Top 5 AR15 upgrades/accessories

[mattw]

AR owners, please list your top 5 favorite AR15/M4 accessories or upgrades. No particular order required, explanations encouraged.

Mine:

1.) Sling
2.) Optics
3.) Backup Irons
4.) 3-4# trigger
5.) Rail System

Explanations:

1.) Ease of retention, assists in off hand shooting
2.) Increase accuracy and target identification, or speed and target acquisition
3.) In case optics go down or run out of batteries
4.) Increased accuracy, quicker accurate follow on shots
5.) Opens the door to mission specific gear like a light or vert grip or target designator.

 

[eng23ine]

I'll play:

1.) Sling-Same reason as above
2.) Ammo
3.) Mags
4.) More Ammo
5.) More Mags

I subscribe to the "KISS" philosophy.

 

[FlyinBryan]

1. reloading equipment.
2. brass
3. bullets
4. primers
5. powder

 

[RP88]

excluding ammo...

1. mags
2. iron sights
3. sling
4. rails
5. optic

 

[JWarren]

I'll bite:


For my AR: (no order) (excluding the "duh" answers like ammo and mags)

1. Sling
2. BUIS
3. Optics
4. Light
5. Rails


1. I occassionally use my hands when carrying my rifles.
2. Optics can break and inopportune times.
3. Ease of shooting. Magnification is nice.
4. I live in the damned woods and have a coyote problem.
5. Gotta have some way other than duct tape to attach things.


-- John

 

[gvnwst]

1: single point sling
2: optics
3: foregrip
4: rails
5: grenade launcher.


1: to hold gun when i get lazy
2: So i can hit target better.
3: To hold gun steadier when in odd positions.
4: to put above thingy on gun
5: Does this need explaining???

 

[ArmedBear]

1.) Sling-Same reason as above
2.) Ammo
3.) Mags
4.) More Ammo
5.) More Mags

Ditto.

Plus a magazine locking system for when I'm in California.

 

[possum]

mags
optics
buis
sling
ammo

and then training

 

[browningguy]

Lights, I haven't been in a combat situation since 1978 so I don't need all the buis and stuff. But when we are pig hunting at night those lights come in real handy, I'd list spare mags and slings 2nd and 3rd.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

In order of importance:

1. Optics
2. Sling
3. ERGO grip
4. Tac latch
5. Collapsible stock

You said 5, but if I were to keep going:
6. Flash hider
7. Light
8. BUIS

That's it. I'm not counting mags, because I don't consider mags an "accessory" - something that is required for the gun to function is not an "accessory" in my view.

 

[Hoppy590]

1. Irons
2. Mags
3. Ammo
4. Optics
5. Sling

 

[Acera]

Now for me it's:

Magazines because they will probably get controlled.

Ammunition because it may get more controlled and taxed a lot more.

Spare parts because I am worried about the supply if manufacturers have problems staying in business, and prices may climb. (Also to build up stashed stripped lower receivers.)

Optics But I feel they will be around without too much adverse attention.

Good Fitting Stock and Grip To make the gun fit better to me, and allow me to get the most out of the design.







Hope this was not too political or alarmist.

 

[hags]

Depends on what you're using it for.

For range/comp. work the optics would be up there.

For HD/personal protection I wouldn't bother with optics, get a rail and a light.

 

[TonyDedo]

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to my AR:

1) sling - simple, inexpensive, and will provide the greatest improvement in your accuracy
2) quality magazines - you can have the highest quality, tricked out AR-15, but it won't be worth a damn without quality mags. I prefer Colt 20 rounders.
3) trigger job - once you start shooting with a slick 3lb trigger, you'll never go back. May I suggest a JP fire control package (installed) or a Timney drop in trigger
4) comfortable grips - I hate the stock AR-15 grip. The Ergo grip is really nice, but even a simple Hogue grip is a vast improvement.
5) .22LR upper - shoot 20x as much, or for 1/20 the price

 

[mattw]

I don't consider mags an "accessory" - something that is required for the gun to function is not an "accessory" in my view.

Amen.

 

[pgeleven]

just get a hogue rubber grip and a good reflex sight and the rest SHOULD be irrelevant. it got me where i wanted to go, and should do the same for you without a billion fancy expensive upgrades. when you ask for AR upgrades, you will get the apples/oranges comparison. everyone has their own personal preferance. but in my honest opinion, go with the grip and a moderately priced sight and you will get the rifle where it deserves to be.

 

[Girodin]

t got me where i wanted to go, and should do the same for you without a billion fancy expensive upgrades.

The relevance of the above is based on the large assumption that one wants to go to the same place as you.

 

[Mike128]

1) Optics They make it much easier to hit where I want. Aimpoint, Eotech, or something along that line.

2) BUIS All electronics can and will fail. And having an aiming system is a must.

3) New grip The standard A2 grip is very uncomfortable to me. That finger rest gets in my way.

After those three it's a toss up on what ever. Stock, sling, rails, flashider, lights all fall into the nice to have but not needed. Probably in that order but not a definite for me. I didn't include mags or ammo since I figure that is a given of what a AR needs to function and not an accessory

 

[expvideo]

1) Sling
2) Light
3) BUIS
4) Optic
5) Mags

Because...
1) Absolutely essential on any gun. Kind of goes without saying.
2) Low light shooting is REALLY hard without one.
3) Batteries die.
4) They make shooting easier.
5) I guess in my opinion this goes without saying, too.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

A good sling is certainly an important upgrade. A plain old sling is one thing (and yes, some sort of sling, no matter how good is absolutely essential), but a good quality sling can really help the user be more effective.

I would also say, high quality mags (e.g. PMAG's), and a quality optic are pretty big upgrades.

Things outside of that are probably more of a personal preference than anything else.

 

[SCBradley]

1) BCM MPI'd auto BCG
2) XS CSAT rear aperture
3) primary weapons systems FSC556 flash suppressing compensator
4) ergo grip
5) magpul trigger guard

 

[pgeleven]

The relevance of the above is based on the large assumption that one wants to go to the same place as you

busted... i need to quit drinking whiskey before i post on here.

 

[GarrisonIV]

Top 5 true upgrades

In no order, if you havent already got em

1. Extractor upgrade kit
2. MPI Bolt
3. Chrome chamber & bore
4. Backup Irons
5. Aftermarket piston system (personal preference)

IMO slings, optics, etc etc are accessories rather than upgrades

 

[Mudinyeri]

1. Ammo
2. Targets
3. More Ammo
4. More Targets
5. Training

 

[68wj]

Grip upgrade
Trigger job
BUIS - may never need them, but I hope I don't need life insurance either
6.8 SPC upper
Rail mounted tactical fuzzy dice -