The market for rail accessories is hotter than ever, KeyMod vs MLok, angled grip vs stubby grip, the battle goes on. What if you could have and angled grip that is made of billet 6061 Aluminum and it can fit both KeyMod and M-Lok rail systems and still be affordable? Too good to be true you say ? The Strike Industries SI Link Curve Fore Grip is such a creation. I was wondering if it was too good to be true so after looking at the Strike Industries Instagram account for a few days I decided to take the plunge and be the guinea pig.
WHO IS STRIKE INDUSTRIES ?
Strike Industries was founded in 2011 by former U.S. Navy SH/HH 60 Helicopter Crew Chief Aviation Warfare Systems Operator/Aviation Warfare Specialist Garrett Keller. Throughout his career Keller helped support many Special Operations and Search and Rescue missions all over the globe. It was these experiences that helped shape the mindset of the company. Strike Industries is not just a company making products for quick profit, but they believe that any product they sell they would gladly bet their life on and use in real world operations. That is putting their money where their mouth is.
The company is based out of Santa Ana, California and manufactures a wide array of products that support not only the AR-15, but other popular platforms like the AK47, Heckler & Koch 416, Glock , Smith & Wesson, Springfield Xd and 1911 model pistols. One interesting thing I found while looking threw the companies web site is that they produce their own line of AR15 & AK47 rails in both KeyMod and M-Lok patterns. Which makes the modularity of the SI Link curved fore grip a perfect accessory and great business sense.
SI LINK CURVED FOREGRIP SPECIFICATIONS
Height: 1.74″
Width: 0.55″
Length: 4.83″
Weight: 1.7 Ounces
Colors Available: Black , Grey , Blue , Red
MSRP: Black & Grey : $37.95/ Blue & Red: $39.95
Material: T6061-T6 Aluminum
Mounting System: KeyMod & M-Lok
Misc Features: Can be used either direction with barricade stop on both ends.
Expectations and Initial Thoughts:
As a person who loves to shoot but has traditionally always had issues with any sort or fore grip I was pleasantly surprised by the Strike Industries SI Link. In years past Ive tried Mag Pul angled grips, and several different brands of stubby fore grips. Each time it would seem they didn’t feel right and I couldn’t get comfortable with them no matter how much I tried. They all ended up in trade piles at gun shows or tossed in as extra parts in a trade. A few moments after putting the grip on and moving my hand around into different positions I knew this grip would be different than previous ones.
The Strike Industries SI Link was purchased with my own money, not a gift from the manufacturer, not paid for by shady corporate overlords or on an expense account but with money from my own pocket so when I write this next part you will understand my point of view. I originally got this for my wife’s rifle so she could have a more secure grip when she shoots, that being said I stole it from her and now need to buy another one. That is how highly I think of this grip, I am willing to suffer the wrath of an angry wife so I can have it. Before anyone comes down on me about being a pig or somehow sexist, well I shoot more than she does and hers is in the mail as we speak so its all good at home.
The engineering team at Strike Industries really seemed to capture what a fore grip is suppose to be with this design. It is simple, durable and able to be used across multiple rifle systems, which adds to it’s value in my opinion. There is a war waging between KeyMod and M-Lok that we have taken a look into during a previous article. No one is sure how it will all play out so many people have resisted going to one side or the other for fear of being stuck with accessories that won’t cross between the two platforms. Except this grip, that is the final piece of genius that the engineers figured out.
I know I am heaping a lot of praise on something as simple as a grip but I find it impressive that in todays market they figured out how to make an accessory that can be used on both major rail styles, and can be used in either direction. The ends of the SI Link both feature what can be described as barricade stop or a cleat. The idea is that if you ever find yourself shooting over a barricade you can drive the foot of the rail into the surface to stabilize your rifle. This of course will allow for faster more accurate follow up shots on your intended target. Anything that can help stabilize your rifle quickly is a good thing.
This weekend I will begin testing the Strike Industries SI Link on both my Noveske SBR with M-Lok rails and on my wife Spike Tactical 16″ AR featuring a Bravo Company Manufacturing KeyMod rail. The course of fire will be a short 250 round session with both rifles to see if there is any detectable wobble on either platform. The ammunition used this weekend will be Wolf 55 grain full metal jacket and we will use the same combination of Mag Pul PMAG and Lancer magazines. I want to use the same brand and lot of ammunition between both rifles as a form of industrial control. This is also the reason I will be using the same magazines between both rifles. I want to try to replicate the same foundation for each test. Check back soon to see if how the Strike Industries SI Link Curved Fore Grip holds up to our quick testing cycle.
