As most in the shooting world know, the ArmaLite 15 was developed as a classic assault rifle for a US military competition in 1959. Designated as M16/M4, it became an iconic American weapon that has spread its fame through the world's battlefields and war zones.
Built on the same underlying platform as the original AR-15, the new semi-automatic rifle is supported by an entire industry that sprouted up. This industry offers a seemingly endless array of accessories and modifications.
For many owners, adding modifications to an AR-15 is the perfect way to personalize their rifle. Every shooter prefers a rifle that is designed slightly differently. Some research claims that if you build your AR-15 to best suit your particular shooting preferences, you will become up to 45% more accurate at the range or in the field.
The AR-15 is an extremely customizable rifle with a wide variety of of interchangeable and aftermarket parts, making this platform function like a blank canvas for unlimited customizations. Best of all, the AR-15 modular system makes upgrading most components a breeze, without the need for a gunsmith.
Usually, the first steps for common AR-15 upgrades include attachment points for optics, lights, and slings in the form of an Integrated Rail System (IRS). Like other AR platform items, the options are overwhelming to new rifle owners, many of whom need some guidance. In this article, we hope to provide you with that guidance and then some, outlining what we consider to be the very best options out there for modifying and upgrading your AR-15.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for AR-15 Accessories
- BEST FOREGRIP: Magpul MIAD Gen 1.1 Grip Kit
- BEST SLING: Armstac MX2 2 Point Battle Gun Shoulder Strap
- BEST COMPENSATOR: Odin Words Atlas 5
Comparison of the Best AR-15 Accessories
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What is an Accessory?
Let us begin by explaining a difference between AR-15, furniture and accessories, and how different configurations affect performance. In order to function comfortably, the primary furniture of every AR-15 includes three essential ingredients: the buttstock, the pistol grip, and the handguard. The standard AR-15 furniture are the actual parts of the gun, while the accessories are all the items added on. We wonโt claim thatโs a universal definition, but weโre going to use that here.
AR-15 furniture customization will be the subject of another article. In this guide we will discuss accessorizing your beloved Black Rifle. Although the aftermarket is flooded with hundreds of new AR accessories -- some good and some pointless -- we have to avoid making an AR-15 a complex and overburdened platform.
Let's mention a few accessories that might mean going a bit too far. Surfing the net, you can come across bizarre attachments like axes and tomahawks that attach directly to your Picatinny rail system. Or how about a pointed tire deflator installed directly to your barrel over your flash suppressor? Those are a bit beyond what weโd consider โnormalโ - they might fit somebodyโs needs for some reason, but weโll skip them here.
Actually, just a few useful accessories need to go on a rifle; for sure, you have to start with accessories such as scopes, slings, and foregrips.
How to Choose a New Accessory for Your AR-15
Choosing a new accessory can be challenging. But if you know of which part of the rifle you need to upgrade, then youโll know exactly which one to go with. For example, if you need to boost your rifleโs accuracy, the obvious choice is either a scope or an optic. But it canโt just be any item chosen at random. Here are some things you need to pay attention to while looking for an accessory:
Price
If youโre on a budget, the first place a shopper is going to look at is the price tag. But the price itself should not be the only reason why you chose the product itself. So, you need to look at other things like the overall quality and performance. What it really comes down to is investing in the best quality and performance that you can afford. Donโt be afraid to spend a little bit extra if it comes down to that, as superior reliability, durability, or performance will be well worth it in the long run.
Materials
The best accessories are often made from the best quality materials. The reason being is that these materials will ensure that these accessories will perform at top quality, but will also remain durable for years or even decades with proper care. As a rule, the better the quality, the better the chance it will last a long time.
Installation
The accessory you choose should be something that will allow for quick and easy installation. This means not needing to go to a gunsmith to have the part professionally installed, which would be a waste of time and money for you. Another perk to being able to add on an accessory in a short amount of time is that you will have more time to test it out at the range.
