AR-15 addons that make the gun better! (In All ways!)

[kwelz]

The best addition you can get for an AR to make it better is training. Find a local class by a reputable instructor and attend.

After that I suggest a RDS, good 2 point sling, and a light.

All other things are personal preference.

 

[jpwilly]

Changes that make you and the rifle "one" and that will reliably work under less than ideal conditions / use are "upgrades" IMO.

A working rifle has vastly different requirements and compromises to make than a range toy.

 

[Art Eatman]

1980 was how long ago? I've done some casual off-and-on messing around with four of them and, I dunno, maybe 3,000 rounds, total. Never did add-ons until I scoped the present one I have. Old-age eyes and all that. All I know is to aim, squeeze trigger and hit the target.

But that's likely plenty good enough...

 

[Rail Driver]

I second the Magpul B.A.D. lever and raise you a L.A.R. Grizzly left side charging upper.

with both of those items, the ergonomics of the AR platform rifle are greatly enhanced.

 

[sappyg]

Basically my AR is basically bone stock. I did add a BUIS rear sight because I thought it would help while aiming. I do like the 6 position stock that it came with but I'm not sure if that would be considered an add on or a model enhancement.

Adding an optic may be the best all around feature for any firearm. I'll go with that one.

A two point sling would be nice but I can get along fine with the slings I already have.

 

[.zerocool.]

"For a new poster who lists no experience or training, you are coming off as an airsofter with a Brownells catalog"

Well, no one has asked me about my experience. Generally I give information on a need to know basis or when asked.

Not only are family members serving abroad, many friends are also. Nice comment on the airsoft also, I guess that kind of comment is typical from a "gun person". Another reason many of the people I know dislike gun lovers, is their arrogance ruins it. So in the end, a simple "hey what kind of experience do you have to back up the comment" would be a much more, well, educated / adultlike way to put it, instead of using a put down.

And yes, I may be new here, but if this is how you welcome new commers I'll take my time elsewhere.


Back on topic, some people have posted some good additions. Keep it up. It's useful to have a thread specifically with upgrades that are generally spread throughout a forum or overlooked. Nice to have everything in one tidy package. My last request, no more personal comments. Unless you have something to add to the list, please refrain from posting. It will just clutter the thread up and make it useless. I'm not a mod, but I'm the OP on the thread, and I really don't want this to turn into an opinion war. Also saying the AR is fine how it is, is not posting a useful addition, and just adding to thread clutter.

 

[clutch]

Shooting coat, decent 1903 type sling, shooting glove.

 

[hso]

New poseurs espousing baseless gear glutton opinions won't survive long around here trying to school experienced shooters when the need is to come to learn instead of trying to impress.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

What an AR really needs is a shooter who knows what he's doing.

1000 rounds in a 3 day carbine class is the best upgrade you can buy.

You're talking software. We were talking hardware in this thread I thought.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Unless you have something to add to the list, please refrain from posting

That's ironic coming from someone posting as much erroneous infomation as you have lately. Maybe you should follow your own advice?

 

[benEzra]

a good compensator i would say is a must

It depends on the purpose, IMO. For a competition gun, when trying to squeeze out slightly faster splits and slightly faster stages at all costs, a compensator can be very helpful, yes. A whole lot of 3-gun and top USPSA competitors use them, for that reason.

For a gun that is going to serve in a defensive role, though, I think most of us are better served with a flash suppressor. A compensator makes a 16" .223 several times louder, and having a "flash and blast amplifier" on the end of your barrel while firing in low light without hearing protection (especially in an enclosed area, like the hallway in your house) is going to slow down your followup shots rather than speed them up, and isn't going to do good things to your situational awareness either. I personally like the Smith Vortex, but a lot of people I respect like the AAC Blackout, and the basic A2 flash suppressor isn't bad either.

As to the broader hardware question, the number one thing in my mind is to make sure the carbine is assembled correctly (gas key screws properly torqued and staked, castle nut staked, buffer weight and spring type are appropriate for the gas system length and port diameter) and that good magazines are used.

