Best Ruger AR-556 Accessories of 2022 – Upgrade Your Build!

Best Overall:
Emod Stock Assy Collapsible Commercial

Vltor was established in 2001 in Idaho. Its Emod stock has become something of a classic. It has a unique clubfoot style, meaning the angle from the bottom of the buttplate to the receiver forms a dogleg shape. The toe is also unique, slightly wider and longer than that of a regular M4 stock.

It has an obvious negative pitch, which makes the transition from the ready position feel more natural. The five-position adjustable length of pull has a range of 11.5 inches to 15 inches. It includes a carbine spring and buffer kit, a proprietary lock plate, and a proprietary lock nut. It also comes with a rubber buttpad and a strike plate.

The stock features standard mil-spec quick detach swivel sockets on both sides. It is constructed of impact and temperature-resistant polymer and is available in black, tan, or green, all with a matte finish. Overall weight comes in at 14 ounces.

A unique feature is the inclusion of three waterproof battery compartments for backup power for something like a reflex sight. The two compartments under the cheek weld each hold four CR123 batteries or three AA batteries. The waterproof compartment in the clubfoot can hold two double As.

Bottom Line

The aesthetics of this stock are great, it looks unique and a bit mean. The top features are the little things, the compartments, the QD mounts, and the adjustable length of pull. It's a great option if you want something a bit unique.

Best Ruger AR-556 Handguard:
AR-15 Diamond Pattern Free Float Handguards

This free float handguard from Yankee Hill is outstandingly functional and attractive. No surprise, as Yankee Hill is one of the giants of the modern sporting rifle field. Yankee Hill started establishing its enviable reputation in the 60s with a military contract for M16 cleaning rods.

This free float handguard pushes the envelope of both aesthetics and practicality. The four full-length rails give you maximum versatility in mounting third-party components. Between those rails, this handguard has diamond-shaped vents that not only look really sleek, but also provide excellent ergonomics. Of course, this vent design also cuts down on heat better than many competing handguard designs.

The hard coat anodized aluminum is aircraft-grade, meeting military specifications. This handguard is available in three lengths, seven, nine, and twelve inches. It will fit over any low-profile gas block. It ships with all the mounting hardware necessary, including a jam nut, barrel nut, and anti-rotation screws.

Yankee Hill end caps are available separately. The top rail extends over the barrel nut to provide a seamless transition from the receiver rail. The slots on all four rails are alphanumerically T-marked to guaranty consistent remounting.

Bottom Line

This is a top-quality handguard bringing the most in functionality and looks. The top features are the diamond venting design and the smooth transition from receiver rail to handguard rail.

Best Ruger AR-556 Scope Mount:
Monstrum Tactical High-Performance Cantilever Dual Ring Scope Mount

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Monstrum started in 2008 in SoCal. They've come a long way in ten years, building a nice little reputation for themselves. A solid scope mount is vital, and you can rest easy knowing that this mount has all the features necessary to hold zero no matter what you throw at it. This scope mount works only with standard one-inch scopes.

The single-piece construction ensures perfect alignment, negating the need to bother with lapping the rings. It is guaranteed not to tweak or damage your scope straight out of the box, unlike separate rings. The cantilevered design gives you a greater range of options for eye relief, potentially giving you a wider field of view and quicker target acquisition.

Each ring is secured with six bolts, about the maximum you can get, to guarantee that it holds zero in rough situations. It mounts to the standard top rail on your AR-556, but could easily be switched out temporarily to any weapon with a spare three inches of Picatinny rail. The mount is made of lightweight but tough 6061 aluminum alloy and weighs a mere nine ounces. It is covered by a 100% risk-free lifetime warranty.

Bottom Line

This is an excellent scope mount, especially for the price. The top features are the cantilever and six-bolt design. This model really punches above its weight.

Best Ruger AR-556 Scope:
Bushnell AR Optics 3-9x/40mm

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Bushnell is a well-respected American optics manufacturer out of Kansas. This model is their construction of an ideal scope for the AR platform, and it's safe to say that it is a success.

The magnification range of three-nine times is optimal for squeezing the complete benefit out of the 5.56 NATO's effective range without sacrificing a lot of field of view at close range. This scope has a BDC ballistic reticle engineered specifically for 5.56 NATO cartridges that contain bullets with weights between 55 and 62 grains.

The crosshair is dead on at 100 yards and the reticle boasts further aiming points up to 500 yards. The lenses are fully multi-coated and O-ring sealed as you would expect.

To prevent fogging, the anodized aluminum tube is nitrogen purged. The target turrets are thick and tactile and adjust a quarter MOA per click. The scope boasts side parallax adjustment and a fast focus eyepiece. Eye relief is quite typical, if a little short at 3.5 inches.

The assembly for the erector cap is located beneath the control housing and may prevent you from using low scope rings, depending on the standards of the scope ring brand. At 19 ounces, this unit is rather on the heavy side.

A lifetime warranty ensures you won’t receive a shoddy piece of workmanship and that if you experience problems, they will take care of any issues.