Review of the Best AR-15 Accessories
The following is a list of the twelve best AR-15 accessories on the market. Before reading through our list, consider what you need to upgrade. This way, youโll know which accessories to look for. You can choose one or multiple accessories, depending on your personal needs, preferences, and budget.
Foregrip
One of the best AR-15 upgrades is to exchange the stock foregrip of your rifle with custom foregrips that can offer enhanced and more accurate shooting.
Besides traditional foregrips, another trend is moving towards a vertical grip, which provide you with better handling and control of your weapon. Also, if you live in a state where a vertical handgrip is illegal, you have alternative grips in the form of Magpul AFG, the Angled Foregrip, or Handstop grips.
These grip types work to absorb recoil, resulting in less muzzle climb; they can also protect your hand against barrel heat that occurs during extended use. In addition to this, customers have the option of choosing the magazine well grips, known as the Magwell Grip.
Best Foregrip:
Magpul MIAD Gen 1.1 Grip Kit
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most new buyers of this foregrip were pretty happy with their purchase. They installed this in about a few minutes and immediately noticed the improvement. Even better, they were able to retain control of their rifles in outdoor range settings in bad weather. One user said that the grip is almost fly-paper like, even in the wettest of conditions.
Why it Stands Out to Us
If there is one word that comes to mind when it comes to this grip, itโs simplicity. The design is beautifully simple. Itโs easy to install and easy to use. In fact, it just might be the one pistol grip that youโll need for ergonomically comfortable gripping. So you can say goodbye to the hand fatigue that can occur from extended shooting periods.
Who Will Use This Most
This would be excellent for those who want a simple pistol grip added on to their AR-15 rifles. If you want firmer control over your rifle no matter what the weather is like outdoors, this is what youโll need to add on. Not to mention, you can install it at the snap of a finger, meaning that the improvements are instant.
Bottom Line
The Magpul AR-15 MIAD Gen 1.1 Grip is what youโll want to be added to your rifle if you want something that will allow for the best possible grip, and in turn, the best control over your rifle. Donโt be shocked if you still have a hold of your rifle when the weather turns bad.
Sling
Simply put, the sling is made to allow a person to carry their rifle slung over their shoulder; that said, it also offers slight increases in accuracy when the shooter properly holds it. While in recent years there has been an explosion in all sorts of slings, our advice is to stay away from single point or triple point slings, since simple two-point strap will work best for most users.
You should also think of the appropriate mounts and purchase compatible sling mounting hardware, such as quick-detach plates and swivel sling attachments.
Best Sling:
Armstac MX2 2 Point Battle Gun Shoulder Strap
[amazon fields="B00YDGMFNM" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New users were pretty happy with this strap. They were even able to adjust it in order to give them the most comfortable fit possible. As expected, it provided solid hands-free use for many hunters that would use their free hand for other accessories like binoculars, or for when they need to drag a much bigger kill back to the truck for cleaning.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This sling is made from high-quality nylon that was made for standing up to the elements. So, it would make sense considering that it was designed specifically for the AR-15 hunter. Overall, this sling can handle even heavy AR-15s or rifles. Regardless of what youโve got attached, you can still expect to have decent comfort while carrying it around.
Who Will Use This Most
We think that this particular sling will be perfect for hunters or anyone willing to use their AR-15s outdoors. It will certainly benefit the shooter who needs to keep their hands free while carrying their rifle over their shoulder. Youโll never know when you need those hands when the use of a rifle may not even be needed.
Bottom Line
The Two-Point Rifle Sling by ArmStac might be exactly what youโll need if you're looking for a solid sling that will be great for any hunter on the move. Donโt be surprised if this sling can handle all kinds of bad weather. Nature itself canโt damage it and neither will long term use. So yes, itโs incredibly durable.
Compensator
Unlike muzzle brakes, compensators are explicitly created to direct the gases from the muzzle upward to reduce muzzle climb or "flip." Also unlike muzzle brakes, compensators tend to be loud and do not have a flash suppression feature.
