If you shoot guns a lot, recoil is just a part of life. As a competitive shooter, it is something I deal with all the time under high-pressure situations, and I use the tools I have learned to trust to help me excel on the range. I am not one to buy into gimmicks, so when a product comes out that touts the ability to change the way you shoot and make it better, I get skeptical. But sometimes they offer a surprise.
Ryker USA makes products meant to improve recoil management and fatigue while shooting. Called the Ryker method, a unique handguard grip and sling work together to reduce pain and increase shooting abilities.
Over the course of the first-ever F.I.R.E. Expo in Immokalee, Florida, I spoke with Ron Holmes, the owner and inventor of Ryker. I learned why he designed this system and how it truly works. By the last day of the event, we put the Ryker grip on my shotgun so I could test it out myself.
History
Holmes is a retired Marine Corps master sergeant who served for 20 years with Marine Force Recon and Marine Special Operations Command. His service left him with multiple shoulder injuries and surgeries. That set him on a search to find a better way to manage pain while shooting, and that is how he developed the Ryker method.
He consulted biomechanical specialists, doctors, and statisticians to help create this method. He wanted to be able to not just claim the product works, but back it up with science.
What is it?
The Ryker is a unique side-mounted grip. It attaches to the side of your handguard and comes standard with a traditional Picatinny mount. It is also available with an M-LOK mount, and they offer an active sling. The sling is made of paracord and bungee. When cinched up, the bungee allows you to still extend out with the rifle and keeps it close when hanging. Both systems work together to stabilize and lessen fatigue while shooting.
How does it feel?
Heading over to the range, Holmes mounted the grip on my shotgun, which has an M-LOK rail system. Installing the Ryker grip took a few tries. We adjusted it higher, lower, further out, and closer until finally finding the perfect spot where my shoulders and arms were comfortable when shooting.
I noticed right off the bat that it gives you a great anchor point for your hand. This is nice in competitions. When you are starting at port arms or the low ready, positioning your hand correctly to transition into a mount is important. If you don’t start off with the right grip, it affects your mount and impacts your shooting.
The grip provides a very similar hand position to what you would have with a pistol. Instead of wrapping your hand under the handguard, you hold onto it vertically. I found this allowed me to pull the gun tighter into the shoulder and provided very good indexing when shooting.
Is it worth it?
In short, I’d say this is a good option if you are looking for better ways to manage recoil with an AR or shotgun. Within a short period of time, there was a noticeable difference. Even without the grip, the sling alone is great. It simply does everything you want a sling to do while being comfortable, safe, and mobile. Plus, the paracord design looks great and is rugged. I look forward to testing out this method over a longer period of time, but if you are considering a new grip or sling, this one is well worth a look.