Beyond that, appropriate accessories depend heavily on the role the rifle needs to fill. My needs are basically a 0-300 yard carbine for USPSA type shooting and defensive standby, and for those purposes I see a light, an optic, and a Vickers-style 2-point sling to be the three most useful accessories. The light is the only one of the three that I would see as being pretty much a necessity; the other two are optional but helpful.

For a long-range target gun or varmint gun, obviously a much different set of accessories would be appropriate.

 

[Grunt Medic TXARNG]

Ladder rail covers, pushbutton sling attachment points. Still working on my ideal sighting solution - for now I'm running an ACOG and a red dot.

 

[Tirod]

Left side charger upper? I seriously considered it and agree it can do one thing, speed a reload. Two issues - when does that happen with a bolt hold open, and why?

Everybody including myself have agreed it's good to keep the trigger hand on the grip when charging, but nobody says why it would need to happen that way. You don't leave the wire with an empty chamber, and in combat, it's either an empty mag reload (hit the button,) or a tactical reload with one in the chamber, trading in a fuller mag.

Saved myself $300 not biting that hook. It'll be a nice thing to have on the Improved Carbine, along with the new Multicam shooting jacket and matching mat - equally useful only in a specific circumstance, not for general use.

If anyone else has a suggestion, how about laying out WHY and WHEN it might be more useful than impressing people at a public range or an internet audience? Otherwise, it's just an unpaid commercial announcement.

Unless that's all the OP really has in mind.

 

[hso]

Sling (whatever works for you)
0-3x optic (whatever combo works for you)
After that the rest is debatable as to being universally useful.

 

[.zerocool.]

Seriously...

"New poseurs espousing baseless gear glutton opinions won't survive long around here trying to school experienced shooters when the need is to come to learn instead of trying to impress."

"That's ironic coming from someone posting as much erroneous infomation as you have lately. Maybe you should follow your own advice?"


Coming from a mod... and an ultra high number of posts member.

That said... I'll warn others about this forum and take my time elsewhere. I guess the few that are on their high horse have made their point. In other words your worse than a typical gun shop that shuns a new customer. All I asked was to keep this on topic, and even a mod jumped in and posted off topic stuff. I guess you guys have spoken for an entire forum of users, and thus, shunning away another person. If you were a salesman, you would have just failed. Way to show how a forum welcomes it's new members.
Cheers.

btw, I don't need to "Impress" anyone. I was just trying to add a few things that are helpful to other users. But then again, seems like the old schoolers are set on their ways and think this "new school" stuff is just a joke. Hate to break it to you, but there are many things that have been improved upon with firearms in the last decade. You decided not to take it, so what a pitty.

O and experienced shooters... well, unless your kicking down doors next to me in the sand box I really won't take that comment too heavily.

 

[Quentin]

zero, when you join a new forum it makes sense to pay attention and learn the ropes before jumping in and telling everyone else they're idiots. As far as people bashing you, as I remember you started it. At least I know you mocked me.

Bye, see you over at Barfcom.

 

[.zerocool.]

Quote me on when I said someone was an idiot.

The only semi-smart ass comment I had was "tell that to our boys in the sanbox and afghani".

I being one of them. And I'll be back there again shortly for a 4th time.

To add : no problem. I obviously won't be missing much here, as I noticed from a few users actions. Cheers from the US Armed forces.

 

[sappyg]

Also saying the AR is fine how it is, is not posting a useful addition, and just adding to thread clutter.

I like my AR the way I found it.
It's not post clutter when you (OP), ask for experienced thought and get just that. experience.

mine is a rather pedestrian affair but it's my affair. it's quite good enough as is. that's just the way of it.

if you are looking for approval from some or others here to hang stuff on your AR you may not find it here.

frankly i just don't have the experiece required to suggest any more than sights and a comfortable sling. that should be good enough for any rifleman. what more could you ask for?

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've slowly accumulated a pile of add ons that I don't really need. Expect to see some on the buy/sell trade forum soon.

My stock rifle (Colt 6920) has been flawless from the factory. Ugrades I found useful: Leather shooting sling, rubberized pistol grip (Hogue in my case), low power fixed optic that allows me to use my irons and gives me better long range accuracy, P-Mags.