Best Compensator:
Odin Words Atlas 5
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As expected, a lot of new users were pretty satisfied with this accessory. Not only were they able to install this in about ten minutes or less, what really impressed them was the sudden change in recoil. Most of them reported a considerable reduction of recoil (of up to 60% at best).
Why it Stands Out to Us
These compensators are designed to reduce flash, recoil, and allow for the best possible control over your shooting. This compensator in particular also has vents on the side that allow for gas rerouting, which will send gas to the sides rather than right back in your face. On top of that, this will also prevent any night blindness from happening if you ever happen to use this in a low-light or nighttime setting.
Who Will Use This Most
This accessory would be great for all kinds of applications. So if youโre a hunter or target shooter that needs a serious upgrade that will result in reduced recoil and better accuracy, this compensator would be a superb candidate to make that happen.
Bottom Line
The Odin Works Inc. AR-15 Atlas 5 Compensator is exactly what youโll want on hand if you're hoping for something that is built for years or even decades of hardcore use. Once installed, you'll notice that recoil and muzzle jump will be reduced quite a bit and will stay that way for a very long time.
Flash Hider
Some gun enthusiasts provide their AR-15 with a flash suppressor or flash hider to resemble their military-issued cousins more closely. Since their function is limited to eliminating muzzle flash, this device is most helpful to the military, as it keeps a soldier's position concealed when on nighttime combat operations.
All three muzzle device types could perform a combination of these functions. As such, a wide variety of aftermarket hybrids actually share some of the qualities of brake, compensator, and flash hider in one package.
Best Flash Hider:
Smith Enterprises Vortex
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new users were quite pleased with this accessory. In fact, the majority of those that bought it were hunters that normally hunt predators (coyotes) or varmints in low-light or nighttime settings. They concluded that upon installation of this accessory, they managed to reduce the occurrence of flashes considerably. Thus, it prevented all kinds of night blindness incidents.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This flash hider has quite an interesting design. Itโs unique enough to hide all the flashes that occur on an AR-15. Indeed, a flash will give away your position if youโre hiding in the shadows, and you need to be quite stealthy when youโre dealing with predators or varmints, even in the dead of night. This accessory wonโt give you sneaky superpowers, but it can give you a far better chance of seeing well at night even after firing off a few rounds at your target.
Who Will Use This Most
This would be perfect if youโre looking for a flash hider that will keep you hidden in the shadows, making it excellent if youโre simply using it for hunting purposes. That seems like the only application where it would be considered appropriate for an accessory like this.
Bottom Line
The Smith Enterprise AR-15 Vortex Arc Helix Flash Hider has a unique design, but it does an exceptional job hiding an AR-15 rifleโs flashes, which can be detrimental to any user. If you want the perfect upgrade for all your hunting needs, this might be a good one to start with.
Suppressor
However, the most intriguing component that you can attach to the muzzle of your AR-15 is a piece of equipment known as a silencer. Or, to be more politically correct, a sound suppressor.
While suppressors will not tame the โcrackโ of a bullet breaking the sound barrier, they will reduce the loud sound made by rapidly expanding gas when a gun is fired. Depending on the caliber of the weapon, this handy accessory will protect your hearing by reducing the sharp report of rifles. Besides taming the noise signature, silencers will significantly reduce muzzle blast and firing recoil. Before taking advantage of a suppressors' benefits, though, it is essential to make sure you are well-versed in the laws of your particular state.
Best Suppressor:
Sig Sauer SRD556 QD
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New buyers report that with the installation of this accessory, they managed to shoot without the use of ear protection. So, the noise reduction was quite considerable. They also mentioned that they got a bit of a hidden benefit when they noticed their shooting groups getting slightly tighter than before installing the silencer.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This silencer is made from Grade 5 titanium, probably one of the toughest materials out there for AR-15 accessories. So, it can take on plenty of beatings. As is the case with most high-quality materials, these can stand to last years or even decades. If you want an accessory that will keep the noise consistently reduced through the years, this is exactly what youโll need to have attached to your muzzle.
