If thereโs one gun on the market thatโs just begging to be customized, itโs the AR-15. Its modular nature makes it a favorite for rifle enthusiasts who want to have it all: comfort, performance, durability and great looks.
One configuration of the AR-15 isnโt going to work for many different uses, such as hunting, target shooting or self-defense. Each of these activities requires certain characteristics of the rifle, which means the gun has to be tailored for that purpose.
If youโre looking to upgrade your AR-15 to make it fit your needs better, letโs first understand how to buy the right furniture.
Comparison of the Best AR-15 Furniture Kit Upgrades
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Our Top Pick | Brownells AR-15 Retro Furniture Sets |
| View Latest Price |
 | AR-15 Moe Furniture Set M-LOK Polymer |
| View Latest Price |
 | Magpul AR-15 Moe Sl Furniture Set M-lok Polymer |
| View Latest Price |
Whatโs the Furniture?
Furniture usually refers to those parts of the gun that are an integral part of the gun, and are required for it to work. The gun cannot function properly without these components. Furniture includes pistol grips, stocks, and handguards.
Sometimes other parts can also be referred to as furniture, such as sling plates, recoil pads, bipods, and magazine couplers. However, in this article the furniture kits that weโll review will include only grips, stocks and handguards.
Why would you change the stock AR-15 furniture?
You may want to replace the grip in order improve the handling and control of your rifle. A pistol grip is generally the most popular grip for AR-15s but other styles are also used, especially to comply with state laws on โassault weapons.โ The standard pistol grip is not the most comfortable, so you may want to switch to another one that offers a better fit and is more comfortable.
Similarly the stock of your rifle is a part that you interact with every time you handle the weapon. You rest your cheek on the buttstock and hold it against your shoulder for support. This is such an integral part of the shooting experience that it deserves to be of the best quality. Buttstocks come in collapsible and fixed varieties as well as dozens of other variations.
How to Choose a Furniture Kit
Buying a furniture kit is one part of assembling a quality rifle, instead of hunting for individual pieces and furniture components from various brands. This can save you both time and money, as youโll need to track down the individual parts if you buy them separately. The furniture kits contain parts that come in matching colors and finishes, so you can customize your rifle with the look you want without worrying about mismatched pieces.
Another advantage of furniture kits is that you can sometimes score a great deal. Manufacturers can sell their parts in a bundle to customers, allowing them to move more inventory in a single transaction.
On the other hand, you probably wonโt get exactly the finish and features that youโre looking for from a single furniture set compared to selecting parts individually. One or more parts in a kit may be of a lesser quality so always read reviews and do your research before buying a furniture set.
Generally, youโre better off buying from a reputable manufacturer while also keeping in mind your particular requirements.
Quick Take - The Best AR-15 Build Kits
These are our recommendations for the best build kits for the AR-15:
Review of the Best AR-15 Build Kits
The following is a list of the four best AR-15 furniture kits. As you go through each one, you should take notes on the features and characteristics of each one. If you find a kit that fits your personal needs and preferences, youโll know that youโve found a winner on your hands. Hereโs a look at the first furniture kit on our list:
Best Overall:
Brownells AR-15 Retro Furniture Sets
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most of the new buyers were quick to remark on how easy the installation was for each part. One user said it took him a few minutes to install each part using the right kind of tools. New users were also happy with the overall durability of the kit saying that it felt nice and sturdy and not cheap and flimsy.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This furniture kit has some of the essential parts that you need for upgrading or building out your AR-15 rifle from scratch. Either way, youโve got the right kind of parts handy. Also, it will make your AR-15 rifle stand out even more and make it tougher than ever. If you want something that will last you a long time, youโll need the right kind of parts to ensure that your rifleโs construction is more durable than ever.
This build kit from Brownells comes with a buttstock, handguard and pistol grip in the retro style of the original stock military style of the M16A1. For enthusiasts who want to pay tribute to the original M16 rifles used in Vietnam by the soldiers of that era, this is the ultimate kit. With surplus parts rarely available on the market, these high-quality components will allow you to outfit your AR-15 in retro style and turn heads at the range.
The parts are available in three colors - black, green and brown.
Who Will Use This Most
This will work quite well with AR-15 builders. If you plan on building a rifle from scratch, you may need a kit that will have all the parts you need to make the rifle complete. So if a furniture kit is what you want, this might be a good one to look at.
Bottom Line
The Brownells AR-15 Retro Furniture Kit might be exactly what youโre looking for if you want your AR-15 to have that retro look. All you need to do is choose the right finish that fits you best and youโll be able to add them on to your rifle piece by piece.
