Your Completed Gun Store Purchased AR/M-4;How Did You Make It Better

My M4gery is a home build: spikes lower, BCM upper receiver, Windham gov't profile barrel, BCM bolt, PSA buffer tube. BCM Gunfighter medium latch charging handle. Furniture is stock 6 position rear, Magpul MOE handguard. Sights are fixed F marked front, fixed flat top A2 rear. Trigger is an ALG QMS. White Surefire light, Vortex SPARC dot, Magpul ASP and single point sling. Oh, and a Magpul front pistol grip for barricade stop. That's it.

B.A.D. lever
Magpul Angled Foregrip
A good sling with a QD provision. Depending on my plans for it's use, either a m1907, a Ching Sling, or 2 point/ single point convertible sling.
Bipod
I like the Nikon Scopes- an excellent value
A serious hard case ( Pelican or similar) for traveling
A discrete soft case for everyday after work range visits
Ammo. For a new AR, I like to run about 100 RDS of Federal M855 to break in the action, then about 50 - 100 rounds of various loads till I find out what the rifle likes best ( I always seem to end up with Black Hills 69 gr SMK in the blue box) and buy a case of that ( then I'll use that as a baseline for developing a hand load for the rifle).

Magazines. Can't go wrong with Magpul.

A good compensator.

I like a free float fore end.

I think a two stage or high end trigger isn't really called for till you are shooting consistent sub MOA, and trying to get down to sub .5 MOA. Most AR triggers aren't bad out of the box once they're broken in a bit. If you really want something better, go with a 'blue printed' mil spec like a QMS or the like.

Only must-haves for me are a quality light, 2pt quick adjust sling, and quality optic (Aimpoint, ACOG etc). That is for an AR I would grab to bet my life on. For a range only AR, whatever floats your boat.

I also agree that training is more important than any accessory.

I have several AR's, but these two are my favorite.

1st) My favorite AR

Brand, features and accessories : BCM upper w/20" inch chrome lined 1/7 barrel - MI Gen.1 SS Series FF Rail - Vltor/BCM Gunfighter Charging Handle - LaRue SPR/M4 LT-104 Mount & Rings w/ Trijicon Accupoint TR22G Scope - Harris bipod (HBRS) 6"-9" Standard legs & RotaPod (RBA-1) rotating quick detachable bipod adapter - Vickers CAS - Streamlight TLR-1 HL light goes on it when I'm going hunting, but it won't fit into the rifle slots in my safe with it attached (light and the sling not shown in one of the pics).

I like Ergo grips the best and my RRA A4 NM has an Ergo grip on there that I'm going to switch out with the A2 grip on this one. BCM Mod 2 grips are my second favorite (after trying them out on the one below). Ergo grips have a very positive feel to them though, just a little bit better than the BCM Mod 2 grips in my opinion.









I've used this rifle on quite a few hogs (twenty something), a few deer (one buck and two does) and a couple coyotes. It's purpose is to be used as a low light hunter primarily for hogs, but for the occasional deer during daylight hours too.

Nice ARs Browning.

I also chose the TA33 green horseshoe after using an issue TA31 red chevron in A-stan. I think the TA33 is the best all-around ACOG, good up close and I've taken mine to 500yds.

strambo said:

Nice ARs Browning.

I also chose the TA33 green horseshoe after using an issue TA31 red chevron in A-stan. I think the TA33 is the best all-around ACOG, good up close and I've taken mine to 500yds.

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Thanks.

Wish we had a 500 yard range here. 200 yards is the max that I have available to me locally (unless someone knows of a range that has anything further than that in a 50 miles radius around Dallas that has plates or allows you to put your own out).

There were two ranges east of here that had rifle strips that ran out to 300yds and beyond, but one is now a police range and the other is embroiled in a legal battle with neighbors. I occasionally go to Tac-Pro which has various ranges out to 1000y, but that's a 242 mile round-trip for me and so that's a once a year thing. So I do my best to get smaller groups instead of farther.

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I know that the TA31 red chevron ACOG is pretty popular, but while I liked the reticle itself I disliked the necessity of keeping your nose to the charging handle and keeping your head in a relatively tight spot. So it was between the TA11 and the TA33 and I went with the TA33 based on the lighter weight and smaller size.