Who Will Use This Most
This would be perfect if youโre looking to make a little less noise at the range or out in the field. Yes, some AR-15s do get loud. So, youโll need to install this so you can be silent, but dangerous at the same time, especially when youโve got your eye on a big game target that would look great on your wall.
Bottom Line
The Sig Sauer QD Suppressor might be the perfect accessory for your AR-15 rifle if you want something that will reduce all kinds of noise. Plus, itโs built to last and therefore extends your efforts of being as quiet as possible through a long period of time.
Ambidextrous Safety Selectors
By upgrading your AR-15 with an ambidextrous safety selector, you will increase safety in handling and transport while gaining enhanced ergonomics and speed. This feature is particularly appreciated by competition shooters as well as southpaws and right-handed shooters alike.
Best Ambidextrous Safety Selector:
AXTS Weapons Talon Ambidextrous Safety Selector
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As expected, most new buyers (specifically left-handed shooters) were stoked about this safety selector. Never again did any lefty shooters have to guess which direction the safety selector had to go in. One user said that use was easy and he managed to move it in each direction without any grittiness or stickiness.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This safety selector was designed to be used by all shooters, regardless of which hand was considered dominant. Whether youโre a righty or a lefty, it doesnโt matter how you use it. What matters is that itโs a safety selector that provides you with the best security for your AR-15. So, if you need to turn on the safety to prevent accidental discharge, you can switch it in either direction easily.
Who Will Use This Most
This safety selector is definitely intended for general purpose use. But the applications that will likely excel from this are hunting and target shooting. If youโre at the range, itโs extra important to practice gun safety measures to a T. Using a safety selector will certainly be a must if you plan on doing that.
Bottom Line
The Radian Weapons Talon Ambidextrous Safety Selector will be a must if youโre hoping to make your AR-15 as safe as possible from accidental discharge. Yes, accidents can happen with even the most powerful of rifles. But you can easily reduce the risk of such occurrences by adding something like this fine product.
Lights
If your AR-15 is intended for night hunting or home defense, a recoil-proof tactical flashlight is a must. The easiest way to attach a flashlight is to use a single rail on the bottom half of the handguard for a platform. A weapon-mounted flashlight confirms a rule of thumb that you never fire your AR-15 into the dark without first identifying the target.
Best Light:
Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Many new buyers expressed delight with this mountable flashlight. Most of them were night hunters or were out and about in low-light situations and were looking to navigate through obstacles in such conditions. One user said that it was so bright, it was as if he was walking through the woods in broad daylight.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This flashlight is impressive in so many ways. For one, itโs housed in a durable aluminum body that can resist a great deal of shock and weather. In short, itโs kind of indestructible. At 800 lumens, itโs pretty bright. So you can use this not just for navigational purposes, but you can use it to your advantage if you ever get lost in the woods and need some kind of rescue tool. Itโs bright enough for someone to see it off in the distance. Who would have thought an AR-15 accessory would double as something that could potentially save your life?
Who Will Use This Most
Itโs obvious who would use this most. If youโre a hunter, youโll use this flashlight almost every time youโre outdoors in the dark or with little sunlight to work with. This flashlight is bright, tough, and can be your best friend out in the field for a long, long time. Youโd be crazy to pass up the opportunity to give this accessory a closer look.
Bottom Line
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL WeaponLight should be an accessory that youโll need to consider adding on if youโre hunting for coyotes or varmints at night. Not to mention, itโs a flashlight thatโs not only great for navigation but also in times of need.
Minor Upgrading
Customization of your AR-15 would be not complete without adding your personal touch with some less-familiar accessories.
Stippling
While standard A2-style grips come on most offerings and feature rubberized coating, finger grooves and palm swells, one of the more efficient customizations that play a part in the comfort of your grip is stippling.
