The NFA is one of the largest infringements on our second amendment rights ever. What I love about the firearm industry is the fact that engineers beat government every time.
Pistol braces are an example of that. I love pistol braces and the realm they occupy. Certain large pistols in the AR or AK platform can be clumsy to handle, and when you use a brace appropriately, you can handle the weapon
Yes, they “should” be used appropriately and braced on the arm. But according to the ATF they are legal to stabilize against the shoulder. The Gear Head Woks Tailhook Mod 2 is one of the latest and greatest in stabilizing brace technology.
How it Works
The design of the Tailhook Mod 2 is simple. You open the brace, rest the forearm inside the open brace and allow the weight of the firearm to stabilize the brace to the forearm. This uses the weapon’s weight to help support the gun. It’s very simple, and the ability for it to adjust to 4 different positions allows it to fit the majority of shooter’s arms and even allows you to fit the weapon to the body and the weight of the gun.
Build Quality
One of the biggest things that set the Tailhook Mod 2 apart is the design of the brace. It’s injection molded hard polymer, so it’s not soft like most braces. It’s a rigid design. On top of that, it utilizes a proprietary buffer tube that has five different positions. The proprietary system is purposeful and prevents any accusation of constructive possession. You cannot equip a standard AR style stock to this tube.
Overall the quality is top notch and extremely well made. It’s rigid design aids in its ability to stabilize the gun, especially when braced against the shoulder or chest. The Tailhook Mod 2’s sliding nature is exceptionally smooth and very easy to manipulate. The button to move the brace is enormous and easy to access. The hinge for the actual brace portion is stable and also runs with ease.
On the Range
AR and AK pistols are bulky and somewhat hard to manipulate, the same goes for SMG lites like the Scorpion, and don’t forget guns like the Tac 14 and Shockwave 590. Pistol braces changed the world regarding making these weapons easier to handle. The Tailhook Mod 2 is one of the highest tech options available in the pistol brace market.
I own a wide variety of guns that are pistol brace adaptable, so I’ve taken the Tailhook Mod 2 for a variety of different platforms to see how it runs. This included the Kidon system from IMI Defense and the Remington TAC 14.
The Kidon
On the Kidon with the CZ P09, it worked as expected. It helped balance the weapon and make aiming it extremely easy. Without the brace, these weapons are odd and somewhat clumsy. Bracing the gun on the arm makes me feel like Mega Man and love feeling like Mega Man. Against the shoulder, it does offer a more traditional shooting position and the ability to adjust the brace is a wonderful addition. This makes using the Kidon’s iron sight system fantastic.
The Tailhook Mod 2 was a fantastic addition to my Kidon system, and it made it so much easier to handle. It went from big clumsy pistol to a much more comfortable to handle technically still a pistol. The Kidon will have a full review coming up as well.
The TAC 14
The TAC 14 was the real test. How would the brace stand up to the recoil of the mighty 12 gauge? Would the Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2 break, fail, or falter? The Tailhook Mod 2 was surprisingly robust, and it didn’t even blink staring down some 12 gauge buckshot. When wrapped around the forearm is was never even remotely uncomfortable. The recoil of the shotgun didn’t kill my forearm like I first expected. I was a bit nervous about the rigid design and my pretty forearms. However, my arm staid remarkably comfortable round after round of full powered buckshot.
Against the shoulder, it was slightly less comfortable. There is no recoil pad, which makes sense because the Tailhook Mod 2 isn’t designed to be braced against the shoulder. If it just so happens to touch your shoulder be prepared for a little sting with full powered loads. However, reduced recoil buckshot was on the money.
On top of shooting the gun, the Tailhook Mod 2 made reloading the gun much more comfortable than the standard Raptor grip. It balanced out so much better and allowed me to work inside the box. These not a shotgun firearms are tough to handle, and the Tailhook Mod 2 is an outstanding addition.
The Tailhook Mod 2
The Tailhook Mod 2 was an outstanding addition to both my weapons. They made the guns so much each to stabilize and to shoot accurately and effectively. The Tailhook was a massive upgrade to my both platforms, and I expect it would be outstanding on a wide variety of guns. The Tailhook Mod 2 brace system was an ingenious idea, and it’s revolutionary design.
If you are rocking an AR pistol, AK pistol, TAC 14, or other stock free gun the Tailhook Mod 2 is a fantastic upgrade. My next 80 percent lower pistol build will be rocking one of these for sure for maximum Libertarian points. Check them out here.
