Favorite AR Pistol Stabilizer/Brace

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luzyfuerza

luzyfuerza

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I've seen several versions of forearm stabilizers/braces for AR pistols on the market. The KAK Shockwave and Shockwave V2, SB Tactical's SOB, SBA3, PDW, and SBM4, the original SIG brace, and Maxim's CQB, among them. I'm sure there are others.

For those of you who have used AR pistol stabilizer/braces, which do you like and why do you like them?

Are there any that you've tried and wouldn't recommend?
 
I'm still rocking the old Sig brace on one (I didn't throw mine away when everyone else did) and the Gear Head Works Tailhook 2 on another.

https://www.gearheadworks.com/

That's all I have, so I guess those are my favorite.

I like the Tailhook a bit better out of the two because of its ability to be switched around, solid construction and the fact that it isn't squishy like the Sig brace. They both work though.
 
kBob said:
I have been wondering if any rubber walking cane tips might fit the tube to protect it and get rid of the fins all together.

-kBob
Click to expand...
They worked for me when I just had a bare tube. Bought them at CVS in the cane section.

The braces help though.

The cane tip doesn't do much except allow it to be propped up without falling.

IMG_7028.JPG
 
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The KAC shockwave seems to be the best made one from the models I have examined- rigid material, adjustable.
 
I have nearly bought the sba3 brace, but it's $100, and for a mere $150 more I can just sbr the gun. I just keep thinking that we are 1 inevitable opinion letter under an unfriendly administration away from the braces going bye bye. Or sooner when some double barrel ninny uses one in a high profile tragedy.
 
I've tried a couple on friends guns and went with this for my (still incomplete) build:

1Clh4Mj.jpg

K6uCEtB.jpg

The Maxim Defense PDW brace with JP silent spring buffer. It takes some additional length off the overall and has positions from 5.375" to 9.24". I've shot it on one of my other uppers and it's surprisingly comfortable.
 
I've already SBR'd a lower to go under my shorty uppers, but I'm looking for the pistol brace to put on a new pistol lower to use when I want to take these shorties out of state. Say for training. Easier and faster than getting a "mother-may-I" slip from the BATFE.

I may get a dummy tube for my SBR'd scorpion, and use the brace on that gun for the same reason.
 
greyling22 said:
I have nearly bought the sba3 brace, but it's $100, and for a mere $150 more I can just sbr the gun. I just keep thinking that we are 1 inevitable opinion letter under an unfriendly administration away from the braces going bye bye. Or sooner when some double barrel ninny uses one in a high profile tragedy.
Click to expand...

If braces go bye bye, then I can go ahead and SBR. Until then getting all the utility for $150 less with no 6 - 12 month wait time and no mother-may-I ATF requirements to cross state lines is pretty attractive.

I can stomach doing the stupid NFA song and dance again, but it's got to be for something with no good non-NFA substitutes, like another can.
 
I like the Kak brace. V2 even better.

The NFA thing really isn’t so burdensome. Fill out a couple papers, get finger printed, and be patient. Takes me longer to drive to the sheriff’s office to be printed than any of the rest of the process - whole thing takes less than an hour for me. Then it’s just patience to wait for the stamp to come back.
 
Varminterror said:
I like the Kak brace. V2 even better.

The NFA thing really isn’t so burdensome. Fill out a couple papers, get finger printed, and be patient. Takes me longer to drive to the sheriff’s office to be printed than any of the rest of the process - whole thing takes less than an hour for me. Then it’s just patience to wait for the stamp to come back.
Click to expand...

Of course the paperwork isn't tough (although it is annoying), it's the part where you pay your money and can't use your possession for 6 months to a year depending on when the .gov gets around to the 10 min task of processing your application that bothers me. Not one person would volunteer to go through the NFA process if it wasn't required. While I already have my 4th and 5th suppressor buys planned out, I can't see a good reason to put in the time and money for an SBR, when I can get 95% of the utility from a good brace and not have to ask permission to cross state lines.
 
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Gtscotty said:
Not one person would volunteer to go through the NFA process if it wasn't required.
Click to expand...

Nobody would pay taxes if it wasn’t required. Nobody would take heart medication if they didn’t need it. Nobody would breathe if they wouldn’t die without air...

NFA items aren’t for everybody. I like chocolate ice cream, don’t really care if anyone else does. But it’s either a lie or extreme laziness to complain about the “arduous process” required to get NFA stamps.
 
Gtscotty said:
...it's the part where you pay your money and can't use your possession for 6 months to a year depending on when the .gov gets around to the 10 min task of processing your application that bothers me.
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That’s why you start with a pistol and a goofy-looking brace. So you can use your gun while waiting on the paperwork.

Gtscotty said:
...I can't see a good reason to put in the time and money for an SBR, when I can get 95% of the utility from a good brace and not have to ask permission to cross state lines.
Click to expand...
I get that it’s a matter of personal preference, and that one person’s tolerance for the BS of the process is different than another’s.

One of the two firearms below literally never gets used. It's just a parking lot for a short upper. And whichever upper is being shot gets moved to the SBR lower. In fact, the goofy-looking brace came off, and the pistol lower is just sporting a bare tube now.

I couldn’t tell you today how long it took ATF to process the paperwork. That was more than a decade ago. But I’m glad that I went to the bother to have a more shootable short rifle. I’ve enjoyed it for several years.

I’ve got a number of NFA guns. I just file travel papers every year for any state that I think I might visit in the coming year. That way I’m usually covered to just pick up and go.

It’s not for everyone, and I get that. Just my experience and take on things.

uQAZzhfh.jpg
 
Varminterror said:
Nobody would pay taxes if it wasn’t required. Nobody would take heart medication if they didn’t need it. Nobody would breathe if they wouldn’t die without air...
Click to expand...

How is that list relevant to the point of whether it's worth it to go though the PIA to get an SBR as opposed to just buying a brace? My point was that going through the NFA process is obviously enough of a hassle that no one would do it willingly, begging the question of is it worth it for AR SBRs when good non-NFA alternatives are readily and immediately available.

Varminterror said:
NFA items aren’t for everybody. I like chocolate ice cream, don’t really care if anyone else does. But it’s either a lie or extreme laziness to complain about the “arduous process” required to get NFA stamps.
Click to expand...

NFA items obviously are for me, at least, suppressors are. The only mention of an "arduous process" I see in this thread is in your post, who are you suggesting is either lying or extremely lazy? Or is that just a straw man?
 
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