Arguably, stippling significantly enhances the grip and aesthetics, adding texture to a polymer material. Many of todayโs AR manufacturers offer stippling on many firearm components, ranging from pistol grips to magazines.
Regardless of whether stippling is art or useful function, more and more AR-15 owners are stippling the gripping surface of their polymer-framed AR components with a DIY method. There is an important note that stippling will cause a permanent modification to the surface of a material. This can decrease its structural integrity.
Best Stippling Kit:
Oregon Trail Defense Stippling Kit
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New buyers were looking for a kit that allowed them to change the texture of their pistol grips. This stippling kit allowed just that. They were quite impressed with the patterns and each one had a favorite design that made their grips a lot better in overall design. One user said that he uses the waffle pattern for his pistol grips due to its ability to allow him a better overall grip in bad weather.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The purpose of a stippling kit is to allow you as much (or as little) grip as you need for your pistol grip. You may have too little or too much to work with. In either case, a stippler kit will allow you to make those adjustments to ensure that you will be able to control the amount of gripping ability youโll want out of each pistol grip you own. The good news is that if you have extras, you can use this so you can be able to switch out your pistol grips if and when needed.
Who Will Use This Most
Typical users of this product will vary. But the overall intent is the same: they want better control over their rifles so they can shoot much more accurate, precise shots at any given distance. So if you want a better grip or if you have too much to a point where you need to scale it back a bit, it would be best to get a kit like this so you can make any adjustments needed.
Bottom Line
The Oregon Trail Defense Stippling Kit might be the perfect accessory that youโll need if youโre a sucker for controlling the type of grips you need for your AR-15 rifle. Now you have all the tools you need to customize your own grips to enhance the overall use of the rifle itself.
Brass Catcher
Since the brass catcher catches the ejected brass, it is ideal for range shooters and perfect for reloaders as it keeps empty cases off the ground. Brass catchers easily mount to any rifle with a flat top, or they can be placed anywhere on a Picatinny rail that will prevent it from interfering with the rifleโs cycling and keep hot brass from hitting anyone near you.
Best Brass Catcher:
Caldwell Shooting Supplies Brass Catcher
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new users were the kind of AR-15 shooters that normally reload their discarded rounds for repeated use. So they needed an accessory like this to conveniently catch all the brass they ejected for future use. This saved them a lot of time from scrounging around looking for their discarded brass. One user said that even with all the hot brass it contained, the bag managed to stay cool.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This brass catcher is made from a high-quality mesh material that is proven to handle all kinds of heat. So it wonโt melt or cause any brass casings to stick. Not to mention, the material is pretty sturdy, making it hard to cut or tear apart. On top of that, itโs also designed to cover the ejection port and makes it easy for brass to land in the catcher as opposed to on the ground.
Who Will Use This Most
This brass catcher is perfect if you plan on reusing your brass casings. Reloading your ammo might not be something that anyone can do. But if you have it all down to a science and all you need is empty brass casings, this catcher might be exactly what you need to ensure that all your discarded brass are present and accounted for after you use your AR-15 rifle.
Bottom Line
The Caldwell Shooting Supplies Brass Catcher might be what you need on hand if you donโt want to spend time looking on the ground for your discarded brass rounds. Once you have all you need, youโll have more than enough to reload a few of your extra magazines for the next go around.
Muzzle Cover
The slip-on muzzle cap or muzzle condom is used to protect the crown of the barrel from damage and to keep dirt, mud, or water out of your barrel. Typically, rubber and plastic muzzle covers can be shot through in case of an emergency.
