There are no shortage of vertical grips on the market. With the amount of product out there, a shooter should be able to outfit their carbine to their exact preferences. Mission First Tactical produces a value-priced set of vertical grips alongside their flagship Battlelink stocks.
The REACT Short Grip (RSG) is a fairly standard short vertical grip that has a few interesting features that make it stand out from the competition, namely the storage compartment and attachment method.
The RSG is designed similarly to the Magpul Railed Vertical Grip (RVG), which in my mind is a good thing. Shooting using the thumb break method feels very comfortable and natural to many shooters once they get the hang of it, and the RSG fits right into these mechanics.
With the RSG and the RVG having such similar profiles, it is inevitable that they'll be compared, so that's where we start.
Both grips are textured, however, the MFT grip has a much bolder texture, as well as having a lined body on the bottom half of the grip. Both items have enough texture for most users, however, the RSG seems "grippier" in the hand.
Both grips mount easily with a cross bolt and nut, and neither screw has shown any indication of loosening. As always, be sure to loctite your screws. Both grips fit well over standard 1913 rails, with no slop on either grip.
What is nice about the MFT design is that the grip uses a standard flathead screwdriver to install. Yes, the RVG uses a flathead to install as well, but it takes two screws. The MVG, Magpul's MOE direct-attach offering takes an allen wrench to install, which can be a pain out in the field.
Additionally, the RSG comes apart at the top, where it attaches to the rail. This may not sound like a big deal, but the MVG slides on over the rail, so any mounted accessories have to be removed before sliding ther grip on. The RSG just clamps down over the rail, and doesn't take any extra work. You'll really appreciate that if you have rail covers such as XTM's installed when you go to install the grip. This can be a big deal or not depending on your rail setup.
Where the RSG pulls ahead is the storage in the grip. As the Magpul grip is hollow, there is no provision for storing gear in the grip. The MFT grip has a rubber plug that seats in the bottom, and can be removed to reveal a decently-sized storage area. Inside this area is a well-designed plastic insert which can be removed by pulling on the attached lanyard. The insert itself is setup to hold items of different sizes securely and without rattle. For batteries, it even has suggested sizes printed on each side of the insert. It is quite a nice system, and a very thoughtful addition to the grip.
The rubber plug is very sturdy and fits tightly into the grip, using both a friction fit and a tab and cutout system to lock it into place. After running the RSG for several months, the plug has not fallen out or loosened whatsoever.
The RSG also feels a bit sturdier than the RVG. Not that the Magpul grip feels cheap or is prone to breaking, just that the MFT grip feels a bit tougher.
Priced competitively with the Magpul offering, the MFT grip comes in at around $20. It is nothing too crazy in terms of what it does or how you use it, such as a hand stop or Cobra Grip. It is simply a solid, set it and forget it piece of gear with the added value of an internal storage space, which may be an issue for you, especially if you don't already have on board storage.
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