A 1-6x is in my future at some point.

Lots of ammo and training. When I first got my Windham Weaponry MPC, fairly equivalent to your Bushmaster, I added a Knight's Armament RAS, vertical foregrip, light, red dot sight, and a Magpul B.A.D. lever. I liked it, but eventually took that all off and put the carry handle back on.

I'll take an AR with irons all day long up until about 200 yards or so (my eyesight is the limitation there) and then I reach for my one of my bolt guns for anything longer, with scope of course.

I hate most GI triggers. For cheap, I like BCM polished triggers at $60. For $125, the Larue trigger is fantastic. It's even better than some triggers twice as expensive.

Add a IWC light mount and QUALITY (non Chinese) light.

Add a sling by Savy Sniper, Blue Force Gear, or Vickers Tactical.

Colt gold spring extractor springs are required in my rifles. As well as an h buffer.

flyingtiger85 said:

After I purchased my Bushmaster M-4 with the 1/9 twist I did purchased some things before I brought it home.I picked up a Vortex scope and a bi-pod for it.Another thing I've been looking into is a new trigger and maybe a green laser and possible light mounted on it but I didn't want it to clustered up trying to keep things simple.I haven't used any metal mags for it but was going to purchase a 20 rounder made by Bushmaster to give them a try.
View attachment 230786

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If you are serious about upgrades, forget the light or laser...those won't improve the performance of your weapon system. Here's what I recommend:

1. Replace the factory trigger with a quality single or two-stage trigger and widened trigger guard (I installed a CMC single stage).

2. Replace the fixed gas block (and sights) with an adjustable gas block and flip up sights.

3. Replace the Magpul front end furniture with a free float tube.

4. Replace the standard flash hider with something a little more effective (I have a surefire muzzle break, keeps me on target)

5. Tune in your rifle (gas block) to your preferred loading (for me that was standard 62 grain NATO).

Here's what my Colt looks like after all of the above:

I just bought my first AR - S&W M&P Sport II - and honestly don't know why I'd want changing stuff on it right away. It functions great as it is.

I did add a scope (Nikon P223 3-6) and installed it to fit just above the folded rear Magpul sight. And an extra mag (will keep adding them). Other than this, there's really nothing wrong with the rifle.

Torian said:

If you are serious about upgrades, forget the light o

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Oooh, with all due respect, I disagree.
The light is certainly useful in the dark of night. Mine is a pushbutton activated pistol light with strobe. Quickly detached and small enough for picket carry in daytime. I consider it a must have. Less than $50 on Amazon.com.
One needs to see what he's shooting at.


While we're talking, my AR has takedown pins, and I like this carrying case yhat I put together.
This reflex sight puts my AR on target fast.

Armored farmer said:

While we're talking, my AR has takedown pins, and I like this carrying case that I put together. View attachment 231399

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My only AR isn't that small, but I do take advantage of the takedown pins.

I think previous posters have already hit on the basics fairly well for making a factory AR15 better. In addition to starting with a good quality AR with a free floated barrel, a high quality trigger is a must have IMO, high quality optics is another useful tool along with lots and lots of practice - everything else is for looks and ergonomics which are also important, but don't necessarily have the affect of improving the AR as a quality trigger group, quality optics and a high volume of quality ammunition to practice with.
I personally like reloading and shooting 77gr HPBT for my 5.56 AR15 so I get to shoot high quality ammunition at a fraction of the cost compared to factory 77gr HPBT ammunition. The M193 ball ammo is fun to ring steel with, but the 77gr HPBT puts a much bigger smile on my face due to the inherent improved accuracy.

My store bought AR is a 6920 SOCOM. I immediately put an Aimpoint PRO on it. After 1k down the pipe, I upgraded to a Geissele SSA trigger. After that, just ammo and mags

I've owned my Ruger AR 556 for 2 years. After one year I added a Nikon 3x scope on Nikon mounts. About two weeks ago I decided it finally needed a sling, or something better than what I had used. One thing let to another and I ended up with a Magpul CTS stock Magpul sling, and on a whim got Magpul MOE handguard and a AFG front grip.

The Nikon enabled me to shoot it better. Not sure if any of other stuff makes the rifle better but it's more enjoyable to shoot.

Jeff