Best Muzzle Cover:
Muzzle Cover
[amazon fields="B009PSZJ8Q" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New buyers were satisfied with this muzzle cover. They reported that it can fit perfectly on almost any muzzle that has no other accessory attached to it. One user said that it does a good job of protecting the muzzle from collecting any kind of dust or debris while it was in storage.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This accessory is a definite must if you want to save a lot of time and frustration that might come with cleaning the AR-15 rifle itself. Plus, with the addition of this to your rifle, it will do its best to keep the muzzle part of your rifle squeaky clean. All youโll need to clean up when the time comes is all the gunk and residue that will slowly build up.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be great for those that want to make cleaning their AR-15 rifle a bit more effortless. If you desire to have a clean muzzle and barrel when the times comes to take it apart and give it a good routine cleaning, this will certainly be the accessory youโll need to include in your rifle.
Bottom Line
The muzzle cover is the accessory that will make cleaning a lot easier for you, especially when itโs designed to protect the muzzle itself during storage or when youโre carrying it around from one place to the next. Either way, nothing will get inside of it and ruin the inner workings of the rifle.
Barrel Shroud
The most straightforward type of shroud is a jacket that covers the barrel and comes in a variety of lengths and thread patterns. The primary purpose of a barrel shroud is to protect the shooter from heat-related injuries and keep the barrel from marring.
Some AR-15 barrel shrouds have a sound-suppressor look, giving your AR-15 short-barreled rifle a cool and aggressive style.
Best Barrel Shroud:
Kini-Tech Barrel Shroud
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
New buyers were pretty impressed with the overall design of this barrel shroud. They were quick to comment that this looked like a reverse silencer. Overall, it made their rifles look pretty sharp in terms of aesthetics. One user said he literally got non-stop questions about it at the range.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This barrel shroud is made from high-quality aluminum, meaning that it is made from much nicer materials than normal barrel shrouds that seem to be flimsy in quality. Even better, itโs measured at the perfect size to ensure that it will fit your barrel without any additional fitting needed. This is the kind of barrel shroud that your .223 or .22 caliber might like if you want it to look really good.
Who Will Use This Most
This would be excellent for owners of AR-15 rifles that donโt look aesthetically pleasing. If anything, this would be used for the purpose of making it pop out even more when compared to other rifles. While it might not be a much-needed accessory for most, it will definitely be one to own if you want to give it a boost in the looks department.
Bottom Line
The Kineti-Tech Barrel Shroud will certainly stand out as one of the most durable accessories in this category, as well as the best looking. If you want something that will make your rifleโs barrel stand out quite nicely, this might be something thatโs right up your alley.
Rail Cover
You probably wonโt use all the rails seen in some presentation and showpieces, so there is a necessity to install rail covers to increase your comfort. Rail covers are not only aesthetic and affordable, but also easy to apply and durable once installed. Practical covers protect your rails from abrasions and insulate heat for improved comfort.
Best Rail Cover:
Magpul M-Lok Rail Cover
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of new users used this rubber cover to great success. They were satisfied with how heat resistant it gets after an extended period of time at the range. For the most part, it was easy to install on most of the unused M-Lok and Picatinny rail slots.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is a long piece of high-quality rubber that is resistant to heat and can be used to cover the unused slots in your M-Lok or Picatinny rail. So, it will prevent the rail from collecting dust or any debris. At the same time, itโs designed to work with all the accessories that you use to customize the rest of the railโs available slots.
Who Will Use This Most
This would be the icing on the cake for those who use their Picatinny or M-Lok rails for the purpose of customization. If you want something that will work with most accessories rather than against them, this rail cover will certainly stand out as one of the best accessories youโve invested in.
Bottom Line
The Magpul AR-15 M-Lok Rail Cover might be exactly what youโll need as a simple add-on to your rifle. It would be better to protect your rail from any dust or debris rather than make it hard to clean when the time comes to take it apart for usual maintenance.
Scopes
While some high-end scopes cost more than an entire rifle, the average enthusiast is usually looking to add optics at a reasonable price. Any AR -15 can be converted into a great home-defense, competition, or hunting rifle with a well-chosen riflescope.
Due to difficulties in mounting an optic reliably atop a carry handle, many shooters prefer a rifle with a flat top or the A-3 model with its removable carry handle.
