AR-15 Temporary "Gapper" Alternative?

[cbrgator]

Has anyone come up with an alternative to the gapper for plugging that annoying space between the grip and trigger guard on an AR?

Please do not suggest the gapper itself or a new grip that covers the hole. I am looking for something temporary I can do at home because I'm going to a class in a few days and nothing I order would get here in time.

Here is my solution, though hopefully somebody else has a better one. It's just a small piece of cloth I cut from a rag (a t-shirt in it's past life), which I wedged into the hole very tightly. Anybody got a better idea?

 

[ny32182]

A 2-3 layer wrap of cloth athletic tape around the gap and the back of the grip might do it. I use Johnson and Johnson "Coach's Tape" for my hand and some other misc stuff when shooting (available at grocery store, drug store, etc), and bet it would work for that in a pinch.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

foam ear plug.

 

[Z-Michigan]

caulk or silicone sealant

epoxy (may be hard to remove)

the earplug idea sounds good

or just wear gloves

 

[451 Detonics]

I never realized it caused a problem...must be behind the times. I would think a couple wraps of tape would seal it off. Elmer's glue and a piece cork shaped to fit should work as well.

I just ignore...as it has never been an issue in my shooting.

 

[cbrgator]

foam ear plug.

You think that would stay in the gap during usage? I feel like it would never be in there tight enough to keep from popping out.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I have the same rifle and the same grip and in thousands of rounds of competition shooting I've never had an issue. Rather than jamming a foreign object in there thats not made for the purpose, leave it be or cut a piece of gorilla tape and cover it.

 

[ny32182]

I say the same thing about Glocks, but somehow, not everyone likes the grip on those.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

You think that would stay in the gap during usage? I feel like it would never be in there tight enough to keep from popping out.

if it doesn't, put in the other one.

 

[sansone]

forgive my ignorance, why does anybody care about the gap. I must be missing something

 

[1KPerDay]

Because the bottom edges of the frame have sharpish edges there and if you do a lot of one-handed rifle support/manipulation (say, reloading/malfunction clearing) the edges can wear holes in your middle finger.

 

[Fishbed77]

foam ear plug.

You think that would stay in the gap during usage? I feel like it would never be in there tight enough to keep from popping out.

Depends on how waxy your ears are.

 

[Jaybird78]

"temporary permanent" = magpul moe triggerguard

FTMFW

 

[Dr.Rob]

Try wearing a shooting gloves?

I usually do in tactical matches.. as we use a lot of plywood barricades. I use Fox Racing 'dirt paws' (motocross gloves).. they fit very tightly, I can even tie my boot laces while wearing them. You can get them at just about any motorcycle shop.

http://shop.foxhead.com/store/brows...9&categoryId=cat20060&categoryNavIds=cat20006

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=138861&d=1300677843

I you prefer your fingers 'free' Uncle Mike's makes good fingerless shooting gloves, they help with the knuckle bruising of shooting big bore relvers.

 

[sansone]

Because the bottom edges of the frame have sharpish edges there and if you do a lot of one-handed rifle support/manipulation (say, reloading/malfunction clearing) the edges can wear holes in your middle finger.

thank you very much sir,
I learn something new everyday

 

[1stmarine]

Use black silicone. You can shape the excess into a perfect smooth surface. I also use the same for the high heat applications (engine gaskets, joints) in black to seal the charging handle so no fumes come down my face.
Very efficient little application tube.
Let me know if you need more direction.

 

[taliv]

agree with Dr. Rob

instead of changing the gun, cover your hands. put some medical tape over that finger if you don't want to wear full gloves

after shooting tens of thousands of rounds, i know exactly where i get blisters on my hands. so sometimes i just tape those areas instead of wearing gloves.

normally, i get a blister in one spot from the gun, and in two other spots from jamming mags. prob look pretty funny with three pieces of tape on my hands... but it works

 

[cbrgator]

after shooting tens of thousands of rounds, i know exactly where i get blisters on my hands. so sometimes i just tape those areas instead of wearing gloves.

Along those lines, maybe I'll just put a couple of band-aids over the spot on my finger that contact the gap.

 

[AR-15 Rep]

Black Silicone to fill it in, and some tape to make it slick. The chance of you taking the trigger guard out are pretty slim. Bring some extra material just in case, and when you get the chance order the gapper or similar product. It's funny they never make too many pistol grips that address the issue...

 

[madcratebuilder]

"temporary permanent" = magpul moe triggerguard

FTMFW

Best solution.

 

[helotaxi]

Best solution.

Agree.

 

[ms6852]

I used spray foam, let it harden, sand it to shape than a bluing pen to color it. I like to using a golf glove also instead of a shooting glove, I just prefer the feel.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Some of these sound like a lot of work. For anyone reading this who doesn't have time urgency, I highly recommend either the $3 gapper, or one of the $10-20 winter trigger guards that also bridges the gap.

 

[Hi-Lander]

For $8 just get a Magpul enhanced guard

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

.

I just finished my weeklong patrol rifle course and the gapper really helped since we did a lot of one handed drills.



Shooting from the bench and shooting with 1 hand drills are two different things.



Some of the guys who didn't have the gapper got their middle fingers tore up. Some wrapped their fingers in tape and others wore gloves after the 1st day.
.