Magazine well grip

1. A magazine well grip comprising:

a generally U-shaped body having an outer surface and an inner surface,

an upper section of the inner surface being generally contoured to closely accommodate a magazine well of a firearm, the upper section terminating at a lip recess dimensioned to accommodate a lower lip of the magazine well in an interference fit arrangement, and

a lower section of the inner surface flaring outwardly from below the lip recess.

2. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the generally U-shaped body includes a pair of spaced-apart, generally opposed sidewalls and a front wall.

3. The grip of claim 2 , further comprising a protrusion extending upwardly from the front wall and dimensioned to fit between trunnions on a forward edge of the magazine well and behind a hinge portion of an upper receiver when arranged between the trunnions.

4. The grip of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion is dimensioned for an interference fit between the trunnions.

5. The grip of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion is generally wedge-shaped, and forward of the protrusion, the body is dimensioned to allow sufficient clearance relative to the upper receiver to allow pivoting thereof using the hinge portion.

6. The grip of claim 2 , wherein a notch is defined in a lower edge of one of the pair of sidewalls and dimensioned to allow accommodation of a magazine doubler.

7. The grip of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of finger grooves are defined in the outer surface of the body.

8. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the grip is integrally molded from a polymer material.

9. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the generally U-shaped body includes a pair of spaced-apart, generally opposed sidewalls and a front wall,

a protrusion extending upwardly from the front wall and dimensioned to fit between trunnions on a forward edge of the magazine well and behind a hinge portion of an upper receiver when arranged between the trunnions,

the protrusion being dimensioned for an interference fit between the trunnions,

the protrusion being generally wedge-shaped, and forward of the protrusion, the body is dimensioned to allow sufficient clearance relative to the upper receiver to allow pivoting thereof using the hinge portion,

a notch being defined in a lower edge of one of the pair of sidewalls and dimensioned to allow accommodation of a magazine doubler, and

a plurality of finger grooves being defined in the outer surface of the body.

10. A magazine well grip comprising:

a generally U-shaped body having an outer surface, with a plurality of finger grooves defined therein, and an inner surface,

an upper section of the inner surface being generally contoured to closely accommodate a magazine well of a firearm, the upper section terminating at a lip recess dimensioned to accommodate a lower lip of the magazine well in an interference fit arrangement,

a lower section of the inner surface flaring outwardly from below the lip recess, and

the generally U-shaped body including a pair of spaced-apart, generally opposed sidewalls and a front wall; and

a generally wedge-shaped protrusion extending upwardly from the front wall of the body and dimensioned for an interference fit between trunnions on a forward edge of the magazine well and behind a hinge portion of an upper receiver when arranged between the trunnions.

11. The grip of claim 10 , wherein a notch is defined in a lower edge of one of the pair of sidewalls and dimensioned to allow accommodation of a magazine doubler.

12. The grip of claim 10 , wherein, forward of the generally wedge-shaped protrusion, the body is dimensioned to allow sufficient clearance relative to the upper receiver to allow pivoting thereof using the hinge portion.

13. The grip of claim 10 , wherein the grip is integrally molded from a polymer material.

14. A method of installing a magazine well grip on a firearm comprising:

orienting a generally U-shaped body of the grip such that an open rearward end of the U-shaped body faces a forward surface of the magazine well; and

sliding the body rearwardly over the magazine well so as to closely accommodate the magazine well therein, at least a portion of the inner surface of the body engaging a corresponding portion of the magazine well and being the sole support of the body on the magazine well in an interference fit.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein sliding the body rearwardly over the magazine well includes engaging a lower lip of the magazine well in a lip recess defined in the inner surface of the body.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein sliding the body rearwardly over the magazine well includes positioning an outwardly flaring lower section of the inner surface below the magazine well so as to facilitate the loading of magazines therein.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, prior to sliding the body rearwardly over the magazine well, removing an upper receiver of the firearm from a lower receiver portion thereof by unpinning a hinge portion of the upper receiver from between trunnions of the lower receiver portion located on a forward face of the magazine well.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein sliding the body rearwardly over the magazine well includes disposing a generally wedge-shaped protrusion extending upwardly from the body between the trunnions.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising, after sliding the body rearwardly over the magazine well, replacing the upper receiver portion and repinning the hinge portion between the trunnions, such that subsequent forward sliding of the body is inhibited by engagement of the generally wedge-shaped protrusion with the hinge portion.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein sliding the body rearwardly over the magazine well includes positioning an upper surface of the forward end of the body below an upper receiver of the firearm with sufficient clearance to allow pivoting of the upper receiver relative to the lower receiver for cleaning and inspection without removing the grip.