS Paint or Photoshop?

I'm not saying it's a bad idea or a good idea until I can visualize it a little better.

We might be able to offer other alternatives as well, depending on exactly what he's looking for.

 

[tarosean]

Will it affect the structural integrity of the magwell on an ar15 if I drill and tap it for a rail? The reason is I have not found a forward grip that I like and the magwell is to close to be comfortable. So I thought if I can get a rail on the magwell I can make my own grip that works for me. Thanks

why not run a full rail?

 

[hnusz]

I will see what I can come up with for a mock up. Thinking angle similar to the angle on a 1911. I want it help pull rifle tight to shoulder

 

[hnusz]

This is the rifle

 

[tarosean]

If that is the gun all you need is MLOK rail adapters to move the VFG however you want.