 

[TimboKhan]

I really don't want this to turn into an opinion war. Also saying the AR is fine how it is, is not posting a useful addition, and just adding to thread clutter

soooooo....

You can post your opinions about what to add to a gun, and make no mistake, that is all they are is opinions, but we cannot post ours unless we specifically agree with you, or somehow feed your component fetish? For the most part, there isn't anything wrong with any of the parts that you mentioned, but many of us see them as mostly useless for our purposes. Rightfully so, I might add. Dude, if you wonder why people are calling you a poser, this is it.

You like all that stuff, fine. Implying that the AR is useless without them? That is what gets you treated like a poser. Don't think you did that? here you go:

Basically anything to make the AR perform better. Sure not everyone should like all the stuff as we each have our own tastes, but somethings like the troy sling mount are so universal, taste is completely out of the game because it's just do darn effective.

For your information, I would rather have no sling than this design. Single point slings and I do not work well together, and since I am not an "operator" or on a SWAT team, or any other position in life that would dictate a single point sling, I view them as a waste of my money. Perhaps they are not a waste of yours, and that is fine.

Anyway, I am done with this thread. Sorry you feel as if we have been big meanies to you, but you threw down some very definitive statements, and then avoided backing them up. Family and friends serving in the military is awesome and all but does not count, in any meaningful way whatsoever, as relevant experience.

 

[HorseSoldier]

For your information, I would rather have no sling than this design. Single point slings and I do not work well together, and since I am not an "operator" or on a SWAT team, or any other position in life that would dictate a single point sling, I view them as a waste of my money. Perhaps they are not a waste of yours, and that is fine.

The glory of single point slings is that you can then grab the barrel with your toes when you're wearing those cool ninja tabi sock things and freeclimbing up buildings to better engage terrorists . . .

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I have been really happy with my Battle Arms ambi safeties. You get a choice of arms to put on the safety and hence customize it to your preferences. I own 2 now.

http://www.battlearmsdevelopment.com/badass.php

 

[Tim the student]

For me, a sling you are warm and fuzzy with, a quality optic of your choice, absolutely reliable mags, and BUIS.

Well, no one has asked me about my experience.

Well, can you tell us more about your experience?

 

[christcorp]

For me; I like AR's as simple as possible. Yes, a sling is nice. But usually just for the range. I bought an M&P15OR. "OR" stands for "Optical Ready". Which means it doesn't come with optics of any type. It's designed for the owner to put on what they want, instead of what is standard. So, my add on's were pretty simple. I put on an A1optic 1-2x42mm red-dot scope. I also put on some back up iron sights. (Just in case I was using the gun and the battery died or the red-dot scope some other way died. I put on a sling. And I put on a very basic laser sight. The purpose of this was for indoor use, should I ever need to use it for self defense. Very unlikely, considering I'd almost always choose one of my pistols or shotguns for home defense, but the laser doesn't take up any real space, and it only cost about $30.

That's all the accessories I put on the M&P15OR. Original stock, original foregrip. Original Bolt. etc... I have thought of putting in a replacement buffer. Probably a Spikes Tactical ST-T2. Most carbines, especially M&P's are over-gassed. Not a big problem. But the original buffer is pretty light. I prefer to create a little more resistance to put less stress on the rifle and make a little smoother action. (ST-T2 using tungsten powder instead of solid tungsten and steel. Makes for a softer transfer of energy. Haven't made up my mind on that. But I would say that important accessories, if they don't already exist; is back up iron sights, decent optics, and a sling. Anything after that is simply WANT TO HAVES instead of NEED TO HAVES. I think the optics, backup sights and sling are NEED TO HAVES.

 

[Quentin]

Quote me on when I said someone was an idiot.

The only semi-smart ass comment I had was "tell that to our boys in the sanbox and afghani".

I being one of them. And I'll be back there again shortly for a 4th time.

To add : no problem. I obviously won't be missing much here, as I noticed from a few users actions. Cheers from the US Armed forces.

zerocool, this is the first I've heard that you are a soldier. And that raises you 1000% in regard to respect. Definitely have fun with your weapons in peacetime but don't load yourself down with unnecessary weight when your life is on the line. Take care of yourself over there! Live long and grow up to be an old fart like many of us!