If you’re considering upgrading your AR-15 rifle, welcome to the club! The AR-15 is one of the most personalizable and customizable rifles on the market today. Not only is the rifle insanely effective and reliable, but it also offers you the ability to build one that’s 100 percent custom to your needs and wants.
As a top-of-mind rifle in our culture, the AR-15 has become something more than a gun. Wired Magazine entitled one of their articles “The AR-15 Is More Than A Gun. It’s A Gadget” to send the point home. If you’re able to overlook the slight tone of gun phobia, the article is relatively educational on the history and current state of the AR-15.
What’s more, the VP of sales at Daniel Defense, Jay Duncan, makes the point in the Wired article that, “it’s something mechanical; it’s modular in fashion,” and that “because it’s so modular you can build the firearm the way you want it… It’s about personalization.” What that really tells us is that your AR-15 is a blank canvas, with loads of potential just waiting for you to customize it.
In this guide, RailScales will answer the looming question: should you buy or build? We will also share the nine basic components that you can upgrade on the AR-15.
Buy Or Build Your AR-15?
As a new rifle owner, go ahead and buy your stock AR-15 rifle first. That way you can get familiar with it, as well as learn the basics of how the gun functions. What’s more, you have a lot to learn about upgrades, components, and accessories. It’s best to have a good foundation on which to upgrade as opposed to the struggle of understanding how a rifle functions, which could add months or even years onto your learning curve, depending on how deep you decide to dive into everything.
If you’re familiar with rifles and the AR-15 in particular, build your rifle. The more you can purchase individual components and accessories for your rifle setup, the more customized it will be, separating it from anyone else’s rifle. Not only is your AR-15 reliable and durable, but you can customize to precisely fit your needs.
9 Basic AR-15 Accessories To Consider Upgrading
Magazines
One of the most important AR 15 accessories you can consider upgrading is your magazine. You can never go wrong with having extra ammunition available. There are a number of manufacturers that offer larger magazines for you to choose from. Apart from wanting more ammo in the mag, you should be looking to upgrade the stock magazine to something that is durable, feeds well, and has a good enough grip texture to help get the magazine out of the Ar15 reliably to enhance the firearms performance. Steel mags work wonders and don't need to be messed with much. Polymer magazines come from many different manufacturers and some can actually be a hindrance to the ar15 reliability and induce an ar15 double feed.
Slings and Sling Mounts
Many rifle owners forget about a sling or sling mount due to the infrequent use of their rifles. In most cases, their rifles are carried at the owner’s side in a rifle case. But what happens when you go on a hunting trip, or you’re spending an extended amount of time at the range?
You need a sling and sling mount to ensure that your hands, arms, and shoulders do not tire from carrying your rifle around all day. What’s more, the best sling and sling mount for you is the one that keeps your rifle in the perfect position for your needs. You want a setup that allows you access without causing a delay. Should the need for immediate access to your weapon arise, you do not want to fight with fatigue.
Stocks
A stock, otherwise called a buttstock or a shoulder stock, is a great component to consider upgrading. Not only does it offer you more control over your rifle, but it also helps fight recoil, since the energy of the shot is transferred into your body mass instead of your arms. Some stocks are engineered to absorb some of the recoil while also helping to transfer it in a way that’s easier for you to handle.
You may find that your stock rifle comes with a one-size-fits-all stock, but you know that this isn’t as effective as a custom stock could be. That’s the point of upgrading your stock; to make it fit you and your needs. You can find solid stocks, collapsible stocks, and even customizable stocks online.
Stocks are really a personal preference piece at this time for aftermarket upgrades. A stock will not effect the performance of the rifle, but can make the shooter uncomfortable and affect the shooter. Best stock for long range shooting should have a comb adjustment, and length of pull. collapsible stocks can work with long range guns, but tend to be too basic for the nuance of long range shooting.
Handguards and Handrails
The AR-15 rifle can become extremely hot when firing. A handguard is an effective way to keep control of your rifle while not burning your hand. When you switch positions, alter your grip, or shift your rifle, you risk burning your fingers or hand. A handguard helps prevent this. What’s more, a handrail also protects your hand from being burnt, as well as offering you the ability to attach other accessories to the rifle. Here are a number of accessories you can mount to a handrail:
- Flashlights Scopes
- Red dot sights
- Lasers
- Hand stop
- Forend grip
- And much, much more!
