People have been trying to figure out a better way to get a grip on the end of long guns for a long time. Debates on how to hold the modern semi-automatic rifle have been raging for decades, and many different devices designed to get your support paw in the optimal position have hit the market. Mid-Evil Industry’s novel solution is the adjustable 360° RFG (Rotating Fore Grip).
The concept is simple enough that I’m surprised I haven’t seen it before. A rotating ball is held in place by an internal ring. The grip itself is two separate segments, and when you screw in the lower segment it puts pressure on the ring to hold the ball joint in place in any position. It’s an elegant little piece of engineering, and it works great.
The ball joint allows you to set the grip at almost any angle. You could leave it straight down and vertical, or rotate it 90 degrees. Because it’s a ball, and not just a slot, you can rotate it in a wide cone around the bottom or side of handguard.
This allows the fore grip to be positioned for a much more natural angle for the support hand to grab. The end result is more comfort and less fatigue, especially in heavy or heavy recoiling rifles.
With a rotating head, my first concern was that it would come loose during recoil. I’ve now had the item for a few months, and I’ve tried it on several different rifle platforms. It seemed very steady when I held it near the top, or had a good hold on entire grip. But what about a poor position, where I was only able to just grab the bottom, or just using it as a thumb stop or hand stop?
Regardless of hand position, caliber, or type of weapon, the 360° RFG stayed put.
I regularly used my forward grip on my service M4 as a barrier stop or an impromptu mono-pod. Of course, those were solid, non-adjustable styles, unlike the Rotating Fore Grip. Since the RFG can move, I was interested to see if it would change position under recoil if used as a barrier stop.
It does, but not a lot. When I set the RFG behind a table or tree branch and leaned into it while it was in the full vertical position, it pushes back just a bit, but probably no more than 10 degrees. If I really leaned on it with all my weight, I could get it to move more, but I couldn’t get it to move under any normal firing situation.
When used as a mono-pod off my tailgate, it didn’t change position during recoil at all, regardless of if I used it on my heavier recoiling .458 SOCOM SBR or the lighter recoiling HK USC/UMP .45ACP conversion.
The grip itself is hollow and provides storage space for small objects. I keep a front sight key and ear plugs in just about all of my Magpul AR15 grips. Mid-Evil Industries is thoughtful enough to include the appropriately sized hex key tucked inside the grip already. That’s much appreciated. I’d keep that right in there, along with some foam ear plugs to keep the key from rattling around.
Mid-Evil Industries has thought through the product well, and gives you a lot of options. You can get the RFG with a Picatinny rail connect, like this one, or with M-Lok or KeyMod direct connections. It also comes in several different colors, as well a shorty version. That shorty version is probably perfect, and I’m betting would reduce or completely remove the ability for the grip to move when used as a barrier stop, simply because there is less leverage available.
Mid Evil Industries 360° RFG (Rotating Fore Grip)
7075 T-6 & 6061-T6 aluminum components
Black hard anodized finish
Cerakote available upon request
Storage compartment in handle
Lifetime Guarantee
MSRP: $109.95 ($129.95 in other colors)
Rating (out of five stars):
Overall * * * *
I can’t give it a full five stars because it did move a little when used as a barrier stop. The shorty version may stop that entirely. All in all, it’s a very well-built piece of kit that gives you a few different options, and an infinite number of positions. I dig it.
Seems really, really gimmicky for a hundred dollar accessory.
“Seems really, really gimmicky for a hundred dollar accessory.”
Ever noticed how most any machined metal accessory for an AR-pattern weapon is priced right around a hundred bucks? Especially flash hiders?
My issue is not with the price tag. It’s with the limited functionality versus the cost.
Overpriced for what it does.
but, but, but….I thought we all had to adopt the ” C-clamp” method of holding our rifles….didn’t they get the memo???
No, No, No! I will never do that stupid C-crap grip.
Nice but pricey. Also, can’t have it in NY, so there’s that excuse.
Nor California either, afaik, though to be fair, I think the statute only specifies vertical foregrips.
AH HAH!! A loophole!!
Does the CA statute define “vertical”? What is vertical? Is 89 degrees to the “horizontal” still vertical? What about 88 degrees? 87? 86? …
What is the “horizontal”?
Except CA’s new direction includes any part (springs, sights, deflectors, ad infinitum).
If you are a conservative in CA… vote Travis Allen, and Bailey for Attorney General.
If you are a liberal and live in any of the rural counties, remember that the leadership of our state has not cared a whit about what you want because you don’t live in a major metro zone. Therefore, your rights have been infringed just like those of conservatives. It’s time for a change. Fight for your rights back.
Totally legal in NY if you pin your mag and load with a mean arms / bear flag defense speed loader through the ejection port.
OK, so now there’s a ‘Brody Knob’ for your rifle?
(That’s what I know ’em as, as an add-on steering wheel nob, so you can crank the wheel over fast, handy on old trucks that have many full wheel rotations left-to-right.)
In all honesty, like a small round doorknob would be more ergonomic…
“In all honesty, like a small round doorknob would be more ergonomic…”
I spoke too soon –
” It also comes in several different colors, as well a shorty version. That shorty version is probably perfect,…”
WE ALL NEED POTATO GRIPS!!!!! JOIN THE POTATO ARMY!!!!!!! ALL HAIL THE POTATO!!!!!!!!!
(note: potato grips not provided. also do not eat.)
I think I’d turn it out to the left side, for a sten style grip. Speaking of that, I sure wish more guns would consider side fed mags like that.
holding on the magazine of a sten would warp it and cause it to not feed and fall out. nobody really held that way.
Oh I’m sure some people did, which is how they found out it doesn’t work…
Where else would you put your hand? The “fore end” if you could call it that, seems like it would get way too hot to hold.
Another Taylor esoterica review.
Yawn…
I’ve used camera mounts that work like that. They all become loose if you futz with them too much. Recoil, the weight of your hand, and whatever forces you apply seem to make loosening of this item inevitable.
I really like the adjustability. As soon as I decide on Keymod or M-Lok, I’ll be ordering.
The Mall Ninjas are going to be all over this stupid thing
a good first step. while i don’t like this specific design the potential is quite large. can’t wait for others to start with their own versions.
Nice article!
You made a very deep review.Thank’s for that.A lot’s new and interesting thing for me
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