Best AR-15 & AK-47 Featureless Grips [CA & NY Compliant]
We've been shooting featureless in CA for years. Here's our favorite grips that shoot great, look semi-normal, and will keep your AR & AK legal.
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Want to go featureless but want your AR or AK to still look and feel half-way decent?
I've been building and shooting featureless rifles for years...because I love that real magazine release (and use of regular capacity magazines).
I still haven't found the "perfect" featureless grips, but here are my favorite ones for different purposes and budgets.
Let's first quickly go over some legal stuff before diving into them!
The Quick List
- Most Comfortable: Juggernaut Tactical GripJump to Details ↓
- Editor's Pick AR Grip: Strike Industries MegaFinJump to Details ↓
- Most Affordable AR Grip: Strike Industries Simple AR GripJump to Details ↓
- Stock Option: Thordsen Customs AR-15 StockJump to Details ↓
- Best AK Grip: Strike Industries Simple AK GripJump to Details ↓
Table of Contents
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What's a Pistol Grip?
I go over the legal stuff for California and New York much more in-depth in our Guide to Featureless AR-15 Builds.
Disclaimer that this is not legal advice and you should double-check everything, especially since the laws surrounding this always seem to be in flux.
For California...one of the main cosmetic features of an assault weapon is a "pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon" (PC 30515 (a)(1))
Ok...kind of vague.
A "pistol grip" is defined on page 80 of the 2001 Assault Weapons ID Guide (pdf) as "A grip that allows for a pistol style grasp in which the web of the trigger hand (between the thumb and index finger) can be placed below the top of the exposed portion of the trigger while firing."
Cool.
At least California has a definition. New York sticks with the "protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon."
But now you know why the grips you're going to see are a little funky so they don't count as an evil feature.
Without further ado...
Best AR-15 Featureless Grips
Juggernaut Tactical
The newest entry and probably the most comfortable. I have one in for testing so I'll update with pictures and more in-person tips next...but tons of people swear by theirs!
The best part of this one is that it lets you still use your regular safety without going the ambidextrous route.
Plus it's aluminum instead of polymer like all the others.
Strike Industries MegaFin
I upgraded all my older grips to the Strike MegaFin.
I made the switch because it had a thumbshelf on the right side.
Your entire hand is still on the right side...but now you get TONS more support.
Overall looks were better compared to the Hammerhead and grip fins too. The left side was very normal (sorry lefties).
But it wasn't all fun and games.
Since all your digits are on the right side...you'll need an ambi-safety. But the position of the thumbshelf got in the way of traditional ambis.
And since it's ill-advised to modify the grip...I went and reversed my Seekins safety.
Instead of flipping down...you would flip up. I also ground down the sharp "arrow" part of it so it wouldn't touch my thumb.
It took a little practice...but it became second nature and was easy to disengage at the buzzer...and even re-engage at the end of a string.
One of my favorite solutions at the moment especially if you want to shoot and move at the same time...or move quicker between targets.
Strike Industries Simple AR Grip
Strike is really on point with their featureless grips. If you want the current most affordable grip...get their Simple AR Grip.
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Thordsen Stock
The Thordsen Stock was also from a while back...and were really effective by giving you an almost regular pistol grip experience.
But it looked weird...and was not great in the cheekweld department since you only had this tube.
I'm a cheekweld connoisseur and it just wouldn't cut it. Check out Best AR-15 Buttstocks to see my favorites.
Plus...they are still around for a cheaper price now.
Now, what you've been waiting for...
Resurgent Arms Grip
The newest grip I've been using is the Resurgent Arms.
My first thought was "hmm, that doesn't look too bad."
Then when I finally got to try one...I fell in love.
Why?
Because you got to get your thumb on the other side...and didn't scrape up your web in the process.
Plus, you could hit the safety selector.
And...check out this gold end plate...it's beveled for your comfort.
Of course...you can just use a few layers of duct tape over a regular end plate too. I tried it...looks ugly but works fine.
Now I had a nice steady grip around my rifle.
It definitely helped my shooting on the move and transition speed.
And another video of our social guy, John, shooting with the Resurgent grip.
However, there's still some things to consider.
First, that end plate is $35.
And second...it's hard to re-engage the safety when it's down.
Good thing here is that Resurgent has an extended safety latch.
Here is the V1 installed...and it works great.
Highly recommend if you want to run & gun and need to flip your safety on and off.
Their latest V2 latch is even better with a more positive shelf grip.
The ability to choose the side and leave the other side with an indicator...
And lastly...a much more positive sounding/feeling switch.
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One thing to consider is your length of pull gets pushed out a little because of the grip.
It's not that noticeable for me since I have average length fingers. But it can be a problem for those with stubbier digits.
For that I would suggest getting an extended mag release like in the above video.
But considering all those things...the Resurgent Arms grip is still my favorite.
I reached out to them and they've set up a 10% off discount for Pew Pew Tactical readers. Use the link below to have it auto-added.
What's your take on Resurgent Arms?
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Now let's see some solutions for our AK brethren...
Best AK-47 Featureless Grips
Strike Industries Simple AK Grip
There's not too many...I like the Simple Grip.
Again...it just works and is affordable.
Conclusion
This one is pretty cut and dry for me.
If you want the bare-minimum to make your rifle legal in the pistol grip department for California or New York...check out Strike's Simple Grips.
If you want something that's pretty good in giving you a first grasp on your rifle and won't break the bank...try the Strike MegaFin.
There's tons more grips out there...let me know what else I should check out.
Need more info on how to make your AR featureless? We cover stocks, muzzle devices, and more in our Featureless Build Guide.