First, Watch This Video:
If you’re new to shooting AR 15s, you may be wondering how to set up your rifle…
You’ve probably noticed that there are TONS of AR 15 Accessories out there…
And it can sometimes be tough to sort through what can actually add functionality to your rifle and what will just add extra weight.
Now admittedly, I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to setting up my rifles. I try to keep my accessories to a minimum to keep my ARs light and fast…
But today I’m going to share with you what I think are the TOP 4 MOST FUNCTIONAL AR 15 accessories…
So let’s get started!
The Most Important Of All AR 15 Accessories is… An Optic!
In my opinion, the first upgrade for any modern rifle is to add an optic.
This can be a red dot or a magnified scope depending on what mission you’re setting up your rifle to achieve.
Now, there are many people who say that iron sights are all you need on your firearm, but I disagree completely.
Iron sights are important, and you do need to learn how to shoot them competently, but their performance is simply outclassed by the optics available today.
The reason why is because optics can help you shoot faster, more precisely, and in different lighting conditions depending on what type you choose.
For example, if you want a handy tactical carbine that’s fast into action and speedy at making shots up close…
You’re going to want to mount a red dot sight on your AR 15.
If you want a long range rifle that can make precise shots at 500, 600, or 700 yards…
You’re going to want to put a high powered scope on your rifle.
And if you want something in the middle that can be fairly fast up close…
but also zoom in at medium ranged distances. You’re going to want a 1-4, 1-6, or 1-8 variable scope on your rifle.
The most important thing to remember is that your rifle should have a specific purpose because attempting to create a rifle that can do everything…
…usually leads to a clumsy and heavy weapon that won’t be effective at distance or up close.
Last, if you’d like to learn more about the benefits of using a scope or a red dot check out my article, Red Dot Vs Scope for a detailed comparison of the two sighting systems.
My Optic Recommendation For You: The Holosun 510C!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Holosun 510C:
The Second Most Important Of All AR 15 Accessories… A Set Of Back Up Iron Sights!
I think that if you’re running an optic, it’s a smart idea to back it up with some low profile iron sights.
This becomes even more important if you’re using an optic that relies on batteries such as a red dot sight.
Now, there are some really tough red dots out there that have INCREDIBLE battery life, and I’ve reviewed some of them on this site, but they’re still electronic and they can still fail.
However, if you add back up iron sights to your rifle your whole sighting system instantly becomes more reliable.
Now, there are many variations of back up iron sights available, but I think “flip up” sights work best for this application…
And even though they’re called “iron sights” they’re usually made out of other materials such as…
- Steel
- Polymer
- Aluminum
Some shooters only use steel back up iron sights because they’re the most trusted and durable option.
Others like to use polymer or aluminum because they’re generally less expensive.
Personally, I like steel or polymer flip up sights from a brand called Magpul because they don’t really get in the way of anything, and they’re fairly rugged.
My Back Up Iron Sights Recommendation For You: Magpul MBUS Sights!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About Magpul MBUS Sights:
The Third Most Important Of All AR 15 Accessories is… A Tactical Light!
Let’s be honest, most AR 15 owners are willing to use their firearm to defend their home and their family…
And if YOU ever intend on using your firearm for self-defense, you need to put a tactical flashlight on your rifle.
Most crime happens under the cover of night, and as a responsible firearms owner, you have the HUGE responsibility of making sure every round goes exactly where you intend.
A tactical light allows you to identify what you intend to shoot before you fire at it…
And Identifying your target is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY before using your rifle in self-defense.
Now, there are many strong options out there for tactical flashlights…
However, some of them can get a little pricey.
Because of this, I personally like Streamlights because they perform well but don’t break the bank.
But there are many other solid brands out there as well!
My Weapon Light Recommendation For You: The Streamlight Protac Rail Mount HL-X!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Streamlight Protac Rail Mount HL-X:
The Fourth Most Important AR 15 Accessory is… A Sling!
A sling is a pretty useful piece of equipment for many reasons.
First, it allows you to carry your rifle without actually using your hands, and freeing up your hands can be important for a number of reasons.
Additionally, a sling can be used to gain more stability when you shoot and as a way to retain your weapon if someone is trying to disarm you.
Now, there are 1 point, 2 point, and even 3 point slings out there, and I prefer to use 2 point slings.
They just seem to be the most practical and flexible option in most situations.
I also like to have a sling that can be quickly adjusted for length with the use of a slider. This is because it allows you to keep the rifle tightly attached to your body for comfort…
…and ease of carrying, but you can also quickly loosen it if you need to start putting rounds down range in a hurry.
My Sling Recommendation For You: The Magpul MS4 Multi Mission Sling!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Magpul MS4 Multi Mission Sling:
BONUS! I Kind Of Hate Standard AR 15 Pistol Grips…
There’s one more accessory that I always upgrade on my rifles…
Most basic AR 15s come with a standard M-16 A2 style grip, and as mentioned in the title, I’m not a huge fan of these.
First, I don’t like the finger ledge because it’s never lined up with my hand in a comfortable or natural position.
You see, I use a very high grip, and that ledge sits exactly where my finger likes to rest.
So, I find myself constantly fiddling with my grip because my hand is never in a comfortable position.
Secondly, the standard AR grip is rather thin…
I have large hands with long fingers, and I prefer a grip that fills up more of my palm.
Of course, this is all my personal preference because there are many shooters who have no problem with the A2 grip…
But upgrading the pistol grip is something I always do because, for me, it simply makes shooting more comfortable…
Now, if you’ve tried the A2 grip and find it uncomfortable like me…
My personal favorite grip is the Magpul MOE PLUS because it has no finger ledge, fills up my hand, and has a comfortable rubber over mold.
My Sling Recommendation For You: The Magpul K2 Plus Grip!
Click The Button Below To Learn More About The Magpul K2 Plus Grip:
To Sum It All Up, Here’s How To Set Up Your Rifle Without Wasting Your Money…
- Put an optic on your rifle…
- Back it up with quality flip up sights…
- Put a weapon light on your gun…
- Add a sling so you can free up your hands and still carry your rifle.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to put everything on your rifle all at once!
Just take your time and slowly add these items, and eventually, you’ll have a practical, functional, and reliable set up on your rifle.
Now, if you need help getting started with step 1 (putting an optic on your rifle)…
I highly recommend you check out the optics on my Top 5 List of red dot sights…
You can also check out this sight, which is in contention for the best red dot sight for the money…
Farewell, and have fun at the range!
-RDshooters