Charging Handles
As simple as a charging handle may seem, it actually offers a wide variety of benefits when added to your AR-15. It performs similarly to a slide on a pistol. Here is a brief list of how a charging handle assists you:
- Eject spent shell casing
- Load round by hand or through a magazine
- Clear jam, stoppage, double feed, stove pipe, or misfire
- Verify that your weapon chamber is clear
- Move bolt into battery
- Release bolt after firing last round
Triggers
The ar15 trigger of your gun is what allows it to fire; you pull the trigger, a bullet comes out. What could be easier, right? Well, not quite. What you may not know is that a stock trigger is, at best, average for performance. You want a trigger that enhances your shooting, and that means upgrading your stock trigger to fit your needs.
An upgraded trigger can provide better reliability, performance, accuracy, and comfort, making your rifle more enjoyable to use.
Sights and Optics
If you want to shoot accurately, you will need some kind of sight to assist you. Depending on your needs, you will find that the AR-15 with a handrail offers a variety of options. Here are some of the more popular sights and optics you can add to your rifle:
- Iron Sights
- Folding/Backup Collapsible Sights
- Scopes
- Red Dot Sights
- Holographic Sights
Sound Suppressors and Silencers
As a type of muzzle brake, a silencer or suppressor transforms the loud “bang” of a rifle firing into a squishy noise so that it’s less noticeable and harder to identify as a round being fired. The silencer and suppressor are multi-purpose tools and can also act as a muzzle brake, reducing the recoil of the gun.
Things to Consider When Upgrading Your AR-15
If you are considering starting a new AR-15 from scratch and building it up with all the best components that you can find in the market, there are a few items that you can get and could get you the best bang for your buck.
At RailScales, we believe there’s no doubt that every component you add to your AR-15 can take your rifle to the next level and help you enjoy your AR-15 even more. However, if you are looking to upgrade your rifle one step at a time, here are some of the first few items you should consider:
AR Grip Upgrade
Having a firm grip on your AR-15 is key to being a good shot. You could have the most expensive scope, have upgraded internal components, and use the perfect bullet grain to make the shots that you are set out to master, but if your hold on your AR-15 is not the best, chances are you are not going to be as accurate or consistent with your shots. This is where the right AR grip comes into play.
The RSB® Vertical Grip can be a great solution when you need to improve your weapon stability when shooting. This compact and ergonomic AR grip is light (only two ounces), meaning you won’t be adding a lot of weight to your AR-15 and it’s made of 6061-T6 Aluminum making it a solid piece to add to your rifle.
While you can get plastic grips that might be cheaper and virtually provide the same support, an accident can happen and the plastic grip could break easily. At RailScales, we have always preferred to purchase the best AR-15 components the first time, that way you don’t have to buy them again. This makes the RSB® Vertical Grip a great purchase if you are looking for great stability when shooting your AR-15.
AR
A Stock That Fits You
Having the right stock for your AR-15 can make a huge difference. It is important to know that having a stock that does not suit your needs can make you not enjoy your AR-15 as much as you would think — get a longer stock, and you’ll feel awkward when trying to position the rifle in the appropriate place on your shoulder; get a stock that’s too short (while good for CQC) it can a nuisance when trying to look down the sight.
You can always go for a retractable stock for your AR-15 which can give you the best of both worlds. At the end of the day, you know what you like and whether you are looking for a short or long stock, having the one that feels comfortable is key!
A Good Sight!
You don’t need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on the best sight or scope to be a good shot, but you need something that can at least guide you when practicing your shots. Something as simple as an iron sight can be all you need to enjoy your AR-15 while you wait to purchase the next sight upgrade.
You can also check out our store to browse some of our amazing selection of upgrades and components for your guns.
Shop AR-15 Accessories Online Now
Now that you know what to look for when upgrading your AR-15, it’s time you start making your list and shopping online. RailScales offers a number of accessories and parts to enhance your shooting experience. Shop online now!