Whether you’re buying a rifle off the rack at a local shop or are building one using an assembled upper, a lower receiver blank, and an AR15 lower parts kit, there are some parts you may want to swap out to improve performance or handling. Here are 12 of the best of them.
A Fluted Barrel
A barrel is one of the most expensive parts to upgrade on an AR-15, so realistically, what you should probably do is start with an AR-15 complete upper that has a fluted barrel to begin with.
Fluted barrels are lighter which means they carry more easily, and on top of that, they allow for more rapid, more efficient heat dissipation than other barrels.
A Muzzle Brake
If your AR-15 complete upper came with a flash hider, switch that thing for a muzzle brake. Muzzle brakes, also sometimes referred to as compensators, change how the gasses are ported at the muzzle. A good one can reduce felt recoil by nearly 50% without adversely affecting shot power.
In addition to reducing felt recoil, a muzzle brake can also reduce muzzle jump, which can help keep your AR15’s sights trained on target so you can make faster, more accurate follow up shots.
An AR15 Ambidextrous Mag Release
This is not an upgrade everyone needs to make, but if you are a southpaw, a good upgrade is an AR15 ambidextrous mag release. The stock mag release probably favors right-handed operators and you will significantly increase the ergonomics of your rifle if you are left-handed and upgrade with an AR15 ambidextrous mag release.
An Ambidextrous AR15 Charging Handle
The same notes apply here. Your stock AR15 charging handle likely favors a right-handed user. If you are left-handed, upgrade with an ambidextrous AR15 charging handle, preferably one with an oversized handle that will be easier to engage in the dark or when wearing heavy gloves.
A Magwell
An AR15 magwell is basically a flared magazine base that sort of serves like a funnel to guide the magazine up and into the mag chute. A good magwell can sort of guide the mag up there to speed up reloads. It’s not a massive AR15 upgrade but it is a good one nonetheless.
A Silent Buffer Spring
Some operators are annoyed by the constant twanging of their buffer springs. If you are one of them, there are silent buffer springs you can get to make the rifle smoother and quieter. Check out our collection of buffer tube system accessories, which includes short buffer tubes, weights, and springs, for more information.
A Lightweight Bolt Carrier Group with an Advanced Coating
This, along with a fluted barrel and a muzzle brake, is one of the most impactful AR15 upgrades you can make, because a lightweight bolt carrier group with an advanced coating will cycle more rapidly and exhibit a greater degree of permanent dry lubricity.
Lightweight bolt carrier groups have mass strategically removed from them so they cycle more efficiently, and many are made with advanced coatings like black nitride, titanium nitride, nickel boron or DLC that cycle more smoothly and resist fouling accumulation.
An M-LOK Rail System
If your assembled upper came with a Picatinny quad rail, consider swapping that one out for an M-LOK rail system. M-LOK rail systems are lighter, more comfortable to grip with bare hands, and on top of that, though they are not quite a standard, there is an increasing number of shooting accessories available that are compatible with them.
Backup Iron Sights
Two is one and one is none, and even if you have an optic over your rail (more on that in a second) you should still have backup AR15 sights. Offset flip-up sights are the best because they will fold out of the way unless you need them, for instance if you have an issue with your scope or RDS.
An Optic
More than one type of optic can work well with an AR, but two good options are red dot sights and scopes.
Scopes are better if you do a lot of shooting at intermediate and longer ranges, as they allow for more precise shot placement at these ranges, all things considered.
At close ranges, an RDS, or red dot sight, can be better, because they enable reflexive shooting and a more open sight picture for better situational awareness. On top of that, red dot sights are better in low-light conditions.
A WML
A weapon-mounted light, or WML, is another good AR-15 upgrade, because what you can’t see can kill you. A WML will give you an advantage in the dark and can be used as a deterrent as well, or detached from the rifle for general utility.
The Right Sling
Generally, a one-point sling may be the right option for you here because the main purpose of a one-point sling is weapon retention. If you ever need to drop your rifle to draw a sidearm, a one-point sling will keep the rifle close to your body so that it can’t be retrieved by an opponent.
Shop Assembled Uppers and AR15 Lower Parts Kits Here
We sell these AR parts and upgrades in addition to complete assembled uppers and AR15 lower parts kits. Check out our catalog and make some of these upgrades today; you’ll be glad you did and depending on what upgrades you make, may have a rifle that handles better, produces less recoil, and which offers multiple redundant backups. Shop our collection and get in touch with us if you have any questions about what we sell, compatibility or otherwise.