Welcome back to our series on AR-15 build tips! In our last blog post, we covered the tools you need to keep on your workbench to successfully build your first or next AR-15 rifle.
While many choose to build their own rifle, many more choose to purchase one instead. For some, this is an economical choice; the parts you ideally want to use in building your AR-15 may cost much, much more than simply purchasing one outright and modding it incrementally. Thankfully, purchasing a rifle off the rack doesn’t take away your ability to customize your rifle to your needs. But with so many accessories and parts now available on the AR market, it’s hard to choose the right ones and to decide which piece to upgrade first.
While we can’t direct you towards which parts are right for your rifle (beyond, of course, the ones offered here at RailScales), we can help you decide which six pieces of your rifle itself would be worth looking into replacing first.
Triggers and Trigger Guards
Recently, we wrote a pretty extensive blog on the types of AR-15 triggers and their advantages and disadvantages. You can head over there to check it out and find the right trigger for your needs. A summarized version of that post and why it is relevant here is this: you need to upgrade your AR-15 trigger first.
Unless you’ve purchased a truly high-end rifle, the standard mil-spec rifle trigger is going to be characterized by two words: gritty and heavy. While these are qualities we expect in a Clint Eastwood film, they are not qualities we want in our rifle triggers. That’s not to say that these aren’t perfectly serviceable triggers, but a new trigger can dramatically improve your shooting experience.
A lighter and smoother trigger makes for more accurate and more precise shots. In a similar line of thought, a new trigger guard can go a long way in enhancing your range experience. Stock trigger guards are often flat and difficult to use with gloves. You can find much nicer trigger guards for as little as five dollars and they can be easily installed along with your new trigger.
Free Float Barrels and Gas Blocks
If Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” is constantly running through your head and you’re building a Vietnam-style M-16A1 clone, you can ignore this advice. However, if you’re building a rifle that is meant for use at the range, self-defense, or hunting, a free float barrel will offer you a low-cost and minimal effort way to improve the accuracy of your rifle.
This process is fairly simple to do. Simply remove the existing handguard and A2-style front sight on your AR-15 along with the current barrel. Replace them with a free float barrel and an adjustable gas block. Purchasing an adjustable gas block gives you the added benefit of reducing your rifle’s recoil and allowing you to fine tune your rifle cycling. Plus, many gas blocks are now offered with Picatinny rail segments that allow you to mount a folding front site to them.
New Magazines
If you served in the military or have a friend or family member who served, you’re likely well aware of the standard U.S. G.I. steel magazines. While these are perfect for military use, mostly because the individual soldiers are not paying for them, they aren’t something you should make a regular part of your range trips. Instead, invest in any number of the high-quality magazines that are now available on the market.
Made from rugged and durable polymers with crisply tuned springs and followers with smooth and reliable actions, using the right magazine can often eliminate many of the most common rifle malfunctions you may undergo before you’re even aware of them. In many cases, these magazines are the same price if not more affordable than the steel magazines available through surplus. Not only that, there’s no need to clean them when you first get them, as they haven’t been fouled by hundreds of hours of range use or through combat. Additionally, you’ll find that these magazines are available in a variety of different capacities that better meet your range time needs than the simple 30 round G.I. magazines.
New Optics
Realistically, your rifle is only as accurate as you are. However, the right set of shooting optics can seriously enhance your shooting precision. Currently, the market is flooded with a variety of optics, some inspired by military service and some designed specifically for civilian use. All of them share the common purpose of helping to identify targets more readily and help you to quickly and accurately make longer shots.
New optics can cost as much or as little as you want. You can start by upgrading your stock sites with aftermarket flip-up sites that save weight and space on your rifle. You can also invest in some basic red dot sites. These make for great shooting aids that can help you acquire targets more quickly and ensure that your follow-up shots stay on target.
For those interested in long-range shooting, there is any number of scopes that can help you drill targets at hundreds of yards out. Some offer variable magnification power, allowing you to use them for close quarters as well as distance work. Whatever optic you choose to use, just remember to buy the correct mount for them. You’ll find mounts for nearly any optic designed to fit your Picatinny, KeyMod, or M-LOK rail systems.
The Grip
For those who are regulars at the range, you'll soon find that the mil-spec A2 grip has a "universal" fit. What this means is that it is universally bad and it doesn't really fit anyone's hands particularly well.
