Get a Grip!
December 15, 2006|
Submitted by Chris Willden
I bought the Grip pod from www.strategictacticalgroup.com and loved it. It is a front grip that attaches to the rail system on your M16/M4 and a bipod that is spring loaded inside the grip. Push a button and it "pops" out and you have an instant bipod. It's great. Best $150 I spent during my time in the military.
Huum, you "bought it" from STG huh?, couldn't have anything to do with it being your company now could it?, Nothing wrong with ADVERTISING your little business, just don't try to bull **** us when you are doing it.
Yeah I got a coin.
Posted by: James | January 07, 2007 at 07:44 PM
I can't believe you spent your own money for something you need on the job. You can order it through the Supply system with NSN 1005-01-541-1772. $150 is way too much for the GRIPPOD.
Posted by: ITS | January 10, 2007 at 10:33 PM
I'll expand on this too. CHEESE!!! as of yet there are no cases of carple tunnel sydrome from firing the M16/M4 in either training or combat. ispent two years in iraq and can convey my personal experience. the more extensions you put on your rifle, the more apt you'll be to hang said ext when you least need it. ie...urban combat. now you may be able to sell me on this if you were static for long periods on overwatch, but never when manuevering in contact. a nice asthetic piece but lacking functionality. i'm actuall having fun with this at 1 a.m.
Posted by: Dougherty | January 11, 2007 at 12:45 AM
A couple things:
ITS - I don't know what military you belong to that you get everything you need from the supply system. Sure, you can get the bare minimum, not the good stuff, and not what makes you comfortable - which is why there are places like Tactical Tailor and Ranger Joes and Blackhawk that make all this gear.
Second, not everybody does the same job. Some guys were stuck in towers for their entire tour, others stayed at the FOB doing paperwork, others cleared rooms - not every piece of gear is good for every job. Pesonally, though, I agree that it looks like it would be more of a liability than asset - anything "spring loaded with the press of a button" sounds like trouble. Pressing that button at the wrong time could get you killed. (which is my problem with push button taclights too)
Posted by: Kinsella | January 18, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Hey, I'm not sure if this would work the same, but Airsplat has the same thing for $20. Here is the link:
http://www.airsplat.com/Items/AC-UPE-Bi-ST06B.htm
Posted by: Casey | January 20, 2007 at 04:16 PM
Good catch by James (post at 1/7, 7:44). Oddly enough, Chris works for Strategic Tactical Group - of course he'll tell us it's the best thing. Makes me wonder if he was ever in the military.
I notice since James' post that any contact info with Chris' name has been removed from the STG web site. However, over web sites have identify the culprit (http://glockmeister.com/cgibin/Armorers/ilink.cgi?Category=Utah)
Posted by: Dirk | January 26, 2007 at 07:43 AM
My DPMS sure wouldn't be wearing something that springs out. Could get you wasted in a tight spot!
Posted by: Bernard L. Corbin | January 26, 2007 at 07:44 AM
Well, I can see both sides of this. While I can't blame Chris for wanting to promote his company's product, it's wrong to try and make it sound like he used it himself while in combat, and not mention he works for STG.
As to ITS' comment: The supply system is great, when it works. When I took my detachment to OIF, with three weeks notice, my Bn Cdr threw a fit when I asked if I had any limitations on where I could get needed equipment (from 35 yrs experience, I knew the local system would be out of what we needed, having already supplied other units). She advised me, "WE will provide you what you need; don't plan on going outside of our supply system." What I wanted was good flexible body armor for flight use. What they issued us was the backs (not even a complete set) of old WWVN-era chicken plate sets, the logic being that we could put them on our laps to protect our chests. Totally useless! We had to scrounge from the guys already in theater.
Long story short, if you need something in a hurry, the system won't have it. On the flip side of that, we don't want our troops spending their own money. End result, speed up our evaluation process. If something works well, get it to them faster!! JMTCW.
Posted by: CW5 Bob Arms | January 26, 2007 at 09:07 AM
We got these before we shipped off to Iraq the 3rd time...Biggest peice of crap...If you bumped them wrong the bipod shot out, plus using it as a bipod was hard too, only offered one position. Garbage..
