Hey there, channel fans and family, and welcome back to Slav Guns. This is part two of my USIQ tour, and this time we’re at the FAB table. FAB is the company formerly known as FAB Defense, and for 2020 they put together something I really like the idea of: a three-piece precision kit that turns an AR you already own into a rifle that can reach out a little farther.
Don Wright from USIQ walked me through all three pieces: the RAPS stock, the Gradus grip and the new SPIKE bipod.
Quick note on what this is: it’s a booth interview and first look at the products. It’s not a range test, so there are no groups or accuracy claims here. Prices and availability below are what Don quoted at the time of filming.
TL;DR
- The idea: lots of people have multiple ARs at home. FAB’s kit turns one of them into a precision setup with three parts that were all new for 2020.
- RAPS stock: Rapid Adjustable Precision Stock, with length of pull and cheek riser adjustment through a single latch, plus a memory for your length of pull. Around $150 quoted at the show.
- Gradus grip: a rubber overmolded pistol grip that blends a vertical CQB-style angle with a more relaxed precision angle. Around $29.
- SPIKE bipod: steel, aluminum and polymer, with cant and swing that lock down with one knob, five leg positions, one-handed deployment and swappable feet. Around $130 to $150.
- The whole system: roughly $300, according to Don.
RAPS: Rapid Adjustable Precision Stock
We started at the back end. RAPS stands for Rapid Adjustable Precision Stock. Length of pull and cheek riser are both adjustable through a one-latch system: you release the latch, adjust everything, and it locks back down. It also has a memory, so it returns to your set length of pull.
I already had one of these in black on my Ruger Precision Rifle when we filmed this, and I was really impressed with it for the money. I think it’s a better value than the UBR stock. I’ve since done the full walkthrough, so check out my FAB RAPS stock first look for the latch, the adapters, and what I didn’t love.
Gradus: a grip with two angles
The second piece is a new angled grip called the Gradus. Don explained the thinking: a lot of CQB shooters are going to a much more vertical grip because you get a tighter grab, but on the precision side you still want a little bit of angle so you can use different hand positions.
So FAB built both angles into one grip. The backstrap runs much more vertical and tight, so if you have the rifle sucked into your chest you can ride a little lower and still have good trigger control. If you’re down prone on a precision shoot, you can still get your hand up at the angle you need.
It’s rubber overmolded, so you get a little tackiness, and there’s a nice shelf for your thumb if you shoot a precision grip with the thumb on the right side.
SPIKE bipod: Atlas features, FAB price
The newest piece is the SPIKE bipod. FAB’s goal was to take a lot of the attributes of the more expensive bipods, the Atlas being the obvious comparison, and hit a lower price. It uses steel and aluminum where it needs strength, and polymer where things can be light and fast. It’s FAB, they know how to make polymer parts.
- Cant and swing: both are built in, and you tighten everything down with one knob.
- Five leg positions: the legs have five positions for extension.
- One-handed deployment: retracting the legs is one button, and then they’re locked. To deploy, you just yank them out. One hand instead of two, which is a cool, fast feature.
- Removable feet: you can run a spike, hard bottoms or rubberized bottoms, and FAB said extensions are coming.
With the rapid deployment on the bipod, you can see why it’s a good companion to the RAPS stock. Don called it the perfect trifecta.
Price and value
At the time of filming, Don put the RAPS at around $150, the Gradus grip at about $29, and the SPIKE bipod at somewhere around $130 to $150. That gets you into the whole system for roughly 300 bucks. At the time, the stock and grip were available right away, and the bipod was expected in under two weeks. Prices have likely moved since, so check current pricing before you buy.
If you’re used to buying cheap bipods, $150 might sound like a lot. But once you get into the precision rifle world, spending $200 to $400 on a bipod is not out of the ordinary. For PRS guys, competitive shooters, or anyone who wants a tactical-looking setup that still works for precision, this kit is a nice option.
Bottom line
I like this approach a lot. Instead of buying a whole new precision rifle, FAB gives you a stock, grip and bipod that are designed to work together on an AR you already have, for about the price of one high-end bipod. I’ve already been running the RAPS and liked it, and if you want to see more FAB on my bench, check out my FAB AR-Podium bipod grip review.
This was part two of the USIQ tour. Part of the same trip was the Helix6 carbon fiber barrel first look, and there’s more coming. For the bench side of a precision build, the rest, bags and reloading gear I use are in my Amazon picks.
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