If you're spending a lot of time at the range or carrying a rifle for work or on patrol you'll want to quickly invest in a new grip. The market is now flush with AR grips that offer improved ergonomics and control. In many cases, these groups are textured so you don't lose hold of them in slippery or wet conditions. Others are even modular so that you can make a grip that best fits your hand whether or not you're wearing gloves.
Your Charging Handle
This upgrade is one for utility and for looks. An often forgotten part of the AR-15 is the charging handle. Investing in an upgraded AR-15 charging handle offers you a host of benefits. First off is added durability. In many cases, your mil-spec charging handle will not stand up to regular wear and abuse if you frequent shooting ranges. Additionally, many aftermarket charging handles are now offered in ambidextrous models. This is ideal for left-handed shooters or for those who are worried about being able to operate their rifle one-handed.
Rail Covers
If you're using the standard Picatinny rail system, your fingers are already aware of the abuse they take after just a few rounds at the range. This is why it's important to cover unused rail sections with rail covers. When these covers are textured, they offer increased leverage and purchase on the rifle leading to added control. You'll also find that rail covers immediately add a custom look to your rifle.
Rail covers are practical in other ways too. For instance, you can mark the rail cover closest to your barrel with the caliber of the rifle. This quick visual reminder can prevent unwanted complications at the range when you're shooting multiple rifles in multiple calibers.
TerraCore™ RailScales® in MLOK
Our popular RailScales® are now available in TerraCore™, our brown terrain-colored FR4 source material. TerraCore™ works well with other on-brand tan anodized or Cerakoted rail forends, as well as our line of Terra Bronze anodized and FDE polymer components. Unlike the coatings or paints available, our Terracore™ scales are colored throughout and do not fade after CNC machining operations. We're thrilled to add Terracore™ to our portfolio, which is available in the same patented textures and heat resistance choices that made us famous.
The RailScales® System is the industry's most comprehensive answer for giving your MLOK handguard superior grip and heat protection. Since then, our scales have been at the forefront of innovation, developing the machined scale concept. RailScales® is the most popular option for finishing your build because we offer distinct textures machined from G10 fiberglass laminate to allow our customers to fully customize their weapons for the purpose at hand. RailScales® is still the most popular choice for finishing your build, with fast and easy installation, a slim and light construction that adds virtually no weight, and the ability to add or remove them easily.
You'll be able to put rail covers on your rifle without spacing them with RailScales®. This means that there will be no gaps between the rails and the cover when compared to traditional Picatinny or Weaver scales. They're also extremely light, yet very strong and heat-resistant.
Specifications of the TerraCore™ RailScales® in MLOK
- Offered in 3 MLOK Slots
- Width: MLOK - 0.600"
- Thickness: 0.125"
- Length: 3 Slot - 4.7"
- Weight: 0.3 oz each w/ hardware
- 416 stainless nuts
G10 Fiberglass Laminate
G10 is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate, a type of composite material. It's made by stacking many layers of glass cloth, soaking them in epoxy resin, and compressing the resulting mass under heat until the epoxy cures. Thin, flat sheets are often produced in large quantities, with a few millimeters in thickness on average.
Glass fiber cloth, like Micarta and carbon fiber laminates, is used as a filler in the G10. Because G10 is the most durable of the glass fiber resin laminates, it is also known as "the diamond grinder."
The TerraCore™ RailScales® in MLOK is a fantastic option for upgrading your AR-15 because of all of these features. Remember, by upgrading its components, you'll increase the value of your AR-15. That is why you should select a manufacturer with the most comprehensive AR parts and accessories on the market. RailScales provides rifle covers, forend grips, hand stops, and fixed iron sights for your AR-15. Your rifle will endure whatever abuse you put it through, and we use high-quality materials like HTP, G10, and machined metal to build them. Purchase RailScales components today!
Premium Forend Grips and More for Your AR-15
Upgrading the parts for your rifle also means upgrading the quality of your AR-15. That's why you want to choose a manufacturer who offers the best AR parts and accessories on the market. Rail Scales offers rail covers, forend grips, hand stops, and fixed iron sights for your AR-15. Made from high-quality materials like HTP, G10, and machined metal our products are designed to withstand whatever abuse you put them through. For a premium angled grip look no further than the LDAG. Originally made for a military order, the LDAG gives the shooter the best possible angle for their support hand while using a laser device. If not using a laser device the LDAG is still an optimal choice for a picatinny angled grip. Order your RailScales parts and LDAG today.