Semper FI
Posted by: Nick | January 26, 2007 at 09:45 AM
I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SPEND 150 BUCKS ON THIS THING AND THEN I READ THE COMMENTS. IT SEEMS THERE IS ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE BUT I WASN'T. THE COMMENT FROM THE MARINE IS ALL I NEED. HAVING BEEN A FORMER MARINE JET PILOT I TAKE WHAT ANOTHER MARINE SAYS CONCERNING STUFF THAT HELPS YOU WHEN IN HARMS WAY AS GOSPEL MARINES ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. SO IN SHORT IF YOU HAD ADVERTISED YOU RPODUCT AS WHAT IT REALLY IS CAPABLE OF DOING, WHAT ARE THE BENIFITS AND THE POSSIBLE DOWN SIDES, I WOULD HAVE WEIGHED THE FACTS AND MADE A DECESION ON THOSE RATHER THAN HYPE. SO FOR NOW I AM TELLING YOU THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS THAT HURT YOU OR SAVE YOUR ASS THE TRUTH, WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT COMPANIES LIKE DYNCORPS, HALIBUTTON AN OTHERS ARE MAKING HUGH PROFITS OFF OF OTHERS SUFFERING BUT TO LIE TO OUR OWN TROOPS AND THEN SAY YOU SUPPORT THEM, BY SELLING ITEMS THAT YOU KNOW ARE INFERIOR IS TRULY SHOWING YOU AND YOUR COMPANY IS LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ASS AND ITS YOURS NOT OUR TROOPS. MAKING BAD LOANS TO SOLIDERS AND SELLLING JUSK TO THEM FOR HARD EARNED MONEY IS TANTAMOUNT TREASON AND ALL THE FOLKS IN THE AFTER MARKET "TACTICAL SUPPLIES MARKET THAT SELL STUFF THATS NO GOOD SHOULD BE GIVEN THE SAME JUSTICE AS THE PEOPLE AT ENRON AND SADAM HIMSELF.........SORRY BUT YOU JUST LOST A GOOD POTENTIAL CUSTOMER BECAUSE YOU CARE MORE ABOUT YOUR BOTTOM LINE THAN TELLING THE TRUTH TO TROOPS AND POSSIBLEY GETTING SOMEONE KILLED BECAUSE YOU SELL UNTESTED, UNPROVEN, JUNK. I THOUGHT MOST EVERYONE IS UTAH WERE MORMANS AND WAS TOLD THAT MORMANS ARE GOOD BUSINESS PEOPLE BUT THEY ALWASY TELL THE TRUTH SO I GUESS YOU MUST BE A TRASPLANT OR AN ARAB OR MAYBE OPERATING A SLEEPER CELL OF LIARS AND CHEATS. THE MEANING OF INTERGRITY IS VERY CLEAR, LEARN IT USE AND SELL MOR BY TELLING THE TRUTH AND THEN BACKING IT UP!
RESPECTFULLY, MY OPNION
Posted by: p. eric august | January 26, 2007 at 01:05 PM
The fact that military.com featured this item in it's email new's is disturbing.
No Crap Please.
I'll pass on the push button spring loaded fleamarket trash, thanks.
I can design a better grip/pod by just commenting on this. Infact I just did, however. I'm not giving the designs to some weekend warrior airsoft champs that want to cash in while putting our troops in danger. Thanks.
Posted by: Joseph | January 26, 2007 at 01:14 PM
MMM looking at it the only thing I'd use something like this for is on a C9 (you guys M249) it would be good advantage to have the Urban role handle with the open country and open area Bi pod factor. Back to the drawing board brother then I'd consider
Posted by: Aj | January 26, 2007 at 04:55 PM
hummmm an airsoft gun part? or a funky looking bipod...only bipods I've ever had the pleasure of using were an M-2's and M60 and the replacement for the 60 which I can't remember and once just once a bipod for a 16. Still...it looks kinda cheap. I think I'd buy one from a company that's better known.
Posted by: SSGChester | January 27, 2007 at 12:17 AM
im a marine and i play paintball. i have seen that same bipod/vertical grip on the S.C.A.R. and wanted it. i went looking for it and found it for 20 bucks.
Posted by: allan rod | January 27, 2007 at 12:20 AM
I also gotta say this. I was active duty back in the 80s. Did Desert Storm I and Bosnia with the Reserves. Got into the Guard in July 01. Got into a combat arms unit. Had a few guys who were prior service and now were cops. They had a lot of high speed neato torpedo gear. Lots of velcro..you could hear it a pretty good distance way when they opened..specially at night...hint hint..not a good thing. In fact some of them even gave a class on gear. Well I took my guys outside during a break and told them about deploying and just how much they could expect to carry. I told them to expect to get only 1 duffelbag. If you got more..gravey. Then I told them not to buy all this "hot stuff". Why? Well 1. you have to account for all your gear when you come back..you don't have it you pay for it. 2. Don't spend your money on all this stuff because most of it was not meant for the long haul. Some, but not all. I mean...do you really want a wrap around object in black in a desert enviorment? Absords heat just to start so enough of that. And if it looks good in the movies..think about it..it's a movie not real life. Well someone was passing by while I was talking to my guys. He stopped and listened. It was the CO. Next thing ya know we're back in the class and he tells everyone it is not mandatory to buy these things but you can get them if you want. Go figure. So to sum it all up...THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE AND HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO CARRY AND IF YO LOOSE IT WILL YOU CRY OVER IT?
