vertical forearm

[Alpo]

You see it on cop shows and military movies all the time. They got their m4 and it's got a vertical forearm.

 

You see them for sale. Vertical forearms that will clamp onto your AR and onto the pump handle of your shotgun.

 

Has anyone ever used one?

 

What did you think about it?

 

I have had one gun with a vertical forearm. Well, actually two, but I traded one in on the second one.

 

And after shooting it for about a year I took that vertical forearm off and put a horizontal forearm on it.

 

Maybe it's just because I'm used to there being a horizontal forearm on my firearms. But it was not helpful. It was not handy. If anything it was a pain in the butt.

 

Just soliciting others opinions.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

I agree with you, (I know, it scares me too). I've tried a couple and just couldn't get used to it. I had an M-4 type buttstock on my shotgun for a while too, but decided that I prefer the traditional style, however on my AR it's fine.

[Blackwater 53393]

I have one on my house shotgun, a Winchester 1200. It has a collapsible buttstock and an extended magazine as well.  
 

I set it up so that anyone in the house can use it and so it can be shot from multiple positions.  The forestock has tactical rails that are hard on soft hands, so the vertical grip was added for comfort and for leverage/purchase to more easily cycle the action.

 

It now holds ten standard 2 3/4” shells or or thirteen 2” shells.

 

[Sarge]

Had them on our Steyr AUGs.  They folded, so you could extend or fold them up. I liked them for CQB and prone.  

[watab kid]

OK , i have one on my M4 - its a crimson trace , i did not buy it i was given it by a person in the gun industry back in the early 2000s , ive never used it in any competition but i have shot with it , it works fine for what it is , if i had not been given it i wouldnt have it , i dont hang a lot on my ARs - somewhere i have a brass catcher ive only used at the range a couple times and a light that has never been installed on any rifle'carbine , 

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Winchester 1300 Defender purchased many years ago from SNC (Sorry No Civilians) located in the backroom of a sporting goods store.

The vertical forearm has a pressure switch for the Mini Mag Lite located in the thumb position.

 

  

[sassnetguy50]

Vertical grips force people's hands to a safe place.  No gripping the magazine tube or pinching a pinky.  It is probably best for a lot of actors.

 

On an AR, no thanks.  On a KSG with winter gloves on, yes please.  It feels easier on the wrist when the gun is pointed down at pests.  

[Stump Water]

I have a vertical grip on the AR.  

 

I have a 3x9 illuminated reticle scope as the main optic with a dot sight on a 45° offset mount as shown in this video.  I think the vertical grip makes the transition between sights more "positive". 

 

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

Had one on my AR when I first got it.  (I put a whole bunch of accessories on it that have mostly all come off it since).  I didnt care for the vertical foregrip too much.  I actually slide it back a bit and put my hand in front of it, kind of as a positive place to put my hand.  Then California stepped in to let us all know that vertical foregrips are evil and putting one on a rifle somehow converted said rifle into an "assault weapon".   I'm fully converted to "featureless" now.

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

My Thompson came with a vertical foregrip, but I think it only looks good with a drum so I swapped it for a horizontal grip when using stick magazines!

[John Kloehr]

I've used guns that had them, just felt too different to want to add one to any of my guns.

 

The only exception I might make at some point is if I build a "Commie Tommy." That would be a pistol caliber AK SBR with an FRT as a range toy. This project is stalled as I did not like any of drum mags.

Edited November 17, 2025 by John Kloehr
Otto

[J.D. Daily]

I bought one when one was on sale at a discounted price too good to pass on.  I put in on my AR-15 with Brownells 16" BRN-180 upper & lower with folding stock.  The BRN-180 doesn't require a buffer so it will fire with the stock folded.  I find the vertical grip improves aim with stock folded.

[Dapper Dave]

Yes, I do. 

CZ BREN 2 with VFG, Surefire G2 Nitrolon, MagPul Pro BUIS, AimPoint Pro red dot, and at least one or two other upgrades I can't remember now, just because I wanted to say I have one rifle that is worth more than I am.  It doesn't look quite like this anymore, added a tail cap to the light and moved it to the other side so I can thumb a pressure switch now. 

Fancy dancy, ain't it?

Second answer - no.

Here's the bedroom rifle.

The only thing I added to this one is another Surefire G2 Nitrolon. I really like those flashlights, have one on me literally every minute I am awake. But what isn't there? No VFG. I just never felt the need on a rifle that has a FrankenAr upper made from all KINDS of parts, (the barrel was free from Bear Creek, Veteran's Day giveaway), and when it had the original Cav Arms stock, my total out the door was less than $200. It works, shoots straight, reliable, dependable, etc., but no VFG. I have no idea why. One does, one doesn't. I dunno. 

[watab kid]

my thompson kit for the 10-22 had options , one was the forward grip , i went with the WWII style so yes i have that one too 

Edited November 19, 2025 by watab kid

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

is that the "thing that goes up" ?

[Pat Riot]

18 hours ago, John Kloehr said:

"Commie Tommy."

Funny name. 
————————

 

 

On 11/17/2025 at 12:48 AM, PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L said:

Winchester 1300 Defender purchased many years ago from SNC (Sorry No Civilians) located in the backroom of a sporting goods store.

The vertical forearm has a pressure switch for the Mini Mag Lite located in the thumb position.

 

  

I set up a Mossberg just like this in California years ago. I was testing it at an indoor range when a guy came over and told me the front grip made it “an assault weapon” in California. 
I checked. He was right. I replaced the front grip with a standard forend. 

I liked shooting the shotgun with both vertical

grips on it. 

—————————————

 

I tried a vertical grip on an AR with a butt stock. I really didn’t care for it. It seemed awkward. 
 

I think if the rifle / carbine has a butt stock the vertical forend grip doesn’t work for me. 

[John Kloehr]

7 minutes ago, Pat Riot said:

Funny name. 

Love the following from the guys who make the furniture for it:

 

https://www.kalashnicarver.com/Commie-Tommy-FULL-SET-p450373349

 

"

 

Since this is rocket science to some people. This is priced high because it’s absurd bastard that we don’t actually want to make. The price does not reflect anything other than the degree to which we don’t want to make it. 

 

"

[watab kid]

i forgot another - i have that mosberg  mod 142A with the fold down foregrip , i forgot about that one , ive owned it a couple decades now and seldom think to take it to the range , ive never used the fold down forearm but its a fun little gun , this is an old one the fold down bit it the same wood as the stock not the later plastic stuff