Bottom Line

The BDC reticle and the magnification range are the top features that make this the best scope for your Ruger AR-556.

Best Ruger AR-556 Magazine:
Magpul Pmag 30 5.56x45mm Magazine, 30 Round Capacity

Magpul was founded in 1999. Its first product was a run-of-the-mill magazine reloading helper. Since then, Magpul has risen to dominate the AR-style rifle accessories field. PMAGs have helped to cement that domination in the magazine market. A 30-round, Gen-2 PMAG is a classic, bomb-proof, and inexpensive option.

These mags are made of a high-tech impact and crush-resistant polymer. The internal geometry is characterized by a constant curve to ensure smooth feeding. The follower design sets the PMAG above most of its competitors. It has been designed to have anti-tilt and self-lubricating properties for the utmost reliability.

Underneath it, you find a stainless steel corrosion-resistant spring that also works in military issue magazines. In terms of handiness, the PMAG has a textured gripping surface and a flared floorplate for positive handling and magazine extraction. Disassembly is simple and doesn't require the use of any tools. These mags have more than proved themselves in a plethora of military and law enforcement use cases over the decades.

Bottom Line

The Magpul Gen-2, 30-round PMAG is a classic choice; you can't go wrong with it. Taken into action with confidence by the boys in green and blue, this is a legendary mag that is perfect for a Ruger AR-556.

The main features of the Gen-M2 PMAG are the anti-tilt, self-lubricating follower, the flared floorplate, and the simple disassembly. The lower price than the Gen-M3 version will be attractive to many.

Best Ruger AR-556 Grip:
MAGPUL - AR-15 MOE+ Grip

Magpul is the 800-pound gorilla of the modern sporting rifle accessories market. You can spend thousands of hours with range rats and real-world tactical operators and never hear a harsh word said about Magpul.

Although choosing the right grip is a matter of fit and preference, this Magpul MOE+ is a great place to start. It is constructed of a single piece of high-tech, impact-proof polymer and features wrap-around rubber overmolding. There is a crackle texture on the sides and deep horizontal grooves on both the backstrap and the front strap. The height is 4 inches and the thickness maxes out at 1.2 inches.

The grip angle is a standard 25 degrees. The feel is very similar to a standard medium-sized, military-issue MIAD grip. A curved beavertail, similar to the one on the MIAD B2 insert, gives good comfort and protection to the web of your thumb. The hard polymer bottom edge reduces snags and fumbles.

Optional storage cores are available to turn the bottom into a storage hatch. The MOE+ is available in black, tan, grey, or green and is easy to install. Overall weight with hardware is a mere 3.4 ounces. Like all Magpul products, it is made in the U.S.A.

Bottom Line

Magpul is always a safe choice no matter what accessory you need. The best feature of this grip is the comfortable geometry, especially with the beavertail.

Best Ruger AR-556 Bipod:
CVLIFE 6-9 Inches Tactical Rifle Bipod

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CVLIFE is a bit of an enigma. The best I can judge is that it is not based in the U.S.A., but somewhere like China. The kitten memes on their Twitter feed aren't exactly something you see with H&K or Magpul. Despite basically being a low-brand-recognition company, CVLIFE's bipods are a resounding success in the shooting community, probably because they get the job done reliably for a very affordable price.

At ten ounces, it is also reasonably light. Nevertheless, the construction uses quality hardened steel and aircraft-grade 7075 anodized aluminum. The silent (more accurately, 'not loud') springs allow you to deploy the bipod legs without betraying your presence and location.

The six to nine-inch leg length range includes five length settings to let you adjust to just the right height to make your shot. Underneath, there is a quick detach swivel stud. It also comes with detachable rubber foot pads. It attaches to your Ruger AR-556 with an included Picatinny rail adapter.

Bottom Line

CVLIFE may be an unknown entity, but they seem to employ some pretty sharp engineers. The best features of this bipod are the included Picatinny mount adapter and the QD sling swivel mount.

Best Ruger AR-556 Speed Loader:
ETS Speed Loader

This is basically a stripper clip that you can fit on any rifle magazine and use the same way. Plus, it lets you easily scoop rounds from an ammo tray and smoothly feed them into your mags. Besides scooping up rounds, the loader works well with 20-round boxes of ammo or simply with loose rounds. Not only does this save a lot of time, but it also saves you from experiencing the bane of any shooter, mag thumb.  

It is constructed of a durable polymer and, crucially, will not damage the feed lips on any of your mags. It is small, portable, and easy to keep in a range bag or somewhere like a glove compartment or bug-out kit. It is covered by a lifetime warranty and is made in the U.S.A.

Bottom Line

If you have used stripper clips on something like an old M1A, you will be right at home with this device. Life is short, why waste it loading mags one-by-one, especially if you have followed our guide on the best AR-556 mags and stocked up with dozens? The best features of this speed loader are the universal compatibility, the feed lip-safe design, and the fact that it's made in the U.S.A. The lifetime warranty is nice to sweeten the pot, too.