I’m not one to camp – that’s not my style at all. That said, there are situations where it’s desirable, not least when adopting a defensive posture. Where the Grip Pod Systems Grip Pod really comes into play, however, is going prone.
The prone position in airsoft is massively under rated and underused in my experience, but it’s a really useful tactic as any professional soldier will tell you. It’s a stable position, it’s usually optimum if cover is unavailable, and it presents a minimal target to the opposing force.
Let’s just recap how we got here. A Grip Pod recently was identified in this reference pic and I wrote an article about it:
So, I thought I’d give the Grip Pod a try on my own L119A2 – an airsoft replica made by HAO, which was built by Tackleberry based on the Systema PTW platform (my long term favourite).
It’s not something I’ve considered previously, but constraining myself with a particular rule set meant that the Grip Pod suddenly became a legit option for my build and I like trying new stuff. I did initially think the looks would be prohibitive, but I’m not averse to the way it looks – particularly after swapping over to my Magpul ACS stock.
The second note of caution was that I assumed the Grip Pod would be ungainly. True, it’s not something I personally would use in a CQB environment, but it didn’t get in my way when I attended the last woodland game at Spartan Airsoft – my long term local site.
When not used as a bi-pod, I don’t grip what is quite a long and bulky VFG broom handle style – choosing instead the thumb over bore C-clamp style as usual (note that it’s best practice at Spartan Airsoft to remove lasers, the site being below the flight path of Bristol Airport).
As for the Grip Pod’s specialism – the prone position – I’m pleased to say that not only did it work as advertised but it made me a lot more enthusiastic in general about lying on the floor. Functionally, the bi-pod legs deploy rapidly, with just the touch of a button. The spacing and tension of the legs is also perfectly adequate for an L119A2, delivering decent stability.
I can also attest that the Grip Pod (and my HAO receiver) is tough. I took a heavy fall attempting to run up some slippery wooden steps into a hooch on stilts (regular Spartan players will know the location I mean). Unsurprisingly, I slipped and fell with my full weight on my L119A2. It must have looked bad, because no one laughed…
Anyway, I was fine and so was the L119A2 – Grip Pod included, which I was holding at the time.
So, while the AFG 2 will always come out for glamour pics and is still my current increment L119A2 grip, the Grip Pod will be fitted for woodland games.
The Reptile House 