Want a short-barreled AR-15 without dealing with the hassle of the NFA? Good news, AR pistol braces are back on the menu.
AR pistols, AR-style firearms with no buttstock and a barrel shorter than 16 inches, have always been legal. AR pistol braces, on the other hand, have not been.
Between the advent of AR pistol braces and today, the legality of the accessory has gone back and forth several times thanks to the ATF’s multiple contradictory rulings over the years. Will they always be legal? Who knows? But thankfully at the time of this writing, they’re perfectly acceptable to own, be attached to and use with your AR pistol (or any other large-format pistol).
This is excellent news, as AR pistol braces make these guns supremely more shootable and useful. That said, there are many options currently available, so we’re going over important features to consider when shopping for one and our picks of the 10 best models to buy.
What Is a Pistol Brace?
Shooting a large-format pistol, which by definition can’t have a stock, isn’t easy to do offhand. Before the introduction of pistol braces, the best solution for enhancing shooting stability without a stock was using the sling to create tension. While the SAS sure looked cool doing it with their MP5s, it’s not as good as having another point of contact, something pistol braces and traditional stocks both provide.
The official way pistol braces were designed for use is by attaching or pressing the brace to the firing hand forearm, stabilizing the gun for a bit more control in an unconventional position. Some people also choose to shoulder them like a real buttstock, and they work for that as well, but that’s another legal conundrum the ATF has muddied with various statements. Whether you intend to use your brace the way it was officially designed or by pressing it to your shoulder is up to you, we’re not lawyers and we don’t take responsibility if you end up making the ATF mad. Whichever method you choose, it will make the pistol much more shootable than if it had no brace at all.
What this all means is that AR pistols equipped with braces get you pretty damn close to owning an SBR without dealing with ATF registration. That means no paperwork, no wait times, no extra regulations and no paying for a $200 tax stamp. At the time of this writing, as long as you can legally purchase any other kind of handgun, you can walk into a store and buy a braced AR pistol.
Pistol Brace Origins
The original brace was invented by Alex Bosco (a veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps.) for a friend who was unable to shoot their rifle from the shoulder anymore due to a service-related injury. After making a prototype, Bosco saw potential and co-founded the company SB Tactical to produce them. That’s where all this started.
AR Pistol Brace Legalities
Currently, they’re legal…but that could change.
Before production at SB Tactical started in 2012, the company collaborated with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to get a ruling on whether the device ran afoul of National Firearms Act regulations. They replied to Bosco approving his original design, and this decision inadvertently got the ball rolling on the pistol brace concept in general as well.
The ATF has reversed course only to re-reverse course several times since.
You can go read more in-depth about the history of pistol brace legality if it interests you, but the only detail that really matters at the time of this writing is the most recent decision made on June 13th, 2024. That’s when a Texas-based District Court vacated the ATF’s rule that attempted to largely prohibit the use of pistol braces, meaning that they are currently fully legal at the federal level.
Types Of AR Pistol Braces
Pistol braces generally conform to one of two styles—wraparound or blade.
The blade style of brace features a narrow blade that sits against the inside of the arm. They’re designed to increase shooting stability by being pressed against the inside of one’s forearm while the shooting arm is extended.
Wraparound braces are designed to sit on top of the arm and have a fastening fabric loop to connect the brace to the firing hand arm. The original SB Tactical brace, the SB15, was the progenitor of this style.
A small number of braces are hybrid designs and have features of both, meaning a blade-like brace with some provision that allows you to use the brace in either fashion.
Which Brace Is Right For You?
Which type is best for you depends on personal preference and how you plan to use it. If you use them the way they were technically designed, the wraparound style will provide more stability and security but is also slower since you must strap them to your arm. Blade-style braces are quicker and simpler but won’t be as stable.
If you intend to shoulder your pistol brace, different details matter. For shouldering, wraparound styles with a wider rear end will generally be more comfortable, but that doesn’t mean that blade-style braces can’t be used that way. Most large-format pistols that a brace would be attached to are chambered for 5.56 or 9mm anyway, and those aren’t exactly shoulder killers.