Posted by: SSGChester | January 27, 2007 at 12:26 AM
Now that we know it's crap as well as dangerous and probably noisy as hell if bumped also what can we do to improve it? To get a safer deployment of the bipod and a lower shooting (target)profile in the prone position the grip itself could "split" in half to form the bipod with a simple clip at the bottom. As the one poster said, this can be used for overwatch or engaging long range targets...?
Posted by: Joe McEvoy, USMC/USAF | January 28, 2007 at 01:29 PM
Personally, I don't like this thing. It's one thing to buy some custom pouches to attach to your vest, buy fancy goggles or glasses instead of using what is issued, or shell out for a big ass knife because you like to think it makes you look bad ass. All of those things are all fine and dandy for the Privates who have too much disposable income and want to look high speed.
But when it comes to attaching things to the weapons, I draw the line. Unless it is tested and proven, I don't want it on my weapon, and I certainly don't want it on a Private's weapon. Simple is usually better.
I carried the SAW for a long time, and always had issues with the bipod. Sure, it's great when you're in a fixed position, but the moment you have to move, you've got issues. Why would you want to add issues to the M16 or M4? You're causing more problems than you are solving.
Posted by: SGTKinsella | January 29, 2007 at 08:17 AM
you can get the same type of grippod on Ebay for about 50 bucks plus shipping, i have one and love it to death, fits my M4 rail, is solid, legs spring out and is unfortunately chinese manufactured but 1/3rd the price of the actual grippod. Its polymer and very sturdy, i was shooting with it and my ACOG scope at the range and shots were dead accurate, it was solid, sturdy and light.
Posted by: SSG James Pashia | January 30, 2007 at 07:37 AM
To add to my earlier post: it doesnt spring out if accidentally bumped, when open its very solid. they come in different colors. Its very light, you have to push the button in to get it to pop out. Its a great accessory to have, especially if you are already using a front grip. Having been Active Duty USMC before i wouldnt put my seal on it unless it was G2G. I am very big into firearms, etc. so when i say its a good deal, its good. its great for the Saw Gunners in that if they can mount it under the front, they dont have to worry about the integral bipod. they can leave it stowed unless they have to go down, then they can deploy it before they hit the ground, you cant do that with the one on the SAW. Additionally, all you have to do is pinch the two legs together and push up and the legs retract and lock into the grip. its very easy.
I have one and love it. if you havent owned one/ tried it, stop speculating. With shipping its cheaper than the Knights front grip everyone is putting on thier rifle. I look at it like this, nice to have and not need, but to need and not have, sucks.
I also took some electical tape and wrapped the handle where i attached the push button of a flashlight on the rail and you dont realize you have it til you need it. Its a good deal. Try it by clicking on the airsplat link above. you will thank me later.
Posted by: SSG Pashia | January 30, 2007 at 07:51 AM
My unit used these when we deployed to Afghanistan. We had a lot of experimental equipment. There are two versions of these, a metal one and a plastic one. We had the metal one. They actually worked rather well. We only broke two of them. One had a leg break off. The other broke the catch so it stayed open. Does everyone need one? No, most POG's don't need any high-speed gear. But most people are going to put either a bipod or ghetto grip on their weapon anyway. Why not have both in one? As far as not trusting anything with a push button, if you can control something on your weapon you shouldn't use it.
Posted by: SGT Max | February 21, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Our supply got some of these for our M249 gunners. Problem is they got the wrong ones. THere's an aluminum one built for the 249s and a polymer one for the M4. They gave us the polymer and every one broke the first time it was used in training. (At least it broke in training) THe few that were put on M4s are still functioning. I had the second one to break on the SAWs and I didn't even drop as hard as usual. They gave me a replacment and I put it on my M4 instead. I've used it in Urban, Convoy, and Dismounted Ops training and it's never got in the way...never really help in any of that either though. Only real plus I see to having it is that you don't have to lay your weapon in the sand, mud, water...if you need both hands and have it off the sling. Or if you spend a lot of time in a tower on force protection.
Posted by: tajiland | March 02, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Gotta say that in my field (MI), the only thing a bi-pod would be good for is getting a better score on the range. Not too many times a FOBBIT will be engaged or need something like that. Shoot, Move, Communicate. Moving means not staying in one position for too long right? IMO Bi-ods will subconciously make you want to set up in a good spot for that nice shot. Not for me...
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Posted by: aol | October 09, 2008 at 05:29 AM
I used this grip in Afghanistan... the push button faces forward and is at the very top of the grip... it takes a bit of a push on the button for the bipod to pop out.
For MOUT... well we did a couple of raids and it worked fine... like a normal handgrip and I never had it pop out accidentally or otherwise...
It did come in handy on OP's when you want to have good stability with your weapon when observing an area... it also lets set your weapon down in an upright position instead of on it's side which made keeping my M$ cleaner...
Posted by: Mike | October 17, 2008 at 08:08 PM