Appropriate optics can be determined according to the distances you plan to use your rifle. In short, for close ranges, choose red-dot sights. For close to medium ranges, choose variable low-power optics. For mid- to long-ranges, go with a full-size, traditional scope.
However, a growing trend among knowledgeable shooters is to replace red-dot sights with a low magnification scope and/or to mount these micro-sized reflex sights at an offset, 45-degree angle for quick transitions to short-range targets.
Best Scope:
Leupold VX-2 1-4ร20
Second Level Of Accessorizing
After customizing essential parts of your AR-15, the next tier of modifying refers to some of the easier AR-15 upgrades; weโll take the risk of saying โless criticalโ accessories. However, they will also allow you to shoot more accurately and better gain control of your weapon. All in all, they can help give you an optimal shooting experience.
Muzzle Devices
One big family of "secondary" accessories consists of muzzle devices divided into three categories: muzzle brakes, compensators, and flash hiders. Muzzle devices redirect gases exiting the barrel to help bring recoil down to a manageable level, reduce flash, and suppress sound, or ideally a combination of each.
Muzzle Brake
By redirecting the expelled gases through vents on the side and forward on the muzzle, brakes reduce the effects of recoil, and the shooter is better able to acquire targets after firing the weapon. The downside of a muzzle brake is a cloud of dust when shooting prone and an often loud report, which is unacceptable for most indoor shooting ranges.
Best Muzzle Brake:
Lantac Dragon
Pros And Cons of Adding a Few Accessories
Pros
Adding a few accessories does have its perks. Itโs important to know what they are so you know what to expect should you add a specific accessory or two:
A Boost In Accuracy
If youโre adding on a scope or an optic, then your major intent is giving your rifle a boost in accuracy for precise shooting. It all comes down to how far you want your shots to be effectively accurate. Keep in mind a scope will obviously be the choice you go with if you intend to go long while a red dot will mostly deal with close-range and sometimes mid-range shooting.
Better Reliability
Aside from accuracy, overall reliability is a must for every AR-15 rifle. So you need to find an accessory or two that will ensure for the best reliability possible so your rifle can work in the times when you need it most. These accessories include trigger assemblies, magazines, scopes, and any other accessory that is vital to the overall functioning of your rifle.
Will Work With AR-15 Rifles Or Pistols
Whether you own a standard AR-15 rifle or an AR-15 pistol, there are some accessories that will be compatible with one or the other. Keep this in mind if you own either firearm. They will install and function just the same. However, there are some accessories that are not suitable for example the AR-15 pistol. A butt-stock is appropriate for a rifle, but an AR-15 pistol would not need it anyway since it would require a buffer tube and brace.
Cons
While there are pros, new accessories can certainly come with cons. Indeed, while itโs always good to have a few accessories, they may have their own shortcomings:
Some May Not Fit A Certain Rail System
One thing you need to know about your rifle is the rail system it has. Because youโll need to find accessories that will fit it perfectly. There will be scopes that will fit Picatinny rails, but not Weaver rails (and vice versa). So, your rail system may limit the number of accessories you can choose from.
Some May Be Expensive
If youโre on a budget, you need to realize that some accessories may be a little bit more expensive than others. But that shouldnโt force you into finding a cheaper version or foregoing a much-needed upgrade. On the plus side, we recommend that you find an accessory that is the best quality and performance, while also fitting your budget perfectly. If needed, find a starter accessory and consider upgrading again in the future.
Conclusion
Mass-produced firearms like the AR-15 are probably acceptable in their stock configuration. But that doesn't mean that they're optimized for every shooter. By upgrading and accessorizing your Black Rifle, you should gain better performance and some real functional advantages.
Our advice would be to monitor the use of specific accessories in 3-gun or other competitive shooting competitions first. Also, you can follow how accessories are used for military purposes to see how these accessories are used. Observe, then start accessorizing your gun to make your shooting sessions more enjoyable and effective!