Pistol Brace Attachment Methods
There are different pistol brace attachment methods for different firearms platforms, but today we’re discussing those designed for installation on standard AR pistols that feature a buffer tube. On that note, pay attention to which buffer tube spec the brace is made for. Some are only designed for pistol buffer tubes, but others are made for standard, mil-spec tubes. Some other braces may require a proprietary buffer tube, but those usually ship with the one you need.
Some people also want the ability to adjust their AR pistol brace’s length of pull, but not all are capable of doing so. Whether it’s for storage or ergonomic reasons, adjustability is a nice feature, but it’s not strictly necessary.
Finally, if you want to attach a sling to your brace, you should ensure it has the type of attachment point you’ll need.
The 10 Best AR Pistol Braces
What are the best AR pistol braces?
Magpul BDA Arm Brace
Specs
Style: Blade
Adjustable Length: No
Sling Attachment: QD socket on rear
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Any
MSRP: $59.95
Website: magpul.com
Pros
- Great buffer tube compatibility
- QD sling attachment point rear placement aids in shooting 1-handed
Cons
- Not adjustable
- Sling socket on rear could interfere with shouldering with sling attached
Magpul’s BDA Arm Brace is a minimalist, non-adjustable blade compatible with any buffer tube style via its locking clamp. There’s a QD socket cup on the back and nothing else. Everything you need, nothing you don’t, and it works with any gun.
SB Tactical SOB
Specs
Style: Wraparound
Adjustable Length: No
Sling Attachment: No
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Pistol-style
MSRP: $74.99
Website: sb-tactical.com
Pros
- Great cheek weld if shouldering
Cons
- Not adjustable
- No dedicated sling attachment points
The SOB, a simplified version of SB Tactical’s original SB15 brace, is a wraparound style, with a 1-inch adjustable loop for attaching to the arm. It attaches to pistol buffer tubes and does not have an adjustable length of pull or any dedicated sling attachment points. If all you need is a solid brace with no frills, it’s a very comfortable option.
Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2
Specs
Style: Hybrid
Adjustable Length: Yes
Sling Attachment: Web sling loops
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Proprietary (included)
MSRP: $220.50
Website: gearheadworks.com
Pros
- Versatile in how it can be used
- Features adjustable length and sling loops
Cons
- You’ll need to replace your buffer tube
- No QD sling sockets
- Expensive
The Tailhook design by Gear Head Works is a quasi-hybrid design, in that it hooks around the arm like a wraparound but is closer to a blade in function. Instead of a soft strap, the brace features an unfolding, rigid arm that lets the shooter put their arm into the brace, hooking the shooting arm without locking it in place. The Tailhook requires a proprietary buffer tube (included with purchase) that includes length adjustment detents. They also feature a loop on each side for a traditional web sling.
SB Tactical SBA3
Specs
Style: Wraparound
Adjustable Length: Yes
Sling Attachment: QD sockets
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Mil-spec
MSRP: $124.99
Website: sb-tactical.com
Pros
- Popular and proven brace designs
- Adjustable LoP and an ambi QD socket
Cons
- Some users feel that the rubber is too soft compared to other SB Tactical braces
The SBA3 is compatible with any mil-spec carbine buffer tube, and it works with buffer tube detents so you can adjust the length of pull. It’s a wraparound style with an adjustable strap and features a QD socket on each side for mounting a sling. It’s available in multiple colors as well.
Maxim Defense CCS Brace
Specs
Style: Wraparound
Adjustable Length: Yes
Sling Attachment: QD sockets
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Mil-spec
MSRP: $305 (black)
Website: maximdefense.com
Pros
- Has adjustable LoP and QD sockets
- Cool, unique look
- Collapsable
Maxim Defense braces are based on their CQB collapsing stock, designed in conjunction with SB Tactical. It has the same telescoping system for rapid deployment as the CQB stock, but instead has a wraparound style brace with an adjustable loop at the end. It’s compatible with standard buffer systems and features a QD socket on each side. For colors, it’s offered in black or FDE for a bit more money.