Runner-up:
AR-15 Moe Furniture Set M-LOK Polymer
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As expected, most of the new buyers were able to install this on their AR-15 rifle of choice. They said that it only took a few minutes of their time for a complete install. One user said that he found this kit to be quite light in weight so it doesnโt add on any additional weight in the process.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The design of the buttstock appears to be minimal. At best, it makes your rifle rather light in weight. So the good news for you is that the rifle wonโt feel like itโs heavier than a ton of bricks when youโre carrying it around all day while hunting. All the parts are present and each are drop-in accessories. Just set them and forget them and youโll notice some immediate changes in the rifleโs performance.
The parts included in this set are the MOE Mil-Spec stock, MOE carbine forend, and MOE grip. Sets are made from polymer and are available in black, flat dark earth, olive drab green, and gray.
Who Will Use This Most
This furniture kit will most likely be used by newbie users. In plain English, these are your users who have never built an AR-15 from scratch before and want to build them mostly out of drop-in accessories. If you want something that will make the building project as easy as pie, this furniture kit will be exactly what youโre looking for.
Bottom Line
The Magpul AR-15 MOE Furniture Set is perhaps one of your best choices if you want the best parts for your AR-15 rifle. Durable, reliable, and lightweight, this kit will provide you high-quality parts that will matter the most to your rifleโs performance.
Best for the Money:
Magpul AR-15 Moe Sl Furniture Set M-LOK Polymer
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most of the new buyers were looking for a kit that would allow for the easiest installation possible for the stock, handguard, and pistol grip. They got a trifecta of a deal with this furniture kit. They installed each part in a matter of a few minutes or less. Once itโs installed, they noticed some immediate changes like reduced recoil and increased accuracy.
Why it Stands Out to Us
One of the pieces of equipment has an M-Lok slot that allows for easy customization opportunities. For example, you can install some side accessories like flashlights or even some optics and scopes. If you need a furniture kit that will allow you to customize your AR-15 rifle, this might be one to give a try.
The set comes with a Magpul Original Equipment Slim Line (MOE SL) stock, MOE SL grip, hand guard and A2 front sight. The mil-spec drop-in replacement buttstock is suited for either mil-spec or commercial sized receiver extension tubes. It is optimized for use with body armor and modular gear.
The MOE SL handguard provides modular flexibility with M-LOK accessory slots in a lightweight, sleek, cost effective design. The pistol grip has a more vertical grip angle optimized for short LOP weapons. The kit is compatible only with the triangular A2 front sight assembly.
Who Will Use This Most
This will be a great furniture kit for building purposes. If youโre building your first AR-15 rifle or have done it before, you should consider the idea of using this kit for your building project. Once complete, youโll be able to add on whatever accessory you please with thanks to the M-Lok slots.
Bottom Line
The Magpul AR-15 MOE SL Furniture Kit is the kind of kit that will go perfect with your latest AR-15 build. If you want an add on kit that will make the building project a whole lot easier, this might be the kit you should have to take care of all your building needs.
Pros
Cons
This set from B5 Systems includes the Bravo stock, Carbine-length handguard and the P-Grip in various color options. Itโs constructed from durable composite materials.
The set fits all Mil-spec AR15 receiver extensions and the drop-in handguard features a reduced diameter and increased ergonomics for superior control and handling. The rail slots on the side, top and bottom offer convenient attachment points for multiple weapon accessories.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Knowing what characteristics and features that make a furniture kit stand out is one thing, but the other aspects that factor into your buying decision is something different. If youโre looking for a great furniture kit, you should consider some of the following aspects:
What Kind of Parts Do I Need?
Some furniture sets come with the essential parts like a buttstock, pistol grip, and a handguard. The kits may differ. Some will include all three and some will include more parts that might be of good use. Consider how many parts you exactly need when you want to upgrade or build an AR-15 rifle.
Can I Find a Kit Thatโs Affordable For my Budget?
The short answer is yes. The important thing to consider is that you should find a kit that will be the most affordable when it comes to quality. You should never sacrifice quality for the sake of saving a few dollars. Even if you spend on the higher scale of your budget, the value should be better than having to go for cheap.
What Kind of Materials Are Best?
The best quality materials are often polymer and aluminum to name a few. It will depend on the kind of parts you need. Regardless, you need materials that are proven to withstand damage and abuse like nothing else. On top of that, high-quality materials have often been linked to long-lasting use.
Conclusion
When it comes to customizing your AR-15, keep in mind the purpose you will use it for and plan accordingly. You should try to address any comfort or ergonomic issues with the grip, trigger, and hand guard by upgrading to the best fitting accessories you can find. High-quality magazines and sights can also make a big difference in your shooting experience, as you can reload faster and more reliably with good magazines and shoot more accurately with the right scope.
Finally, some of the furniture sets out there will suit both your tastes and budget while also saving you time and effort in tracking down each part separately. If youโre looking to upgrade multiple parts of the AR-15, consider a furniture set in the color, material and design that best fits your needs.