Magpul BSL Arm Brace
Specs
Style: Blade
Adjustable Length: Yes
Sling Attachment: QD socket on rear + two web sling loops
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Mil-spec
MSRP: $59.95
Website: magpul.com
Pros
- QD sling attachment point rear placement aids in shooting 1-handed
- Adjustable LoP
Cons
- Sling socket on rear could interfere with shouldering with sling attached
Magpul’s BSL Arm Brace is a blade-style brace that works with any mil-spec buffer tube. It locks into buffer tube detents with the spring-loaded plunger, so the length of pull is adjustable. It includes a QD socket on the back of the brace as well as two web sling loop mounting points. Simple, rugged, and available in any color you like so long as it’s black.
SB Tactical SBM4
Specs
Style: Wraparound
Adjustable Length: No
Sling Attachment: No
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Pistol-style
MSRP: $74.99
Website: sb-tactical.com
Pros
- Good cheek weld if shouldering
- Cool M4-esque style
Cons
- Not adjustable
- No dedicated sling attachment points
- Some report that the rubber tears beard hairs
Another simple wraparound design, the SBM4 is non-adjustable and only compatible with pistol buffer tubes. It’s styled after the M4 stock and is only available in black. This is a good option if you already have an AR pistol with a pistol-style buffer tube you don’t want to swap out.
Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 1
Specs
Style: Hybrid
Adjustable Length: No
Sling Attachment: QD socket
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Pistol-style
MSRP: $141.75
Website: gearheadworks.com
Pros
- Very compact
- Versatile in use
- Features QD sling mount despite its size
- Durable aluminum construction
Cons
- Not adjustable for LoP
- Expensive
The Tailhook Mod 1 has the same general features as the Mod 2, a folding tailhook and sling loop, but instead of requiring a proprietary buffer it simply clamps onto any pistol buffer tube you want it to. Loosen the screws, slide it onto the end of the buffer tube and tighten. One bonus is that this version features an aluminum billet construction so it should be more durable than rubber or plastic models.
SB Tactical SBA4
Specs
Style: Wraparound
Adjustable Length: Yes
Sling Attachment: QD sockets
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Mil-spec
MSRP: $124.99
Website: sb-tactical.com
Pros
- Good cheek weld if shouldering
- Cool M4-esque style
- Adjustable and has QD sling sockets
Cons
- Some report that the rubber tears beard hairs
This model is nearly identical to the SBM4 stock except it was designed for use with mil-spec buffer tubes and features an adjustable length of pull and a QD sling socket.
Strike Industries AR Pistol Stabilizer
Specs
Style: Blade
Adjustable Length: No
Sling Attachment: QD sockets + web sling loop
Buffer Tube Compatibility: Pistol-style
MSRP: $35.95
Website: strikeindustries.com
Pros
- Most affordable
- QD sling sockets and web sling loops
Yes, Strike Industries may have a certain reputation due to the red aluminum parts in their catalog, but their AR Pistol Stabilizer has more merit than you’d think. It’s a molded polymer blade-style brace compatible with pistol buffer tubes. It locks in place with a set screw, so it attaches securely. It has ambidextrous QD socket cups as well as a loop for a web sling. Best of all, they’re one of the most affordable models available at less than $40.
| MODEL | STYLE | ADJUSTABLE? | SLING POINTS | BUFFER TUBE | MSRP |
| Magpul BDA Arm Brace | Blade | No | QD socket | Any | $59.95 |
| SB Tactical SOB | Wraparound | No | No | Pistol | $74.99 |
| Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2 | Hybrid | Yes | Sling loops | Proprietary | $220.50 |
| SB Tactical SBA3 | Wraparound | Yes | QD socket | Mil-spec | 124.99 |
| Maxim Defense CCS Brace | Wraparound | Yes | QD socket | Mil-spec | $305 |
| Magpul BSL Arm Brace | Blade | Yes | QD socket + sling loops | Mil-spec | $59.95 |
| SB Tactical SBM4 | Wraparound | No | No | Pistol | $74.99 |
| Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 1 | Hybrid | No | QD socket | Pistol | $141.75 |
| SB Tactical SBA4 | Wraparound | Yes | QD socket | Mil-spec | $124.99 |
| Strike Industries AR Pistol Stabilizer | Blade | No | QD socket + sling loop | Pistol | $35.95 |
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